SSS-Ranked Demon Hunter: The Prodigy
Chapter 61: The Green Zone Incident, Part 1

Chapter 61: The Green Zone Incident, Part 1

As I regained my senses, I immediately turned from the shattered glass. A swordspear formed in my palm.

I stepped into the streets. Crowds of people screamed, fleeing from flying debris. Demons leapt across rooftops, pouncing on defenseless civilians.

Damn demons... How the hell did they get into the Green Zone?! And more importantly—why now?!

There were no sirens. No official announcements!

A line from Hizumi echoed in my head:

"Umbra’s base might be somewhere in the catacombs. Right beneath us."

Damn it... I should’ve told the Association.

I ran down the street, scanning the chaos. Where did these explosions come from? Did someone plant detonators in the buildings?

Taking cover behind a corner, I pulled out my phone and messaged my team:

[Regroup immediately near the Association building.]

Before I could blink, the world had descended into full-blown apocalypse. Shit!

I slammed my fist into a wall.

...No time for grief. I have to save as many people as I can!

Willpower.

That’s the one trait that can shape demon blood to form whatever a person needs—offense or defense.

For twenty years, the blood armor known as Kuroen had been the pinnacle of defense against demons. S-Rank Hunters used Kuroen for protection, and Kenketsu for counterattacks.

From the soles of my feet, blood tendrils sprouted and wrapped around my body, forming unbreakable armor. The Kuroen was forged from my own capillaries, solidified upon contact with air.

Dark wings unfolded from my back.

I soared toward the rooftops and dove onto the demons in a blazing strike.

Meanwhile, Sora was at the other end of the street. Dressed in civilian clothes, she had no idea chaos would erupt out of nowhere.

Her sole focus: save the innocent.

Debris from buildings and vehicles littered the street. As she ran toward the fleeing crowds, she spotted two children crying in front of a massive slab of concrete.

"No! Mom, please... wake up!"

Getting closer, Sora saw their mother pinned beneath the rubble. She couldn’t be saved—such a crushing weight would’ve shattered her entire torso.

Yet, she was still alive.

"Go, children... I’ll be fine, somehow."

Her kids wept, while bystanders stood frozen, not willing to help.paralyzed by fear.

"My name is Hwan Sora. I’m evacuating everyone to safety. Don’t worry about your kids."

"Thank God a Hunter made it," the woman whispered. "Please... protect them."

Tears streamed from her eyes.

Sora ordered everyone nearby to enter the nearest intact building.

"Come, children," Sora said gently, pulling them away.

"No... Mama! Don’t leave us, please..."

"I’ll be right behind you, sweethearts. Don’t worry."

Smiling one last time, the mother watched as Sora took them inside.

Unseen to them, another deafening crash erupted outside. A flying car landed directly on the wounded woman’s head, crushing her skull instantly.

She died with a smile—before the wreckage buried her.

Sora led the survivors to the second floor of the dusty building. The only light came from broken windows, through which screams echoed from the streets below.

As she approached the window, her eyes widened in horror.

Not him... Anyone but him.

Where did he come from?

A tall, muscular man with long hair barreled down the street. His open torso was covered in scars, and he wore a twisted grin. He was reveling in the chaos.

Osiris.

The demon known as the Northern Tempest.

"What lovely weather we’re having, kiddies!" he howled, tearing people apart with bare hands.

Sora could feel it in her bones—if even one of his punches landed, she’d be dead.

Across the street, more demons emerged from the sewers. Clad in dark cloaks, their arms morphed into blades.

And how the hell are we supposed to beat them?!

There were too many. All at once.

Helicopters roared overhead.

"We’ve got visual on a high-level threat! Repeat, high-level threat at 12 o’clock!"

"Can you confirm identity? Over."

"Closing in... Enemy identified. Repeat: this is Osiris. Engage immediately. Fire the warheads—now!"

Even before the pilot finished, Osiris noticed the chopper. He picked up a chunk of concrete with bare hands and hurled it skyward.

Direct hit.

The helicopter exploded in mid-air.

"Iron birds!" he cackled. "You really thought aerial attacks would work on me?"

The remaining helicopters opened fire. Missiles rained down, shattering pavement and blasting cars. But Osiris dodged everything. He leapt through windows, smashed through walls—running inside buildings to escape their aim.

"You shouldn’t have caged me in the heart of the city. Now that I’m free, I see the truth of my life. Every hour I spend annihilating the living... inspires me even more! Witness true power—no weapons, no swords, just me!"

He climbed onto a rooftop where a squad of Hunters awaited. Soldiers morphed their arms into living blades. As one, they charged.

"Only ten of you?" Osiris scoffed, dodging their attack. "What a shame. Humans are running low on defenders nowadays."

"Shut your mouth!" shouted the squad’s commander. "You’re surrounded, demon. Surrender or die in agony. You stand against A-Rank Hunters."

"Hmm? A-Rank? What nonsense. Say your name before you die, commander."

"Rookie from the Yoonsu garrison. Just graduated. We’ll be the last thing you see, demon!"

On his command, they attacked. But in an instant, the commander witnessed a nightmare.

Osiris grabbed one Hunter by the throat and kicked another, spilling his intestines. He snapped the first’s neck and braced for the others.

Spinning, he crushed a soldier’s skull with both hands.

"What the hell..." the commander gasped. "Three down in seconds?! How the hell is he that fast...?!"

Enraged, he charged. Arms flailing, trying to land a blow.

"I admire your persistence," Osiris smirked—and punched through his head.

Wiping the blood off his fist, he exhaled:

"Two left."

The remaining soldiers trembled. They dropped to their knees, paralyzed by fear.

Osiris walked toward them slowly. Their eyes begged for mercy.

Suddenly, another Hunter leapt from behind. Osiris didn’t even turn. He kicked him off the roof, splattering him on the ground.

His rampage went unchecked. He murdered strong and weak alike without mercy.

Osiris was determined to show the world the power of raw, pure strength.

Meanwhile, the Association erupted in disputes. Amidst the uproar, Sashi Heiwa sprinted down the hallway.

She burst into Kang Suwon’s office without knocking.

"Yes," the Director was saying over the phone. "Do what you must. I’m counting on you, General Hwan."

"Director Kang—bad news!"

"Oh... I know. The Green Zone is under full demonic assault."

"No, it’s worse!" shouted Sashi, dumbfounding the head. "There’s Osiris—the prisoner, wandering around in this chaos."

"W-what?! ...This is bad. I’ve already ordered every Hunter to defend the area. Military units should arrive any minute."

"What if that’s what they want? This has Umbra’s fingerprints all over it. While we focus on the Green Zone... they could strike elsewhere. And they still have that beast—the worm that devours all."

Suwon’s face was pale. His graying hair seemed even whiter now.

"Yes... If that worm resurfaces, Seoul will fall. We’re cornered, Miss Sashi. The enemy has everything. I hate to say it, but... we may have already lost."

"No giving up," Sashi growled, teeth clenched. "We still don’t know if Umbra can summon or control the worm. Last time, it vanished into the Red Zone."

"What do you propose, Miss Sashi?"

Closing her eyes, she activated full critical mode.

Every neuron fired. She calculated strategies, command structures, fallback plans.

Then—she opened her sharp, determined eyes:

"Deploy Kihyun’s team to the front. Let them defend the Association HQ from Osiris. Have all troops gather at the central avenue. The S-Rank Hunters will protect the civilians. Allow me to resume command, Director."

Without hesitation, Suwon stood tall:

"Do it. Protect this country. I believe in you, Miss Sashi."

She marched out with resolve, heading straight to the medical wing—where Park Jisun still lay.

Chaos struck there, too: someone shouted that Chanwook had disappeared from his bed. No nurse had seen him leave. All were too busy fleeing.

How did a mortally wounded Hunter vanish from his ward?

Outside, in the midst of the apocalypse, Osiris walked leisurely—breathing in the scent of blood and fire.

Then, he stopped. His perception sensed something amiss.

He turned his gaze skyward.

There I was.

A dark silhouette with wings, casting shadow over the sun.

My cold eyes locked onto him.

"Had your fun, old man?" I said. "Time to pay for the lives you’ve taken. Name the worst method of your death—make it worthy of your victims."

Osiris grinned:

"Buzz off, pigeon. Or are you too scared to face an ’old man’ head-on?"

"Scared? Not in the slightest. I’ve been itching to sacrifice you."

I spread my wings—and dove.

Osiris dodged and landed in a stance.

As the dust settled, he saw me standing, Kenketsu in hand.

We had accepted the duel.

"Old man, you really are a rebellious one. Just look at what you’ve done. Hasn’t it been a while since you got punched?"

Osiris chuckled, cracking his neck:

"When will you Hunters ever shut up?"

Without hesitation, he lunged at me with both arms. His grip—firm as a bull’s—rushed straight toward my face.

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