The sunlight was harsh, but because of the dense trees, it couldn't reach the ground below. That voice made Leo's hands tremble, and his grip on the sword began to weaken.
Suddenly— tearing through the dense silence, a tall, broad man covered in a black mask landed in front of us.
His leap was so heavy that the ground truly trembled. Dry leaves flew up into the air.
His face was hidden behind the mask— but his eyes… the eyes visible through the cracks of the mask— they shone like a blue lightning strike of magic. Cruel and filled with confidence.
I tightened my grip on my sword. Then I glanced at my three companions. They were standing alert… but the slight trembling in their hands told a different story. Their fear was clearly visible.
Gathering courage, I asked, "Who are you?"
He looked at me as if I were nothing but air. As if my very existence held no meaning for him. He stepped forward. His heavy voice echoed— "My condition is simple."
"Hand this girl over to me…"
"I will spare your lives."
Hearing this, Leo's blood boiled.
He roared— "You should be the one afraid today!" "You should be worried about your own life!"
Saying that, Leo and the fat man moved forward together.
Their swords flashed— and they began attacking him. I stood there watching everything.
The C-rank hunter's speed… was unbelievable. Leo and the fat man— around him, they looked like children jumping around a great warrior like toys.
Within moments— he grabbed Leo by the throat with lightning speed… and slammed him with full force against a nearby tree.
Bang!
Leo fell unconscious on the spot.
The very next moment— he grabbed the fat man's leg… and threw him upward with such force that he disappeared beyond the trees. As if he had flown through the air back toward the tribe. I stood there stunned.
His strength… his speed…
was far beyond my imagination. Then, with a cruel smile, he began stepping toward Leo's sister. I moved forward and blocked his path.
Pointing my sword at him, I said—
"Deal with me first."
He stopped with a laugh. Slowly, he removed his mask. His face was filled with arrogance. And blue lines on his face clearly showed some forbidden method— the kind used to forcefully increase one's rank.
"You wanted to know my name?"
He smiled. "I am the fastest in this world."
"That is why my name is— Speed."
"To touch me… is impossible."
Hearing him, a glimpse of my past flashed before my eyes.
That day… when I had cut off a dragon's wing in battle.
A faint fire of pride ignited within me.
I raised my sword and said— "Today we'll find out…" "Whether my blade is sharper… or your Speed."
I launched my first strike.
But laughing, he twisted his body like a ripple of wind.
My attack missed.
"Slow…" he taunted.
But—
he made one mistake. He stopped behind me. Without thinking— I swung my sword backward.
Clang!
One of his ears was sliced off and fell to the ground. Blood burst out.
He screamed in pain— madness filled his eyes. The next moment— sharp magical claws emerged from his hands. Black and blue, gleaming and deadly. "I will give you a hundred times more pain before killing you." And then— he lunged at me.
His speed was so fast that I couldn't even touch him. Within seconds— hundreds of wounds opened across my body. Blood flowed like a river.
My sword slipped from my hand and fell far away. I screamed in pain and collapsed to my knees. He walked straight toward Leo's sister.
I… could only watch.
Helpless. Just as I had always been.
"Weak Charger…"
Those words echoed in my ears.
Voices from my past… my humiliation… my defeats…
Leo's sister was swinging her sword in panic— but her strikes were wild and foolish.
Speed stood before her laughing. He said— "Fix my ear…" "Dear, I'll give you less pain."
His laughter echoed through the forest.
Inside me, the bridge of old memories shattered. Pain… humiliation… the past…
All of it erupted into flames.
I staggered to my feet.
With every step, pain shot through my body like lightning. I picked up my sword.
And then—
I invoked my Underworld technique.
"Massive Slash of Fire!"
From my sword burst forth a massive blazing slash—
filled with red, orange, and black smoke.
Speed turned to look— but it was too late. The flames split him in half. His body— divided into two pieces.
Engulfed in fire— he couldn't say a word… couldn't even move…
Within moments— both halves burned into ashes. Silence returned to the forest. I stood there— drenched in blood.
But this time— not weak.
Only the faint crackling of flames…
and the sound of my heavy breathing. It gave me a strange sense of satisfaction.
And then, as my vision began to blur— the sword slipped from my hand.
I knew… I was losing consciousness.
Evening had fallen. Outside the window, a faint golden haze floated across the sky. Slowly… my eyelids began to move. I realized—I was lying on a bed. Soft… clean… safe. My eyes opened completely.
For a few moments, I kept staring at the ceiling—as if trying to remember how I was still alive. Then suddenly—the entire scene of the previous battle flashed back into my mind. Fire… blood…
Speed cut into two pieces…
And then… darkness.
I immediately sat up.
First of all—I checked my body.
Chest… shoulders… stomach… arms…
Where there had been hundreds of wounds—now there were only faint marks. The pain… almost gone.
I understood.
It must be Leo's sister's Healing Magic. She had saved me.
There was a light scent of wood in the room. The walls were plain. But in one corner, an old radio was crackling softly.
Suddenly, the sound became clear—
"Today the air has become extremely polluted. The Air Quality Index has crossed 200…"
"Despite several important meetings, no concrete solution has been found yet…"
I let out a faint laugh.
"Hm…"
"Humans… even without Hunters, deserve to die by their own actions."
"There's nothing new in that."
There was sarcasm in my voice. Mockery.
But the radio did not fall silent.
After a few seconds of pause, another news segment began— "Now a special headline—the most talked-about topic of the day…"
"The results of Harper University have been announced."
"First place has been secured by—Princess Eve."
For a moment, my heart almost stopped.
The radio continued— "Her Level has now reached 100…"
"And she has become the youngest peak of legendry S-Rank Hunter in the world…"
"At just 21 years of age."
My fists clenched on their own.
"Along with her—her classmate Necros, who at the age of 23 is also an S-Rank Hunter…"
"Has been honored with the 'Man of Honour' award by the Magic Guild."
That was it.
Just hearing that—something inside me shattered. The room suddenly felt smaller. My breathing grew heavy.
Eve…
Level 100…
S-Rank…
Necros… Man of Honour…
Sparks of the past ignited inside my mind. That day… that humiliation… those words…
"Weak…"
A red haze covered my vision. Suddenly—sparks burst out between my fingers. The shadows on the walls trembled.
Magic… was slipping out of my control. "Enough… that's enough…" I gritted my teeth. But it was too late.
The air around me began to heat up. The wooden walls first released smoke—then flames erupted. The radio's voice distorted and died out.
Fire began spreading through the room.
Red flames climbed up from the edge of the bed.
I stood there—burning rage in my eyes, and fire all around me.
And this time, The fire was not outside… it was burning within me.
Suddenly, The door of the room creaked open. I turned around to look. Leo's sister was standing at the doorway. Both her hands were behind her back—as if she were hiding something.
There was still a faint smell of burnt wood in the room. Smoke marks stained the walls. The air was warm. She glanced around—the charred wood… the dying flames… and me, still trying to suppress the fire burning inside me. A slight fear flickered in her eyes. In a soft voice, she asked— "Are… you okay?"
I nodded, forcing my expression to remain normal.
"Yes."
After a few moments of silence, she brought her hands forward from behind her back.
In her palm was a blue flower. A strange flower—its petals emitting a faint glow, as if someone had given shape to moonlight itself.
She said— "This… is for you."
I was slightly startled.
"What is this for?"
She didn't answer directly. She simply gave a faint smile—one that carried gratitude… and something unspoken.
"First, come. Eat something."
"Then… we'll send you out of this forest."
"Send me?"
"At this hour of the night?"
The question rose in my mind—but I didn't voice it.
A little while later—I was sitting at the dining table. The food was simple… but warm. Elisa sat across from me.
For the first time, I looked at her directly and asked,
"What is your name?"
In a soft voice, she replied,
"Elisa."
I let my gaze wander around the room.
"Where is your brother? And that fat man?"
Elisa remained silent for a few moments. Her eyes lowered. She gave no answer.
Then quietly she said,
"Are you done eating?"
I nodded "yes" and stood up.
Elisa said,
"Come with me."
She led me into another room. The moment I stepped inside—I felt an unusual heat. In the center of the room stood a large chimney—but it was no ordinary chimney.
The fire inside it was not steady—the flames were rotating in a circular motion. Magical symbols were glowing on the floor. Pointing toward the chimney, Elisa said,
"This is a teleportation array."
"Through this, you will reach a place called the 'Black Market.'"
I carefully observed the fire. There was a strange depth within the flames—as if they were a doorway opening somewhere else.
I stepped forward. I could feel the intense presence of magic.
Dense… heavy… powerful. Such energy—could only exist in a real teleportation array.
I turned back to look at Elisa.
"Bye."
"If your brother comes here… tell him my farewell too."
For a moment, she stayed silent. Then suddenly her voice rose sharply,
"My name is Elisa!"
"And you saved my life twice—remember that!"
There was no fear in her eyes this time. Only determination. And before I could say anything else—she pushed me hard. I fell straight into the flames.
The fire swallowed me—but it was not a burning fire. For a moment, everything turned white. Then… my body began to dissolve into the air.
And in the very next instant— The forest… Elisa… And that room… All were left behind.