Temporary Alliance

The smoke dissipated, revealing Kyle, his once pristine overcoat now tattered and stained with crimson. Yet, he stood, his gaze unwavering.

"Impossible!" Kelly exclaimed, her voice laced with a mixture of rage and disbelief. A faint green aura enveloped her, mending her wounds and replenishing her drained life force.

Kyle's lips curled into a sinister grin. "So predictable."

WHOOSH!!!

He lunged forward, a blur of motion, only to stumble and stop, a torrent of blood erupting from his lips.

"Hahahaha!" Kelly's laughter echoed through the ruined village, a cruel counterpoint to the crackling flames. The other Guardians, their faces alight with triumph, slowly rose to their feet.

"You!" Kyle hissed, struggling to stand, his eyes fixed on Kelly.

"Do not mistake this for weakness."

He surged forward once more, only to be intercepted by a powerful blow.

BAM!

Kyle was sent hurtling backwards, his legs dragging across the scorched earth. He came to a halt ten meters away, his breath ragged.

"Who?" He looked up, his gaze meeting Harold's. Harold's eyes glowed with an eerie red light, a surge of power radiating from his form.

"Hmm..." Kyle stood upright.

"Let me guess," Kyle said, his voice strained. "A Rank expansion pill. Mid-stage, judging by the intensity. Rank 28 to Rank 38. You truly guys are really prepared."

He gripped his cracked sword, which Harold's fist made contact with.

"Surrender," Harold said, his voice cold and devoid of emotion. "Resistance is futile."

He moved with blinding speed, appearing before Kyle in an instant.

Kyle raised his sword, attempting to strike, but Harold moved past him, his palm with the fragments of the orb aimed at Kyle's exposed back.

"Coward!" Kyle roared, channeling every ounce of his remaining strength. He spun around, blocking Harold's palm with his shattered sword.

BAM!

The blade disintegrated, and Kyle was sent flying, landing heavily on his feet.

Pifff!

Kyle spat out a mouthful of blood, his gaze fixed on the remnants of his sword. His expression darkened.

"Kill him," Harold commanded.

The demons and Elves surged forward, their eyes burning with a bloodthirsty fervor. The Elves, wielding green daggers, leaped from the rooftops, descending upon Kyle like wraiths.

Kyle, despite his injuries, moved with a desperate agility, dodging their attacks. His movements, however, were sluggish, resulting in a series of deep cuts from their daggers and claws.

BAM!

Kyle staggered backwards, his body covered in blood.

"What manner of a man are you?" the Elven commander roared, his voice filled with frustrated rage. "Will you not fall?"

Kyle, his legs trembling, stood his ground. He looked up at them, his vision blurred by blood.

"I never fall," he hissed, his voice a low growl. "Not now. Not ever."

"Fool!" Harold appeared behind him, his palm aimed at Kyle.

Kyle turned, but his body was too weak to react.

BAM!

Harold's palm struck Kyle's chest, sending him flying. He crashed to the ground, a torrent of blood erupting from his lips. He lay there, staring at the night sky.

BOOM!

Dark clouds gathered, obscuring the full moon.

BOOM!

A thunderous roar echoed through the sky, and rain began to fall, drenching Kyle and his assailants.

"Hehehehe!" Harold looked at his palm, watching the red glow fade. "Hunter Kyle… say farewell to your powers. From this moment forward, you are but a mortal."

He grinned. "I would have preferred to keep you as a slave, but the order was death. Kill him. Leave nothing behind."

The demons surged forward.

BAM!

Everyone froze, their eyes fixed on the figure that had intercepted the demons' attack. A woman, cloaked in a hooded coat, stood before Kyle. Her green hair and split pupil eyes were unmistakable.

"A demon?" Harold asked, his voice filled with surprise.

The woman produced an orb, smashing it against the ground. It shattered, releasing a thick, gray smoke that enveloped her and Kyle.

"Stop her!" the Elven commander yelled.

The Elves unleashed a volley of arrows into the smoke, while the demons charged forward.

"AH!"

A cry of pain echoed from within the smoke, then vanished.

The demons entered the smoke, and after a few moments, it dissipated, revealing an empty space.

Kelly walked to the spot, looking down at a pool of black blood. She knelt, touching the blood with her finger and sniffing it.

"A demon," she said, rising to her feet. "Please Come here."

A wolf approached, transforming into a naked middle-aged man.

Kelly stood up. "Can you track her scent?"

The man sniffed the air, shaking his head. "She concealed her scent with something else. We cannot track them."

"Damn it!" Kelly cussed.

"Forget it," Harold said, his gaze fixed on the group. "She can do nothing about his state. And the demons have few healers, moreover; She won't take him to the demon kingdom." He sneered:

"Besides, with his injuries, no one could survive it. And if he did, he'd be powerless. A Hunter without life force is useless."

The group exchanged glances, nodding in agreement.

"The prince is right," Kelly said.

"Commanders," Harold addressed the demon man and the Elven commander. "You have aided us. We will honor our agreements. You shall have Oakhavan, the women and the promised resources." He said to the demons, and turned to the elves.

"Elves, you will gain the pills, enhancement runes, and a week in the Isles of Paradise. Humans will not attack you."

The Elven commander nodded slowly. "Remember, this is a temporary alliance." Without waiting for a response, he departed with his soldiers.

"Agreed," the demon man said, transforming into a massive black werewolf and disappearing into the forest, followed by his demons.

"They are not to be trusted," Kelly said.

"I know," Harold replied. "We will honor the deal for now. In a week, we will seize the Isles."

Kelly and the Guardians nodded, but Kelly remained wary. "What of Kyle?"

"Spread the word," Harold said. "Anyone who sees him, or an injured woman with green hair and eyes, report to the Hunters Association. If it is him, kill on sight. Reward: 1,000,000 gold coins."

With that, he departed, leaving the Guardians to carry out his orders.