Spirit Hunting Union

Quinn clenched his jaw, plummeting down the cliff non-stop.

If there were any technique he could put in place to lower fatal damage…

A good day to remind him he had got none!

His body hit the ground hard. He yelped, rolling over the snow.

The moment he shot his eyes forward, it was the fox he saw ahead.

Crashing into something like that was definitely a suicidal option. So, he must stabilise himself from slipping any further!

Quinn pulled out his dagger, jabbing it into the ground. The weapon stood rigid in the ground. Able to hold him in place.

That's nice.

Quinn shot an intense, careful glance at the fox. The beast was just some metres away from him. And talking about its own height, it was around one-half-a-metre.

That's pretty abnormal.

What was he even talking about here? How would a mutated fox be normal?

Quinn's chest pounded.

This is something he could handle.

He thought.

But could the other guys do the same too?

As much as he wanted to access their conditions, he knew he mustn't turn. One second's loss of focus, and his head was probably gone.

However, Doran was wise enough to shout out to him,

"Don't turn. We will deal with the two over here!"

Quinn's breathing stalled.

He frowned.

That makes it three mutated foxes onto them.

Three foxes, three Hunters.

The number was weirdly accurate.

But before Quinn would think about something else, he refocused on the fight here. He should do something with the thing out for his life.

'Can I possibly jump over it?'

He had never done it before though.

But he needed a safer ground if he would…

Suddenly, a wave of dark energy slammed against the metal of his gear. The impact sent a vibration through his chest.

Before he knew it, his body was tossed back and slammed into the ice mountain wall.

Shards of ice rained all over him.

Quinn winced. But surprisingly, he didn't cry out.

Because… somehow, the pain wasn't that much anymore.

Now, what was that ability? Pretty decent.

A D-ranker couldn't possibly have two abilities. Maybe this air thing was all the fox had.

'Don't make me laugh.'

Quinn chuckled as he rose to his feet. That was when the fox started to approach him too.

Slowly.

Quinn might look like a patient that has eloped from a psychiatric home if someone sees him right now. Because who grins while a mythical beast is coming for him?

Was that overconfidence?

Or pure insanity?

But for Quinn, it wasn't just any random grin.

It was just that he, for a second, saw the recent Spirit in that fox. Same nonchalant, cocky reaction. Moving like it wasn't coming to take his life.

"Alright."

Without delay, Quinn sprinted towards the fox as well. He could hear rapid movements and clatters from behind. That meant those guys were able to put up a good fight.

Excellent.

Just some feet away, Quinn thought of using his mana. But it surprised him that the blue flames enveloped the dagger this time, not his fists.

He thought he had got the logic now.

Taking a sharp breath, Quinn drove the dagger towards the fox's neck. Vital points on time. No delay.

However, skillfully, the fox slipped right away from his sight.

It vanished before his dagger could get any more closer.

Yet, Quinn didn't fret.

He said in his mind…

'Behind me!'

In a second, he spun around.

Right! The fox was right there. Coming for him.

Now, Quinn won't want to ruin his brilliant plan. He knew he shouldn't attack immediately.

Instead, he first took a step backwards.

The fox closed in non-stop.

Quinn's heart pounded—shouldn't he attack already?

One second. Two seconds. The beast's claws neared his neck more and more.

'Almost time!'

He could see the calm excitement in the fox's eyes when it was about to pierce his neck. But right then, Quinn jabbed the dagger forward with a loud yell.

The metal hit against the claws, repelling them.

As a result, the fox's body skidded backwards over the ice. Quinn straightened his back, tilting his head in mild excitement.

So, his predictions were right? Not bad at all.

The Spirit and this thing had similar attack styles.

Or was it like that for all D-rank creatures? He had no idea.

Now was the perfect time for spam attacks, Quinn thought.

If he goes full mode now that the fox's defences are down, he would probably have the upper hand. Able to deliver most of what he thinks are his deadly hits.

… But still, Quinn hesitated.

The more he looked, the clearer it was that the damned beast was intentionally waiting. Like baiting him to attack.

Well, that's an opportunity.

A risk too, in a sense.

Nonetheless, Quinn closed the distance between them. His shadow loomed before the fox. Then he drove the dagger towards its neck.

His chest raced.

Both in excitement and slight fear.

He kept a close watch on those red eyes.

Even by now, the beast still didn't move.

What was its deal?

… The dagger pierced with a resounding stab.

Quinn chuckled.

"Good job handing the kill over to me."

Then he looked at where he stabbed.

That was when his cheeky smile faded.

His eyes widened.

The dagger was there, dug deep into the beast's arm. When it should have been the neck. How did he miss?

… Quinn tilted his head and groaned,

"Well, I could stab you a thousand times more if that's what you want!"

Tried to pull the dagger out.

But it won't bulge.

His breathing stalled.

As Quinn returned his stare at the fox, he could have sworn he saw it grin. He knew right away he had made a stupid decision to take the bait.

The monster's eyes instantly glowed.

Quinn's instincts told him to step away. Quickly! He did.

Could only try. But unable to bulge just like the dagger.

He got trapped!

'Damn it!'

Then - slash!

A long, sharp-ended red crystal shaped like a spear suddenly pushed out from the ground. Cutting the air in half. It aimed at Quinn's throat. But thankfully, he shifted his head just in time to make the crystal stand before his face.

The red in that crystal looked like… blood!

He pant.

But dodging doesn't settle anything. He was still stuck in proximity with this bitch of a fiend!

Without anything else to do, Quinn could only gauge his chance.

He shouted aloud with a wide smile,

"You like to have fun, don't you? Then come for my throat again! Let's see if I can—"

But before he could complete his statement, the same air from before pushed him. He flew backwards.

His gasp faded into the air.

Then, at that moment, he saw some red stuff floating mid-air in the distance. Right before the beast.

He clenched his jaw.

Those were short arrows! God damn it!

In a split second, the arrows rushed towards him like ants towards a honeybag.

Quinn won't stop drifting back. He couldn't roll away from harm's way either!

Nothing else…

But…

"Damn it! Activate mana!"

The screen popped before him: [MP: 10/360.]

Quinn gasped. Just ten?!

He was cooked.