Shadow of the Hunt

Kilua's hand clenched into a trembling fist, the oppressive aura of Nanika's presence wrapping around the clearing like a suffocating fog. Alluka—no, Nanika—tilted her head, her darkened eyes fixed on Kilua, waiting patiently for his response.

"Do you wish for help, Kilua?" she asked again, her voice soft yet otherworldly.

Kilua's breath hitched. The weight of the choice before him pressed against his chest. A single wish could end this, but the price… the price could be more than he was willing to pay.

"I can't," Kilua muttered, shaking his head. "Not like this. I won't lose you, Alluka."

From across the clearing, Illumi's cold laugh broke the silence. "Touching," he said, his tone dripping with mockery. "But you're deluding yourself if you think you can protect her without power. What's your plan, Kilua? To keep running until your legs give out?"

Kilua shot him a glare, but he didn't respond. Instead, he turned his attention back to Alluka, his heart aching as he saw her small frame engulfed by the menacing aura of Nanika.

"Please, Alluka," Kilua pleaded. "Fight it. I know you're in there. I need you to stay with me."

For a moment, the glow around Alluka dimmed, and her eyes flickered. "Kilua…" she whispered, her voice weak but unmistakably her own.

"You can do it," Kilua urged, stepping closer. "You're stronger than this. We don't need Nanika. We have each other."

But Illumi's voice cut through Kilua's words like a blade. "You're wasting your time," he said, his tone sharp. "Nanika isn't something you can suppress with sentiment. It's a tool, Kilua—a weapon. If you won't use it, then I will."

Before Kilua could react, Illumi moved with lightning speed, closing the distance between them in an instant. His hand shot toward Alluka, intent on seizing her.

"No!" Kilua shouted, his body moving on instinct. He intercepted Illumi's strike with his own, their hands colliding in a shockwave that sent leaves and debris flying.

Illumi's expression darkened as he stepped back, his gaze shifting between Kilua and Alluka. "You're making a mistake, little brother. You can't protect her forever. Sooner or later, you'll break."

Kilua's eyes burned with determination. "Then I'll break. But you'll never take her."

The tension in the air crackled like electricity as the brothers squared off again. Illumi's cold, calculating demeanor clashed with Kilua's fiery resolve. This wasn't just a fight—it was a battle of ideologies, a clash of what it meant to be a Zoldyck.

Suddenly, the forest around them seemed to shift. Shadows deepened, and the once-still air grew heavy with a foreboding presence. Kilua felt it immediately—a chill that crawled up his spine.

Illumi's eyes narrowed. "What did you do?"

Kilua shook his head, equally confused. "This isn't me."

From the shadows, a low, guttural growl echoed. The trees swayed as if moved by an invisible force, and a pair of glowing red eyes emerged from the darkness. Kilua's breath caught as he recognized the creature stepping into the clearing.

It was massive, its fur black as night and its teeth gleaming like daggers. A chimera beast, one of the deadly creatures that roamed the outskirts of the known world. How it had found its way here, Kilua didn't know, but its timing couldn't have been worse.

The beast let out a deafening roar, its eyes locking onto the three figures in the clearing. Kilua instinctively stepped in front of Alluka, shielding her with his body.

"We need to move," Kilua said urgently, his voice low.

But Illumi didn't budge. Instead, he studied the creature with a cold, analytical gaze. "It's strong," he remarked. "But predictable."

Kilua grit his teeth. "You want to fight that thing? Are you insane?"

Illumi didn't answer. Instead, he lunged toward the beast, his needles flashing. The creature roared again, swiping at Illumi with its massive claws. But Illumi moved with precision, dodging the attack and driving a needle into the creature's shoulder.

Kilua used the distraction to pull Alluka further back. "Stay close," he told her, his voice firm.

"What about Illumi?" Alluka asked, her voice shaking.

Kilua hesitated. Despite everything, Illumi was still his brother. But saving him would mean risking Alluka, and that wasn't a gamble Kilua was willing to take.

"We stick to the plan," Kilua said finally. "We get out of here."

But before they could move, the creature let out another roar, this time directing its fury at them. It lunged forward, its massive body tearing through the trees.

Kilua acted on instinct, grabbing Alluka and leaping to the side just as the beast's claws raked the ground where they had been standing.

"Run!" Kilua shouted, his voice echoing through the chaos.

The fight was far from over, and with the chimera beast now in play, the stakes had never been higher.

..............

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