Hunter of the Lost Gates-Chapter 7 - : Shadows in the Dark

Sai moved through the dense forest, his steps light and controlled. The night air was cool, the scent of damp earth filling his lungs. His heartbeat had slowed, but his mind was still racing.

The **Hidden Order** was after him.

And now, they knew what he looked like.

He adjusted his grip on his daggers as he weaved between the trees, his senses on high alert. The forest stretched endlessly in all directions, the thick canopy above blocking most of the moonlight. Shadows danced between the branches, and every rustling leaf made his muscles tense.

Sai had no idea where he was, but he had to assume the Order wouldn't give up that easily. **They would come after him again.**

The System's warning had been clear.

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**[New Quest: Unravel the Hidden Order.]**

**[Objective: Learn the true purpose of the Lost Gates.]**

**[Warning: Enemies are already aware of you.]**

---

His fingers clenched.

There was no going back. **He was already caught in the middle of this.**

But if they were hunting him, it meant they knew about the **Lost Gates**. They knew something he didn't.

And that meant he had to learn the truth—**before they killed him.**

He kept moving, listening carefully to the forest around him. The river he had seen earlier wasn't far. **If he could follow it, he might find a village or a hunter outpost.**

But as he stepped forward, his instincts flared.

He stopped.

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**Something was wrong.**

The air felt... **off**.

He slowly scanned his surroundings, his eyes adjusting to the dim light. Nothing moved. The wind had stopped. Even the sounds of insects had vanished.

Then—

A voice.

*"You're fast. But not fast enough."*

Sai spun, daggers raised—

But he was **too late.**

A **shadow** lunged from the trees.

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Sai barely managed to **twist his body**, avoiding the first strike by a hair's breadth. A blade **sliced through the air** where his throat had been, the wind pressure alone sending chills down his spine.

His instincts screamed—**dodge!**

He kicked off the ground, flipping backward as a second attacker lunged from the side. He landed in a crouch, heart pounding, eyes scanning his opponents.

**Two assassins.**

Their faces were hidden behind black masks, their bodies clad in **tight, lightweight armor** designed for speed. Their movements were **flawless**, almost **inhumanly precise.**

They weren't just hunters.

**They were executioners.**

And they were here to kill him.

Sai exhaled slowly, forcing his mind to calm. **Panicking would get him killed.**

*"You shouldn't have survived the Lost Gate,"* one of them said, his voice smooth, professional. **Cold.**

*"Now we have to fix that mistake."*

Sai didn't answer. His grip tightened on his weapons.

Then, without warning, they attacked.

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The first assassin closed the distance in an instant, his blade a blur of silver in the moonlight. Sai barely managed to parry, the **impact jarring his arm**. The second assassin struck from behind, forcing Sai to roll to the side, dirt kicking up beneath him.

He needed **space**—but they weren't giving him any.

Sai activated **Abyssal Step**.

His vision blurred—**and he reappeared five meters away.**

But the assassins **were already reacting**.

*"He has movement abilities. Don't give him time to use them again."*

The first one threw a dagger. Sai barely dodged, feeling the blade **graze his shoulder**. The second one was already moving, his sword **glowing faintly with mana**.

That was bad.

If they had mana-infused weapons, they could **cut through his defenses easily.**

Sai needed a way to **turn the fight in his favor.**

He activated **Critical Sight.**

For a split second, **their movements slowed.** The world sharpened.

And there—**he saw it.**

A **weak point** flickered along the first assassin's left leg. An old injury? A weak stance? It didn't matter.

Sai didn't hesitate.

He **launched forward**, closing the gap before they could react.

His dagger **sank into the weak point**.

The assassin let out a sharp breath as his knee **buckled**, his stance collapsing.

Sai pivoted—**just in time** to dodge the second one's blade. He rolled forward, coming up behind them. He had an opening.

But before he could strike—

A **third presence** entered the fight.

Sai barely had time to react before something **slammed into his back**, sending him **crashing through the trees.**

Pain exploded through his ribs. He gasped, rolling across the dirt before forcing himself up.

His vision swam. His breath came in ragged gasps.

And standing before him—

Was a **third assassin.**

But this one... **was different.**

He wasn't masked like the others. He wore **dark robes lined with silver runes**, his eyes cold and calculating. He carried no weapons—**but the air around him shimmered with raw power.**

A mage.

Sai's stomach twisted.

This just got worse.

*"You're interesting,"* the mage said, tilting his head. *"The Lost Gate granted you something... unique. But it won't save you."*

Sai didn't answer. **He was already moving.**

He activated **Abyssal Step**, blinking behind them—

But the mage didn't even turn.

He simply **raised a hand.**

The air **shattered.**

A wave of **force** slammed into Sai, **pinning him in place.** He struggled, his muscles locking up as an unseen pressure **crushed down on him.**

It felt like the presence from the Lost Gate—**but weaker.**

*"You are marked,"* the mage murmured, stepping closer. His eyes **glowed faintly**. *"You were never meant to leave that dungeon alive. And now that you have..."*

Sai's fingers twitched. He had to move—**had to break free.**

*"...We need to erase you."*

The mage raised his hand—**and a spear of pure mana formed in the air, aimed directly at Sai's heart.**

Sai **gritted his teeth.**

No.

He wasn't **dying here.**

**Not again.**

In the last second, he **forced every ounce of strength into Abyssal Step.**

**The system overloaded.**

His vision **blurred violently**—and then, in an instant, he was **behind the mage.**

Sai **stabbed forward.**

His dagger **pierced the mage's shoulder.**

The man **let out a sharp hiss**, stumbling forward, the spell collapsing.

Sai didn't wait. He **kicked off the ground, flipping backward into the trees.**

He ran.

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Sai sprinted through the forest, his breath ragged. He could hear them behind him, the assassins **giving chase.**

He had bought himself **seconds at best.**

His mind raced. **He couldn't win this fight.** Not against all three. **Not yet.**

But he had gained something valuable.

They had called him **"marked."**

And that meant—**someone else was hunting him.**

This wasn't just about the Lost Gates.

This was about something **bigger.**

He gritted his teeth, pushing forward.

He needed answers.

But first—

He needed to survive.

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