malereader x hells paradise

Chapter 26: Hunter's Game

The creature moved with a terrifying swiftness, its massive form charging forward as if it could tear through the forest itself. It lunged, claws extended, and I barely had time to roll out of the way as its talons gouged deep trenches into the earth where I’d been standing.

“Stay on its flanks!” I shouted, already moving to strike its side. My blade sliced through its hide, but it barely flinched, thick muscle and bark-like armor absorbing the blow. The beast was resilient, and I could tell this would be no easy fight.

Sagiri dodged another swipe, her movements precise and controlled, eyes locked onto the creature's movements as she looked for an opening. Yuzuriha was a blur beside her, dancing around the creature’s legs, her kunai darting out in quick jabs that chipped at its armor. But the wounds barely slowed it down, and each step sent tremors through the ground beneath us.

Nurugai came at it from behind, her blade aimed for its hind legs. Her strike cut deep, forcing the beast to stumble, but instead of retreating, it whipped around, swinging a massive claw towards her. Without thinking, I sprinted forward, grabbing her arm and pulling her back just in time.

“Careful!” I said, breathless. “This thing’s got more power than it looks.”

She gave a quick nod, a hint of gratitude in her eyes. “It’s like the island itself. Just when you think you understand it, it shows you something even worse.”

As the creature gathered itself for another charge, I glanced around, looking for any advantage we might have. The trees were dense, with vines hanging low and roots sprawling across the ground. An idea sparked in my mind—a risky one, but we didn’t have the luxury of time.

“Sagiri! Yuzuriha! Lead it toward those trees!” I called, pointing to a section where the forest was thickest.

Without hesitation, they moved, darting back and forth to draw the creature’s attention. It followed, its growls growing more frantic as it tried to catch them, each step sinking deeper into the forest’s tangled roots. Just as it lunged, I hacked at a cluster of vines above, sending them crashing down around the creature’s legs.

The beast stumbled, and in that split second, Sagiri moved. With a fierce cry, she drove her blade into the creature’s exposed side, the steel plunging deep as the creature roared in agony. Yuzuriha followed up, her kunai striking at vulnerable spots along its underbelly.

Nurugai and I took advantage of the distraction, slashing at its limbs, each strike aimed to weaken its movement. The creature thrashed, but the weight of the vines held it just long enough for us to make an impact.

Just as it seemed we were gaining ground, the beast let out a furious howl, its body tensing before it shook violently, snapping the vines in one powerful motion. Freed, it roared, its rage turned fully on us.

“This thing doesn’t know when to give up!” Yuzuriha shouted, leaping back to avoid another swipe.

I tightened my grip on my blade, feeling the strain in my muscles, but I wasn’t ready to back down. “Then we just have to make it understand.”

The creature charged, its jaws snapping inches from me as I sidestepped, aiming for its exposed neck. But just as my blade came down, it twisted, swinging a massive claw towards me. I barely deflected it, the force of the blow sending me stumbling backward.

“Y/N!” Sagiri called, her voice laced with concern. But there was no time to respond. The beast was relentless, and each of us was reaching the limits of our stamina.

Then, a glint caught my eye—something metallic lodged in the creature’s hide near its shoulder. It looked like an ancient dagger, rusted and half-buried. It was a strange detail, but instinct told me it wasn’t just a coincidence.

“Everyone, aim for that dagger on its shoulder!” I called out, hoping the others would understand.

Sagiri’s eyes locked onto it, and without hesitation, she lunged, her blade aimed for the same spot. Yuzuriha followed suit, her kunai darting towards it. Our combined strikes hit home, and the creature let out a deafening roar, staggering backward as the dagger shifted.

For a moment, the beast froze, its eyes wide and unfocused. Then, as if in slow motion, it collapsed, its body convulsing before finally going still.

We waited, tense, ready for it to spring back to life, but the creature lay silent. Its massive form seemed to blend into the earth, as if the island itself was reclaiming it.

Nurugai exhaled, shoulders sagging with exhaustion. “Finally… it’s over.”

Sagiri wiped her blade, casting a wary glance at the corpse. “This island seems determined to throw every challenge it can at us.”

I crouched down, studying the dagger still lodged in the creature’s hide. It was old, the blade rusted and worn, yet there was something… unnatural about it. As I reached out to touch it, a faint warmth pulsed from the metal, as if it held a trace of some ancient power.

“Maybe this was its weakness,” Yuzuriha said, crouching beside me. “Or maybe it’s part of the island’s magic. Either way, that thing wasn’t normal.”

“No, it wasn’t,” I replied, standing. “And if this is what the island is capable of, we need to be ready for whatever comes next.”

We regrouped, taking a moment to catch our breath before pressing on. Each of us was worn down, our bodies bearing the marks of battle, but our resolve was unbroken. The island was testing us, yes, but we weren’t going to break.

As we moved deeper into the jungle, the air grew heavier, the trees thicker. Shadows seemed to shift at the edge of our vision, and the whispers we had heard in the shrine echoed faintly, like distant memories resurfacing.

Yet, despite the unease, I felt a strange sense of purpose. The island was dangerous, but it was also filled with mysteries, each one leading us closer to something. What that was, I couldn’t say, but I knew that, together, we would face whatever lay ahead.

And as we moved forward, the jungle around us seemed to shift, as if it, too, was preparing for the next move in its relentless game.