章節 3: The Watchful Eye
Marcus "Steelheart" Grant loomed over Felix, the polished metal plating of his armor catching glints of the chaotic light around them. The battlefield had settled into a tense lull, the low-level monsters driven back into the swirling fog of the gate. Hunters regrouped, their breaths labored but focused, exchanging wary glances at Marcus's confrontation with the newcomer.
"You're too composed," Marcus said, his eyes narrowing. His voice was deep, cutting through the lingering chaos like a blade. "For someone who claims to be an observer."
Felix let a sliver of nervousness show, just enough to appear genuine. "It's not what it looks like," he said, choosing his words with the care of a tightrope walker. "I'm new. Not even affiliated with a guild yet."
Marcus's brow furrowed, suspicion hardening his features. Felix could feel the weight of Steelheart's gaze, measuring, dissecting. He suppressed a shiver, mentally noting how intimidating Marcus was up close—his Metal Manipulation quirk poised to strike at a moment's notice.
"What's your quirk?" Marcus demanded.
Felix hesitated, letting the silence stretch before offering a slight, self-deprecating smile. "It's hard to explain. Something akin to... presence. Nothing tangible," he said, weaving just enough truth into his words to seem plausible. "People notice me when I don't mean them to."
The corner of Marcus's mouth twitched, not quite a smirk but not a full scowl either. Felix's quirk pulsed faintly, the passive influence seeping into the conversation like a whisper. Hunters nearby exchanged glances, curiosity flickering in their expressions.
Marcus crossed his arms, the metallic sheen shifting with the motion. "You fought smart earlier," he admitted grudgingly. "Stay within sight. We could use an extra set of eyes."
Before Felix could respond, another hunter from Ironstride, a woman with sharp eyes and a quirk that crackled with latent electricity, stepped forward. She looked at Felix with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. "You sure he's not a liability?"
Marcus nodded, his gaze never leaving Felix. "I'll find out soon enough."
Felix's stomach tightened as he joined the temporary party Marcus had assembled. The group's energy buzzed with barely contained tension as they prepared to push deeper into the gate's landscape. He studied each hunter—muscular builds, sharp eyes, quirks that flared subtly in preparation. They were seasoned, used to danger, and now they were watching him.
"Name's Felix," he offered, keeping his voice steady.
"Tyr," said a lean hunter with short-cropped hair and a quirk that emitted a frost-like mist from his fingertips. Others introduced themselves quickly: Elena, whose eyes glowed with a faint blue light signaling her clairvoyant quirk, and Jin, a brute of a man whose skin had a metallic sheen similar to Marcus's own quirk.
Felix nodded, taking mental notes. A balance of scouts, brawlers, and strategists. His Analyze Function buzzed faintly, offering glimpses of their strengths and weaknesses. The subtle edge it gave him was invaluable.
"Move out," Marcus ordered, his voice brooking no hesitation. The group pushed into the gate, and Felix's senses sharpened as they crossed the threshold.
The landscape beyond was a labyrinth of jagged, twisted metal and shadowy fog. The ground was uneven, strewn with debris that hummed with an eerie energy. Every step felt like it could trigger an ambush. Felix stayed near the middle of the formation, observing as hunters activated their quirks to scan their surroundings.
"Watch the flanks," Marcus said, eyes sweeping the horizon. Felix followed his gaze, noting how Marcus's quirk subtly adjusted the metal fragments around them, shifting them into defensive barriers.
Suddenly, a sharp, guttural roar echoed from the mist. The hunters froze for a heartbeat before springing into action. A massive, sinewy creature lunged out, its body covered in glistening plates that deflected weaker attacks. Felix's heart thudded as he processed the scene.
"Ambush!" Elena shouted, her clairvoyant eyes wide with the strain of tracking hidden foes.
System Update:
Skill Activated: Emergency Charm (Cooldown: 24 hours)
Reputation Points: +15 (Gained trust of hunting party)
Quest Progress: "Survive the Ambush" - 50% complete.
Felix felt the surge of his quirk wash over the party, a subtle, unspoken command that steadied their nerves and focused their attention. Marcus barked an order, and the group shifted formation seamlessly, moving in a way that spoke of practiced unity.
"Tyr, cut left! Jin, on me!" Marcus shouted, the metallic floor beneath them warping into spikes that shot towards the creature.
Felix's mind raced. Webtoon tropes—the monster's weak point is usually... His eyes zeroed in on the exposed underbelly as it reared back, preparing to strike again. "Go for its core when it exposes its chest!" he yelled, the voice of authority and certainty woven by his quirk compelling them to listen.
Jin reacted instantly, diving forward with a roar and slamming a spiked gauntlet into the monster's vulnerable spot. It shrieked, its body convulsing before collapsing in a heap of metal and sinew.
The hunters took a collective breath, the silence that followed heavy with relief and exhaustion. Marcus's eyes met Felix's, not with suspicion but with a grudging respect.
"Not bad," Marcus said, his tone neutral but edged with curiosity.
Felix inclined his head, masking the satisfaction that bubbled inside him. The system's notification glimmered faintly:
Quest Progress: "Survive the Ambush" - 75% complete.
Before the hunters could regroup fully, a figure emerged from the shadows, moving with predatory grace. Rachel "Nightshade" Perez, known for her cunning and the deadly accuracy of her Shadowstrike (B-rank) quirk, approached Felix with a glint in her eyes.
"Interesting," she said, her smirk sharp as a blade. "You move like you're used to being in command. And I don't believe in coincidences."
Felix's pulse quickened, but he forced himself to stay calm. "You're perceptive," he replied smoothly, weaving his quirk into his voice just enough to deflect the immediate tension.
Rachel's smirk widened. "We need to talk," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Felix's mind raced as he considered the implications. He'd navigated his way into the heart of this world's power plays, but now, more eyes were on him than ever. As the shadows shifted around them and the aftermath of the ambush settled into an uneasy calm, Felix prepared himself for the next phase of his dangerous game.
Rachel's words echoed in his mind as he met her gaze. "Let's see what secrets you're hiding," she whispered, the challenge unmistakable.
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