The Devil Hunters and the Echoes of the Past

Everyone's eyes darted toward the newcomer, King Immosel, the very reason for the meeting, Immosel was one of the Grand Leaders who shaped the current underworld, a person with a strange, yet purely energetic ability. It had a comforting feeling to it, and yet it dangerously potent. His white light ability, one of the rarest and most powerful, was the reason he was called a King– a nickname dictating his absolute authority.

"I'm sorry, for keeping you waiting," Immosel said, his voice calm and resonant, as he gently moved forward and gently took his seat in front of the others.

"It's no problem, really. I was bored anyway, not anything fancy happening these days," Xylos said, chuckling behind his fan. His crescent eyes emphasized his humorous nature.

Immosel nodded slowly, his gaze sweeping across the others in turn. He offered a respectful nod toward Xylos, then to Sera, then Kai, and finally to the one whose identity remained a question mark for all but a select few: Laximus Demon. Noticing Immosel's gaze, Laximus slowly lifted his head. Although his figure was obscured by the swirling dark energy that cloaked his entire body, immosel could tell he cought his full attention.

" So, what is it, that couldn't wait until the next day? Dragging us in at this time of night?" Kai asked, a hint of annoyance lacing in his tone.

" You know that if it wasn't important, I wouldn't have called you here," Immosel replied, his voice firm. " I've received reports, stating that Devil hunters have made a move against a gang in a tier 5 city."

" So what, you need our help with this?" Kai mused, clearly uncomfortable with being summoned in the middle of the night.

" Exactly, I need your help. It certainly is a big deal, esteemed Kai," Immosel emphasized.

" If we do not prevent this, it will only escalate further. I called you all, because I wanted you to investigate this matter. Use your influences, your connections- anything to find at least one member of the Devil Hunters."

" He is right," Sera said backing Immosel. Her voice usually soft, carried an usual gravity now. " If we do not put a stop to this organization, then they will definitely grow untill even we will be powerless in front of them." Sera knew the seriousness of the matter. The Devil hunters had always been a pain in their backs. At first they weren't taken seriously, but after a few gang's downfall, they became a clear enemy. Not only for lower- tier gangs, but to the Families too. The Families branches spread through out the entire world, had yet to capture even a single member alive.

" I'm quite surprised at the Devil Hunters tactics," Xylos commented, a smile curling on his lips." Humans with no power, no abilities of any kind, to be able to take inhuman feats, as to defeating even those with powers. A powerful force that has taken out many gangs out of the picture.

" Precisely," Kai scoffed, a sneer twisting his lips. " As you just stated Xylos, those were lower gangs, the dregs at the bottom of the barrel. They are as insignificant as ordinary humans.

" But still, they are mere-powerless humans, who fight cowardly with weapons. I can easily crush them under my feet." Kai said, puffing up his chest with pride. His shoulders sagged almost imperceptibly, a fleeting flicker of disappointment crossing his face. He was clearly irked, at the suggestion he couldn't the "ants" alone, but he remained silent, a rare sign of respect for the King's decision, despite their equal standing.

"I'm sure you can," Immosel stated, his gaze fixed on Kai. " In this case, I recommend for someone powerful like leader Kai himself to charge the investigation, along with leader Sera and Xylos.

"Huh- I don't disagree," Xylos began, a glint of humor in his eyes," But don't you think these two can handle it?"

You're right, Kai family is the biggest compared to ours," Immosel acknowledged," but as I said, we should not underestimate our enemies. You have more connections and influence compared to us; you're the eeprey figure of the Grand Leaders, after all. Working together, our power only increases, and the chances of capturing the enemies will be higher."

" If you captured them, bring them here." Immosel continued, his expression unchanged, the pure white light around him pulsing faintly. " We must first determine who is backing them, Their connections and the ones helping them. And when we find them, with an all-out strike, we will wipe them out.

" It will not be this easy, though."

The voice was old, gravelly and commanded immediate attention. It belonged to Fallon, an elderly mN who stood patiently behind Laximus Demon, his first-hand man and closest confidant. Fallon's presence was subtle, a quiet force in the room, but his words carried the weight of decades of experience. Sera nodded in agreement.

I mean when pay close attention, they act like a clan. Every movement measured with calculation and precision." FELLON continued, his gaze sharp despite his age.

"Pure strategists who have the best techniques to overpower their enemies. Whenever they have acted, they were the ones last standing." He let his words sink in, the implication chilling in their accuracy." If they had acted, they had to be confident they could win. If they have yet to attack against one of the Families, then they are in doubt in their ability to take us down. This shows we still have time."

His eyes, ancient and knowing, scanned the faces of the Grand Leaders." They operate in the shadows, so that is where we should look for them. What we should do right now, is to check, wherever they have been before- their last seen. Their base is most likely to be in a low-tier city. This way, they certainly think they're out of reach.

Fallon's words cut through the tension, a logical path through the daunting unknown. They made immediate sense to the Grand Leaders, clearly outlining where their first target should be. The initial irritation and skepticism in the room began to shift, replaced by a growing sense of purpose.

Even King Immosel seemed pleased, nodding his way with a bright smile.

" Its decided then," Xylos deckared. " We will start the investigation as soon as the sun rises."

With that Xylos stood from his seat. Sera followed suit. Preparing to take her leave. Kai seeing Xylos rise, a bitter taste in his mouth from being outmaneuvered, quickly stood as well, eager to assert his status. One by one, the Grand Leaders took their leaves, heading back to their waiting cars and the armies they had brought.

When the vehicles could no longer be seen, dissapering into the distance, only two parties remained. The air in the open-balcony, with no ceiling to contain it, shifted dramatically. It became heavy, suffocating, unbearable.

King Immosel stood looking out at the vanishing vehicles. Footsteps approached him and his Guard until the man was next to him, and his two particular guards standing behind, all gazing into the night.

"What is it?" Laximus Demon's voice was a deep, dark rumble, booming with power that vibrated through the very stones of the balcony. Dark energy trails swirled more violently around him, enshrouding his figure like a living shroud. " You know if it was only about these hunters, you wouldn't have called me here, Immosel."

" You're right, Laximus. It's worse that the issue with Hunter's," Immosel conceded, his expression unwavering, though the pure white light around him intensified." I didn't speak of it before the others because there was no need to. This concerns the Rune family."

At the mention of that name, Laximus's aura exploded, the swirling darknes around him coiling and expanding as if lashes by an unseen storm. Something primal had clicked within him. His attention, previously merely present, became razor sharp, an oppressive weight settling over the space.

"Impossible," Laximus's voice, though still a rumble, held chilling edge of disbelief." Every branch of the Rune family, every last one of them, were hunted down, Killed. Assassinated. There are no one left."

"The matter with the Rune family," immosel continued, his own white light flaring in response." It hasn't truly ended. I sensed it—a formidable aura out there, even if for a fleeting moment. But I have no doubt; it emanated from them. Someone from the Rune family has resurfaced."

Laximus's energy grew taut, suffocating by the second. It was as if a forgotten darkness, a primal grief that was never meant to be awakened, had surface both figures. Their conflicted energies swelled, constantly clashing, devouring each other in a silent, powerful struggle that neither seemed to notice, lost in the depth of their shared, dark past.

" While the Hunters issue is important, it was more of a distraction. This way you can search for the Rune unnoticed." Immosel revealed, his voice dropping slightly.

Laximus remained silent, his shrouded form unreadable, listening intently.

Find the Rune, Laximus. Before it's too late." Immosel said, his gaze fixed on Laximus's obscured face." Do everything in your power, to find him and get rid of him, for good!"