Dawn had just broken...
The temporary outpost on the outskirts of the Wilderness looked like a war-ravaged version of Syria.
Several army-green tents leaned every which way in the fierce wind.
The air reeked of burnt BBQ.
The Extermination Team's few remaining low-HP players lay sprawled on the ground.
Morel leaned against the tire of a battered Jeep.
His huge pipe lay discarded at his feet.
He gulped down air.
The searing pain in his lungs kept him from even coughing too loudly.
Knuckle and Shoot sat on a dirt mound, bandaging each other's wounds.
Their clothes were shredded into strips that looked no different from a mop.
Horrifying gashes covered their bodies.
A man with long silver hair paced back and forth, racking up his step count.
Kite.
He held a communicator, frantically calling people at the Hunter Association headquarters.
The guy's dark circles could have rivaled those of a giant panda.
Over the past few days, he had been spamming basic attacks against the crazed low-ranking ants on the perimeter.
He had swung his sword so much his arms were about to give out.
Now that the teammates who had gone off to feed the enemy kills had finally limped back alive.
Kite finally let out a long sigh.
A set of brazen footsteps approached from the distance.
Gravel crunched beneath them with a "crack, crack."
Luo Ye swaggered over with Shizuku.
The fresh Hawaiian shirt he wore was practically blinding.
A pair of beat-up canvas shoes covered his feet.
He looked nothing like someone who had just finished clearing mobs in a hell-mode dungeon...
Morel looked up.
He hurriedly stomped out the pipe still smoking on the ground.
Just looking at this man triggered his PTSD now.
Kite turned around.
He stared at the freakish main DPS