Summary: Ryujin returns, this time with reinforcements—mercenaries skilled in tracking and ambush tactics. Jungkook and Taehyung are forced to flee deeper into the Forbidden Forest, navigating traps and escalating tension as they attempt to outwit their pursuers.
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The first warning came in the form of a faint whistling sound—sharp and fast, cutting through the stillness of the forest.
Jungkook reacted instantly, lunging toward Taehyung and dragging him to the ground just as an arrow embedded itself in the tree where Taehyung had been standing.
“Get down!” Jungkook barked, his voice low but commanding.
Taehyung hit the dirt with a grunt, the cold earth pressing against his cheek. He rolled over, staring at the arrow quivering in the bark above him.
“They found us?” he whispered, his voice laced with disbelief.
“Of course they did,” Jungkook muttered, already scanning the shadows for movement. His hand went to the hilt of his sword, the blade glinting faintly in the dim firelight.
From somewhere in the darkness, a voice called out:
“You can’t run forever, shadow boy!”
Taehyung recognized the voice immediately—Ryujin, taunting and sharp, her words echoing through the trees.
Jungkook’s expression hardened. “Stay low. Don’t move until I say.”
Taehyung opened his mouth to argue but thought better of it, nodding instead. He crouched behind a fallen log, his dagger gripped tightly in his hand.
“Come on, Jeon,” Ryujin called again, her voice closer now. “You’re making this harder than it has to be. Hand over the prince, and I might let you live.”
Jungkook didn’t respond. He motioned for Taehyung to stay put, then slipped silently into the shadows, moving with a predator’s grace.
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The forest seemed to hold its breath as Ryujin’s team moved in. There were five of them—skilled mercenaries armed with bows, swords, and crossbows. They fanned out, their steps silent as they closed in on the campfire’s fading glow.
Ryujin herself led the group, her sharp eyes scanning the terrain with practiced precision. She stopped suddenly, holding up a hand to signal her team to halt.
“Tracks,” she murmured, crouching to inspect the ground. Her fingers brushed against the disturbed dirt where Jungkook and Taehyung had been sitting moments ago.
She straightened, her smirk returning. “They’re close.”
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From his vantage point high in the trees, Jungkook watched the mercenaries with a hunter’s focus. His blade was steady in his hand, his breathing slow and controlled. He counted their movements, noting the pattern of their formation.
He could take down one or two before the others reacted, but that would leave Taehyung vulnerable. He needed a distraction.
Carefully, he reached into his pouch and pulled out a small pouch of powder. It was a last resort, meant to disorient enemies and cover an escape. Jungkook tied the pouch to a throwing knife, aiming for a tree near the mercenaries’ left flank.
With a flick of his wrist, the knife flew through the air, embedding itself in the bark. The pouch burst open on impact, releasing a cloud of shimmering silver powder.
The mercenaries staggered, coughing and blinking as the powder clung to their clothes and skin.
“What the—” one of them sputtered, stumbling back.
“Smoke!” Ryujin barked. “Scatter! Stay alert!”
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“Now!” Jungkook hissed, returning to Taehyung’s side.
Taehyung didn’t hesitate, scrambling to his feet and following Jungkook as they darted deeper into the forest.
The trees closed in around them, the air growing colder and more oppressive. Roots and vines snaked across the ground, threatening to trip them with every step.
Taehyung’s breath came in ragged gasps as he struggled to keep up with Jungkook’s relentless pace. “Do you even know where we’re going?”
“Anywhere but here,” Jungkook shot back, his voice clipped.
Behind them, the sound of shouting and crashing branches grew louder. The mercenaries were regrouping, their pursuit relentless.
“They’re gaining on us!” Taehyung panted.
Jungkook slowed briefly, his sharp eyes scanning the terrain. Ahead, he spotted a narrow ravine with a fallen tree bridging the gap.
“This way!” he said, grabbing Taehyung’s arm and pulling him toward the ravine.
Taehyung’s stomach dropped as he saw the steep drop on either side of the tree. “You can’t be serious.”
“Do you trust me?” Jungkook asked, his gaze intense.
“No!” Taehyung shouted, but Jungkook was already moving.
With practiced ease, Jungkook sprinted across the fallen tree, his balance impeccable despite the narrow width. He turned at the other side, motioning for Taehyung to follow.
“Go!” Jungkook urged.
Taehyung hesitated for only a moment before stepping onto the log. His heart pounded as he inched forward, his arms outstretched for balance.
Behind him, an arrow whizzed past, embedding itself in the bark inches from his hand.
“Hurry!” Jungkook shouted.
Taehyung bit back a curse and broke into a run, his feet slipping slightly on the moss-covered wood.
The log shook as Ryujin leapt onto it behind him, her dagger gleaming in the faint light. “You’re not getting away that easily!”
Taehyung reached the other side just as Ryujin closed the gap. Jungkook stepped forward, his sword flashing as he blocked her path.
“Enough, Ryujin,” Jungkook said coldly. “Call off your men.”
Ryujin smirked, her breathing steady despite the chase. “Or what? You’ll kill me? You know you’re outnumbered.”
Jungkook’s grip on his sword tightened. “Then I’ll make sure you’re the first to fall.”
For a moment, Ryujin seemed to consider her options. Then she stepped back, balancing effortlessly on the log.
“This isn’t over, Jeon,” she said, her voice low and dangerous. “You can run, but you can’t hide forever.”
With that, she leapt back to the other side, retreating into the shadows with her team.
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Taehyung slumped against a tree, his legs trembling from the adrenaline. “That… was insane.”
Jungkook sheathed his sword, his expression unreadable. “We need to keep moving. They’ll be back.”
Taehyung groaned but pushed himself to his feet. As much as he hated to admit it, Jungkook was right.
“We can’t keep running forever,” Taehyung said, falling into step beside him.
Jungkook glanced at him, his dark eyes briefly softening. “Then we’ll have to make sure they can’t follow us.”
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