They broke through the last tunnel and out into daylight. Thin gray sunlight filtered through the mist above the Mycoth ridge, cutting long shadows through the trees. The ground was soft and damp beneath their boots.

  Kaiden took the lead, scythe still drawn. “Alright, we’re clear. Belgrave’s sample’s secure.”

  Naō checked his map. “So… Hollowmere Crossing, huh? You realize that’s basically halfway across the map?”

  Veyle huffed, clutching his staff. “I accepted the quest already. I’m not backing out now.”

  Kaiden grinned. “Welcome to how this game ruins your free time.”

  Liri stood beside him, quiet. She’d been watching the sunlight through the trees with a strange, worried look. “… something feels off. The air’s heavier here.”

  He glanced up. “Probably just the transition effect. We’re fine.”

  That’s when the light around them shifted. The mist turned gold at the edges, and a shape stepped out from the glare ahead.

  It was tall, wrapped in sun-patterned armor that reflected like metal in water. Its eyes were veiled by a thin mask of light.

  [Enemy Detected: Veil Hunter (Faction Enforcer)]

  Level: 15 | Alignment: Sunborne | Target: Unseelie-Linked Players

  Naō exhaled. “Well, that answers that.”

  Veyle blinked. “Answers what?”

  “That,” Kaiden said, pointing his scythe toward the figure. “Another friend of ours: Ironstride, warned us about this. Players who go too deep into Unseelie questlines get hunted. This must be what she meant.”

  The Veil Hunter’s voice was steady and deep. “Unseelie contamination detected. Sunlight must restore balance.”

  Veyle stepped back. “So, uh… diplomacy’s not an option?”

  Naō snorted. “Not in this game.”

  The enemy lunged. Its sword came down like a streak of gold, splitting the dirt at Kaiden’s feet.

  [-72 LP]

  Kaiden kicked off the ground, rolling to the side. “Naō, spread out. Veyle, keep Liri shielded.”

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  “Uh, on it!”

  Veyle slammed his staff into the ground, vines curling up into a wide ring around Liri.

  [Skill: Bloom Vein Regrowth]

  Effect: 15% LP Regen + 5% ranged damage reduction (active zone).

  The Hunter pivoted, sword raised again. Kaiden caught the next swing with his scythe, sparks flashing. “Hard-hitting bastard,” he grunted.

  Naō’s flask flew past him and burst against the enemy’s back.

  [Corrosive Draught Applied]

  DEF -10% | DoT Active

  Veyle added another circle of glowing petals that hovered above Kaiden.

  Photosynthetic Surge Active +3% LP/sec while in light zone]

  Kaiden’s bar climbed a few ticks. “Nice timing.”

  “Don’t thank me yet,” Veyle said as the Hunter turned his way.

  The boss raised one hand, sunlight gathering into a narrow beam that cut through the vines.

  [-80 Barrier Integrity | Liri HP: 375/420]

  Liri flinched.

  Another vial exploded in a wave of smoke, blinding the Hunter.

  [Mistbreaker Draught II – Visibility Reduced, 8s]

  Kaiden rushed in under the cover, chaining attacks.

  [Twilight Rend → Abyssal Bloom → Riptide Fang]

  [Combo Chain x3 | Damage: -280 LP, -310 LP, -415 LP]

  The Hunter staggered, gold sparks bleeding from its armor.

  Naō called, “Kaiden, he’s got a buff charging.”

  The Hunter raised his sword again. [Skill: Solar Bind]. Golden tendrils erupted from the ground, wrapping around Liri.

  “Not again!” Veyle dashed forward, vines unfurling from his staff.

  [Skill: Bloom Vein Overcharge]

  Effect: Breaks Root-Type Debuffs | Restores 10% LP to Allies.

  The binds snapped, and Liri stumbled free.

  “Good work!” Naō yelled.

  “Overflow.”

  Drain: 2% LP/sec | ATK +35% | AGI +25%

  Blue light burst from his body, flooding the battlefield. His movements turned into streaks of fluid motion of relentless power.

  “Kaiden, don’t overdo it,” Naō shouted, but he was already gone.

  Kaiden swung his scythe in a crescent arc, hitting the Hunter across the chest.

  [-510 LP]

  [Critical Hit!]

  The boss retaliated, blade clashing against his in a flash of light. Kaiden pushed through, chaining another strike.

  [Ecliptic Pulse – Activated]

  [Critical! -780]

  The Veil Hunter staggered, dropping to one knee. Its sword dimmed.

  Kaiden exhaled, panting. “Stay down…”

  The Hunter looked up at him through its mask. “Unseelie… unworthy.” Then it burst into shards of light and vanished.

  [Quest Complete – Protect Liri]

  [EXP: +1,200 | Bonus: +250]

  [Drop: Veil Fragment – Faction Material]

  Kaiden fell to a knee, breathing hard. Naō tossed him a tonic without looking up from his cooldown timer. “You’re nuts, you know that?”

  Kaiden smirked faintly, out of breath. “Yeah. Keeps it interesting.”

  Veyle sank to the ground, clutching his staff. “So that was what, a boss that’s hunting you because of your alignment?”

  “Pretty much,” Naō said. “Game doesn’t like when you side with the darker factions.”

  [Hidden Objective Unlocked: Faction Pursuit]

  Further Unseelie progression may attract stronger Veil Hunters

  Naō shook his head. “Ironstride is going to looove this.”

  Kaiden smirked. “Wouldn’t feel like progress if the game didn’t try to kill me for it.”

  Veyle groaned. “You two are insane.” Kaiden and Naō laughed, with Naō mentioning, “You’ll learn to get used to our kind of crazy with this guy around”