Ji-sun was the first to step forward, while the others stood frozen, unable to utter a single word.
"The strongest man is standing right in front of you."
"Hm? You're the strongest?" the demon mused, his smile stretching into a wicked grin. "I've heard of you... but you're not the one they praised during today's ceremony. I'm looking for him."
"And why are you looking for him?"
"Why?" the demon chuckled mockingly. "Simple — to kill him."
"You'll have to get through me first!" Ji-sun growled, summoning Kuroen — armor forged from his own blood.
"Your spears have torn apart many of my comrades. From their blood alone, one could fill a lake. I've longed to kill you too… but I didn't expect the opportunity to come today."
In a blur, the demon darted to the side and slashed at Ji-sun's face with his claws. But the dark-haired hunter dodged with ease, retaliating without hesitation. The demon, weaving between attacks, beat his wings forward.
"Your wings — sharp as blades. So they can attack too."
"Correct," the demon smirked. "And why are your friends just standing there?"
The hunters turned, just in time to see a horde of demons charging down the walls toward them.
"Take out the small fry!" Ji-sun ordered. "I'll handle this one myself."
While the others formed a tight formation, Ji-sun stood his ground near the entrance to the vault — the place where I was hiding.
"Why are you shielding your SSS-ranked hunter like some fragile secret? Can he not fight?"
Ji-sun's spears rained down, striking again and again, some hitting their mark — but none piercing the demon's thick hide.
"You talk too much for someone about to die."
"You've already written me off? How delightfully arrogant."
Suddenly, the demon grabbed one of Ji-sun's spears.
"Humanity will never defeat the demons. Deep down, I hope you understand that."
Ji-sun's blood shifted. One spear dissolved into a pulsing mass, while the other morphed into a long, twin-bladed pike. In a flash, he lunged and drove it clean through the demon's neck.
The creature jerked violently. His voice turned to a hoarse rasp, unable to form words. Blood poured from his throat, coating Ji-sun's weapon.
"Did no one ever tell you not to underestimate humans? A pierced throat is just as fatal to a demon as it is to us. I don't know if you can take on human form… but you're definitely not ordinary. I bet scientists will love tearing your body apart."
But then — the demon's hands twitched. And with a spine-chilling laugh, he clutched Ji-sun's pike again, spreading his claws wide.
"What the—?! You're immortal?!"
The demon's wound began to close — the cells regenerating, stitching themselves around the embedded weapon. Ji-sun yanked it free and jumped back.
"Seems there's been a misunderstanding," the demon said coldly. "I am a demon. I surpass you in every way. I even fight with my wings. You lost the moment this began. So why keep fighting? What are you fighting for?"
Ji-sun split his pike back into dual spears and adjusted his glasses calmly.
"To kill every last one of you. To you, this is just a game. A chance to show off. But me? I already know how you'll die."
"Delightful, human! Then let's fight!"
Cackling, the demon leapt forward and clashed with Ji-sun's spears. His claws were as tough as steel — matching the hunter blow for blow. Ji-sun refused to back down, forcing every ounce of power from his demonic blood.
He missed one strike — and the demon's fist landed square in his gut. The hit was so strong, Ji-sun's armor nearly shattered, and he was sent flying a dozen meters back.
Gritting his teeth, Ji-sun regained his stance and expanded the Kuroen armor to cover his head — though the strain was immense, and his focus nearly faltered.
"You strengthen your armor mid-battle? Magnificent! Now dodge this!"
With his head twisted unnaturally, the demon lunged upward in a vicious slice meant to cleave Ji-sun in two. But the hunter blocked it — spears clashing against talons, holding back the beast's wild fury.
"Your spears are useless against a demon's true power!"
But in that opening, Ji-sun kicked the demon in the chest and, with a burst of force, drove his spears into the demon's shoulders — piercing the very muscles that controlled his arms.
The demon went limp. Ji-sun reinforced his gauntlet and punched him hard across the face — the demon's head spun like a ragdoll, and he blacked out for several seconds.
Both stood their ground, breathing heavily.
"Strong," they muttered in unison.
The demon twisted his head back into place and took a defensive stance.
"Tell me your name, demon."
"Hm? That's not something you should be asking before your death."
"One must know their enemy. Haven't the Blood Moon Dukes taught you anything? They introduced themselves before their massacre."
"The Icon of Death. That's what my kin call me. My name will haunt the dreams of every soul still breathing."
"So you're referring to your gang. Interesting."
"Enough talk!" the demon roared and charged Ji-sun again.
Elsewhere, the hunters — though weary — kept the lesser demons at bay. The monsters had one goal: stop the hunters from helping Ji-sun.
"Are those beasts your gang?"
"No. But they have minds of their own."
Suddenly, a cluster of demons leapt at the vault's wall — smashing through it and creating a gaping hole. They flooded inside before Ji-sun could react.
"What now?" the demon sneered, unleashing a flurry of punches. "My friends will kill everyone inside. Not a soul will survive! Time to play your last card!"
One demon broke through another wall, leading into a side room of the building — where I was.
Inside were me, a team of soldiers, and a few hunters. I had been training, learning to channel energy throughout my body. But when I saw that thing — skinless, grotesque — my blood ran cold.
A demon? Seeing one in real life… My body froze. Its piercing gaze locked onto me.
My bones quaked. My vision blurred. I didn't know what to do.
The A- and B-ranked hunters morphed their arms into blood-forged weapons, while the soldiers readied their anti-armor guns.
Then, the demon spoke with a voice that rumbled from its chest:
"Hun...ter. The strongest one. Our leader is calling you… Step outside."