Hope stepped out from the cavern's shadows, his body still wrapped in the lingering comfort of darkness.
His movements were soundless, his presence almost nonexistent—but that was how he preferred it.
The hunt was far from over.
With a flick of his wrist, he summoned his Stealth Assassin's Dagger from his Soul Sea.
The blue and red blades shimmered faintly as it absorbed the ambient light, almost as if it were eager for the blood of another victim.
Hope glanced at the other dagger at his waist—his sickle-like blade—a more traditional weapon, one that didn't hold the same mystical properties.
Unfortunately, it couldn't be stored away like his Awakened Memory it was just an artifact, so it remained secured at his side for quick access.
Better than nothing anyways.
As he walked through the ruined terrain, he suddenly paused.
His sharp ears caught the distinct clash of steel meeting steel—
Distant, yet intense.
The unmistakable sounds of battle.
Hope tilted his head slightly, calculating.
"A fight means kills."
"Kills mean Soul Cores."
"But..."
He exhaled through his nose.
Where there was a fight, there were also other contestants.
And if there were too many of them, that meant—
Competition.
Hope's eyes darkened.
He wasn't interested in fighting over scraps.
If the battlefield was already crawling with people, that would mean fewer chances to claim his own kills.
"Tch. Not worth it."
Turning on his heels, he decided to move in the opposite direction, deeper into the unexplored ruins.
The darkness growing thicker with each step
Then—
The air shifted.
An almost imperceptible change—a sudden weight pressing against his skin.
Hope's instincts flared.
Something was wrong.
Before he could react, a blur of motion flashed past him with terrifying speed—
A sharp whistle cut through the air, followed by a rush of displaced wind.
Damn!
Hope's body moved on instinct, his muscles coiling as he threw himself backward.
His boots skidded against the rough ground as he staggered away, his breath coming sharp.
For a brief moment, his vision blurred—then focused.
His eyes adjusted.
And then he saw it.
It was massive.
A monstrous, grotesque ant—but unlike any insect he had ever seen before.
Its chitinous exoskeleton gleamed like forged steel, thick and armored like plated metal.
Its mandibles—razor-sharp, jagged like serrated daggers—clicked together, producing a grating metallic sound.
The creature stood at least four feet tall, its body stretching to a terrifying three meters in length.
A hulking, unnatural thing—one that didn't belong in the normal world.
Hope's grip tightened on his dagger.
He knew immediately—this wasn't a simple opponent.
This thing wasn't just fast—it was lethal.
A single misstep, a single mistake—
And those bladed mandibles would tear him in half.
His lips curled slightly.
"Well... this is going to be fun."
His heartbeat steadied, his breathing calm.
Hope lowered his stance, his daggers ready.
The Ant Fiend's beady black eyes locked onto him, its mandibles twitching—
Then, with a sudden burst of movement, it charged.
The battle had begun.