Ch 6: Hunt or be Hunted
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Quest: Eliminate the stray devil
Reward: 1 Spin
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After leaving the school, I was on my way back to home and then this notification popped up, bringing me to this abandoned building behind mall. The office workers were returning back to their homes while I was on my job here.
The air inside the abandoned building was thick with the smell of rot and decay, the faint sound of distant dripping water echoing through the darkness. I can feel the presence of something unnatural, something dangerous lurking in the shadows. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, and I steady my breath. It's my first time dealing with a stray devil, but there's something about this place that feels... off.
Then I hear it—a low, guttural growl from deeper within the building. My senses sharpen instantly, the faint sound vibrating through the air. The devil was here. It was aware of me now.
I stepped forward cautiously, my steps silent on the cracked tiles. A shadow shifts near the far corner, and the growl turns into a twisted laugh. A form slithers from the darkness, its eyes glowing red, sharp claws scraping the ground with a noise like nails on a chalkboard.
Damn it's ugly!
It was a grotesque thing—half-human, half-monster—with pale, mottled skin, long fingers that end in razor-sharp claws, and jagged teeth bared in a snarling grin. A stray devil, the kind that causes trouble, the kind I've been sent to deal with and I'm about to do my first kill, so wish me luck.
"You got some balls to walk in here by yourself?" The devil's voice was low and dripping with malice, its eyes gleaming as it stepped forward. "Another human foolish enough to wander into my territory? How amusing."
Another devil, another proclamation of 'my territory', another waste of space.
I didn't say anything and simply raised my eyes to meet its, the coldness in my gaze matching the temperature around me. The devil seems to take it as a challenge, its grin widening but deep down I was scared a bit but my training had put trust in me and my skills to deal with it at this distance.
"I can smell your fear, human. Do you think you're different from the others who've come before you? You're nothing to me. I'm going to enjoy every bit of scream while I eat you limb by limb"
My dick too? Focus! Kazuya Focus!
I stepped forward, my feet moving with deliberate calm. I can feel the devil's energy—wild, chaotic, thrumming with hunger. It's trying to intimidate me, trying to provoke a reaction. But I won't give it the satisfaction, I was more of a devil to let someone toy with my emotions.
"You talk too much" My voice was cold, with no fear facing the devil "I didn't come here for suicide. I'm just here to take a spin"
The devil lets out a hissing laugh, its sharp claws scraping the floor as it readies itself with predatory movements.
"End this?" It spits the words out like they're a joke "You think you can defeat me? I've slaughtered entire villages. I've torn apart devils stronger than you"
I don't move as I keep my eyes on his movements while his claws leaving deep gouges in the floor.
"If you are not gonna make a move, I will"
The faint rush of cold energy ran within me, an icy aura began to form around me. The devil stumbles slightly, sensing the change in the air. So now you taking it serious.
"You're underestimating me, human"
"I overestimated you"
In a flash, it lunges, its claws aiming straight for my throat. It's fast—faster than I anticipated—but I was faster, thanks to my enhanced senses. With a swift motion, I raised my hand, and the temperature dropped in an instant, changing the air to a cold one.
"You're done"
The air around us froze as a sudden burst of frost erupted from my hand. The devil howled in surprise as the ice spread rapidly, encasing its limbs in thick layers of frost. It struggled to break free, but the more it fights, the more the ice strengthened. Its movements slowed down as its body froze, a layer of frost creeping up its body with each moment passed.
"What... is this?!" It roars, thrashing against the ice that's quickly enveloping it. "You can't... you can't freeze me!"
"I am freezing you"
But it was already too late. I didn't give a chance to recover. I concentrated as my ice powers flowed freely, controlling the freezing energy, and with a sharp flick of my wrist, the ice around the devil's body shattered, breaking into countless shards that tore through the flesh.
The devil screeched in agony, its body writhing as the ice fragments pierce through its skin, shredding its body. It claws desperately at the air, trying to break free, but the damage was already done. Its strength was fading with each passing second.
"No... I... won't die... not like this..." Its voice was getting weak, limbs twitching, and ultimately unable to move from the place.
I took a step forward, ice forming at the tips of my fingers. It's eyes widened in fear as it looked up at me, body was now riddled with ice shards. It tried to speak, but only gurgles in final moments.
"It was just business, nothing personal"
Without another word, I raised my hand one final time, unleashing a concentrated blast of ice that slams into the devil's chest. The impact shattered its body, and within moments, the devil was nothing but dust and ash scattered on the floor.
I stood there for a moment, the quiet aftermath settling in. The devil was gone. My quest was done and I was about to treat myself with a nice dinner of steak and I deserve this.
The notification appeared before me:
[Quest Completed: Eliminate the Stray Devil in Abandoned Building]
Reward: 1 Spin
I looked at the notification, the corners of my lips barely twitching in satisfaction. That's one problem out of the way and now it was time for the spin.
The satisfaction of the ice-cold silence I've created was broken by the sound of footsteps from behind.
I got on my guard, sensing the approaching figure before I even turn around. My body tensed, instinctively preparing for whatever was coming. A man. Tall, silver-haired, exuding an air of arrogance and confidence. His eyes were fixed on the pile of devil ash, and there's something about his presence that rubs me the wrong way.
He stepped closer, offering a lazy, smug smile that's somehow more annoying than threatening. I fuckin hate him already for just standing in front of me.
"Ah! I missed it! 21-1" He gestures toward the remains of the devil with a casual flick of his hand, then looks me over, sizing me up "Since you're the only one here, so I guess it's you behind all this or maybe it was some fucking Batman that froze this whole piece of shit -oh but he don't have ice powers- so maybe it was-"
Is he high?
I didn't respond to his bullshit and was ready to get into fight with him, I am not interested in small talk or trying to make polite conversation. He doesn't seem to recognize me, and that's fine. I don't need to make this a thing, but I do know who he is. Freed, the infamous devil hunter psycho. Reckless, unpredictable, and with a reputation for making enemies for sake of making enemies.
I don't care much about him; I would leave him to Issei and his group. Right now I want to go back home and dodge this.
"I was planning on clearing this mess up myself... but since you're here, maybe you'd be interested in teaming up? I've got a plan to clear out more strays. Wanna join me!"
My eyes narrowed at his proposal. Teaming up with him? No, that's not gonna happen. The last thing I want is to get caught up in whatever wild scheme this guy's hatching and end up making more enemies for no goddamn reason.
"Not interested" I keep my tone cool, controlled "I work alone"
His grin falters just for a moment. A glimmer of irritation flickered in his eyes, but I could tell he was trying to keep his composure. But then, it's as if something snaps inside him. The change was subtle at first but then his posture shifts, becoming more rigid, and I felt the slight tension in the air around us.
"Oh? Is that how it is?" His voice dropped lower, laced with a sharper edge. "You think you're too good to join me? Too good to fight alongside me? I bet you want a fight with me to see if I am strong enough to kill these shits like you!"
I was not foolish enough to think he would just let me go. He wasn't the type to back down when his pride's been insulted. The way he was glaring at me, I could tell the situation was about to escalate and I was all in it. First, I avoid trouble but if trouble finds me, I sure knock on its face.
"It's not about that. I'm just not looking for a fight" I took a slow breath, not moving an inch. "But If you want to keep pushing, that's on you."
Freed's grin was back now, but it was more twisted, darker. His hands clenched, and I could practically feel the surge of power radiating from him. He took a step forward, closing the gap between us with slow, deliberate movements.
"Oh? You're approaching me? Instead of running away, you're coming right to me? Even though you can see what I just did to the stray devil"
"You've got a sharp tongue for someone who doesn't want a fight. But you can't just ignore me" He stopped just short of me, the air between us was now thicker than thighs of my ex "I'm not the kind of guy who lets someone insult me, walk away"
A moment of silence stretched between us, and I could feel it—his energy, crackling in the space around us. The man was itching for a fight, and I was not about to back down. Now I got no choice but to deal with it.
As I stood there, the new quest notification flickered in front of me, catching my attention.
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[New Quest: Eliminate Freed Sellzen]
Objective: Eliminate Freed Sellzen, the rogue devil hunter.
Reward: 2 Spins
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I blink. Two spins? The reward seemed almost too good to be true, but the moment I saw it, I know what I had to do. Freed was pushing me into a fight, and now I'm being offered the perfect incentive to take him down. Two birds, one stone but I got a gun with me, so either way birds were about to fall to the ground.
I flexed my fingers, a subtle chill sweeping up my arms. My ice powers flared to life, and the heightened senses I've trained kicked in. I was ready for whatever this reckless fool has planned. I was about to paint this building red. He is no match for me, I am going to rip him into pieces in no time.
I stood still, waiting for him to make the first move, my muscles coiled like a spring. The cold air around me thickens, the icy aura rising from my body. I already calculated my next move and was about to strike any moment. I won't feel a least bit of remorse after I kill him and there was no need for my spin to use, I can beat him right now with no sweat.
Freed, sensing my readiness, seemed to hesitate for just a moment, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. But then, with a sharp laugh, he launched forward, his movements were like a blur.
But I was already prepared, I had HD vision to not let this blur escape.
As he comes at me, I raised my hand, ready to unleash a wave of ice. The battle was about to begin. The tension crackled between us, and I knew this fight will bring a whole new set of troubles in my life but I was ready to face whatever life had planned to throw at me.
My spins were on the line, and I was ready for this fight.