Zane's breaths came out ragged. His chest was on fire, legs wobbling from exhaustion. The Thornhide roared behind him, crashing through rubble like it was made of paper.
He checked the timer again.
"Damn it," Zane cursed under his breath. "So this is it, huh?"
He clenched his fists, ready to go down swinging—when suddenly, the Thornhide let out a strangled growl.
A burst of magical energy surged through the ruins, striking the Thornhide in its throat. Zane ducked instinctively as more blasts followed—fast, precise, and deadly.
Figures emerged from the smoke: armored hunters, swift and coordinated. One of them hurled a spear glowing with runes, and it pierced through the Thornhide's skull.
The beast collapsed with a heavy thud.
Zane's jaw dropped. "What the hell...?"
Before he could move, the system chimed in:
Target: Thornhide Beast – Eliminated
Reward: +100 EXP | New Title Unlocked: Survivor]
> Note: Quest was triggered by user. Primary threat neutralized by external forces. Full credit granted.
Zane blinked. "Wait, what?"
He looked down at his hands, then back at the fallen beast. I didn't even land a hit. Why the hell did I get credit?
The system didn't respond. The hunters were already beginning to regroup, and Zane quickly ducked out of sight.
"Okay... definitely keeping that to myself," he muttered.