SSS-Ranked Demon Hunter: The Prodigy
Chapter 66: The Green Zone Incident, Part 6

Chapter 66: The Green Zone Incident, Part 6

In the Association’s infirmary, nurses were escorting staff to safe zones.

"Please, stop screaming!" one of the nurses called out. "The safest place is beneath the structural supports. Stay there!"

Terrified eyes obeyed her command.

From the corner of her hearing, the nurse caught a loud crash coming from Jisun’s ward. She rushed in and found Jisun fallen from his bed, being lifted by an old friend.

"M-Mr. Jisun!" she gasped. "How are you awake? You’re supposed to be in bed!"

Rin was hoisting the weakened man onto his shoulders. Jisun’s pale, sickly face barely formed words.

"I... need to go..."

"Get me a wheelchair. Now," Rin ordered.

"R-right away!"

The nurse ran off in search of a chair.

"Jisun, are you sure you can handle this? Your body is barely holding together."

"Something... is wrong with me..."

"You’re slurring. Honestly, I came here just to say my piece. Didn’t think it would actually work."

"Take me... to Sashi..."

Minutes later, up on the Association’s top floors, the nerve center buzzed with tension. Operators monitored the battlefield through screens and comms, each one laser-focused on their role.

Only Sashi stood motionless, staring out the window at the city.

"The demons haven’t breached the main gate yet," she thought aloud. "That means Kihyun’s team is holding off Osiris well. No sign of the fake Lee Yeonho or the Serpent Demon either... That’s a relief. Death Icon has already flanked the S-Rank squad. Hopefully they can stop him. Something’s wrong... how did they infiltrate so fast? Must be from underground..."

Suddenly, a staff member burst in.

"Ms. Sashi! We’ve just received contact from Hunter Minho. He says they’ve been attacked by another demon!"

"What kind of demon?"

"According to him, this one is the reason humans are mutating into demons. He emits a white vapor that’s lethal to humans. What are your orders?"

"What did Vincent Hwan instruct? Have the garrison and army arrived yet?"

"Yes, they’re minutes away."

"Tell the S-Rank squad to team up with Kihyun immediately."

"Yes, ma’am!"

According to Sashi’s plan, if Minho’s unit and the Kusanagi team could hold the enemy’s attention, reinforcements would strike from the rear with full military and aerial support.

"Osiris must be taken down at all costs... If this new demon has allied with Umbra, we’ll be finished. Minho, Kihyun... please, do everything you can."

The office doors suddenly flung open. Rin entered, pushing Jisun in a wheelchair. Sashi tensed.

"Sir Park, how are you awake? W-what is happening?"

Rin met her eyes with resolve.

"Jisun broke out of his coma. He needs to speak with you."

"That... shouldn’t be possible. And you—who are you?"

"Name’s Rin. Former S-Rank hunter."

They approached. Jisun’s face had regained color.

"Ms. Sashi," Jisun said, "I’ve realized something important."

"Sir Park... It’s strange seeing the strongest hunter in a wheelchair."

"It won’t be for long. The nature of demonic blood... Humanity has long searched for a way to control it. We believed it belonged solely to true demons, but I... I woke up through sheer willpower, and with it, my regeneration activated."

"Regeneration?! Like a demon’s?"

Sashi’s mind flashed back to when Kihyun had been shot in custody to test his regeneration.

"I’m afraid I am subject to less powerful regeneration..." replied Jisun. "I was in a coma, in an unconscious space. I thought I couldn’t do anything more about it... and I was wrong. Ms. Sashi, the key to curbing demon blood — lies in the mind of the host! Willpower. is the very thing that allows demons to evolve. I guessed that Kihyun was able to defeat the standard Kuroen notions with it, which is why he created the wings."

"Then... any hunter could fully control their demonic blood?"

"Yes. We were taught that Kenketsu and Kuroen were the ceiling. But the truth is, our potential goes far beyond that."

"Unbelievable... Wings, regeneration... This feels like a cover-up. Like someone never wanted humanity to uncover the truth."

"To put it simply," Jisun added, "we’ve been lied to. And more people are involved than we thought. But we can return to that later. Right now, we need to survive."

"You’re going to fight... in this state?"

"Yes."

"That’s suicide! If you die, our chances fall apart!"

"Ms. Sashi. Don’t underestimate me. I must be out there. My team needs me now."

"How do you plan to fight when you can’t even stand?"

Jisun smirked.

"I’m counting on them buying me enough time until I can."

"Sir Park..."

"Trust me."

Sashi stared at him. His eyes screamed, ’I can do this’. She had no choice but to believe.

Five minutes later, Jisun and Rin were descending by elevator.

"Are you sure about this, Jisun? You’ll be a burden out there. Even if you stand, your body’s still pouring energy into healing."

"I know. I can’t summon Kenketsu or Kuroen yet. But something bothers me — everyone from Umbra has shown up, except the fake Lee Yeonho."

"You think something’s off?" Rin asked, exhaling. "Strange times for hunters. Things were simpler in my day."

"Exactly. That’s why I’m losing faith in the government. These recent demon attacks aren’t random. Something triggered them — and I think it ties back to Lee Kihyun."

"Your protégé? I’ve heard he’s a half-demon. So Lee Yeonho... might really be one too? If so, how can you be sure Umbra’s leader isn’t the real Yeonho?"

"There are many reasons. But mainly... Lee Yeonho would never betray humanity. You know that. He was your idol too."

"That was years ago. People change when they vanish."

"That’s not like him. I believe he went missing because he fought one of the Dukes."

Rin sighed.

"Forget him for now. What’s your plan? There are barely any S-Ranks left. Are you really planning to fight like this?"

"Yes, it’s suicide. That’s why you’re here."

"You expect me to help? No way. I haven’t touched a weapon in years."

"But without you, we won’t last. Your children are still in this city, Rin. Do you want them to inherit ruins?"

Jisun smirked, pushing him.

"Don’t tell me you’re counting on me. I’m useless. I’ve forgotten how to fight."

"Muscle memory, Rin. Just pick up your blade and fight — for freedom, for your family, for your kids."

Rin tensed. Jisun had cornered him.

"Damn it. You always knew what to say."

"We’ve still got a shot, Rin. I believe in us."

Outside, chaos reigned. Helicopters rained fire on demons in the streets. Hunters leapt across rooftops, aiding anyone they could.

Squads of soldiers rushed toward the S-Rank units to provide backup.

Today was the beginning of the Green Zone’s collapse. Due to unstable defenses and a gross underestimation of enemy strength, the once-prosperous district had fallen into rubble.

Minho received a call over comms:

"Ghost, regroup with Lee Kihyun’s unit. Repeat, regroup immediately!"

"Impossible!" Minho snapped. "We’re surrounded on both sides!"

"Break through!"

On one side stood Death Icon. On the other — an unknown demon, exhaling a strange white vapor.

Death Icon growled:

"You took your sweet time, Zhuan Ren. If we’d met sooner, Seoul would already be ash."

"Don’t be mad," the new demon grinned. "I had my hands full in China. That nation’s a prime target too."

Minho froze. Zhuan Ren — the infamous Chinese demon responsible for devastating entire cities.

"So that’s it," Minho laughed bitterly. "You bastards came from all over. I wondered how demons formed such a perfect alliance so fast. China, huh."

"Hmm?" Zhuan Ren raised a brow. "Death Icon, translate. I think there’s a language barrier. We demons from China don’t understand human confidence. Especially when it’s obvious they’re about to die."

Minho scoffed, stepping into a guard stance. He knew nothing of Zhuan Ren’s power. Reina bared her teeth, ready to strike, but Minho blocked her.

"Don’t! You don’t have Kuroen. Reinforcement techniques won’t protect you from a winged demon."

Reina flinched.

"Then what do we do?!"

Suddenly, a figure crashed down onto Seojun from the rooftop, forming a crater in the road. As the dust rose, sharp twin blades lunged forward.

It was Chanwook, wielding his signature weapon.

"Rematch, bastard!"

Minho’s eyes widened.

"Chanwook?!"

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