Chapter 3: The Wild Hunt

Truth be told, in this godforsaken northern land of howling wind and biting snow, Maria was already shivering in her thin white nightgown. If not for her naturally high Constitution of 3.5 generating enough internal heat to fend off the cold, any normal person would’ve already collapsed into frostbitten unconsciousness. After being aggressively rubbed down with snow, Maria was completely soaked. Her flimsy nightgown had turned almost transparent, clinging tightly to her delicate, snowy body. Fortunately, the scent of perfume clinging to her skin had been greatly reduced—any remaining trace covered by earth and foliage. The knight, aware of the offense, bowed once more before vanishing into the night with her blade in hand. “Hiss...” Maria winced as she sat amid the trees. The cries of wild beasts and howling wind surrounded her. Her job now was simple: hide. No matter how powerful she might become—no matter how legendary her 3.0 hidden boss status was—right now she was just a little girl, [Weakened] and vulnerable. Even if given a knife, she’d be lucky not to stab herself. Could she survive this? This endless escape with no clear end? Her breath shallow, steps unsure, Maria jogged toward the agreed rendezvous point. The cruel wind erased her small footprints almost as soon as they were made. Elsewhere. The knight’s usual aloof pride had been replaced by quiet rage. Maria had not blamed her for the earlier rudeness—but as a knight of Cainehurst, her actions had still been unforgivable. And those who forced her into such disgrace? They would all be sent to hell. By the honor of the [Wild Hunt Knights], guardians of the lady and shield of Cainehurst—Selena vowed it. “Ha! Got you!” “You’re done running!” Two [Night Owl] mercenaries finally caught up to the knight. They’d chased her for what felt like forever. Their hearts brimmed with cruelty and greed. The nobles of Cainehurst had fallen—surely this one was just a leftover scrap. But Selena’s steps were calm. Her curved black-red blade glinted faintly in the dark. It exuded a killing aura colder than the frost itself. In that frozen moment, even the forest fell silent. Her cold voice rang out: “Hyenas, keep quiet when I’m killing. Don’t disturb Lady Maria.” The next instant, her shadow shattered—and Selena, like a phantom of the Wild Hunt, darted through the trees, blade flashing. Mercenaries fell silently. Skill: [Phantom of the Wild Hunt] — Strike with the unrelenting fury of the Hunt. When facing enemies of lower Class, inflicts Suppression effects: fear, panic, intimidation. Targets with high Willpower may resist partially, but cannot nullify the buff effects on the Knight. The [Wild Hunt]—a rare, terrifying phenomenon in [Fractured]. A procession of spectral riders, clad in rusted armor, swords crackling with lightning, mounted atop skeletal steeds. They streak across the night sky. Those who merely saw them were paralyzed in terror; those in their path vanished without a trace. A symbol of doom, death, and war. And the knight who bore their name—one of Cainehurst’s mightiest forces. Maria, hiding deep in the forest, felt the chilling presence too. Like a suffocating shadow trying to drag all life into the realm of the dead. “Silver-tier... Wild Hunt Knight.” As a seasoned [Fractured] player, Maria easily recognized it. The [Wild Hunt Knight]—an advanced class evolved from the [Blood Knight]—had only become playable after the 3.0 expansion. It was the go-to pick for northern guilds and military factions due to its high survivability in harsh environments. “But they weren’t supposed to exist until post-3.0...” Her heart sank. The hidden Cainehurst faction had existed all along—just as those theory-crafting nerds on the forum had guessed. And the mysterious Maria of the [Astralclock Tower]... was part of this bloodline. “This is a goldmine.” Maria sighed. Too bad the official lore left this period of her backstory blank. From childhood to her Tower appearance, it was a void. Meaning from this point forward, every action mattered. One mistake could ruin everything. Timeline-wise, the game’s closed beta began with version 1.0 [Ashes of Flame]—the twilight of the Sun God pantheon and the fading First Fire. Until that plot started, she wouldn’t be able to act as an active NPC. But once it did? She’d be of age. She could truly join the world. Change her fate. Whether to avoid being raided as the 3.0 boss, or to prevent [Fractured] from being destroyed by the chaos armies in 8.0—Maria would shape the future. She ran through the woods, breath ragged, forehead damp with sweat. She didn’t know how the fight behind her was going. All she could do was hope the knight returned with good news by dawn. When she finally reached the meeting spot, she collapsed in the snow, panting heavily. Time passed. Slowly. Nervous, anxious, she stared into the shadows. Light began to rise in the east. At last, someone stepped from the darkness. Her crimson eyes narrowed. A mercenary. Wearing [Night Owl] armor.