The rain fell heavier now, soaking the ruined docks as thunder cracked above. In the heart of the burning courtyard, Kaien stood still, his long coat fluttering in the wind.
Across from him emerged the 4th Elite.
He wasn't bulky—no, he was lean, wiry, but radiated the kind of killing intent that made the air feel thick. His eyes glowed faint red under his cracked black mask. His name was Jinrei, master of the Shadow Fang style, and a man feared for killing entire squads alone.
Kaien exhaled slowly. "You're the 4th Elite?"
"I am Jinrei. You took Lori. I'll return the favor."
"Try."
Jinrei dashed forward first—no warning.
His blade curved low, aiming for Kaien's side. But Kaien twisted his body and blocked with his own black-forged saber, the metal screeching with force.
CLANG!
A second strike came instantly—then a third, fourth, fifth—Jinrei's attacks were like a storm of fangs, precise and never wasted.
Kaien blocked and stepped back, but a cut appeared on his arm. Blood dripped.
"So that's your style…" Kaien muttered. "You fight like you want me to blink."
"I want you to die."
Kaien grinned. "Then let me show you what hell looks like."
He slashed his blade in a wide arc. Flames erupted, scorching the area in a circle, forcing Jinrei back.
Kaien stepped into the fire like a demon, eyes glowing amber. His magic enhanced his strength and speed, heat radiating from his body.
Jinrei suddenly vanished.
"Too slow—" Kaien turned—CRACK!—a kick hit his jaw, sending him skidding across the courtyard.
Kaien wiped blood from his mouth. "Fine."
He surged up, mana coiling around him like lightning. He raised his hand. "Infernal Breaker!"
A line of crimson energy burst from the ground toward Jinrei. The Elite dodged sideways—but Kaien was already there, mid-air, spinning.
SLASH!
Jinrei blocked but was knocked back hard.
Kaien kept up the pressure—teleporting behind him, blade spinning. Jinrei tried to parry—but Kaien's sword ignited, and exploded with a shockwave.
BOOM!
Smoke filled the area. Jinrei's mask cracked further. "You're not bad."
"You're stalling," Kaien replied.
"Correct." Jinrei raised his palm—a glowing seal burned beneath his feet.
"Trap—!"
SHRRRRRK!
Shadow chains erupted and bound Kaien's legs. Before he could cut them, Jinrei struck—slashing across Kaien's chest and arm, drawing deep wounds.
Kaien fell to one knee, breathing hard. Jinrei raised his blade.
"It ends."
Kaien looked up, smirking. "I've been bleeding worse since I was thirteen."
Suddenly, a pulse of dark flame erupted from Kaien's body—shattering the chains.
With a roar, Kaien unleashed his trump card. "Hell Fang Execution!"
He disappeared in a blur of black-red light.
Jinrei blocked left. Right. He twisted, parried. But Kaien was everywhere—flame behind, lightning above, blade in front.
He screamed as Kaien's sword plunged through his stomach, searing flames exploding outward.
Jinrei coughed blood. "You're no hero."
"I'm not here to be one."
Kaien twisted the blade—and pulled it out as Jinrei fell to the ground, defeated.
Kaien stood over him, battered and bloodied, but alive. The rain cooled the heat from his body. He turned toward the distant firelight, toward where the others still fought.
"I've cleared my path," he whispered. "Now burn theirs."
Rain drenched the cracked concrete as sirens echoed distantly. Shadows moved like predators through the maze of metal crates and rusted shipping containers. Koharu and Misaki darted ahead with the wounded, while Luna stood alone in the middle of the pathway, sword drawn, eyes closed.
Behind her, three high-ranking Hero Hunter agents stepped into the clearing—armed, armored, and merciless.
"You think one girl can stop us?" one sneered.
Luna opened her eyes. Calm. Sharp. Deadly.
"I'm not just one girl. I'm your delay."
WHOOSH!
The first hunter charged—a brute with dual axes. He swung down with brute force.
Luna dodged cleanly, pirouetted, and sliced upward—her blade cutting across his chestplate. Sparks flew.
The second hunter attacked from behind—dagger gleaming with poison.
Luna ducked, then leapt back, slashing through the rain. Her sword danced—light and relentless.
CLANG! CLANG! SHRRRK!
Three blows later, both attackers were down, bleeding and stunned.
But the third—a silent sniper with a glowing rifle—fired.
BANG!
Luna threw her sword up and deflected the bullet mid-air.
Rain turned to steam around her. Luna's boots slid across the soaked ground as she murmured:
"Celestial Art – Moonlit Chains."
A glowing silver glyph spun beneath her. From it, radiant chains of energy lashed out, wrapping two hunters and slamming them into nearby containers.
The sniper jumped back—but Luna was already above him.
She slammed down with a burst of gravity magic, the ground cracking beneath the pressure.
He fired again. BANG! BANG!
One bullet grazed her shoulder.
Luna didn't flinch. She channeled her magic into her blade.
"Moon Piercer—Second Form."
With a flash of silver, she sliced through his weapon, his arm, and dropped him unconscious.
More figures appeared—five mid-tier hunters, drawn by the noise.
Luna's breathing was heavy, her stance tense.
But she didn't retreat.
"Misaki. Koharu. Keep going."
She whispered without looking back.
Her blade shimmered. "Third Form – Full Eclipse."
BOOOOM!
A wave of gravity and light shot outward—sending crates flying, knocking hunters off their feet.
She vanished in a blur, striking them mid-air before they landed.
Spin—slash—duck—counter.
Every move was clean. Controlled.
Blood stained the water. Bodies fell unconscious one after another.
Alarms blared now—distant backup arriving. But Luna stood surrounded by collapsed enemies.
Her chest heaved with exhaustion, hair stuck to her forehead, sword steaming from overuse.
She leaned against a container, whispered,
"That's all I can do for now..."
Then she smiled faintly, hearing Koharu's voice on the comms:
"We're clear. Misaki's safe. You did it, Luna."
Rei stood alone at the edge of the rooftop, the city lights flickering beneath his feet. His hands were clenched, eyes dull, heart heavy.
He'd felt it—the moment Isamu died.
And worse, he had let it happen.
Behind him, Ash leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed.
"You still angry I killed him?" Ash asked, voice low, almost taunting.
Rei didn't turn around.
"No. I'm angry because… I wanted to save him. I felt something different in him. Something lost. Like me."
Ash scoffed. "He was a murderer. A hero hunter."
"Even murderers were once people."
A long silence. Then Naoto's voice crackled through the comms:
> "Everyone regroup. Luna completed the defense. We're moving to Phase Two."
Rei took a breath, then whispered, "No more hesitation."
He turned to Ash. "Next time, I'll be the one to finish it."
Ash smirked faintly. "Just don't get in my way."
Rain drizzled outside as Naoto stood before a dusty table filled with maps, photographs, and magical tracking stones. A few lanterns flickered, casting long shadows across the walls. Koharu leaned on her staff nearby, while Misaki sat exhausted on a crate, her hands still glowing faintly from the last healing session.
Naoto pointed at a red circle on the map. "The final three elite members are stationed here. The Hero Hunter main base is deep inside the Eastern Ravine. We'll need to go through the Undermarket tunnels to breach it."
Koharu frowned. "And the remaining hunters? They'll swarm us."
"I'll draw them out," Naoto said. "We divide into three groups. One leads the charge. One flanks. One rescues captives. Misaki… you need to conserve your energy. We can't have you healing everyone again mid-battle."
Misaki nodded silently, her tired eyes showing a trace of fear—but she didn't argue.
Koharu crossed her arms. "And what if Rei refuses to fight after what happened to Isamu?"
Naoto looked at the map without answering at first. Then:
"He'll fight. He has to. Because if he doesn't… none of us are walking out alive."
The door opened suddenly—Kaien stepped in, his coat torn, blood trickling from his cheek.
"We don't have much time," Kaien said. "They're already mobilizing. If we're going to strike... it has to be now."
Naoto's eyes narrowed. "Then let's end this."
A heavy fog clung to the ruined edges of the mountain pass as the team stepped through the broken gates of the Hero Hunter base. Stone walls towered around them, scarred by past battles, symbols of the rebellion etched into every surface. The silence was unnatural. No alarms. No guards. Just the steady echo of their footsteps.
Naoto Yatsuki stepped forward first, his cloak flaring as wind howled through the crumbling archway.
"We're in," he said, his voice calm but focused. "Stay alert. This could be a trap."
Ash walked beside Rei, eyes sharp, blade drawn. "Funny. After everything, it's quiet."
Rei didn't respond. His face was unreadable—he hadn't said a word since Isamu's death. Misaki walked behind him, constantly glancing his way with concern. Koharu kept her staff close, casting detection magic to scan the area.
"This was once their stronghold…" Luna whispered, her voice trembling. "Can you feel it? So much hatred... it's like the walls themselves are still screaming."
Kaien ran a hand along a scorch mark on the wall. "I've fought in too many places like this. Let's finish it before the ghosts start whispering."
Naoto nodded. "There's a central command chamber beneath the east wing. That's where their final leadership will be—if any remain."
Suddenly, Koharu stopped. "Wait... magical surge. Underground movement."
A low rumble echoed. Then—
BOOM.
The floor beneath them exploded—stone cracking, fire bursting through the cracks.
"AMBUSH!" Kaien shouted, drawing his blade.
Shadows leapt from every corner. Elite Hunter units, masked and armed, dropped from hidden ledges. Magic ignited the air. Arrows rained from above.
Naoto drew his sword, eyes flashing with blue fire. "Everyone—engage!"
Rei raised his hand. Lightning exploded from his fingertips, striking two enemies mid-air. "No more hesitation," he muttered. "Not again."
Ash leapt ahead with a roar, clashing blades with one of the Hunter elites. Sparks flew as metal met metal. Luna conjured a wall of wind to shield Misaki, while Kaien vanished into the shadows—cutting down two enemies in a blur.
Misaki began healing Koharu, who was casting wide-range binding spells to slow the ambushers. "Rei, behind you!" she screamed.
Rei twisted, blocked a blow, and responded with a god-enhanced punch that shattered a Hunter's armor. "I told you... I'm not holding back!"
The battle surged forward, bodies moving like ghosts in a storm. The air was alive with fury, magic, and vengeance.
And above it all, Naoto's voice rang out—
"Push through! This ends today!"