SSS-Ranked Demon Hunter: The Prodigy-Chapter 114: The Supremacy Arc, Part 17

I didn’t stop.

I pressed forward with ruthless momentum, each swing of Ashmourne heavier than the last. Sparks sprayed, red arcs illuminated the dark hallway. Chanwook stumbled backward under the pressure, his parries sloppier, more frantic.

I jumped, drove my knee into his sternum.

He flew backward—crashing through a support pillar, then through the window beyond.

Glass exploded.

Wind howled.

We were back outside, dozens of floors above the city.

Chanwook flailed mid-air, blood trailing in an arc behind him. I soared after him, wings of red flaring wide.

We clashed again—blades screaming across each other’s edge, both of us breathless, exhausted. But I was faster now. I moved like instinct.

He raised his sword to block, but Ashmourne shifted mid-swing—its shape changing, expanding. The blade split into twin edges and snapped like jaws, catching his weapon and disarming him.

His sword flew into the distance, vanishing into the snowstorm below.

Chanwook’s eyes widened.

I dropped beneath him, spun in the air, and kicked upward—my heel connecting with his jaw. His body flipped.

Then I struck.

Ashmourne plunged into his side, slicing through armor, flesh, and bone.

Chanwook screamed.

I ripped the blade free, then slashed across his wings. One shattered. The other tore like fabric.

We tumbled together, falling through the air, his broken wings flailing uselessly as the buildings below rushed to meet us.

Just before impact, I twisted mid-air and slammed him through the rooftop of a parking garage.

He hit the concrete with a thunderous crash, cracking the floor beneath.

I landed beside him, kneeling, panting.

Chanwook groaned, rolling onto his side.

Blood covered him. His arm bent at an unnatural angle. He reached for something—but found only broken concrete.

I stood.

Ashmourne pulsed in my grip, still hungry.

Chanwook tried to lift his head.

I raised the blade.

And brought it down.

But stopped—barely an inch from his throat.

His eyes met mine, wide with disbelief.

"I won," I said quietly, breath frosting the air. "It’s over."

Chanwook collapsed fully. His consciousness faded.

Ashmourne dissipated into mist.

I stood alone on the rooftop, wind blowing snow past my shoulders. My wings flickered, then folded away.

I had won.

The sky above churned gray. Snow drifted onto my face.

For a fleeting moment, there was peace.

But down below, an unwelcome guest had arrived—one whose very presence could flip the course of history with a snap of his fingers.

"Hold the line! Full defensive formation! Don’t let him anywhere near Headquarters!" Sora commanded.

"Lady Sashi, you need to run—now!" Yeonghee spread her arms in front of her.

"She’s right," Ryu grinned, his mutated arm twisted into a curved blade as he held Shingen by the neck. "If you die, finding Lee Yeonho gets a hell of a lot harder."

As they argued, Mujin strolled toward them with calm, measured steps. His eyes glowed emerald—omens of disaster.

Each of his quiet breaths felt like a piercing shriek in the hunters’ ears. His gaze, steady and indifferent, drained all hope of victory.

Especially from the rookies, who had only heard his name in whispers.

"Madam—run!"

Sashi didn’t hesitate anymore. She turned and bolted toward the HQ’s entrance. But the moment she moved—

"Stop."

The word came softly.

And Mujin was already behind her.

His hand clamped around her throat. The other pinned her arms.

No one had even seen how fast he passed through them.

"Lady Sashi!!!"

Hunters raised their weapons, but no one dared to fire.

"If any of you move," he said coldly, "I’ll kill you."

Sashi froze. Her face was pale with fear, her eyes wide. A soft whimper escaped her lips before Mujin covered her mouth with his hand.

"Silence. So... you’re important to Kihyun, are you? If I kill you, he’ll never learn where his father is. That suits me perfectly."

Then, Mujin began to squeeze.

Sashi’s feet kicked weakly as her vision blurred. Arrows were ready to fire—but no one had a clean shot. The risk of hitting her was too great.

It seemed nothing would stop him. Her breath grew shallow. Her eyes rolled back.

"Or..." Mujin said, tightening his grip, "maybe you’ll tell me where his father is. Right now. And I’ll spare your life."

"Kh... Kill me... I’ll never... tell you..."

"Tch. Pity."

But before Mujin could finish her off—

A blur shot from the main entrance like a bullet.

A devastating force, faster than even the S-Ranks could react.

Death Icon—his claws raised—slashed straight through Mujin’s arm, severing it in a single, brutal strike.

Sashi dropped to the ground, her neck flushed red and raw.

Mujin leapt back, his severed arm already beginning to regenerate slowly.

A roar split the air.

Death Icon charged, claws wide, fury bursting from every step.

"ATTACK!!!" Reina shouted, and all the hunters moved as one.

From the entrance, Haebin stood frozen, watching it all unfold.

"W-what’s going on...? Brother, you’re fighting with the humans...?"

His gaze swept the battlefield—then stopped on a familiar figure lying near the steps.

"Miss...!"

He rushed over, kneeling beside her.

"You’re alive? Can you walk?"

"You’re... Haebin? They released you..."

"Come on. I’ll get you inside."

Though Sashi was far taller, Haebin carried her without hesitation, half-lifting, half-dragging her toward the interior.

"Here. Lie down here. It’s safer than outside. I need to go."

Before leaving, the boy smiled brightly.

And stepped back into the storm.

"Wait..." Sashi reached out weakly. "Don’t go... it’s too dangerous..."

"Don’t worry about me, Auntie. I don’t belong behind bars while my brother’s out there giving everything to protect us. I know... he’s got a plan. One that’ll let us all live happily."

Sashi stared in disbelief.

There was no malice in Haebin. No madness. Just quiet, unshakable warmth.

Soon, she closed her eyes, slumped against the wall. Staff members arrived and gently carried her away.

Snowstorm howled across the ruined cityscape, as emerald eyes flickered in the center of the chaos.

Seojun. Reina. Sora. The trio from Kusanagi. Twenty S-Ranked fighters. Another twenty ranged hunters.

Against one.

Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.c(o)m