Chapter 8: The Wild Hunter
Leo had no idea he was currently sporting a brand new pair of horns.
He was too busy scavaging the mud for weaponry alongside Jerry. Ever since the System docked his points, Leo had developed a pathological obsession with firepower. He already had two assault rifles slung over his shoulders, but he was still digging through the corpses for a reliable sidearm.
"With this much lead, I don't care if that alien ghost shows up," Leo muttered, his eyes wide and frantic. "I'll turn the bastard into Swiss cheese. I'm getting my goddamn points back, and then I'm coming for Dante. He can't hide behind that 'tough guy' act forever."
Jerry nodded eagerly, clutching a dirty submachine gun. "Exactly. Dante's just a thug who got lucky with a gun early on. Without that rifle, he's nothing. If we play it smart, we can take him out and maybe even inherit his Credits."
Leo's face twisted into a greedy grin. "Only one way to find out."
The man they were plotting against was currently adjusting his tactical vest with a look of bored satisfaction. Beside him, Monica was preening, her voice a sultry purr.
"Dante... you really are something else. I think I'm in love. Why don't I just stay your woman? We'd be unstoppable together."
The "post-coital indifference" hit Dante like a freight train. He shoved her away with a look of pure annoyance.
"Don't start with that 'love' shit," Dante snapped, his voice cold as ice. "It was a transaction, Monica. You paid, I provided. Don't go thinking you've bought a permanent seat at my table."
Monica pouted, looking genuinely stung. "God, are all men this heartless? I won't forget that session for the rest of my life, you know."
Dante felt his knees go a bit weak—the woman was certainly... devastating—but he shook it off and regained his focus.
"Listen up," Dante said, his tone shifting to business. "Since we closed the deal, I'm going to give you the advice that keeps you alive. If you want to see the end of this mission, sit down and pay attention."
Monica straightened up, her playful demeanor vanishing. She knew Dante didn't give away anything for free.
"The next phase is going to be the meat grinder," Dante explained. "The Predator is going to start picking people off. But here's the trick: the creature has a code of honor. It doesn't hunt 'prey' that can't fight back. It wants trophies, not slaughter."
"From this moment on, do not touch a weapon. I don't care if someone hands you a gun to 'protect yourself'—don't take it. Stay unarmed. If you look like a helpless non-combatant, the creature will walk right past you."
"Secondly, stick to the female prisoner Dutch is about to take—Anna. In the original story, she's one of the only survivors. Follow her, and you'll reach the extraction chopper. Got it?"
Monica repeated the instructions back to him, word for word. She wasn't stupid; she knew her life depended on remembering every syllable.
"Good," Dante grunted. He reached out and gave her hip one final, proprietary smack.
Slap!
"Good luck, Monica. Try not to die; it'd be a shame to waste someone like you."
Monica didn't tease him this time. She leaned in and gave him a quick, genuine kiss on the cheek. "Thanks, Dante. See you at the finish line."
***
Dante returned to the central plaza to find the rest of the squad regrouping. As he leaned against a crate, the grey HUD flickered to life.
---
[Primary Objective III]
Escape the Predator's hunt and successfully board the extraction helicopter!
[Reward]: 500 Credits.
[Penalty]: OBLITERATION.
Note: This is the final objective for the Predator world. Upon completion, you will return to the Evolution Space.
---
"Final objective already?" Dante muttered, disappointed. He'd spent all this time prepping, and the 'Final' was just a sprint to the finish?
But then, the electronic voice chimed in his ear again, sounding almost amused.
[Notice: Candidate 952701 (Dante) has exceeded performance benchmarks in Primary Objective II. Hidden Mission Authority: UNLOCKED.]
[Would you like to view the Hidden Mission?]
"Dumb question. Show me," Dante whispered.
The text on the screen dissolved, replaced by a jagged, blood-red font.
---
[HIDDEN MISSION: THE APEX KILL]
Kill the Predator through any means necessary before it triggers its self-destruct sequence!
[Rewards]:
1. 5,000 Credits.
2. Permanent Title: [Wild Hunter].
[Failure Penalty]: OBLITERATION.
---
Dante's blood began to pump. This was what he was looking for. 5,000 points? That was enough to jumpstart his power level into the stratosphere.
"What's the 'Wild Hunter' title? Some kind of Participation Trophy?" he asked the System.
[Title Rewards are extremely rare,] the voice replied. [They are soul-bound 'equipment' that cannot be lost or stolen. Some increase base attributes, others grant unique active skills. Every world contains a unique title achievable only through extreme conditions.]
Dante's eyes narrowed. "Accept. Obviously."
[Candidate 952701 has accepted the Hidden Mission. Main Objective III has been updated.]
[Primary Objective III (Revised): Evade the Predator's hunt and eliminate the target before self-destruction.]
Note: No restrictions apply. The Candidate is granted full freedom of action.
Dante looked over at Dutch's squad, who were busy shouting at the prisoner and prepping for the trek back.
'If there are no restrictions, there's no reason to stay with these losers,' Dante reasoned.
'The Predator is going to be glued to Dutch's ass like a magnet until the very end. Staying with them just means dealing with collateral damage.'
He checked his rifle, felt the weight of the grenades Poncho had given him, and looked toward the deep jungle.
"Time to ditch the jinxes," Dante whispered.
While the rest of the squad was distracted by the chaos of the burning camp, Dante Crowley slipped into the shadows, heading in the opposite direction. The hunter was about to become the hunted, but this time, the prey was bringing a much bigger knife.
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A/n: Thanks for all the support and the comments, guys. Seriously, appreciate it. Things are about to get real intense from here on out...
And yup, another extra chapter for a 5 star review. If you want to see what happens next asap, keep those 5 star reviews coming! (You've got 6/10 chances left.)