Stranger: Back Home

Aerum was about to leave for the wolf region when a familiar voice stopped her.

"Take the bracelet with you," Renhuang said firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Aerum turned back, frowning. "Doesn't the bracelet have a GPS tracker or something? They'll easily find my location."

"That's exactly the point," Renhuang replied, her calm demeanor tinged with strategic sharpness. "You're heading into the wolf region—a place where you can cancel yourself from detection. They don't know that. What they need to see is you venturing inside the region, so they'll be forced to follow."

Aerum arched an eyebrow. "And why would I want them to know my position into a place like that?"

Renhuang's eyes narrowed. "Because once they're inside, they'll lose their ability to coordinate effectively. Right now, there are 28 of them. Since we've angered their leader, they won't split into smaller groups; they'll come together. That's both a challenge and an advantage for us. You'll need to isolate and pick them off one at a time. Use traps and snipe them from afar. The bracelet ensures they'll keep tracking you. Let them walk into their own doom."

Aerum hesitated. "But what if they don't fall for it?"

Renhuang's lips curved into a faint smile. "It doesn't matter if they do or don't. What matters is time. Right now, it's three o'clock. You have three hours before nightfall. Darkness changes the playing field. Their visibility will drop, and the wolves' heightened instincts will become a threat to everyone—including them."

"So what's the plan?"

"Stall them," Renhuang said, her voice dropping into a serious tone. "Keep them occupied until nightfall. Once it's dark, ambush them, taking them down one by one. Your yin-yang concealment formation will be your greatest ally, masking your presence entirely. But don't forget—this is not just about strategy. You've been fighting for hours. Rest, recover your energy, and prepare yourself for the hunt ahead."

Aerum nodded, feeling the weight of her sister's words. Picking up the bracelet from the ground, she clenched it in her hand. "Understood," she said, before vanishing into the forest, her footsteps silent as shadows.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Meanwhile, Agent M stood at the rendezvous point, watching as his scattered squads regrouped. The air around him was tense, charged with anticipation. Within five minutes, all 28 agents were assembled before him.

"Agent MA," he called out, his voice sharp and commanding. "What does the GPS say?"

Agent MA, standing a step ahead of the others, tapped on a handheld device. "Sir, it seems she's carrying the bracelet. It's transmitting her location in real time. But..." He hesitated, glancing up. "I can't tell if it's a trap or carelessness."

Agent M's lips curled into a knowing smirk. "Carelessness? No. She's anything but careless. For twenty years—since she was just a five-year-old—she's evaded us. This isn't carelessness; it's deliberate. It's a trap."

A murmur passed through the gathered agents, but M raised a hand, silencing them.

"A trap means she wants us to know where she's going," M continued. "The wolf region. It's as dangerous for her as it is for us, but it also tells me one thing—she's confident."

He turned to address the group, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "We will not walk into this blindly. Here's the formation: six groups will surround me in a tight, enclosed circle. I'll take the center position. Stay alert and prepared for anything. Do not approach recklessly. She'll be expecting mistakes—we won't give her any."

Agent MA saluted crisply. "Yes, sir. I'll make the arrangements immediately."

As Agent MA left to organize the teams, Agent M stared at the distant forest, his expression cold and calculating.

"You've eluded me for a decades, Aerum," he muttered under his breath. "But this time... this time, you won't escape."

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Aerum approached the wolf region, her steps steady as the terrain around her began to shift dramatically. The area was unlike anything else she'd seen before. Most mountains resembled large triangles with broad bases and narrow peaks, but the Hazel Forest was different.

When the continents had unified during the great tectonic upheaval, the landscape here had transformed. One side of the mountain's base had risen far higher than the rest, forming a towering, irregular wall. This unique structure created a circular, secluded area within the forest—an isolated ecosystem teeming with life.

The path leading to this region was narrow and surrounded by dense trees. Within the undergrowth, shadows shifted ominously. The sight ahead was unsettling: the base of the towering wall was littered with skeletal remains. Skulls and bones lay scattered like grim warnings, their jagged edges stark against the earth.

Aerum paused at the threshold, her gaze lingering on the macabre sight. The air was thick with an acrid, decaying stench that clawed at her senses.

Renhuang's voice broke the silence, calm yet curious. "Interesting. The wolves leave these remains here to intimidate intruders."

Aerum nodded, her expression unreadable. "Yes. When the mountain shifted and this area was formed, people tried to explore it out of curiosity. The wolves and other creatures fought back, driving them off. These skeletons are their warning—a message that worked all too well."

After half-an-hour, Aerum stepped into the wolf region. The towering walls on either side loomed higher the farther she walked, narrowing the path like a natural corridor funneling her deeper into the unknown. She took out her guns, place them together in T-shape to create a shield around her, a concealment field to mask her presence from the wolves.

Renhuang's tone shifted, a hint of awe slipping into her words. "The region is breathtaking," she said, her gaze sweeping across the greenery and sunlight filtering through the canopy.

Aerum glanced around and smiled faintly. "It is. This place has been called one of the most beautiful forbidden zones on the internet. Some managed to send in drones and capture footage. The images were stunning—like an entirely separate world hidden within the Hazel Forest."

"It's massive," Renhuang murmured. "This region alone covers about 40% of the entire forest. That's immense for a mortal planet."

Aerum inclined her head. "It is. But we can't waste time marveling at it. We need a vantage point. Once you pass the initial entrance, the interior flattens into open land, with scattered high points offering views of the entire area. From there, we'll have a clear sightline to the entrance."

Renhuang's tone sharpened with calculation. "Approximately 500 meters in, there's a rise that would be ideal for setting up an ambush."

Aerum nodded silently, adjusting her grip on her weapons. Without another word, she pressed forward, her figure disappearing into the emerald shadows as the wolf region enveloped her.

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Agent M and his team advanced cautiously toward the wolf region. As they came within 100 meters of the area, they stopped. The setting sun painted the sky with deep orange hues, casting long shadows across the dense forest.

Agent MA approached Agent M, his expression grim. "Sir, the bracelet indicates that Aerum stopped for half an hour exactly around100 meters ahead. We don't know why, but it could very well be a trap."

Agent M scanned the report with a furrowed brow. "Hmm... She wouldn't linger that long if we were chasing her. She's planning something. Has the team pinpointed her exact position?"

Agent MA shook his head. "The satellite network here is spotty. We can only narrow it down to a 100-meter radius. That's why we've halted just outside it, to be cautious."

"Only 100 meters?" Agent M mused aloud. "This could be a trap—or just a ploy to waste our time as it gets darker. Is this the only path in and out of the region?"

"Yes, Sir. It's the only accessible route," Agent MA confirmed.

Agent M's eyes narrowed. "And this limitation of the satellite... is it widely known?"

"It's not a secret, Sir," MA replied. "But only a handful of people would be aware."

Agent M's instincts flared. A nagging feeling of unease settled in his chest. He opened his mouth to issue an order to evacuate—but the sharp crack of a gunshot sliced through the silence.

CRACK!

The sound of the bullet whizzing through the air was followed by the snapping of branches. It pierced through the thick foliage above, and Agent M's eyes darted upward just in time to see massive tree limbs creaking and tumbling downward.

"Move!" he barked, his voice slicing through the chaos.

Before his team could react fully, three more shots rang out in quick succession.

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!

Branches fell like an avalanche, splintering and crashing into the path. Thick, heavy limbs landed on either side of the road, creating an impenetrable blockade behind them. A few unlucky subordinates cried out in pain as the debris struck them. Dust and shattered bark filled the air, mingling with the scent of freshly broken wood.

Agent M used his shadow abilities, melding into the encroaching darkness to protect as many of his subordinates as he could. Once the chaos subsided, he surveyed the scene. Of the 28 operatives under his command, 20 had escaped unscathed. The remaining eight were out of commission, groaning on the forest floor with injuries ranging from bruises to broken limbs.

His jaw clenched in fury as his gaze fell on the barricade of fallen branches. With a growl of frustration, he raised his hand, summoning his power. A dark, swirling blade of energy materialized in his palm, emanating a low, ominous hum.

With a roar, Agent M unleashed Darkness Cleave. The shadowy blade cut through the barricade like butter, carving a clean path through the center. The severed wood groaned and collapsed outward, revealing an open route. Agent M let the blade dissipate, its energy swirling back into the shadows.

As the dust settled, his lips curled into a snarl. He felt it—a burning sensation, the weight of mockery. Someone was watching him, taunting him.

High above, hidden in the wolf region's natural vantage point, Aerum lay flat on her stomach, peering through the scope of her sniper rifle. The corner of her mouth curled into a smug grin.

"Got you," she murmured, her tone dripping with satisfaction.

The faint recoil of the rifle still lingered in her hands as her mind replayed the steps she had taken.

Earlier:

Aerum stood at the edge of the wolf region, scanning the terrain.

"So, this is the only path for entering or leaving, right?" she asked.

Renhuang's voice echoed in her head. "Yes. What are you planning, Aerum?"

She smirked, her fingers tracing the trees surrounding the path. "Nothing much. These branches are thick and heavy. What if I make them dangle just enough that a single well-placed shot can bring them down?"

Renhuang sounded exasperated. "You're kidding, right?"

Aerum's grin widened. "Not at all."

Renhuang sighed. "Even if you manage to pull it off, it won't cause serious damage to them. All you'll do is make him angrier."

"Exactly," Aerum replied with a laugh. "After evading him for decades, it's about time I had a little fun. What better way to end all this stress than to piss him off one last time?"

Renhuang paused, then chuckled. "Fine. Let me help you set it up properly. If you're going to pull a stunt like this, you might as well do it right."

Together, they devised the perfect plan.

Back to the Present:

Renhuang's voice buzzed in her head. "How does it feel, Aerum? Pissing him off that much?"

Aerum chuckled, her eyes still fixed on her scope. "Feels fantastic. He's raging right now. Let's see how much angrier he can get before I'm done."