Chronicles Of The Crafting Hero

As Rebecca loosed her Mist Arrow, the arrow sliced through the air, hurtling past the frantic hunters racing toward her. Toren caught sight of it passing mere inches by him, the faint glow of the arrow's white mist flickering in his peripheral vision. He heard Jason's steady, unwavering breathing—calm, serious, unshaken. Jason's expression betrayed no concern; his eyes remained focused, unreadable.

Suddenly, the arrow detonated midair in a flash of white mist. The explosion unleashed a torrent of swirling fog that erupted outward in a violent whirlwind, engulfing a vast portion of the forest around them. The mist billowed and roared like a living creature, spiraling in a furious vortex that swallowed everything within its reach. Trees, shadows, even the distant figures of the hunters all vanished into the swirling shroud.

Rebecca's feet touched the ground smoothly as she landed, her expression tense but composed. The sudden surge of mist caught Jason off guard his eyes widened in surprise as the fog surged forward, swallowing him whole. Even the hunters just about to reach her were pulled into the swirling abyss from behind, their figures vanishing into the dense, impenetrable fog.

The entire area was now shrouded in a thick, swirling sea of mist an opaque barrier that obscured everything beyond. Visibility dropped to near zero; the trees themselves disappeared into the white chaos, leaving only the muffled sounds of the vortex spinning endlessly.

Aaron clenched his teeth, realizing the danger. His mind raced. *Damn it, A Mist Arrow.* He thought bitterly. *Of course she has that. I considered using it, but it would've been a stupid idea. It would've only played into her hands.* His eyes sharpened as he activated his perception skill, focusing through the fog. The world around him suddenly became clearer most of the swirling mist faded from his sight, revealing the outline of the forest and the figures within.

He spotted Tim. The hunter's voice cut through the chaos, tense and confused. "What just happened?"

Toren's voice was calm but filled with understanding. "It's a skill used by higher-ranked archers," he explained quietly, unseen within the fog. "She's definitely more than a C rank."

Jason clenched his jaw, frustration gnawing at him. His thoughts were a storm of disbelief and anger. *This is ridiculous...*

Jason continued to think, frustration bubbling inside him. *I thought this would be more dangerous,* he mused silently. *But this—this is all we have to face?* The thought of that hunter—the one who had disappeared—gnawed at him. The idea that others had fallen to this chaos was driving him mad.

He activated his search skill again, focusing on a small area of the forest surrounding him. In his mind's eye, he could see every detail within the range of the skill—every branch, every movement, every shadow. As he closed his eyes, the image sharpened, and suddenly, he saw it—both him and Aaron caught sight of Rebecca simultaneously.

Rebecca, poised with her bow, had equipped three arrows. Each arrow's tip was embedded with a shimmering, frozen crystal, gleaming with a cold, deadly light. She was about to fire her first shot when Aaron's voice cut through the chaos. "Quick, dodge! They're coming in that direction!"

Without hesitation, he surged toward Tim, instinct guiding him. Rebecca loosed her arrows—three streaks of icy crystal hurtling through the air with deadly precision. Aaron dove toward Tim, hitting him just as the arrows whistled past, nearly missing. The impact caused them both to tumble, narrowly avoiding the barrage of freezing projectiles. Aaron's shoulder was grazed—just a small cut, but coldness rippled through it, as if the wound carried a strange, numbing chill.

He shot a quick glance at Tim. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," Tim grunted, wincing. "What the hell is with these buffs? It felt like I was tougher—more durable—seconds ago. But now, it's like they're not even helping. What's going on?"

Aaron nodded grimly. "Yeah, I know. They barely increased my skills. It's like the buff is lacking... but now's not the time to think about that."

Both of them dropped low, crouching on the forest floor, scanning the direction from which the arrows had come. Tim broke the silence. "Since you have that perception skill, you can see better than me. Where is she?"

Aaron's eyes flicked around, but even with his perception active, the thick fog made it nearly impossible to see far. He hesitated, then shook his head. "I don't know. She disappeared again."

Tim looked at him sharply. "She's got a ton of skills. How many arrow skills do you have, exactly?"

Aaron hesitated. "A lot. But I can't use them right now."

"Why not?" Tim pressed. "Skills like that would be really helpful right now."

Aaron shot him a wry look."I could say the same about you."

" Look, a knight's better suited for close combat. My long-range skills won't even reach her at this point. I can't see her. So I'm relying on you and Jason." Tim defended.

Tim nodded thoughtfully. "And Jason? Where is he?"

Aaron glanced around, activating his perception again, but the fog was so thick that it obscured everything beyond a few meters. No matter how sharp his senses were, the swirling mist refused to yield its secrets.

Meanwhile, in the distance, Rebecca moved carefully, her footsteps deliberate but silent. She kept her distance from the other hunters, slowly circling around them, heading toward Torren—more vulnerable, alone, scanning the chaos with frantic eyes.

Torren, hidden within the mist, thought to himself, *Where the hell are the others? They were near me just now.* His heart pounded. *If I call out, I'll be spotted.* He was a close-range fighter, and if Rebecca fired arrows at him, he wasn't confident he could dodge them all. So he remained silent, watching, waiting, as she crept closer, keeping her distance and blending into the white chaos.

With her rapid-fire skill activated, Rebecca swiftly withdrew her bow. In a flash, the arrow teleported from her quiver directly onto the bowstring. She took a steady aim, her eyes locking onto Torren from a distance through the swirling fog. Without hesitation, she released.

The arrow sliced through the thick mist, hurtling toward its target. Torren heard a faint whistling sound an unmistakable warning. His instincts screamed at him to look back. As he turned, he saw the arrow coming so close he could feel the rush of air as it passed just inches from his jawline.

His mind snapped into action. *She's right there!* He immediately started sprinting toward the direction of the shot, weaving through the fog with desperation.

Suddenly, more arrows emerged from the mist, streaking toward him like deadly projectiles. Torren rolled to his left mid-run, the arrows grazing the ground just behind him. He kept rolling, dodging shot after shot, until one finally struck his foot with a sharp, searing pain. He groaned, pain flaring through his leg, but he didn't stop. He quickly tore the arrow free, blood oozing from the wound as he stood back up.

"Damn it," he muttered through gritted teeth. "I can't even see her. If only I could get close…"

His hands suddenly erupted in a fierce glow bright red flames licking up his fingers. He clenched his fists, activating his Crimson Fist skill. The flames burned brighter than ever, crackling with raw, untamed power.

He thought bitterly, *Jason even gave us buffs…* but frustration gnawed at him. *And we can't even use them.*

Meanwhile, Rebecca was moving through the fog, circling around him. Her footsteps were silent, calculated. Every shot she fired seemed to give her away Torren knew she was close, but she was unpredictable, always shifting just out of reach.

*That was close,* she thought. *Every time I fire an arrow, he sees exactly where it's coming from. I have to finish this fast.* Her mind raced time was running out, and the fog wouldn't last much longer.

Torren's eyes darted through the swirling mist as he shouted, "Come on, show yourself, you fucking coward!" His voice echoed into the fog. Then he thought, *Did she make a run for it?*

Rebecca, hidden in the shadows, thought to herself, *It seems like he's able to dodge my arrows because of Jason's buffs. Should I use that skill? She hesitated briefly. It's guaranteed to hit and kill him, but... I can't use it now. I need to save it for Jason. If I use it, I might burn through all my mana. Guess I'll stick to the basic skills for now.*

She drew an arrow, watching Torren's hands. His arms flickered with flickering flames bright, intense, but not burning his armor or himself. Just burning like a fierce, magical aura. She then let go, firing with her rapid-fire skill. The arrows shot out at an astonishing rate, about five per second each teleporting from her quiver onto her bow as she drew, unleashing a barrage of deadly projectiles.

Suddenly, Torren sensed it. He spun around just in time to see countless arrows streaking toward him. With his Crimson Fist still active, he raised his arm and slapped away the first arrow, shattering it. The second, third, and fourth followed his deflections, each one broken by his quick, precise movements. But then, an arrow struck his shoulder, forcing a groan of pain from him. Blood seeped from the wound, but he didn't stop. Instead, he clenched his fists and surged forward, deflecting the incoming shots with rapid, calculated movements.

Rebecca's smile widened as she watched. *Does he really think he can deflect all of these? she mused silently, firing even faster as he weaved through the storm of arrows with deadly grace.

*They're getting even faster. He's deflecting them all. He dodged and weaved through the barrageit meant he was getting closer. *This is dangerous. Where the hell is everyone?*

Then, amidst the rain of projectiles, Rebecca fired a single arrow into the midst of the barrage—the first shot in a flurry of rapid-fire. Torren, quick on his feet, tapped the first arrow, and in that moment, his Crimson Fist deactivated. His left hand, previously burning in flames, was suddenly encased in a thin layer of ice, tiny frost crystals forming on his knuckles. The cold sting was sharp but manageable; he chose to ignore it, focusing on the chaos unfolding around him.

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Suddenly, an arrow pierced his collarbone. He grimaced, blood pooling as he coughed, then yanked the arrow free. His hands touched the ground as he fell to his knees, breathing heavily.

Rebecca closed in, calmly walking toward him. As the mist parted slightly, Torren saw her, eyes cold and emotionless. With a sneer, he spat out, "You fucking bitch," among his groans. His gaze fixed on her as she raised her hand silently to a nearby tree.

Without warning, the tree suddenly splintered and collapsed—arrows erupted from every branch, transforming into a dense, deadly barrage of hundreds of projectiles. Torren's eyes widened in shock. What kind of skill is that? he thought desperately. No wonder she didn't run out of arrows.

He pushed himself up, one leg bent under him while the other remained kneeling. Rebecca silently drew another arrow, not bothering to speak. She pointed it steadily at him. Torren looked at her, exhausted and battered. "You're a pretty strong archer," he said weakly. "It seems you've defeated me. It looks like you're about to kill me. And I don't think I can do anything to stop it. But before you do... why?"

Her expression was cold, her eyes glowing faintly silver. She said nothing, only flicked the tip of her arrow with a flickering flame. Torren knew he wouldn't get an answer.

Suddenly, a burst of wind erupted from the distance. The fog was pushed back, swirling violently as if something was forcing it away from both of them. Rebecca's flames flickered—her hair pushed back by the gusts, her body tense as the wind pressed inward from all directions. The fog was clearing rapidly.

In an instant, the entire mist vanished. Everything around them became visible again. The darkened forest was clearer now, the night slightly brighter as the fog dispersed, revealing the aftermath of the chaos. The darkness still lingered, but the oppressive curtain had been torn away.

Torren's heart raced as he caught the fleeting glimmer of surprise in Rebecca's eyes, a momentary lapse that ignited a surge of desperation within him. Seizing the opportunity, he propelled himself forward, an act of instinctive defiance against the impending doom that loomed over him. With a forceful crash, his chest collided against the tautness of her bow, the strings vibrating with the resonance of a battle not yet won. In that split second, he wrapped his arms around her, a fierce embrace driven by primal fear and a hope for redemption, as the world around them blurred into chaos.

But even as they tumbled through the air, the lithe and lethal Rebecca was not to be undone. With a swift and practiced motion, she drew her dagger from the sheath at her hip, the blade glinting ominously in the fading light. Without hesitation, she plunged the dagger deep beneath his ribcage, the cold steel tearing into flesh with a sickening ease. Torren gasped, a guttural groan escaping his lips as the blade pierced through to his lung, the sharp pain igniting a fiery agony that spread like wildfire through his body. The world around him faded into a muffled haze as they fell, the ground rushing up to meet him.

Torren hit the earth with a heavy thud, the impact forcing the dagger deeper into his side, a cruel twist of fate that robbed him of breath. His body convulsed as he struggled to inhale, each gasp a desperate plea for life, his vision blurring as darkness encroached upon the edges of his consciousness. He lay there, vulnerable and exposed, the sharp taste of iron filling his mouth, a bitter reminder of the treachery that had unfolded.

Rebecca, momentarily unsteady from the chaos, quickly regained her footing. She rose with a cold efficiency, her expression steely and unyielding as she reclaimed her bow from the ground. With the poise of a seasoned hunter, she nocked an arrow, the shaft gliding effortlessly into place against the string. Her gaze fell upon Torren, who now writhed in agony, his eyes wide with shock and pain, a haunting reflection of the life slipping away from him.

As she loosed the arrow, it flew with a deadly grace, a flash of vengeance that found its mark with ruthless precision. The arrow struck him squarely in the center of his forehead, a final punctuation to their tragic encounter. Rebecca's face remained an impassive mask, devoid of emotion, as she turned away, her heart pounding with a mix of adrenaline and dread.

*Shit, shit,* she thought. "The mist disappeared sooner than it had to. It's because of Jason, isn't it? He used his skill. There are three of them left now. Even so, I feel like they're too much for me. One close-combat hunter and two long-ranged ones. But even so, I have to find a way to kill them."

As she ran through the darkness, a sudden pain shot through both sides of her stomach. She slowed her pace and then stopped.

Rebecca looked down at her abdomen, her heart pounding as she pulled up her clothing. There, beneath the fabric, she saw the marks, three small puncture wounds on both sides, resembling the impressions left by fingers. They were shallow but enough to draw a slight trickle of blood, like scratch marks from a desperate struggle. The realization hit her: Torren had been fast, too fast. She hadn't felt the pain until now, but it was there, a dull throb that was merely a backdrop to the chaos unfolding around her.

"Why didn't I notice?" she thought, irritation mingling with confusion. The pain was bearable, but questions swelled in her mind like a storm. How had Torren managed to injure her so swiftly? It was disconcerting, a reminder of how quickly the tide of battle could turn.

With a determined breath, she fixed her clothing, pulling it taut to close the wounds as best she could. Ignoring the discomfort, she resumed running, not in retreat but circling back, her instincts guiding her movements. She knew she couldn't escape; the hunters were closing in. Yet something gnawed at her, unsettling and persistent.

She had killed Torren, but it had felt too easy. "Why didn't Jason help?" she pondered. He had the vantage of his search skill, able to see everything even through the foreboding shadows of the forest. Why hadn't he intervened to support his comrades? Even the buffing spells he cast didn't seem to enhance their abilities significantly.

A wave of frustration washed over her. The pieces didn't fit. She was not just battling her enemies; she was wrestling with uncertainty, questioning the very fabric of their alliance.

Her legs pounded against the forest floor, her breath ragged and quick. Suddenly, from the earth just meters ahead, jagged stone spikes erupted in a brutal, unrelenting line. The stones were rough and weathered, their surfaces dark brown and hard, shimmering faintly with a malevolent energy. They thrust upward like the claws of some ancient beast awakening, jagged and deadly.

She skidded on the short grass, her momentum forcing her to a halt mere inches from the deadly barricade. Her abdomen and thighs hovered perilously close to the sharp, unyielding spikeseach one a cruel spear of stone, steadily rising from the ground. Her instincts screamed at her, and she immediately leapt backward, narrowly avoiding the lethal trap.

The stone barricade stretched ominously into the darkness beyond, a long, twisting wall of jagged rocks that completely blocked her path. Both sides vanished into shadow, sealing her in. Her eyes flicked with sharp awareness, this was undoubtedly Jason's work. She knew she had little time.

Without hesitation a shimmering blue light pulsed from her quiver—an arcane glow that shimmered with magic. The light coalesced into a single arrow, which instantly teleported onto the bowstring, humming with an ancient, arcane power.

Suddenly, from the darkness ahead, she saw it, a deadly arrow slicing through the shadows, heading straight for her. In a flash of divine cunning, the arrow split into six shimmering projectiles, each one darting in all directions—an intricate barrage designed to make her dodge nearly impossible. She moved instinctively, trying to evade the chaotic spread of magical arrows, her body reacting swiftly to the deadly assault.

In the chaos, the earth behind her erupted again, this time with brutal, jagged spikes bursting upward from the ground, threatening to pierce her from behind.

Rebecca then front-flipped, her body twisting and curling mid-air as she narrowly avoided the earth's spikes erupting behind her. Her form spun fluidly, a blur of motion as she dodged the deadly barrage of arrows streaking toward her from the darkness ahead. But suddenly, one arrow pierced her in the shoulder mid-flight. She groaned in pain, the impact causing a sharp jolt through her as she landed on both her legs, crouching down instinctively.

She abruptly lifted her head, her eyes sharp with focus. Without hesitation, her hand shot toward the arrow embedded in her shoulder. It stung fiercely, but she refused to pull it out carelessly. Instead, she quickly broke the tip of the arrow inside her flesh, knowing that pulling it free would cause even more bleeding and damage.

Then, from the darkness ahead, a wave of shimmering blue magic surged forward small, curved, and straight-lined, rushing toward her at full speed. She had no time to react. The arcane wave struck her in the chest with explosive force, causing her to flip mid-air and be launched backward. Her body tumbled through the chaos, landing behind the earth spikes. Before she hit the ground, one of the earth spikes grazed her thigh, leaving a searing, burning wound. She groaned in pain, rolling onto her side, then immediately pushed herself onto one knee.

Her hand darted to her quiver, drawing an arrow with quick precision. Suddenly, she saw him, Tim coming at her with his sword raised high, his silver plate armor gleaming ominously as he yelled, "Come on, we've got her!"

Before she could fire at him, she saw an arrow coming from behind Tim, flying straight for her head with deadly intent. Tim, unaware, rushed directly at her, the arrow passing just behind his ear, heading straight for her. Reacting instinctively, she fired her own arrow. Both arrowheads collided in midair, a fierce clash of magic and steel. She recognized the arrow was Aaron's.

Realizing she had only moments, she swiftly drew another arrow, nocking multiple shafts and unleashing a barrage of shots at Tim. He swung his sword with practiced strength, slicing the first arrow in half, the fragments scattering into the shadows.

He then sliced through the second target with brutal precision, followed immediately by a clean, swift cut through the third. Rebecca's eyes widened in surprise at Tim's relentless agility his movements almost too fast to follow. She wanted to conserve her mana, her mind racing to hold back, but she knew deep down she couldn't keep relying on basic arrows. If she did, Tim would cut her down without mercy.

Tim then activated his skill: **Knight's Charge**. His silver armor shimmered faintly, a ghostly glow spreading across its surface as it pulsed with power. His speed surged,faster, sharper and he crashed toward her like a lightning bolt, his armor crackling with energy and fury.

Rebecca immediately withdrew her bowstring, activating her **rapid-fire** skill. An arrow materialized instantly, teleporting from her quiver as if summoned by her will. Its tip flickered with a fierce, flickering flame a blazing beacon of destruction. Without hesitation, she loosed it. The arrow streaked forward with a trail of sparks, roaring like a comet as it headed straight for Tim.

She unleashed another, then another each arrow ignited, blazing trails of fire and fury through the air. The first struck Tim in the chest, detonating in a fiery explosion that rocked his armor. The second followed, bursting in a similar fiery eruption. Explosions of flame and shrapnel erupted outward, showering the air with sparks and sparks. Despite the relentless assault, Tim kept rushing forward groaning in pain, but unyielding in his savage assault.

Then, without warning, Rebecca froze. " I have no choice i have to use it." She muttered Her resolve hardened. Standing on both legs, exhausted but resolute, she cast her gaze forward. Her body tensed as a surge of raw energy flooded her senses her eyes and the tip of her arrow glowing with a brilliant, electric blue. Within her pupils, a crackling current danced like lightning, wild and uncontrollable.

She let go of her grip, and the arrow shot forward with a thunderous roar encased in a sheath of crackling, volatile lightning. The air seemed to hum with raw power as it tore through the sky, tearing through flesh and bone alike.

It struck Tim's stomach with a cataclysmic force, tearing through him in a deafening explosion. The lightning arrow ripped a bloody, gaping wound, then headed straight for the tree where Aaron was hiding.

Aaron's eyes widened in terror just as the deadly projectile approached danger he was too slow to dodge. The lightning arrow shattered the tree in a blinding flash, splinters flying in all directions before ripping through Aaron's arm, tearing it off and ripping into his shoulder. Blood spattered wildly as he screamed in agony, the pain overwhelming him.

Tim's eyes widened in shock as he froze mid-step. A gaping hole marred his torso, blood bubbling from his mouth. He coughed violently, then collapsed onto the forest floor, lifeless.

Aaron's scream echoed through the woods as the shattered tree collapsed behind him. His remaining arm hung useless, blood oozing from his torn shoulder. The pain was fierce, and his vision blurred.

Rebecca felt a sudden wave of exhaustion her mana drained, her body trembling from the effort. Her focus wavered, but then the echo of Aaron's screams snapped her back. Determination blazed anew in her eyes.

She quickly drew her bowstring once more, her fingers steady and precise. An arrow teleported from her quiver to the string. She let it go, releasing it. The arrow streaked through the air . Hitting Aaron in the head clean, swift, and merciless killing him instantly.

Rebecca breathed slowly, each inhale shallow and heavy as a faint, almost imperceptible drain of energy seeped from her body. Her steps were deliberate, her gaze fixed on Aaron, his body sprawled across the ground, lifeless and unmoving. Her eyes lingered on him briefly, then she looked ahead.

Then she saw him, Jason holding his small, short staff with the golden orb, walking toward her with fearless grace, calm and steady, as if the weight of the world didn't faze him.

Without hesitation, she reacted instantly her fingers pulling the bowstring. An arrow materialized, teleporting onto it with a crackle of raw energy. The glow ignited brighter and brighter, casting a fierce blue light that illuminated the entire forest, shadows flickering wildly. Her jaw clenched, her teeth grinding as she pushed her mind to the limit.

"I have to do it, I have to pour every single bit of mana into this," she thought fiercely. "If I use every bit of my mana, every last one, I might go into a coma. But I have to take the risk."

The wind then began to swirl around her, howling as it whipped her hair backwards. The sheath of pulsing electrical energy on the arrow expanded rapidly, growing bigger and more fierce, crackling louder and brighter, as if storming with raw power.

Jason looked at her. His eyes widened a little in surprise. He was caught off guard. Jason thought to himself:

"What is that skill? It's lightning arrow? How is it becoming this big? That's going to be a very powerful attack. I have to find a way to defend against this. I need to know everything, before I kill her."*

The arrow, grew larger and brighter, becoming an ominous storm of crackling blue lightning. He then took to himself:

*"It looks like she already killed the other two. Well, that doesn't matter. I was hoping she would kill them anyway, it was a part of my orders to get rid of them."* His comrade's death did not even move him one bit. His focus returned to the expanding, glowing projectile.

He then thought: *It looks like this fight is not going to be as disappointing as I thought it would be. I might actually have to use a chunk of my mana to defend against that.*

But suddenly, the veins on Rebecca's chest lit up, connecting all the way to her neck. And she winced sharply in pain. The lightning sheath on the arrow vanished instantly. Her vision blurred, swirling into darkness. Her body trembled uncontrollably.

And she thought to herself, *"Oh no, no, no, no—" as she saw herself fall to her knees, awkwardly collapsing onto her backside. *"Why now? If I don't get up, I'm going to die."* Her body shook violently, her strength fading. Then, suddenly, she fainted.

Jason tilted his head in confusion, watching her slump unconscious. *"Huh? What just happened?"* he wondered silently. He then stepped closer, using his foot to flip her onto her back, scanning her face carefully. He then thought: *"She must have exhausted all her mana—her whole energy is depleted."*

He sighed deeply, feeling Anguista boil within him once more—a restless, fiery rage mixed with concern. His gaze swept the forest again, searching. *"Where is that damned hunter? I can't go back without him."*

His thoughts darkened further. *"She's dangerous, and she knows a lot. It's obvious she might have viable information on why they're targeting us."* His eyes narrowed, recalling her fierce stare—her hate-filled gaze, her threatening posture, her intent to unleash her ultimate skill.

He reached down, gently lifting Rebecca onto his shoulder, holding her securely. His grip was steady, and the golden glow of his body and hers shimmered fiercely in the darkness. Then, suddenly, his body and hers glowed golden, and he disappeared in a flash, teleporting away into the shadows.

And far away, Tyler was still sleeping peacefully on the forest floor, where Rebecca had left him. Hours had passed, more hours and Tyler remained in deep sleep, lost in dreams amid the quiet darkness.

Then, in the middle of the night, Tyler's eyes fluttered open.