SSS-Ranked Demon Hunter: The Prodigy
Chapter 71: Taurus Demon

Chapter 71: Taurus Demon

Harin...

"These are the words you needed to hear—to understand. You’re not an SSS-rank hunter. You’re not the key to victory against demons. Mr. Lee... you’re a human being."

Your sweet face, your innocent voice. From the moment I saw you, I was angry at this world. Angry at how it treated you.

You didn’t deserve... such an end.

"I’m joining the Daywatch. The pay’s lower, but my family won’t have to worry anymore. Who knows, maybe I’ll find a future husband there. But I won’t get married until my little sisters grow up."

I still remember. Even after all this time we’ve been apart.

I will never forget your words.

"Trust me—I will repay the help you once gave me, no matter what it takes!"

The last words you spoke came from a place of genuine heart and sincerity.

Forgive me, Harin... I couldn’t... I couldn’t help you.

My soul bleeds every time I remember your warm smile. But now... you’re no longer with us.

My mind plunged into an abyss of despair from which there is no escape. So many comrades I lost along the way, so many bright lives extinguished by this war.

Suddenly, in all this darkness, I felt a light emanating from Minho’s hand. He placed it on my shoulder.

Turning my distant gaze toward him, I saw his eyes—sincere, filled with unwavering resolve.

"Kihyun. We can’t give up."

Minho...

My throat clenched. I couldn’t even tell him how much it hurt to meet his eyes.

"Even as a demon, you chose to protect people. You chose to be human."

How can you look at me with such a kind smile?

"You reminded me of my little brother, Kihyun. If not for you, I’d have forgotten what it means to protect others. So don’t you dare give up."

No... don’t say that. I couldn’t live up to the expectations the world placed on me.

Please, don’t smile. Don’t place me beside you.

Across the road, the demon Zhuan Ren was smiling with joy.

His ability was based on the release of aerosolized nanospore particles—microscopic agents of demonic origin containing active mutagenic properties. Invisible to the naked eye.

Upon activation, Zhuan Ren releases a mist composed of trillions of these spores, which can linger in the air for up to 12 hours.

Once inhaled, the nanospore shells dissolve, releasing a biological agent into lung tissue, then the bloodstream. Within minutes—depending on the immune system of the infected—the tissue begins to transform.

Then, the infected turns into an unstable demon driven by instinct. But if the infected already possesses at least a quarter of demon blood, the mutagen fails, and the subject explodes into shreds.

That was how Minho died—his body couldn’t transform into a demon.

With rage-filled, bloodthirsty eyes, I glared at Zhuan Ren. He smirked at the sight of his "artwork"—a dozen newly spawned demons.

"The pinnacle of art," he praised himself, "is the ability to create miracles with mere desire. Lady Nivara, I owe my entire life to your unmatched genes!"

The demon laughed theatrically, grating on my nerves. Lee Yeonho only snorted.

"You’re insane, clearly."

"All creators are a bit mad. Otherwise, how could they create art at all?"

Shut your damn mouths... you immoral bastards! I’ll kill you... I’ll tear all of you to shreds!

Revenge. That was the only thing driving my thoughts. I wanted vengeance for everyone harmed by demons. I was consumed by darkness. My mind no longer obeyed me.

If only they could all vanish from this world.

Then, the demonic voice inside me let out a grim chuckle:

"Truly."

All my surviving comrades stood in shock, cornered. Fear was in their eyes. Only one question lingered in their minds: "Why did our soldiers become demons?"

Sora froze, witnessing Minho’s death. Reina felt intense burning inside, as if something was trying to break free from her. She regained control, and her blood-red aura, absorbing all her energy, allowed her to survive.

Jisun, his clothes soaked in the blood of the comrade who exploded before him, couldn’t utter a word.

Suddenly, he noticed how the air around me thickened—viscous, like blood—streaming across the floor toward my feet.

Blood gushed from my body. Not normally—it burst out. In a searing stream, as if tearing itself from my veins. It crawled, collected into fleshy clumps, and began to move.

My cells, my muscles—rebuilt themselves anew.

Muscles bulged, tearing through my clothes. Ribs jutted outward, then vanished under waves of new flesh. Each breath was like an internal cannon blast. I no longer knew if this was human breathing.

My head burned. Something pressed in my skull, like bones of a beast being implanted. And I felt them grow. Horns. My horns. They pierced the air, curving in unnatural directions.

My eyes... I could see through them, but everything turned red. Red and ancient. As if I were looking at the world through the eyes of someone who lived long before humans.

A roar.

So loud the sky seemed to crack. The ground trembled. I felt it slice through space. Windows shattered. Demons turned in horror.

Now, what stood before them wasn’t Lee Kihyun. It was the Taurus Demon, unleashed from my body, like a god of death come to claim the wicked from sacred land.

Lee Yeonho was outraged. He couldn’t believe his eyes:

"He broke free! Everyone, be on guard!"

Taurus Demon charged forward on all fours. His fury struck down everything in his path. With beastly arms, he ripped apart humans and demons alike.

Helicopters opened fire from turrets. Bullets tore through the frenzied demon’s body, but he vanished beneath rooftops.

He darted after every demon in his way, crushing them with fangs and stomping feet. He didn’t spare even the ordinary soldiers.

The power of the Taurus Demon was truly merciless. By his gray mane, Lee Yeonho immediately recognized him—the former Duke of the Blood Moon, long vanished in the human world, who betrayed his kin.

"But why..." the leader pondered, "why are you attacking humans too?"

Then Yeonho realized: the demon didn’t care who stood in his way. He had only one goal—to kill all demons nearby.

"Demons—attack!!"

All four-legged and humanoid demons charged the horned god at once.

At that moment, remaining garrison soldiers, military personnel, and hunters fled at full speed to escape the onslaught.

With the roads cleared, helicopters fired freely, sparing no bullets or grenades.

Under attack from all sides, the Taurus Demon summoned his sacred weapon—the Godslayer Swordspear.

With a single swing, he cleaved through dozens of demons. Turning, he shattered the ground beneath his feet. His spear caught the rest of the mindless attackers.

Seojun, seizing the moment, kicked Chanwook away and landed beside the leader.

"Was he always this strong?"

"Idiot," the leader replied. "We’re facing a former Duke. Capturing him won’t be easy. We need to end this fast."

"But leader! Are we really going to capture that beast? It seems impossible—he’s like a raging monster, caged too long..."

"Doesn’t matter. We need him alive. The Dukes demand it."

Seojun snorted:

"Damn orders."

From every window and shadow, soldiers stared, trembling.

"What is that monster..? Where did it come from?!"

Reina and Sora fled across rooftops, regrouping near Rin, who had backed off from the demons to avoid the creature’s wrath.

"What demon is this...?" Reina whispered, retreating with blood on her lips. "Commander Rin! What’s your order?"

Rin held his blade ready, his eyes darting between the monster and the street. His breath quickened.

"It’s him... Sora, do you remember? What the hell is going on..."

Sora’s face turned pale:

"Doesn’t matter why he’s here. Rin, we have to get out. I think this demon is attacking his own."

Without hesitation, they ran toward Jisun. Chanwook, gliding overhead, jerked back, muttering:

"...That damn beast. Hey, wait for me!"

The stench of flesh, mixed with blood, overwhelmed their senses.

The hunters caught up with Jisun.

"Jisun, what does this mean?!" Rin demanded. "That beast... it’s definitely a Duke. But how is he here in daylight? It’s not even the Blood Moon!"

Jisun’s sharp eyes locked on the horned beast tearing through its own kin in the dying light.

He couldn’t stop thinking about the moment of transformation. Without a doubt, the Taurus Demon was me. But where did this power come from?

No—what Jisun really wondered was: did the Association already know?

"Stay here!" Jisun ordered and ran toward the Association building. "I think I’ve figured out the truth behind all these battles!"

"W-what?! Where are you going?!"

Meanwhile, the Association fell into chaos.

"Where did that Duke come from?!"

"This is insane... what do we do?!"

"Call in all aerial defenses!" Sashi shouted, calming the staff. "We must kill the Duke here and now!"

Upstairs, Director Kang Suwon locked himself in his office. Sweating, he writhed in despair. His bones trembled. His mind flooded with regret.

"Not him... I should have stopped this... From the start, I should’ve killed that boy. Taurus Demon. How did it come to this?"

Outside, the main street was shrouded in dust. Blood soaked the roads. Bullet marks scarred the walls. Body parts and organs were scattered, emitting a vile stench.

By now, the Taurus Demon had slain nearly all the demons.

With slow steps, he approached Lee Yeonho. Each breath was a roar.

"Looks like the beast wants to play with far more interesting prey."

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