Kapitel 31: 39;BEGIN THE HUNT
The night hung still and heavy over the jagged cliffs of the New Earth. The horizon shimmered faintly, illuminated by the cold light of the moon suspended in the center of a star-drenched sky. Below, a sea of corpses painted the desolate landscape with grotesque streaks of green, the blood of fallen formlings. Their twisted, grotesque forms lay sprawled and broken—torn limbs, punctured carapaces, and gaping wounds. The metallic stench of death mingled with the crisp air of the rugged terrain, but Leo sat motionless amid the carnage, as though immune to the grotesque sight and suffocating scent.
Perched on the cliff's edge, he stared into the abyss of the night, his silhouette outlined by the silver glow of the moon. In the far distance, the Space Arc, humanity's last bastion of hope, drifted like a pale shadow across the horizon, its faint, artificial lights glinting like distant stars. For a fleeting moment, its massive structure passed across the face of the moon, a fragile man-made relic floating in the endless black void.
Leo exhaled slowly, the faint trace of breath visible in the cold night air. His blue eyes, sharp and unyielding, softened as memories seeped through the cracks of his resolve. His mind carried him back to the night everything fell apart—the night the invasion began.
The flames. The chaos.
Screams had echoed through the once-peaceful streets of the city, drowning out every other sound. Alarms blared as monstrous formlings swarmed through the houses, their insectoid limbs ripping through stone walls as though they were paper. People had fought valiantly, but they were hopelessly outnumbered. Blood—both red and green—had splattered across the city everywhere.
And then there was Kai.
Leo's chest tightened as the memory of his closest friend's sacrifice surfaced. Kai's grin, defiant even in the face of certain death, flashed in his mind.
Leo had survived the fall from the helicopter that night—10 feet straight down onto the scorched earth. By some miracle, he'd managed to evade the formlings long enough to make it to safety. But the guilt lingered, gnawing at him like a relentless parasite.
"It should have been me," Leo whispered to himself, his voice barely audible over the soft whistle of the wind. His hand tightened, the green blood of his enemies still dripping from its edge.
He clenched his jaw, but his expression remained calm, almost serene, as he lifted his gaze back to the sky. Somewhere up there, the Arc floated in its orbit, carrying the remnants of humanity who were safe… for now. His thoughts lingered on Kai's smile—the unshakable confidence, the unwavering loyalty.
"Rest assured, my friend," Leo said, his voice steady despite the chaos around them. "I promise I'll kill that bat and a hundred others tomorrow."
The hours passed like fleeting shadows, the moon sinking lower as the night gave way to the faint hues of dawn. The rugged cliffs slowly revealed their sharp edges under the warm, golden light creeping across the horizon. A cold wind swept across the terrain, rustling the battered and grotesque remains of the formlings scattered across the ground.
Far behind the cliffs, deep within the training grounds of the hunters, the sound of a blaring horn shattered the quiet morning.
Leo rose slowly to his feet, his gaze lingering on the horizon for a moment longer before he turned away from his tent and made his way down the path leading to the main assembly area.
The assembly grounds were vast, a barren stretch of rocky earth surrounded by towering steel gates. Thousands of hunters— men hardened by a month of brutal training—stood in perfect rows, their bodies rigid, their faces grim. The air was thick with tension, the quiet murmur of anticipation broken only by the occasional clang of a weapon being adjusted.
At the front of the assembly stood the General, a towering man clad in sleek, black armor that gleamed under the rising sun. His presence commanded respect, his sharp features and piercing gaze scanning the crowd with an air of authority.
Leo took his place near the back of the formation, his expression as unreadable as ever. Around him, the other hunters murmured among themselves, some stealing nervous glances at the general.
The General stepped forward, his heavy boots crunching against the gravel. He raised a hand, and silence fell instantly.
"Hunters," he began, his voice deep and commanding, carrying easily across the assembly. "Today is the day you've all been waiting for. The day you leave behind the safety of these gates and step into the depths of hell itself."
The hunters listened intently, their breaths shallow, their postures stiff.
"For the past month, you have endured the harshest training imaginable," the General continued. "You've bled. You've fought. You've suffered. And now, you stand here, ready to prove yourselves. Today, you earn the respect of your peers. Today, you become hunters."
He paused, letting his words sink in.
"But make no mistake—beyond these gates lies only death. The formlings will tear you apart, piece by piece. They will shred your flesh and crush your bones. You will regret ever surviving the apocalypse. And yet..."
His eyes narrowed as he scanned the crowd.
"Being weak is unacceptable. Do you hear me?"
"Yes, sir!" the hunters shouted in unison, their voices echoing across the grounds.
The General's gaze hardened. "Say it again!"
"Being weak is intolerable!" they roared, their voices louder this time.
All except Leo.
Standing at the back, he remained silent, his eyes fixed on the gates ahead. His expression botrayed no emotion as the others around him shouted with fervor.
From the corner of his eye, he noticed Leone standing near the front of the assembly. She was grinning, her eyes locked onto him as she waved playfully. When he didn't respond, she puckered her lips and blew him a kiss.
Leo's face remained impassive. He turned his gaze away, ignoring her entirely.
The General finished his speech with a final, thunderous command. "Open the gates!"
The massive steel doors groaned as they began to part, revealing the desolate wasteland beyond. The hunters tightened their grips on their weapons, their bodies tense with anticipation.
The General's voice rang out one last time. "Go. And don't you dare come back without being the victors."
A deafening roar erupted from the hunters as they surged forward, pouring out of the gates like a swarm of enraged bees. Their cries of "Destroy!" echoed across the barren landscape as they charged into the unknown, their weapons raised high.
Leo was the last to move, his pace steady and unhurried. As the chaos unfolded around him, he remained calm, his eyes cold and unyielding.
The hunt had begun.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein