Hunter of the Lost Gates-Chapter 4 - : A Fight Without Escape

The moment Sai's fingers tightened around his daggers, the monsters lunged.

Six of them. Identical to the one he had barely survived earlier.

Their golden eyes burned like fire in the dim cavern, their ashen-black scales shifting as they moved. They were massive, towering over him, their elongated claws capable of slicing through rock.

Sai barely had a second to react before the first one struck.

He dodged left, twisting his body as a claw swiped through the space where his head had just been. The wind pressure alone sent a sharp sting across his cheek. He countered immediately, pivoting on his heel and slashing upward.

His dagger connected.

A deep gash opened along the monster's forearm. But the moment Sai pulled back, the wound sealed itself shut—the creature's flesh knitting back together in seconds.

Sai's stomach dropped.

Regeneration.

No wonder the last one had been so difficult to kill.

Two more monsters attacked. Sai ducked under a sweeping claw, twisting his torso mid-motion to avoid the second strike. His body was moving purely on instinct, every muscle straining to keep up with the creatures' speed.

He couldn't win like this.

His only advantage was his agility, but against enemies that could heal instantly, dodging wouldn't be enough. He needed a plan.

Then—

A notification flickered before his eyes.

[Lost Gate System Synchronization: 12%]

[New Ability Unlocked: Critical Sight (F-rank)]

[Effect: Highlights temporary weak points in enemy defenses.]

The moment the words appeared, something changed.

Sai's vision sharpened.

It was subtle—tiny, glowing fractures forming across the monsters' bodies, flickering in and out of sight. They weren't obvious, appearing only for a split second when the creatures moved.

But they were there.

Sai's grip tightened.

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That's my opening.

One of the monsters lunged.

This time, instead of dodging, Sai stepped forward. His body moved faster than his thoughts, his muscles responding to some unseen instinct. He twisted at the last second, sliding past the creature's extended claws.

A faint flicker—a weak spot—appeared just beneath its ribs.

Sai struck.

His dagger sank deep, piercing through its thick hide. Unlike his previous attacks, this one didn't regenerate instantly. The creature howled, stumbling back as dark energy leaked from the wound.

It worked.

This system... it's showing me how to kill them.

But there were still five left.

And they weren't going to give him another free hit.

The creatures circled him now, their movements slower, more calculating. Sai exhaled sharply. His body was already aching, exhaustion creeping in, but he forced himself to stay focused.

He had to play this carefully.

One mistake—and he was dead.

A monster on his right lunged. Sai sidestepped, using the momentum to propel himself forward. His eyes caught a faint flicker—a weak spot along the creature's spine.

He slashed.

His dagger cut deep, severing something important. The monster staggered, its movements sluggish as if its body was failing.

A second one attacked from behind. Sai sensed it coming before he even turned—his instincts screaming at him to move. He twisted, flipping his dagger into a reverse grip, and drove it into the creature's jaw.

Blood—if it even was blood—splattered across the ground.

Two down.

Four left.

But Sai wasn't unscathed. His breath came in sharp gasps, his arms felt heavy, and the burn of overexertion was already setting in. His stamina was running low.

The remaining creatures must have sensed it.

They attacked all at once.

Sai barely managed to raise his daggers in time. Claws raked across his forearm—he felt the sharp sting of pain, warm blood dripping down his skin. Another creature lashed out, forcing him to block with both weapons.

He was getting slower.

And they knew it.

I can't keep this up.

The notification from earlier flashed through his mind.

[New Ability Unlocked: Time Reversal (Limited)]

[Effect: Grants a single rewind per dungeon attempt. If activated, the user returns to the state they were in five minutes prior.]

Sai's heart pounded.

If he used it, he could reset the fight. He'd regain his stamina, undo his injuries. But if he wasted it too early, he'd be left defenseless if something worse appeared later.

He clenched his teeth.

No. Not yet.

He could still win this fight—without relying on a second chance.

Gritting his teeth, Sai launched himself forward, dodging a set of claws by mere inches. He ducked low, his eyes locking onto another weak point—this one along the creature's throat.

He didn't hesitate.

His dagger slashed clean through.

The monster collapsed, dark mist rising from its crumbling body.

Three left.

Sai exhaled sharply, wiping the sweat from his brow. He was running out of time.

The remaining creatures didn't wait.

The largest of them charged first, moving at blinding speed.

Sai barely had time to react before it was on him. He raised his weapons, but the force of the attack sent him flying backward. His back slammed into a stone pillar, pain exploding across his body.

He coughed, struggling to get air back into his lungs. His vision blurred for a moment.

Shit. That was bad.

The monster didn't stop. It lunged again, its claws raised for a finishing blow.

Sai moved on instinct.

Instead of dodging, he threw himself forward, slipping past the creature's attack and driving his dagger into its chest.

For a split second, everything was silent.

Then—the monster convulsed.

Its entire body shuddered, dark mist leaking from its wounds. Its golden eyes flickered—then dimmed.

With a final, strangled growl, it collapsed.

Sai staggered back. His arms were shaking. His legs barely holding him up.

Two left.

But before he could catch his breath, the final monsters attacked together.

Sai's exhausted body couldn't keep up.

One clawed hand raked across his torso, the force of the hit sending him sprawling. His vision dimmed at the edges. His limbs felt heavy.

He tried to push himself up—

But his body wouldn't move.

The last thing he saw was the remaining creatures closing in.

Then—

Everything reversed.

A sharp pulse of energy surged through Sai's body.

His injuries vanished. His exhaustion faded. The blood on his daggers was gone.

He was back.

Five minutes earlier.

Before he had been overwhelmed.

Sai exhaled, steadying his grip on his weapons. His heartbeat was still erratic, but now—now he knew exactly what was coming.

The monsters circled him, unaware that they had already killed him once.

Sai rolled his shoulders, letting a slow breath escape his lips.

"Alright," he muttered. "Let's try this again."

This time, he wouldn't make the same mistakes.

This time—he would win.