Nemesis

GRRAAAAAA!

The wolves' guttural roars echoed through the narrow alley, a cacophony of primal aggression that shattered the city's usual hum. Their bodies, thick with muscle and dark fur, launched into the air, a coordinated assault aimed at the three humans before them.

"Stand back."

Kyle's voice, a low rumble that carried an unnerving calm, sliced through the chaos. He moved forward, a solitary figure stepping into the wolves' path, his posture radiating an aura of chilling confidence.

"What are you doing, Kyle...?! Those are ten demons, with the strongest at Rank 17!!" Juliet's voice, usually laced with a quiet strength, was now a tremor of alarm. She knew the dangers of facing a pack of demons, especially those with such a high rank. But Kyle, instead of retreating, simply revealed a sinister grin, a flash of white teeth that seemed to promise something far more terrifying than the wolves themselves.

The sight of that grin, the sheer intensity of it, caused the charging wolves to falter mid-leap. Their powerful bodies landed heavily, their momentum broken, and they instinctively recoiled, their eyes wide with a primal fear. They began to crawl backward, their claws scraping against the cobblestones, as if trying to escape an invisible force.

Even the wolf that had attacked Andrew, its eyes burning with a furious red moments before, now trembled in abject terror. The fact that a single grin could evoke such a profound sense of dread left both Juliet and Andrew utterly speechless, their minds struggling to process the impossible scene unfolding before them.

"You... You're "The Nemesis"?!!" The wolf's voice was a stuttering whisper, the word 'Nemesis' escaping like a venomous hiss. Fear constricted its throat, rendering its powerful jaws useless.

"Well... Only my enemies know me by that name... But yes, I am Nemesis."

Kyle's reply was a low, almost casual drawl, as if discussing the weather. He continued his steady advance, his blade still sheathed, the promise of violence hanging heavy in the air.

"You... We didn't know you're the one, and sorry for attacking your friend, we just got angry he made us lose our miss---"

Whoosh!

The wolves froze, their senses overwhelmed by the suddenness of Kyle's movement. He had moved like a phantom, a blur of motion too fast for their eyes to follow, and now stood behind the wall, directly in front of the cracked brick, his back to them. The air crackled with a residual energy, a phantom echo of his speed.

"You talk too much." Kyle's voice was cold, a chilling monotone that seemed to freeze the very air. His eyes, fixed on the wolf over his shoulder, held a depth of coldness that made the demon's heart pound with terror.

Everyone watched, a morbid fascination gripping them, as the strongest wolf in the group crumpled to the ground, its head rolling to the side, a crimson stain spreading across the cobblestones.

"....."

The silence that followed was heavy, broken only by the rasping breaths of the remaining wolves.

"The bringer of retribution, is..."

Kyle's hand finally settled on the hilt of his sword, his fingers wrapping around the leather grip with a practiced ease.

The wolves, hearing his words and witnessing his actions, reacted instinctively. Their survival instincts, honed by countless battles, overrode all else. They turned and fled, their bodies a blur of motion as they raced for their lives, their howls of fear echoing through the alley. But Kyle was far from over.

Whoosh!

He moved again, time itself seem to slow as he traversed the distance between himself and the fleeing wolves. In less than ten seconds, he was back in his original position, standing before Juliet and Andrew, his blade sheathed with a sharp, metallic click that resonated like a death knell.

"Nemesis."

As the word echoed in the alleyway, the wolves collapsed, their heads rolling on the ground, a gruesome tableau of carnage that painted the alleyway in shades of crimson and black.

"This?"

Juliet and Andrew were stunned, their eyes darting around the scene, trying to comprehend the sheer speed and brutality of what they had just witnessed. They were both seasoned Hunters, accustomed to violence, but this was something else entirely, a display of power that defied their understanding.

Kyle extended his hand towards the lifeless demons, and from their bodies, tendrils of red light emerged, coalescing into glowing orbs in his palm. These orbs, remnants of the demons' essence, pulsed with a dark energy.

"Not much, but still worth it." He crushed the orbs, the released energy surging into his body, a subtle shift that went unnoticed by the others.

'No change? When can I upgrade to the next Rank?' He thought, a frown creasing his brow.

{DING!}

'Uh?'

He glanced at the system notification, noting that only thirty minutes remained.

"I see someone has been busy."

The voices, coming from the alleyway entrance, caused Kyle, Juliet, and Andrew to turn. Five figures stood there, their faces bearing smiles that seemed incongruous with the scene of carnage before them. They were the Guardians, a legendary team of Hunters known throughout the city of Neville.

The one who spoke was Kelly, their leader, a woman of striking beauty and formidable power. Her long blue hair and golden eyes radiated an aura of authority, and the two double swords strapped to her back hinted at her deadly skill. She wore the standard Hunter uniform, a red outfit with a black overcoat, a symbol of her dedication to protecting the city. On her right stood two men. The first, Kelvin, a Knight, was a man of few words, his brown hair and eyes reflecting a stoic resolve. His broadsword, a weapon of brutal efficiency, was a testament to his strength. The second, Amherst, an Assassin, leaned against the wall, his blue eyes sharp and calculating. His red dagger, a tool of silent death, twirled between his fingers, a constant reminder of his lethal profession.

On her left stood Samantha, a Martial Artist, her blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail, her muscular build a testament to her combat prowess. Her blue gaze was fixed on Kyle, a mixture of curiosity in her eyes. The last man, Carl, a Mage, was the youngest of the group, his shoulder-length black hair and eyes giving him a somewhat out-of-place appearance among the fearsome Guardians. He was known for his powerful spells, a vital asset to the team.

"What the?"