Reunion with the Demon
Outside the road, behind the concrete barrier, Seha's group crouched low in wait.
Isol checked her sword, Harin pulled her massive axe from its case, and Jinho unlatched his shield.
"Hold on," Seha called out to the three of them.
"We'll get spotted like this," Harin said.
"No choice. We didn't have time to grab spare weapons."
"Wouldn't masks work?"
Seha shook his head at Jinho's suggestion. "Not enough. Especially not for an academy student lugging around a gigantic axe like yours. If they investigate, we'll be busted right away."
"...Fair point."
"So what do we do? We can't take on a B-rank barehanded."
Seha raised his left hand at Isol's words. "Pardalis."
Something stirred inside his sleeve. Shuruk.
A pitch-black lizard crawled out and perched on the back of Seha's hand, lifting its head. Its beady eyes scanned the group one by one.
"...What is that?"
"A summoned beast that layers illusions. It can alter all our appearances."
"Appearances?" Isol blinked.
"We'll camouflage to blend with the surroundings and sneak in. Then knock out two of them to start."
The three exchanged glances. This was a meticulously planned scheme, far from Seha's usual bumbling self.
"You... calculated all this?"
"Coincidence," Seha mumbled evasively. "But it's got a ten-minute limit. The illusion fades after that."
"Ten minutes enough?"
"We'll make it enough."
Seha stroked Pardalis's back. The lizard opened its mouth, and mist poured out, shimmering particles swirling around the trio.
As the fog dissipated, their outlines blurred. In moments, they were cloaked in the hues of concrete, asphalt, and shadow. Moving felt off, but still, they melted seamlessly into the background.
Isol peered at her hand. It blended with the road's color, her skin feeling semi-transparent.
"Feels weird."
"Up close and personal, they'll spot it. Speed in, ambush fast—that's the key."
Seha and Ruby donned Pardalis's mist too. Only Ruby's red gem and golden eyes floated disembodied in the gloom.
"Ready?"
The three nodded. The rumble of the approaching convoy echoed from afar.
"......"
The four held their breath. Multiple headlights swept overhead.
Then, moments later—
BOOM!!
An explosion rocked the road ahead, flames painting the night sky. It had begun.
"Now!"
Seha's group vaulted the barrier. Wreckage from the shattered vehicle littered the distance. They hunkered behind a bisected car chunk.
Swoosh. Seha peeked out.
"How's it look?" Harin whispered.
"Four B-rank hunters. One's down on the ground—hurt or out cold."
"Kinda feels wrong celebrating when someone might be injured..."
"Knock out the two closest first. Then it's two on four."
"Got it. I'll take left," Jinho said, sighting his target through the broken windshield.
"Isol, Harin—hold off the other two."
"On it."
With nods from Isol and Harin, Seha rose into a low crouch. "Let's go!"
Seha and Jinho burst from opposite sides. Their marks—the nearest pair—were fixated on the brawl ahead.
"...That's an S-rank fight."
"No room to even jump in..."
Up close, their murmurs carried. Seha crept up silently from behind, Pardalis's camouflage rippling.
Three meters. Two. One.
Locking eyes with Jinho, Seha nodded—and they lunged together.
Whoosh!
"Guh!"
"!?"
Seha's arm coiled around the hunter's neck. The man tried to yell, but his windpipe was crushed shut. Veins bulged on Seha's forearm as the hunter thrashed.
Size difference rocked Seha side to side.
Thud! He slammed into a parked car, breath exploding from his lungs. But he held on.
Five seconds. Seven. Ten.
Strength ebbed from the hunter. Slump. His heavy body sagged backward.
Seha slipped underneath to ease him down, laying the unconscious man gently on the asphalt.
Across the way, Jinho did the same.
Seha checked the hunter's nose—steady breathing. Pulse normal. He exhaled in relief.
"This one's good too," Jinho said.
"Perfect."
Then—perhaps hearing the car impact—the remaining hunters whirled around.
Two comrades sprawled on the ground. Mysterious figures beside them.
"Enemies!"
Isol and Harin arrived just behind them.
Clang! Isol's sword met a hunter's blade. Harin charged the other with her axe.
Jinho shoved Seha's back. "Go to Dahong! We'll buy time."
Seha hesitated. Combat raged—Isol yielding ground, Harin's axe rebounding. Could he really leave them?
"Hurry!" Jinho yelled.
Seha gritted his teeth and nodded, bolting for the transport van.
The windowless black vehicle. His vision shook from full sprint. Almost there—
"...!"
Seha clutched his head and rolled across the asphalt.
Crack! Something supersonic grazed where his head had been.
Ignoring pain, he scrambled up. Lifting his gaze revealed his attacker.
"You...?"
The man who'd taken Dahong—the Audit Office Director, Kim Donghwi.
Donghwi gripped a whip-like weapon in one hand. Even after his own strike, his eyes wavered in shock.
"Yu Seha...?"
"......"
His suit rumpled, tie half-undone, forehead smeared with grime and sweat.
"How are you even here...?"
His face twisted like he'd witnessed the impossible. Then fury warped it further.
"Kang Seoyeun tipped you off?"
"...Teacher had nothing to do with it. I stole it alone. I take full responsibility for dragging in the archdemon too."
"Bullshit! A failing student like you—!"
Whoosh!
The whip lashed again.
Snap! Seha dodged nimbly. It cracked empty asphalt.
Seha kept his momentum, sliding behind another car. Crouched, he unleashed a Demonfly from his hand.
Flap flap. It soared into the dark.
Eyes shut, Seha synced with its vision. From above: Donghwi approaching cautiously, keeping distance from the car.
'Tougher than expected.'
Seha panted. Intimidation was negligible—far weaker than the empowered A-rank Scorpion King. And a whip? Poor for close quarters. Telegraphed swings, hard chains, power dropping inside max range.
The issue: 'Can I breach a high hunter's attacks and close the gap?'
Donghwi neared the car. His whip hand reared back powerfully.
'From the right.'
Seha's eyes snapped open. He vaulted from behind the car, sprinting opposite.
Scree!Crash!
The whip shredded the car's side—door dented, glass shattering.
"You bastard—!"
Donghwi reeled it in, swung again.
'Overhead!'
Seha ducked. Crack! It whistled past, shearing hairs.
Close. A hit would've ended it. But...
'I see it.'
Demonfly's view tracked it: shoulder twitch, arm pullback, whip launch. About one second.
A seasoned hunter might conceal tells, but not Donghwi. He telegraphed full-power swings.
Crack! Seha evaded once more.
"Why won't you get hit?!"
Donghwi gnashed his teeth. A dropout dodging him? Unfathomable.
Seha understood. The man was strong—A-rank mana at least. But sloppy. Raw power, amateur swings. A giant infant.
"Ruby! Down!"
"Nyaang!"
Ruby unsheathed claws, leaping to Seha's feet.
"When he swings there, hit him with breath!"
"Grrmph."
Ruby snorted fiercely. Seha summoned more.
"Shadow Imp! Pardalis!"
Ducking behind the car again, Seha stripped off his hoodie, tossing it to the Shadow Imp. He recloaked in Pardalis's mist.
"When I start running, bolt that way and draw attention."
"Kikik!"
The imp skittered opposite via the car's under-shadow.
Seha synced eyes with Demonfly again. Donghwi advanced more warily, whip grip shortened—handle coiled tighter.
'Shorter grip. About three meters less.'
Dodging like before would've met accelerated speed.
"Give up and come out! You think a punk like you can escape my grasp after dreaming of rebellion!?"
"...Hoo!"
Crackle. Seha deep-breathed amid phantom flames, chest heaving.
Crunch. Donghwi stepped on glass.
Then—
Thud! Something dashed out.
"!"
Donghwi whipped his head that way. But in that instant—
"!?"
A gray blur erupted opposite.
'What!? Misdirection?'
A split-second hesitation, but judgment swift: trust his eyes. Maybe a simple trick—thrown stone, dash opposite.
"There!"
Screee!
Shortened whip flew—far faster. But Shadow Imp melted into shadow just before impact, hoodie shredded.
"What!?"
"Decoy...?"
Donghwi fumbled to retract.
'Where!?',
Thud! He whipped toward the noise hastily.
Half-recoiled, it lacked power.
Slash!
"Guhk!"
It struck Seha's arm hard—but survivable. And he seized the whip.
"Wh-what! Let go!"
"Ruby! Now!"
From under the car, the black cat pounced.
And—
KWOOSH!
"Gaaahhh!!!!"
Blue flames that cooked A-rank boss flesh engulfed Donghwi. He dropped the whip, rolling desperately, fumbling off his burning jacket—pathetic sight.
Seha, whip draped over his arm, charged. Mana gathered in his palm.
Dahong's technique. His sole attack. Mana Bullet. Inefficient, but all he had—no other spells or buffs yet.
"Hah!"
Jacketless Donghwi startled at the ferocious approach, terror flashing in his eyes.
"Raaahhh!!!!"
Seha clenched his fist, slamming full-force into Donghwi's solar plexus.
And simultaneously—
BOOM—!!
Mana Bullet detonated.
"Kughaa—!"
Spit flew from Donghwi's mouth. Even a B-rank Armored Bone Knight would've staggered. No A-rank hunter takes a bare torso hit lightly.
Crash! Donghwi soared skyward, cratering a parked car's hood.
"Guh... ugh......"
He shuddered, then his head lolled limp.
"Hah...... hah......"
Seha braced hands on knees, gasping. Body quaking. Arm throbbing.
His torn white short-sleeve tee revealed a long red welt. Blood dripped from fingertips.
From his belt buckle, he drew a slim vial of red liquid—Jisu's gifted recovery potion. Bit off the cap, poured on the wound.
No instant heal, but better than nothing.
Blood trickled from his forehead—road rash. Car glass reflection showed a cheek gash. Nowhere unscathed.
Ruby approached. "Meow!"
"Yeah. Dahong."
Staggering, he headed for the transport van.
***
Inside the transport van, Dahong sat eyes closed. Outside silence. No clue if Belzar retreated or the fight ended.
Then—
"Kikik!"
Something seeped through the door crack. Dahong's eyes opened.
Black shape. Slightly larger than a cat, two horns. Low-rank summon. Shadow Imp—a demon subspecies.
Dahong narrowed her eyes. The imp fumbled the lock, familiar mana pulsing.
"Kik, kikik!"
Click. Unlocked.
Dahong gazed down at it.
Clunk. Door swung open. Night breeze rushed in.
Smell of burning vehicles. Asphalt. Dawn's chill air.
A figure stood before the door. Blood streaked his forehead. Cheek scraped. Shirt torn. Panting hard. Crimson chain tattoo on hand's back.
A wreck. Total mess.
Dahong looked up at him from her chair.
Seha looked down at Dahong. Four restraints bound her. Red eyes met his.
She parted her lips.
"I've come to get you."
