subahibi osts are so peak im crine 😭
Sunny gritted his teeth as he darted through the trees, zigzagging at every corner of the tree hoping to throw them off. His boots barely left prints in the thick snow though, were still used to track him. He took use of his ascended ability, [Shadow Manifestation], and created platforms to further increase his speed. He went as far as conjuring shadow barriers, their surface laced with a blinding tint to obscure their vision. His peripheral vision blurring as he continuously propelled himself off the thick snow.
The others were still chasing him. He could hear Effie's monstrous laugh behind him as if he was a wild boar on the run. Nephis had attempted, and I mean attempted quietly sneaking behind Sunny but the result was obvious. Kai, that flying pretty boy, was still scouring the skies to cut off Sunny's escape plan. Jet gave up midway, complaining due to the overwhelming speed of the cockroach and how Sunny was an 'unhittable' target due to his size.
Cassie… Cassie was possibly the biggest threat there. She didn't need to see him. As long as he made a sound, she would know exactly where he was.
But he had made it far enough.
He could work with this.
With a final burst of speed, he kicked off the ground and leapt upward, grabbing onto a low-hanging branch. He pulled himself up effortlessly, then climbed higher, using his shadows to push against the tree's surface and lighten his weight. He halted upon a small entrance in the large oak tree.
This was a good spot.
From here, he could see everything.
Perched atop the towering oak tree, Sunny stood motionless, his black hair swaying gently in the cold wind. Below, Kai weaved effortlessly through the trees, his figure a blur of speed, while the others followed in his footsteps.. Or rather his direction, since he was flying.
Snow crunched beneath their hurried steps, their breath visible in the icy air.
From above, Sunny watched them in silence, his onyx eyes devoid of warmth - only sharp calculation remained. A cold, frozen snowball rested on his right hand.
They were hunting him.
They just didn't realize he was hunting them, too.
He inhaled deeply, then exhaled, feeling the tension in his body ease slightly.
Should I…?
A grin formed on his face. Then, a fearsome mask that resembled a demon materialised his left. He slowly brought it to his face, before locking it in place.
Perfect…
Time to farm.
Looking down once more, he took in the distance between him and the ground.
Remembering his runes, he summoned a familiar yet unused memory. The transparent cloak emerged and stuck behind his back.
Sorry, buddy. Forgot about you.
Without a second thought, he jumped. Or rather, the cloak's translucent wings catched the wind and lowered him gently to the snow-covered ground.
Kai stood just ahead, his body still, his jade eyes scanning the treetops. He was searching. Listening. His instincts told him something was wrong, but they were just a second too slow.
The moment Sunny's feet touched the ground, Kai turned. His body reacted before his mind could process what he was seeing.
'!'
He instinctively propelled himself backwards, his expression flickering between wariness and intrigue.
That mask.
It was unfamiliar, though he clearly knew who was behind it.
Kai's lips curved slightly, but still a bit hesitant. "Me first, huh?"
Sunny didn't answer. He just gazed at his first victim, creating plans on winning.
Kai studied him for a moment, the amusement in his eyes evident. Then, his grin widened.
"Is that really you, Sunny?"
A pause. The wind whistled through the trees.
Then, Sunny spoke, his voice piercing the sound of the wind travelling.
"No."
The moment the word left his lips, Sunny moved.
Kai barely had time to shift his weight before a snowball came hurtling toward him, fast and aimed directly at his face. He twisted his body to the left, narrowly avoiding it, only for another to follow in its wake. He clicked his tongue, kicking off a nearby tree and soaring higher, his body turning into a blur.
"Tch. Cheap shot."
Sunny didn't respond.
Kai retaliated instantly. His arm snapped forward, releasing a snowball with terrifying force. It cut through the air like a bullet.
This much should be enough. Sunny thought.
Sunny stepped aside.
Another came before the first even landed.
Then another.
Then another.
The barrage was relentless. Snowballs whizzed past, carving paths through the air and exploding upon impact on the ground, the sheer speed of them making the wind howl in protest. Kai flew from all directions, hoping to catch Sunny off guard by his placement.
But Sunny had measly dodged them all.
A sidestep.
A tilt of his head.
A slight shift of his shoulders.
Each movement was precise, his body bending at the perfect angle to let the attacks slide past. He didn't slow down, didn't break his rhythm. His mind was already working ahead, planning his next moves.
Kai frowned. Then, suddenly, he smirked.
"You're a goddamn monster," he muttered under his breath, barely audible over the wind.
Sunny finally spoke, his voice calm, almost indifferent. "I know."
Kai didn't hesitate. He threw another, then another, each one faster than the last. His footwork shifted, weaving unpredictably through the air, trying to break Sunny's rhythm.
It didn't work.
Sunny had already accounted for it.
The moment Kai adjusted his angle, a throwing dagger, shaped like a triangular leaf, flashed through the air.
Sunny flicked his wrist, sending the kunai hurtling forward. But it wasn't aimed at Kai.
Instead, it cut straight through the middle of the incoming snowball, shattering it mid-flight.
Kai's eyes widened in surprise for a fraction of a second. His instincts screamed, but by the time he reacted, the kunai had already curved - pulled back by its near-invisible string
He barely managed to twist out of the way, the blade grazing past his shoulder as he flipped backward, landing lightly on a branch. His heart pounded.
Kai breathed heavily, shaking his head, a wry grin tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Seriously?"
Sunny remained silent.
Kai let out a breathless chuckle, rolling his shoulders, his emerald eyes gleaming with challenge. "Alright, alright… round two, then."
*****
(this was ORIGINALLY gonna be a new chapter but idk)
Kai tensed, his instincts flaring in response. Levitating himself in the air, 2 snowballs at his arsenal he prepared to launch full throttle at him.
But before he could react, a voice. More specifically, Sunny's voice whispered behind him.
"Behind you."
He twisted mid-air, his muscles coiling as he turned to strike - only to find nothing.
Just empty snow, though if one payed attention, a subtle formation of a rock was submerged under it.
The hell?!
Instinct screamed at him. His feet hit the ground, and he pivoted sharply, scanning his surroundings.
A sound, so quiet yet felt like it was speaking directly to his ear.
"To your left."
Kai reacted instantly, head snapping toward the voice, arm already moving to throw - but like last time, there wasn't anyone.
Have I gone crazy?
If he could put it into words, it was as if he was hearing 2 voices at once. Both the same.
A figure, too fast for the naked eye to see was occasionally whispering in his ear then disappearing off the face of the earth, and another voice, very faint but still managed to reach Kai.
Coming to the conclusion that he was crazy was very logical in this situation.
And, Sunny was nowhere to be found.
But then, a flicker of movement in the corner of his eye, that had arrived much closer then anticipated.
The cold air stung his lungs as he took another step back.
He knew Sunny was fast. But this wasn't just speed. It was something else. It was like he was at one place, then at another in a millisecond.
The hell has that kid done..?
A whisper brushed against his ear.
"Above."
Kai barely had time to look up before a snowball slammed into his shoulder, exploding into a burst of white powder.
He grit his teeth, forced his body to move…
But the snow behind him shifted.
"Here."
The voice was directly behind him.
His body tensed as he spun, already knowing.
A black-lacquered mask stared back at him, its jagged grin bared in the dim light. Three twisted horns crowned its head, its empty sockets deep and hollow.
Before he could react, a snowball struck him dead center in the chest.
Kai stumbled, his balance slipping.
Before landing with a soft thud as the snow cushioned his fall. A breathless chuckle left his lips, half in disbelief, half in surrender.
He blinked up at the masked figure towering him. The black-lacquered fangs of the mask gazed down at him.
Kai exhaled, shaking his head. "You're a goddamn monster, you know that?"
Sunny didn't answer.
He only tilted his head slightly.
got lost in the sauce writing in this chapter lmfao i wrote a bit too much for one fight, still gotta do the others goddd but writing this was honestly fun