Chronicles Of The Crafting Hero

Anna was descending downward, her white coat swaying in the faint breeze. *Is he really the Shadow Hunter?* she thought, watching Tyler struggle to rise from the ground. Both his forearms were bruised red, the skin angry and inflamed. It was a stinging feeling, hot under his skin like embers pressed against bone.

*Something is wrong,* Anna thought, her eyes narrowing. *That guard said the Shadow Hunter could fly, and the report said he could teleport. But why didn't he do that? Why did he decide blocking was the best option?* Her mind worked through the possibilities. *No, could it be that he can't? He was running just now. If he could, he would've just teleported or flown away.*

Tyler gripped his painful wrist, his palm tracing over the bracers still wrapped around his forearms. *Who the hell is that?*

Anna landed silently, her blade already in her hand. "So, you're the Shadow Hunter."

Tyler's eyes widened at her words. "Shadow Hunter? Who the hell are you?" His words were laced with a muffled groan that tried, and failed, to hide the pain in his voice.

A system panel appeared above Anna's head in a rectangular bar, blue text glowing against the darkening sky:

Anna White-Lv: 290

Tyler's heart hammered in his chest, the beat jolting through him like electricity. *She's a level 290? She... she must be a Pale Reaper.* His facial expression couldn't hide the shock.

Anna's gaze sharpened. *With that kind of reaction, I don't need anything else to confirm it. Plus, he produced those white scales I spotted earlier.*

"I'm a Pale Reaper," she said, answering his question with cold clarity. "And I was sent here to deal with you."

"What?" Tyler stared at her, stunned by her blunt answer. "A Pale Reaper? I- but you've got the wrong person. I'm not the Shadow Hunter. I don't even look like him."

Anna pointed her sword toward him, the blade gleaming despite the overcast sky. "Don't lie to me. I know who you are. How do you think I found you? I tracked the blood I found at the scene in Aria. You were there."

"What? My blood? But-"

Suddenly, in the blink of an eye, Anna blitzed toward Tyler. Her hand formed a fist, and then she struck him, right in the gut.

Tyler couldn't react. The fist launched him into the air, his eyes widening in pain. *So fast... I couldn't even...* The thought barely formed before he collapsed onto the ground with a heavy thud. Both his hands rushed to his abdomen, clutching it as he puked up some of the water he'd drunk earlier. The liquid spilled onto the grass, his body convulsing.

Anna's eyes narrowed as she watched him writhe. "The kingdom said I should bring you in alive." Her voice cut through Tyler's groans like a blade through silk. "However, if you do anything to resist, I *will* kill you."

*What the hell was that just now?* Anna thought, her gaze fixed on him. *That was more like a test. I didn't even use my full speed and strength, and yet he couldn't even block it. This isn't right. Isn't this supposed to be the man who covered the entire town in shadow?*

Tyler gritted his teeth. *She's so strong... How the hell is she so convinced? I looked so different in the wanted poster.*

"If you try to teleport or fly away, I can still track you," Anna said as Tyler struggled to get up, only managing to get on his knees. "And I won't give you a second chance."

He was breathing heavily, each breath scraping through his throat. He looked up at her. "Lady, I don't know what you're talking abou-"

Thwack!!!

A kick slammed into Tyler's jaw, snapping his head to the side. His body sprawled across the ground, tumbling over and over like a ragdoll. Grass and dirt smeared across his clothes as he rolled to a stop.

Anna's patience was wearing thin. It felt like he was mocking her. Pretending to be weak just so she'd let him go. But she wasn't a fool. She'd seen Tyler's reaction before the kick landed, he'd hesitated. Almost as if he'd started to dodge but stopped himself.

Even if he couldn't fully avoid it, he'd reacted to it.

"You're starting to get on my nerves," she said, moving toward him. Her hair suddenly pulled itself into a ponytail, as if it had tied itself, swaying in the chill wind that carried the metallic tang of rain.

The wind had grown stronger now, relentless. It tugged at her hair and coat, making them sway almost endlessly. She moved with firm purpose, ready to strike Tyler again. It was obvious he wasn't going to comply.

Then she stopped. Something caught her eye.

A green figure was shouting, coming from their right. She'd almost forgotten about her. The pet.

Joy was running toward them, speeding rapidly. Her legs were a blur. Her teeth were clenched, her brow furrowed as anger, fear, and concern filled her chest. This human. This woman who came out of nowhere and attacked them. She was hurting Tyler. He looked helpless, laying there. It looked all too familiar, just like earlier when she was little, before she evolved. She couldn't find a way to help him then. But right now, she'd try anything in her power.

Anna looked back at Tyler, disgust twisting her features. "A humanoid monster? What is that thing? Your pet?"

Tyler's eyes widened at the realization that Joy might be heading their way. He pushed himself up with his hands, forcing his body off the ground.

"Disgusting. I never really liked pets," Anna said, her voice cold. "But taking those *things* as pets? How despicable."

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The closer Joy got, the more Anna could see how human-like she was. And it made her stomach churn. It felt wrong. Like this thing was a mistake.

Immediately, Anna blitzed toward Joy. She raised her sword with both hands and brought it downward in a lethal arc.

Joy couldn't react to the blade. Death was about to rain down like a comet. She clenched her teeth, bracing for the inevitable as Anna's eyes locked onto her.

But suddenly, a hand pressed against Joy's shoulder, pushing her away with tremendous force. She was shoved to the side, hard and then Tyler was there, blocking the strike with his own sword. The lightning sword.

Anna's breath caught, her eyes widening as they fell on Tyler. His eyes were glowing a faint blue, crackling with bits of lightning dancing within them.

Joy landed hard on the ground, the grass slightly cushioning her fall. She let out a small moan of pain, her eyes squeezing shut. When she opened them again, she looked at Tyler. Surprise flickered across her face. She was so far away. How hard had he pushed her?

He clenched his teeth, feeling the sword's passive ability surge through his muscles, a 100% boost in speed that made his blood sing with power. Lightning erupted along the blade's edge, crackling and dancing like living serpents of white-blue energy. As their weapons clashed, electricity leaped from steel to flesh, racing up Anna's arms in brilliant arcs. The shock bit into her fingers, a stinging distraction that lasted only a heartbeat, but a heartbeat was all he needed.

"Stay away from her!" Tyler's scream tore from his throat, raw and desperate, as he channeled every ounce of strength into the push.

Anna's form blurred backward, boots carving twin furrows through the grass as she slid. The earth beneath her feet might as well have been ice. She steadied herself with practiced ease, dark eyes calculating as she watched his chest heave, shoulders pumping like bellows. *Was that his full strength just now?* The thought sparked contempt. *No, it can't be. That was pathetically weak. I only slid because of how slippery the grass was.*

Joy scrambled upright, grass stains on her clothes, and broke into a desperate sprint. "Tyler!" Her voice cracked with fear, hand reaching for him.

He whipped toward her, eyes wide with alarm. "Joy, stay-" His palm shot out, a barrier of denial.

Understanding crashed over her like cold water. Her feet stuttered to a halt, momentum dying as her eyes widened. She wanted to help, wanted to fight beside him, but his message was crystal clear, it was too dangerous.

Tyler activated Acid Blood.

The transformation was instantaneous, breathtaking. White scales erupted from his chest like an avalanche in reverse, each one gleaming with otherworldly luminescence. They flowed across his body in a cascade of organic armor, interlocking with mechanical precision. In the space between heartbeats, he stood transformed, a warrior encased in scales that seemed to drink in the light.

Anna's eyes narrowed to dangerous slits. *These scales... what kind of skill is this?*

"Disgusting." Anna's voice dripped with disdain as her gaze slid to Joy.

Rage ignited in Tyler's chest, hot and immediate. How dare she. His scaled fists clenched, the armor creaking with tension.* She tried to kill Joy just now, and she's calling her disgusting?*

The fury warred with cold reality.* But damn it, she's so much stronger than me. Can I even win this fight? Even if I give it my all and activate all my skills?*

"Why did you do it?" Anna's sword point swung back toward him, steady as death itself.

"What?"

"Why did you slaughter that entire guild? You don't need to deny it. I already know you're the Shadow Hunter. It's quite obvious now."

Tyler's teeth ground together, jaw aching from the pressure. "You don't need to know anything about that."

She surged forward.

Tyler's eyes widened as he realized her feet weren't touching the ground. She glided toward him like a specter, closing the distance with terrifying grace.

Her blade whistled through the air in a perfect arc. Tyler brought his sword up just in time, the clash rang out like a bell, the impact jarring his arms even through the scale armor. Metal screamed against metal, sparks dancing between their weapons.

Behind him, Joy pressed her fist against her chest, feeling her heart hammer beneath her ribs. Each racing beat matched her mounting terror as she watched the two warriors collide.

*Shit, she's so much stronger,* Tyler thought, the realization hitting him as Anna's initial strike sent him stumbling backward, his boots scraping across the grass. Yet, she didn't pursue. She stopped, her stance relaxed, and said, "Shadow Hunter, is this truly the best you can offer? I'm beginning to find this rather… disappointing. I don't particularly enjoy challenges, yet…" She paused, her voice hardening. "The display of strength you're presenting is beginning to irritate me."

"What do you people want with me?" Tyler asked, his eyes wary.

Anna answered, her voice cold and devoid of emotion, "Well, isn't it obvious? You are to be brought in for interrogation, though I suspect execution will follow. Your actions have warranted that, at the very least."

Tyler's eyes widened with a complex mix of surprise and resignation, but ultimately, he had expected as much. After all, he had, in a single night, slaughtered a group.

Anna sighed, muttering under her breath, "Fine. Let's just get this over with."

In a flash, she became a blur. Tyler lost sight of her for a fleeting moment, but his instincts screamed danger. Reacting without conscious thought, he activated his skill, Lightning Agility, allowing his movements to match the blinding speed of electricity. Then, he saw her. Her form was a frozen tableau, a thrusting spear of lethal intent. Her blade tip was inches from his chest.

With a desperate lunge, Tyler dodged to the side, simultaneously using his own sword to deflect the blow. Anna's eyes widened, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. *Oh, he's suddenly gotten faster?*

Tyler, seizing the moment, swung his sword, bringing it down in an arc, aiming to cleave into Anna's shoulder. But Anna, quick as a viper, withdrew her blade and countered with an upward strike of her own.

The strike caused Tyler to stumble back, but Anna didn't stop. She pursued him relentlessly, her blade slicing through the air. Tyler countered, sparks of lightning erupting as their swords clashed. Then again. Then again and again.

Tyler countered and countered, his teeth clenched as Anna kept increasing the speed of her blows. Her eyes were devoid of any stress, still narrowed, focused entirely on him.

Joy's eyes widened as she watched Tyler getting pushed back. His hands and Anna's became a blur. Their swords weren't even visible anymore, just sparks flashing between them like fireflies in the dark. It looked like they were running, running backward as Tyler was pushed back at astonishing speed.

Now Joy truly understood. She couldn't do anything in this battle. Worry clawed at her chest, and suddenly she felt helpless. She couldn't do anything right then except hope, pray that Tyler might actually win.

Anna's blade rained down on Tyler. He dodged to the side, stepping forward. His eyes glowed faintly blue. He balled his hand into a fist.

Anna noticed immediately. *Is he really going for a punch?*

Tyler launched his fist straight at Anna's gut. Anna dodged, but what came after surprised her.

A massive amount of force exploded from Tyler's fist, as if he'd punched the wind itself.

An invisible shockwave erupted in front of his fist, slamming into Anna from the side. She was launched into the air, her body spinning upward like a leaf caught in a gale. In front of Tyler, the grass erupted, dirt and earth tearing open in a huge tunnel of wet soil from the force of the punch alone.

Anna spun through the air and then stopped herself mid-flight, floating. Her eyes were wide, shock written plainly across her face. *What the hell was that just now? Another skill?* She stared down at the devastation Tyler's near-miss had caused, a jagged scar carved into the earth.

*Damn it. I missed,* Tyler thought, turning to look up at her as she hovered in the air. *I wasted the force that was absorbed into the bracers. Now I can only use the other one in my left hand.*

Joy stepped forward, and then suddenly she felt something cold land on her forehead. A droplet. She looked upward.

It started raining, droplets falling from the sky, slow at first, then faster. Rain had come.