Silent Hunt

(Henry's POV)

The wind howled through the scorched wasteland as I crouched on a jagged rock, watching the Demon Lord Baron's fortress from afar. The dark spires twisted into the blood-red sky, a grotesque monument to his treachery. Thousands of demons patrolled the perimeter, their snarls and guttural growls echoing through the air.

Tonight, I wasn't here for Baron. That was Samuel's job. Mine was to cut the head off the snake before it could strike.

Baron's officers—the elite commanders of his army—were stationed throughout the fortress, powerful warriors who could overwhelm us if they joined the battle. But they wouldn't live long enough for that.

Because I was here to erase them.

I gripped the hilt of my sword, feeling the divine energy pulse through it. Celestial Blink hummed beneath my skin, the power vibrating like a coiled spring, ready to be unleashed. With a smirk, I whispered,

"Time to thin the herd."

First Kill – The Butcher

I activated Celestial Blink and vanished, appearing inside the fortress courtyard in the blink of an eye. Shadows flickered as torches illuminated the stone walls, but no alarm was raised. They never even saw me.

My target was a towering brute known as The Butcher—a demon with bloodstained cleavers strapped to his back, his armor covered in dried viscera. He was standing in the center of the courtyard, barking orders to lesser demons, his voice like a grinding saw.

I materialized behind him and whispered, "Hey, ugly."

He barely had time to turn before I drove my sword through his spine.

A gurgled growl escaped his throat as he staggered, black ichor pouring from his mouth. I twisted the blade, severing his spinal cord, and yanked it free. Before he could collapse, I gripped his head with both hands and snapped his neck like a dry twig.

The lesser demons gasped in horror, but before they could react, I activated Judgment's Wrath. My blade ignited with holy energy, and with a single swing, I beheaded them all.

One down.

Second Kill – The Shadow Caster

I disappeared again, reappearing deep within the fortress. My next target was The Shadow Caster, a cunning spellcaster who could summon dark entities to fight in his place. If he lived long enough to unleash his magic, the battlefield would turn into hell.

He was inside a grand chamber, surrounded by eerie purple flames. His eyes glowed as he whispered incantations, preparing for the inevitable battle.

Too bad he wouldn't live to see it.

I threw a dagger, aiming for his throat, but at the last second, he sensed me. With a flick of his wrist, a shadowy barrier materialized, deflecting the blade.

His lips curled into a wicked grin. "Heaven's Wing… I've been waiting for you."

He extended his hand, and a dozen shadow beasts emerged from the darkness, their glowing red eyes locking onto me. "Let's see how fast you really are."

"Tch. Fine, I'll play."

I vanished as the creatures lunged at me. Reappearing behind them, I swung my sword in a crescent arc, slicing through three instantly. Their bodies disintegrated, but the others adapted quickly, their movements sharp and unpredictable.

I weaved through them, dodging claws and fangs, dismembering them one by one.

The Shadow Caster growled. "You're quick… but not quick enough."

He raised his staff, summoning a black vortex that threatened to consume me whole.

I smirked. "You talk too much."

With Celestial Blink, I reappeared right in front of him. His eyes widened in horror.

Before he could react, I plunged my sword straight through his chest.

His scream was cut short as golden flames erupted from his wound, disintegrating him from the inside out. His body collapsed into ash, and the vortex vanished along with him.

Two down.

Final Kill – The Crimson Knight

The last officer was Baron's strongest—The Crimson Knight, a monstrous warrior clad in heavy black armor, his blade rumored to be forged from the bones of fallen angels. He was stationed in the fortress's war room, studying battle plans.

I appeared in the chamber, and his head snapped up instantly. Unlike the others, he wasn't surprised.

He simply smiled. "So… you finally came."

I tightened my grip on my sword. "Not much for surprises, huh?"

He chuckled. "No. And I don't need them."

Without warning, he charged.

I dodged, but he was faster than I expected. His blade grazed my side, cutting through my armor.

Tch. This one's different.

I activated Celestial Blink, appearing behind him, and slashed at his back. But his instincts were sharp—he twisted mid-air, blocking my strike with ease.

The impact sent shockwaves through the room.

I grinned. "Finally, a real fight."

He smirked. "Let's make it a good one."

We clashed again, our blades moving faster than the eye could see. Sparks flew as steel met steel, each strike sending shockwaves through the chamber. He was strong—stronger than any of the others.

But I was faster.

I dodged his next strike and slammed my knee into his ribs, sending him crashing through a stone pillar.

He groaned but got back up, wiping black blood from his mouth. "Impressive."

I smirked. "I get that a lot."

He lunged again, his blade aiming for my heart. At the last second, I sidestepped, grabbing his wrist and twisting. His bones snapped, and he howled in pain.

Before he could recover, I drove my sword through his chest.

His eyes widened, his body trembling. "You… bastard…"

I leaned in, whispering. "I warned you."

With a final surge of energy, I activated Judgment's Wrath. Holy flames consumed his body from the inside, reducing him to nothing but ashes.

Three down.

Mission Complete

I stood amidst the destruction, blood dripping from my blade, my breath heavy. The fortress was eerily silent. The officers were gone.

Baron's army was now leaderless.

I smirked, wiping my blade clean. I stood in the middle of the carnage I created. The air was thick with the scent of burnt flesh and blood, the walls coated in black ichor. The once-mighty fortress of Baron's officers was now a silent graveyard, its so-called elites reduced to ash and corpses.

The Butcher's headless body slumped against the stone, his twin cleavers still clutched in his lifeless hands. The Shadow Caster's remains had long since vanished, his dark magic failing him in the end. And the Crimson Knight, the strongest of them all, was nothing more than a pile of scorched bones.

I exhaled, feeling my heartbeat slow from the adrenaline rush. This was the cost of war.

I glanced down at my arm, where the Crimson Knight had managed to cut deep before I ended him. The wound still bled, staining my sleeve, but I barely felt it. My body was already healing, thanks to Lightborn Rebirth.

I let out a short chuckle. "Tch… messy work."

The battlefield was silent. No more screams, no more resistance—only me standing amidst the ruins.

A sudden gust of wind howled through the broken stronghold, carrying the echoes of the battle that had just ended. I ran a hand through my hair, my fingers stained with blood.

I knew Samuel was somewhere out there, preparing to face Baron himself. But for now, I was alone in the aftermath.

I looked down at my own handiwork—the twisted bodies, the shattered stone, the lingering flames of Judgment's Wrath still crackling.

And for the first time in a long while, I felt something unusual.

Emptiness.

I had done my job. I had hunted them down, executed them without mercy, erased them from existence. But now, standing here, surrounded by death, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing.

Was it because the fight was too easy? Or was it something else?

I let out a sigh, my smirk fading. "No point in overthinking. Dead is dead."

I sheathed my sword and took one last look at the battlefield before vanishing into the darkness.

Baron was next.