A Man That Hunted (Prolog)

The night in the city of Evernight was always shrouded in thick fog, as if swallowing the moonlight that should have illuminated the cobblestone streets. Among the shadows swaying under the glow of gas lamps, a man stood atop an old building, his eyes vigilantly scanning the darkness. His left eye, glowing red and shaped like a cat's eye, shone sharply under the dimness of the night.

Kael, a hunter from the Hunter Union, took a deep breath. The faint scent of blood lingered in the air, a sign that the creatures of the night were lurking. He moved his fingers to the hilt of his silver axe, while his silver pistol rested at his belt—a weapon that had accompanied him for years in this endless hunt.

As a half-human, half-vampire, Kael was caught between two worlds. Humans saw him as a threat, while vampires viewed him as a traitor. But that didn't stop him. He had sworn to hunt down every dark creature that preyed on the innocent. No matter how deeply the thirst for blood within him tried to take over, he chose to remain a hunter, not a predator.

Suddenly, the sound of light footsteps echoed from a narrow alley below. Kael narrowed his eyes, sharpening his hearing. The sound wasn't from an ordinary human. The movements were too smooth, too fast. A vampire.

A faint smile curved on his lips. "Finally, you show up."

In an instant, Kael leaped down from the roof, letting his shadow blend into the darkness. Tonight, blood would flow once again in the streets of Evernight.

As his feet touched the ground, he spun around, his axe raised, ready to slice through the darkness. His eyes caught a faint figure standing at the end of the alley—a vampire in a black coat, his eyes glowing red like embers. The vampire smiled, revealing sharp fangs.

"You've been hunting me for a long time, Kael," the vampire's voice was calm but laced with threat. "But tonight, I'll be the one hunting you."

Kael didn't flinch. He raised his silver pistol and aimed it straight at the vampire's head. "Let's see who hunts whom tonight."

The wind blew fiercely, carrying the stench of death hanging in the air. The night had just begun.

Kael moved first, firing his silver bullet without hesitation. The vampire dodged with incredible speed, his body flickering among the shadows. But Kael had anticipated it. With a swift motion, he swung his axe, cutting through the air with deadly force.

Metal met flesh. The vampire growled, jumping back while clutching his wounded shoulder. "You're getting faster," he muttered, his eyes glowing brighter. "But I'm not done yet."

In a flash, the vampire attacked. His sharp claws shot toward Kael, forcing the hunter to twist out of the way. Kael raised his pistol, but the vampire was too close. A hard blow struck Kael's chest, sending him flying backward into a brick wall.

Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, but he only smirked. "You'll have to try harder than that."

The fight was far from over. Evernight remained the battlefield, and Kael was ready to fight to the last drop of blood.

The vampire didn't wait long. With lightning speed, he lunged at Kael, aiming to tear him apart with his claws. Kael twisted his body, letting the attack miss his face by inches, then slammed the hilt of his axe into the vampire's stomach. The vampire staggered back, but not far enough to avoid Kael's second shot from his silver pistol.

The bullet pierced the vampire's shoulder, making him snarl in anger. "You won't win forever, Kael," he hissed. "We are many, we are stronger. You're just a lone hunter in the darkness."

Kael raised his axe, his eyes blazing with determination. "Maybe. But one hunter is enough to take you all down."

With a battle cry, Kael charged again, his axe spinning in the dim light, ready to strike down the night creature before him. Evernight would bear witness—blood would continue to flow in the streets of this city.

However, the vampire was faster than Kael had anticipated. In an instant, his sharp claws dug into Kael's shoulder, forcing him back and pinning him against a damp brick wall. Pain shot through him, blood seeping from the wound. Kael gritted his teeth, trying to lift his axe, but the vampire held him down with immense strength.

"I knew you were nothing but a weak human," the vampire whispered, leaning closer with a satisfied grin. "Finally, you'll fall by my hand."

But Kael remained calm. With the last of his strength, he smirked back. "You forgot one thing... I never hunt unprepared."

At that moment, the vampire realized something—his foot had stepped right into a trap. The silver wire Kael had set earlier snapped tight, swiftly wrapping around the vampire's neck. His red eyes widened in panic.

Kael kicked the vampire's chest with all his might, sending him stumbling back. The silver wire tightened, slicing into the creature's skin, and—in an instant—his head was severed from his body.

Black blood splattered against the wall as the vampire's body collapsed to the ground. Kael panted heavily, pulling the claw still embedded in his shoulder, then stared at the lifeless corpse before him.

He let out a long sigh. "One more down. How many more are left?"

The night fog continued to dance around the city of Evernight as Kael sheathed his axe. This wasn't the end—just one of many battles awaiting him. But one thing was certain: as long as he stood, the darkness would never win.

Kael crouched and pulled out a pair of fangs from the vampire's skull, storing them in a small pouch on his belt. After ensuring there were no other threats, he turned and walked toward the Hunter Union headquarters.

Upon arriving at the guild office, he headed to the bounty desk. A clerk counted the vampire fangs he handed over and nodded in satisfaction before giving him a bag of coins as a reward.

Kael then walked to the guild leader's office, where Garens sat behind a heavy wooden desk. The burly, scarred man was accompanied by a black cat with gleaming eyes that leaped onto the table.

"Good work, kid," Garens said in a gruff voice. "Find anything interesting tonight?"

Kael glanced at the black cat, Astrone, who stared at him with sharp eyes. "Just one vampire. But they're getting bolder."

Astrone meowed—or rather, spoke. "You might want to start worrying, Kael. The darkness never sleeps."

Kael nodded, acknowledging the truth in Astrone's words. "I know. But as long as I can stand, they won't win."

Garens nodded in agreement, then slid an old, worn map across the table. "We've got new intel. There's a big movement in the southern district. A few hunters have already been sent, but we need someone with your experience."

Kael studied the map carefully. "What are we dealing with this time?"

"A more organized group of vampires," Garens replied. "They might have a new leader—smarter and more dangerous."

Astrone jumped down from the table, landing gracefully on the floor. "You'll need to be careful, Kael. They might already know about you."

Kael tucked the map into his jacket. "I'll be ready. Tell the others to stay alert."

After the brief meeting, Kael returned to his room at the headquarters. He checked his weapons, ensuring every silver bullet and sharp blade was ready. In the corner of the room, a large mirror reflected his image—a tired but relentless hunter.

Before heading out, Kael looked out the window, watching the fog still enveloping Evernight. He knew the night would be long, and perhaps more dangerous than ever. But his resolve remained unshaken.

With steady steps, Kael left the headquarters, walking through the quiet cobblestone streets. In the distance, the church bell tolled, marking midnight. The perfect time for the creatures of the night to roam.

But Kael wasn't alone. In every corner of the city, other hunters from the Hunter Union were also preparing, ensuring the darkness wouldn't take over Evernight. They were the last line of defense, and Kael was one of the best among them.

Tonight, a new battle would begin. And Kael was ready to face whatever awaited him in the darkness.