SSS-Ranked Demon Hunter: The Prodigy-Chapter 109: The Supremacy Arc, Part 12

I trusted Aruya and galloped toward the headquarters. At the entrance, thirty S-ranked soldiers were already waiting, and to my flanks, another thirty A-ranks closed in.

Reina, Chanwook, Sora, and my Kusanagi team... Everyone was here.

And all of them had their Kenketsu aimed at me.

"Don’t move a muscle!" Chanwook barked.

I dismounted. My mount dissolved into blood and remerged with my body.

"What’s your game, Prodigy? Joined the demons and decided to attack headquarters?"

"Not even close," I replied calmly. "I came for Sashi Heiwa. I need to speak with her."

They were watching me through the headquarters’ security cameras.

"A talk, huh?" Chanwook sneered. "After what your buddy pulled off? No one trusts you or that Mordred freak anymore."

"Let me through. I need to speak with Miss Sashi."

"Not a chance. You’re already being watched. Say your piece—and then maybe I’ll decide whether or not to kill you."

Chanwook spoke with proud confidence, but the others were tense. Unsteady. Some were even trembling.

"My comrade is deep inside this building right now, fighting to take the Demon of Hatred from you," I said. "You already know I’m a vessel for a Duke. My goal is simple—I need to find out where you’re keeping my father. When I meet him, I’ll inherit all his memories and learn how to defeat the Demon King."

I extended my hand toward them.

"So step aside. There’s no need for bloodshed. The outcome of this battle has already been decided."

The hunters hesitated. But their weapons didn’t lower.

Only Chanwook laughed in the silence.

"You really think we’re handing over our trump cards to the enemy? You must think we’re stupid, kid."

"I hate Umbra. Sashi Heiwa, I know you can hear me. Make the right choice. Is keeping secrets worth the loss of the city’s top defenders? I don’t want to kill any of you."

Chanwook’s smirk faded. His tone sharpened.

"Watch yourself, bastard. Just standing here is grounds to kill you. We don’t trust enemies anymore."

Meanwhile, inside the Association HQ, Sashi was deep in thought.

"Ma’am, should we give the order to eliminate Lee Kihyun?"

Her assistant paced nervously.

"No," Sashi said. "Tell them to hold. I’ll speak to him myself."

"Y-yes, ma’am!"

An order came through the radio at once:

"Director Sashi is coming outside. Do not engage the target. Repeat: do not engage."

The hunters flinched. Swallowed hard.

Shingen and Adam exchanged looks, recalling lessons about Lee Kihyun’s strength. Like everyone else, they knew my strengths—and all of my weaknesses.

In fact, the standard protocol was: if you find yourself alone with him, run and call for backup.

Even Reina, who understood how dangerous I was, never took her eyes off me.

A heavy, dreadful air hung over us.

And before long, Sashi stepped out through the main entrance. Her gait was graceful, her brown hair tied in a neat ponytail.

The hunters parted.

Finally, we stood face to face.

"Lee Kihyun. It’s been a while. Ever since you reappeared, things haven’t looked good for you. Care to explain how you ended up with Umbra?"

She saw my empty eyes—devoid of light. I was calm, direct, and determined.

"Infiltrating the enemy and striking from within is the surest way to destroy them. But time is running out."

I pointed behind me.

"Their leader is on my trail as we speak. If that green-eyed bastard gets here before we’re ready, I won’t be your enemy anymore. Without Jisun, you won’t stop him—and Jisun is fighting Death Icon right now."

"How far ahead have you planned this?" Sashi asked. "You’re saying we’re out of time?"

I nodded.

"Through my father’s memories, I’ll learn how to defeat Astaroth. I’ll go as far as it takes to destroy every last one of my enemies. Please, don’t stand in my way. Tell me where he is."

"...After everything, you expect us to trust you again? Right now, you’re a criminal trying to free a Duke. Threats won’t help your cause."

I sighed and looked away.

"I see," I said. Then raised my hand.

In the blink of an eye, Team Kusanagi drew their weapons—against their own comrades.

Ryu grabbed Shingen by the throat.

Ming had Reina pinned.

Yeonghee took Adam at knifepoint.

The hunters flinched, caught off guard. Their blades shifted toward us.

"It seems you don’t understand, Miss Sashi. We’re wasting time. I’m here to help. I’m not your enemy. But if anyone gets in my way—I will kill them."

Sashi froze. Her pulse spiked.

"What are you planning to do?! Why do you need the Demon of Hatred? And why that whole show with Mordred?!"

"This afternoon, all of you were supposed to die," I answered coldly. "A Demon-Serpent would’ve appeared downtown. But it didn’t. And then I realized... the Umbra leader is afraid to let me near the Serpent. Whether you tell me where my father is or not—I’ll find him."

"Kihyun... We’ve given you enough chances. You shattered every expectation. And now you want us to trust you again?"

"Yes," I said without flinching. "One last time. Make the right choice, Sashi."

I understood her. She bore a heavy burden—just as I did.

We were all at our limit. One foot in the grave.

Not just humans... but demons too.

I kept thinking—if Taurus doesn’t submit to Astaroth, could it mean my blood holds dominion over all the rest?

Taurus had spoken ill of Astaroth. Called him weak.

That must mean something. Most likely...

Astaroth fears Taurus.

"But how exactly do you plan to defeat the Demon-Serpent?" Sashi asked at last.

I paused.

A memory returned.

The Kusanagi team hadn’t come together in a long time.

It was obvious why—Ryu and Ming didn’t trust me. We had no real bond anymore.

But one day, we reunited. I even brought Seojun along.

We met in the attic of an old building. A single lantern lit the room.

"I’m glad to see you all again..."

"Yeah," Ryu scratched his head. "Things were rough without you in the Association. Didn’t think we’d all be here again."

"And yet, here we are."

Yeonghee sat on a box, wearing a skirt and sweater. She looked unusually soft that day.

"Who’s the guy you brought, Kihyun?"

Seojun shifted awkwardly. He was quiet, and strangers made him shut down.

"He’s my younger brother," I said, catching him off guard. "Distant relative. Guys... I need your help."

I let my guard down. My eyes were low.

Ming walked over and gave me a pat on the back.

"C’mon, man. Just say it. We’ve got your back. We’re not strangers, after all."

"Ming..." I relaxed. "It’s hard to ask this—especially when I’m putting your lives on the line again. But without you, my plan can’t work. Please... help me."

It’s been half a year since that day.

Funny how that memory came back now... Maybe because I haven’t seen their faces in so long.

"What’s your plan, Kihyun?" Sashi asked, snapping me out of it.

I cleared my throat and lowered my voice. It carried like a commander’s.

"I intend to seize control of the Serpent Demon and turn it against the demons themselves. You’ve seen it too, haven’t you? Its strange behavior... eating its own kind. Seems like Dr. Shin Kyungsoo built that flaw in on purpose. So we’d have a fighting chance."

"...And how exactly do you plan to use its power?"

I said nothing. Straightening my back, I exhaled and looked her in the eye.

"I’ll unleash it on every demon in this country. The Demon-Serpent will scour the land until no enemy remains. Then, I’ll kill the Dukes. One by one."

My words made them pale. Like I was joking.

"Y-you mean..." Sashi’s voice faltered. "You’ll send that thing through the entire city until no demon is left in Seoul?!"

"Yes. And it’ll crawl across the nation, devouring everything in its path. That’s the price of sacrifice. I’ll give the demons no mercy."

"That’s insane!" Chanwook shouted, snapping the others out of their daze. "You all heard it—this lunatic wants to kill us all with that monster! He doesn’t even care about civilians! Damn bastard, I’m not falling for this again!"

Chanwook didn’t wait for orders. He lunged.

"Amur Tiger, stand down!" Reina shouted—but he didn’t listen.

His wings flared, his twinblade slicing toward my throat.

A man who became a demon for strength...

Or a demon whose strength keeps him from being human.

Who will win?

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