CHAPTER 24 — The First Human Threat

  Aiden kept moving long after the Hunter Guild patrol vanished behind the trees. The forest grew denser, the shadows longer, the air colder. His Perception hummed faintly, guiding him around hidden roots and quiet pockets of Forceborn activity.

  But something else crept into the edges of his awareness.

  Not Forceborn.

  Not Guild.

  Human.

  He slowed his pace.

  The forest was too quiet. No birds. No insects. Even the wind felt muted.

  Aiden crouched behind a fallen tree, letting his breathing settle. His Perception picked up faint vibrations—soft, controlled footsteps. More than one. Moving with intention.

  Then he heard it.

  A whisper.

  “Target’s close. Spread out.”

  Aiden’s pulse tightened.

  Not hunters.

  Not Guild.

  Mercenaries.

  He stayed low, listening.

  “Command said he slipped past a Guild patrol. Probably some idiot smuggler trying to avoid taxes.”

  “Or an unregistered hunter. Either way, we bring him in.”

  Aiden’s jaw clenched.

  They weren’t here for him specifically.

  They didn’t know what he was.

  But they had noticed him.

  And that was enough.

  A twig snapped behind him.

  Aiden spun just as a man in dark tactical gear lunged from the brush, swinging a stun baton. Aiden dropped his weight—anchored—letting the blow glance off his shoulder instead of knocking him down.

  If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

  Another mercenary emerged from the trees to his right, raising a net launcher.

  Aiden reacted instantly.

  He fired a short Pressure burst at the ground, launching himself backward as the net shot past him and tangled in a tree. He landed hard, rolling behind a boulder.

  “Shit—he’s fast!”

  “Don’t let him get away!”

  Aiden’s heart pounded.

  Not from fear.

  From focus.

  He peeked around the boulder.

  Three mercenaries.

  Light armor.

  Stun weapons.

  Capture gear.

  No lethal intent.

  They wanted him alive.

  Aiden exhaled slowly.

  He could run.

  He could hide.

  But if they kept chasing him, they’d lead others straight to him.

  He needed to break their confidence.

  He needed to make them back off.

  A mercenary crept closer, scanning the area with a handheld device.

  “Come on out, kid. We’re not gonna hurt you. Just need to ask a few questions.”

  Aiden didn’t move.

  The mercenary stepped closer.

  Closer.

  Aiden struck.

  He burst from behind the boulder—lighter—closing the distance in a blur. The mercenary swung his baton, but Aiden ducked under it and slammed a Gravity?boosted palm into the man’s chest.

  The impact sent him flying backward into a tree.

  The other two reacted instantly.

  “Hostile! Take him down!”

  Aiden sprinted toward the next attacker. The mercenary fired a stun round, but Aiden twisted aside, Pressure snapping through his muscles like a coiled spring. He closed the gap and struck the man’s wrist, knocking the weapon free.

  The third mercenary charged from behind.

  Aiden felt him before he heard him.

  Perception pulsed.

  Instinct sharpened.

  Will tightened.

  Aiden spun, dropping his weight and letting Gravity anchor him. The mercenary’s tackle hit him like a truck—but Aiden didn’t move. The man bounced off him, stumbling backward.

  Aiden stepped forward and slammed a Pressure?charged elbow into the man’s ribs, sending him crashing to the ground.

  Silence.

  Three mercenaries groaned on the forest floor, stunned but alive.

  Aiden stood over them, chest rising and falling, breath steadying.

  A notification flickered across his vision.

  [WILLPOWER FORCE — Level Up]

  [Willpower — 0 → 1]

  Aiden blinked.

  His mind felt clearer.

  His focus sharper.

  His fear… quieter.

  He looked down at his hands.

  He hadn’t panicked.

  He hadn’t hesitated.

  He hadn’t lost control.

  He had chosen every move.

  Aiden stepped back into the shadows as the mercenaries struggled to sit up.

  One of them groaned, clutching his ribs.

  “What the hell… was that kid?”

  Aiden didn’t answer.

  He was already gone, slipping deeper into the forest, letting the Wild Zone swallow him again.

  He needed to move.

  He needed to stay ahead.

  He needed to stay unseen.

  Because the world wasn’t just hunting monsters anymore.

  It was starting to hunt him.