Hunt Race

The Alpha remained where it was.

Blood dripped steadily from the wound on its flank.

Its emerald eyes never left Kael.

Neither hunter lowered their weapon.

A tense silence settled over the forest.

Leon broke it first.

"Move."

The two turned and sprinted deeper into the forest.

Neither looked back.

Every step sent pain shooting through Kael's wounded side.

Leon wasn't any better.

Overdrive had ended.

His limbs felt heavier with every stride.

Still...

They ran.

Behind them...

Nothing.

No footsteps.

No growls.

No pursuit.

Kael frowned.

"It's not following?"

"Don't stop!"

Leon snapped.

"It wouldn't give up that easily."

As if answering him—

A deep growl echoed through the forest.

The two instinctively looked back.

The Alpha hadn't moved.

Its body remained lowered.

Its breathing slow.

Steady.

Then...

The muscles beneath its black fur began to ripple.

One after another.

From its shoulders...

To its back...

To its hind legs.

Every muscle contracted in perfect rhythm.

The forest suddenly felt heavier.

Leon's expression changed.

"...A technique."

The Alpha slowly lifted its head.

Its emerald eyes glowed brighter.

A low growl escaped its throat.

"Pack Resonance."

BOOM!

The ground exploded beneath its paws.

The Alpha shot forward.

The burst of speed shattered the earth behind it.

Kael's eyes widened.

"It's catching up!"

Leon gritted his teeth.

"It forced its body past the slowdown."

The distance disappeared almost instantly.

Thirty meters.

Twenty.

Fifteen.

The Alpha wasn't as fast as before.

First Blood was still affecting it.

But...

Pack Resonance refused to let that weakness matter.

It charged through the pain.

Through the resistance.

Through the slowing effect.

The forest blurred around them.

Kael leaped over a fallen trunk.

Leon followed.

The Alpha crashed straight through it.

BOOM!

Wood exploded in every direction.

Another roar echoed ahead.

Far louder than before.

Neither hunter slowed.

The Alpha didn't either.

Its eyes remained locked on Kael.

The roar came again.

Closer.

The trees ahead began to shake violently.

Leon glanced forward.

"...We're almost there."

Kael frowned.

"There?"

Before Leon could answer—

A massive tree ahead snapped in half.

CRAAACK!

Something enormous stepped out from the darkness.

The forest seemed to hold its breath.

For the first time since the chase began...

The Alpha slowed.

Its gaze shifted away from Kael.

Toward the creature that had just entered its path.

Another king...

Had answered the challenge.

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