Hunter of the Lost Gates-Chapter 16 - : Captured by the Hunters

Sai's grip on his daggers tightened as he faced the group of hunters standing before him. The man in silver battle armor stood at the front, his presence heavy and commanding. His greatsword rested across his back, but Sai could tell by his stance that he was more than capable of drawing it in an instant.

Behind him, at least five other hunters spread out in a loose formation. They weren't assassins like the Order, but they weren't ordinary hunters either. Their movements were calculated, their weapons already drawn. A trained team.

The moment the masked assassin had disappeared into the forest, Sai had known something worse was coming.

"You're coming with us," the armored man repeated, his eyes locked onto Sai.

Sai didn't move. His mind raced through his options. A direct fight was out of the question. He was already exhausted from the encounter with the Order, and these hunters were clearly well-trained.

"You're making a mistake," Sai said, his voice steady.

The man's brow arched slightly. "Am I?"

"I don't work for the Order, and I'm not a threat to the Guilds."

"Then you won't mind answering a few questions."

Sai exhaled through his nose. He could already tell—this wasn't a request.

They weren't here to negotiate.

They were here to take him.

The hunters moved first.

Sai barely had time to react before two of them rushed forward, cutting off any escape route. One swung a curved blade toward his side—Sai dodged, pivoting on his heel, but the second hunter was already behind him. A heavy gauntlet-clad fist slammed into his ribs.

Pain exploded through Sai's side as he stumbled back. They were fast.

Too fast.

He tried to activate Abyssal Step, but the moment his body began to shift—

A pulse of mana surged through the air.

Sai felt something clamp down on his movements—his vision flickered, his step cancelled.

His stomach dropped.

Anti-teleportation magic.

They had prepared for him.

Sai barely had a second to recover before the armored man was suddenly in front of him.

His hand closed around Sai's throat, lifting him off the ground with ease.

"Enough," the man said.

Sai gritted his teeth, struggling against his grip.

"You're not leaving this forest unless it's with us," the man continued, his voice calm. "You can fight, or you can listen. Choose."

Sai's mind raced. He couldn't escape.

Not now.

His best option... was to listen.

Slowly, he relaxed his body, signaling compliance.

The armored man studied him for a moment, then released his grip.

Sai dropped to the ground, coughing.

"Smart choice," the man said. "Now walk."

They led Sai through the forest, their formation tight, making sure he had no chance to run. The trip lasted for hours, moving away from the Lost Gate's location. Sai memorized the path, every landmark, every possible exit—just in case.

Eventually, they arrived at a temporary encampment, hidden deep in the woods. Multiple hunters moved around the camp, sharpening weapons, tending to supplies.

A full Guild operation.

Sai's gaze swept across the area. These weren't just random hunters—they were from an elite unit.

One of the hunters nudged him forward.

"Keep moving."

Sai followed them toward the center of the camp, where a reinforced tent stood. The armored man stepped inside first, motioning for Sai to follow.

Sai entered, his senses on high alert.

Inside, a map was spread across a wooden table, marked with locations of Lost Gates. Sai's eyes narrowed.

"You've been tracking them."

The armored man glanced at the map, then back at Sai.

"We don't have time for games. What do you know about these dungeons?"

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Sai remained silent for a moment.

Then, he spoke.

"More than you do."

The man's expression remained unreadable.

"Then I suggest you start talking."

For the next hour, Sai sat across from the hunters as they questioned him.

They wanted to know everything—how he found the Lost Gate, what happened inside, what he had seen.

Sai told them half-truths.

He spoke about the dungeon's ruins, about the ancient carvings, about the strange time distortions. But he didn't mention the Abyss, or the golden-eyed entity that had spoken to him.

He could tell they were already on edge.

Then, the armored man leaned forward.

"We have reason to believe the Order is covering something up."

Sai didn't react, but his heart pounded.

"They've been erasing Lost Gates for years," the man continued. "But lately, something's changed."

Sai frowned. "Changed how?"

"The dungeons aren't disappearing anymore."

Sai's breath caught.

"What?"

"Gates that should have collapsed are staying open," the man said. "And the creatures inside are getting stronger."

Sai clenched his fists.

This wasn't just about him.

The world itself was changing.

The Lost Gates weren't being erased anymore.

The Abyss was waking up.

Before Sai could respond, a loud horn blast echoed through the camp.

Instantly, the hunters snapped to attention.

"What now?" the armored man muttered, rising to his feet.

Sai's instincts flared.

Something was wrong.

The tent flap burst open. A hunter ran in, his face pale.

"Sir, we have incoming!"

The armored man stiffened. "What kind?"

The hunter swallowed hard.

"It's not the Order."

Sai's body tensed.

The only other thing that hunted him was—

A deep, guttural roar shook the camp.

Sai's blood ran cold.

That wasn't human.

Outside, the hunters scrambled into position, weapons raised. The trees at the edge of the camp shuddered violently.

And then—it emerged.

A creature unlike anything Sai had seen before.

Towering, covered in blackened scales, its limbs unnaturally long, its eyes glowing with golden light.

It looked almost human.

But it wasn't.

It was something born from the Abyss.

And it had come for him.