Inside the deserted warehouse by the southern docks of Siren's Haven, the air was cold and heavy with the metallic scent of blood. Ryu faced the mysterious man wielding a pitch-black long sword. The pressure emanating from the man was so immense Ryu felt as if he was bearing a heavy stone on his shoulders. Instinct screamed that the man before him was too strong to handle directly.
"Who are you?" Ryu asked calmly, trying to suppress the panic in his heart. The katana in his hand remained steady. "That wolf symbol... it was your work, wasn't it?"
The man raised an eyebrow slightly, a corner of his mouth lifting into a smile that was more mocking than friendly. "Quite observant... for a dirty little mouse that's wandered into a wolf's den," he said, his voice still deep and cold. "I am 'Fenril.' And yes... this refuse is my latest masterpiece. But what about you... lurking around here? Surely not just a lost traveler."
Fenril... one of the Seven Hunters! Ryu instantly realized. The tension escalated another level. He had no other option but to find a way to escape. A direct confrontation would surely mean his demise.
"I was just passing by... and saw something unusual," Ryu replied, quickly glancing around for an escape route.
"Just passing by?" Fenril chuckled in his throat. "What could be so interesting about a deserted warehouse full of corpses for someone 'just passing by'?" He began to walk slowly towards Ryu, each step fraught with a killing intent ready to be unleashed at any moment. "Or perhaps... you're a spy for them?"
Without waiting for Ryu to reply, Fenril moved! He lunged at Ryu with terrifying speed, the black sword in his hand drawing dangerous lines, intending to cut Ryu's body in two!
Ryu's eyes widened! He used all his speed to leap back, narrowly dodging the blade. The tip of Fenril's sword sliced through the air where he had stood moments before, creating a whistling sound!
"Shadowless Sword Dance: Moonlit Waltz!" Ryu decided to counter to create an opening for escape. His katana traced intricate yet sharp patterns like moonlight, attacking several vital points on Fenril simultaneously.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Fenril easily parried Ryu's attacks with his black sword, as if he could read Ryu's swordsmanship completely. "Passable skill... but still green," Fenril stated, and with a swift, powerful counter-slash!
Ryu narrowly dodged again. He felt the gust of wind from the blade slice past his face by a hair's breadth. Cold sweat began to bead on his hairline.
"I have to find a way to escape!" Ryu thought to himself.
He decided to use the riskiest plan. He feigned losing balance from Fenril's attack, tumbling towards a pile of old wooden crates stacked nearby. Fenril smirked, following him without haste. "The end for you, little mouse."
The moment Fenril stepped within range, Ryu sprang up and kicked the crates with all his might!
Boom!
The decaying crates shattered, scattering splinters and dust throughout the area, momentarily obscuring Fenril's vision!
Ryu didn't hesitate. Seizing the opportunity, he dove out of the warehouse through a broken window, moving with the speed of the wind. He rolled hard on the stone-paved street but quickly pushed himself up and ran into the dark, complex maze of Siren's Haven's alleys.
Fenril stood still amidst the dust cloud. As the dust settled, he looked towards the window Ryu had escaped through. A mocking smile still played on his lips. "Managed to escape, did you... Interesting." He didn't rush to follow but turned back to look at the wolf symbol he had carved on the wall. "My work here is done... but it seems there's a bit more fun to be had."
Cutting back to Ashwind Post, the morning sunlight shone warmly. The villagers were working diligently under Kiana's supervision and Da Vinci's guidance. The sounds of hammering, blacksmithing, and conversation mingled, creating an atmosphere of vitality and hope.
Da Vinci stood beside a large "Windlass Crane" that had just been completed according to his complex blueprint. It was designed to lift heavy construction materials such as large logs or stones used to reinforce the walls. Taurus and Bacchus were helping to operate the crane, with several other villagers assisting in pulling ropes and positioning materials.
"Slowly, Taurus! Keep the rotation steady!" Da Vinci shouted as a massive log was being slowly lifted from the ground.
Kiana watched from not far away, a faint smile gracing her lips. The village's development was going much better than she had anticipated, thanks to Da Vinci's intellect and everyone's cooperation. But deep down, she still worried about Ryu. "How is my brother doing now," she murmured softly to herself.
Suddenly, one of the ropes supporting the log began to creak ominously, as if it couldn't bear the weight!
"Watch out! The rope's going to break!" Bacchus shouted in alarm.
If the rope broke, that massive log would surely fall on the villagers working below!
Da Vinci saw it happen, his eyes wide! He had no time to think! Instinct commanded him to raise the golden paintbrush in his hand!
"Be strong!" he yelled inwardly, and swished the brush towards the rope about to snap!
Faint golden ink (but appearing more concentrated and stable than the previous times he'd tried to use small amounts of power) gushed from the tip of the brush, rapidly coating and strengthening the fibers of the rope in an instant! The creaking sound stopped immediately! The rope held the weight of the log!
Everyone who witnessed the event stood in stunned silence, their mouths agape, before shouts of relief and joy erupted!
Da Vinci took a slight breath. He felt the energy being drawn from his body again, but it wasn't so much that it made him collapse as before. And most importantly, the brush in his hand still held a faint, soft golden luminescence! It hadn't dimmed immediately as it had previously!
"What... was that?" Taurus exclaimed in awe, looking from the impossibly strong rope to the brush in Da Vinci's hand.
Da Vinci smiled faintly. "It seems... understanding the structure of materials, and having a strong will... truly helps reinforce its power," he murmured softly to himself, another significant discovery made. The power of the "Artificer"... it was more complex and multifaceted than he had thought.
Kiana walked up to him, her eyes showing surprise mixed with gratitude. "You... again, Da Vinci. You saved us again."
"I merely... did what I could," Da Vinci replied. He was glad his power was beginning to return, even if not fully. And this discovery might be the key to fully restoring the brush's power in the future.
Back in Siren's Haven, Ryu hid in a narrow alley. He was still breathing heavily from his recent desperate escape. The minor wound from his encounter with Fenril throbbed. He knew this city was no longer safe for him. He had to gather the information he needed as quickly as possible and escape as soon as he could.
He decided to risk returning to "Shadow Fox" once more, taking a route that was many times more complex and cautious than before. He finally reached the same clandestine tea house and found Shadow Fox sitting there as if he had anticipated his return.
"Back sooner than expected, lad," Shadow Fox greeted him in a flat tone. "Ran into trouble, did you? You look like you've been through the wringer."
"I met one of them... the one with the black sword... Fenril," Ryu said tensely.
Shadow Fox nodded slowly. "As I feared... Fenril, 'The Judgment Wolf,' one of the most dangerous of the Seven Hunters. Master of close combat and swift assassination. They say his sword can cut through anything, and he never lets prey survive... How did you escape him?"
"I was just lucky," Ryu brushed it off. "Do you have any information about the other 'Seven Hunters' or their plans? It's critical."
Shadow Fox looked at Ryu contemplatively for a moment before sighing. "I have some information that might be useful... but I must warn you, the more you know, the greater the danger you are in." He slid a small, rolled-up piece of paper towards Ryu. "This is a partial 'list' I managed to gather regarding the targets the 'Seven Hunters' are currently hunting... And it seems... there are certain 'names' or 'characteristics' they are placing special emphasis on... Perhaps... 'Artificers' from other lands..."
Ryu's eyes widened at the last words. He quickly unrolled the paper and read it rapidly. His heart pounded faster and faster. The information in it was... more shocking than he had anticipated! And the word "Artificer" immediately made him think of someone back in Ashwind Post!
"I must go," Shadow Fox stood up. "Be careful, lad. This city is too dangerous for the likes of you now. If I were you, I'd flee as far away as possible... before the 'Hunters' pick up your scent."
With those words, Shadow Fox disappeared once more, leaving Ryu standing still with the critical and dangerous information in his hand. He had to get this news back to everyone at Ashwind Post as quickly as possible! A new threat... was closing in faster than they thought!