SSS-Ranked Demon Hunter: The Prodigy
Chapter 76: Her Voice is What I Caught

Chapter 76: Her Voice is What I Caught

Descending to the G-level floor, they swept their flashlights across the area. Their eyes lit up with joy and amazement as they saw military containers filled with ammunition and supplies.

"Whoa...!"

"No way... they weren’t lying! This must be one of those old military depots from the early days of the war against the demons. And look—the containers are almost untouched!"

"We’ve struck gold," the oldest one said. "But stay sharp! The smell of damp is everywhere down here."

The floor had once been partially flooded, and the walls had collapsed under the pressure of broken pipes. Those same pipelines now led into underground canals—ideal nesting grounds for demons.

"Demons thrive in the cold and damp. Who knows what kind of creatures they fed on underground?"

"You mean, like... rat-demons?"

"Unlikely. But they might have rat-like traits. And we all know rats sense danger better than anyone."

The stalkers started sifting through the containers, taking what they needed to protect their tribe.

"Not everything can fit in our packs, so grab the essentials. The next team will sweep the rest on the second run!"

As Eunji was stuffing ammo into her bag, she almost slipped on the uneven ground.

Her partner, codenamed "Tiger Cub," caught her and whispered:

"Careful! This place isn’t clean... I think I saw a demon sleeping behind that boutique."

"W-what...?"

Tiger Cub waved his hands and pointed his flashlight toward the eldest in the group. Then he raised a finger, signaling the boutique as the danger zone.

The older man and his comrade immediately tensed.

The deeper they moved into the floor, the more sleeping quadruped demons they spotted. When Eunji saw one with bat-like ears, she raised her hand instantly.

Everyone froze, holding their breath. When the flashlight hit the creature, they saw its entire body—three meters tall, two wide, covered in fur, resembling a monstrous bat.

Any careless movement could awaken the bat-demon—and the entire horde behind it.

Shocked, one of the boys stumbled back. His legs gave out, and he collapsed to his knees.

The bat-demon snapped awake at the sound and let out a deafening ultrasonic scream, causing their bones to vibrate from the sheer intensity.

"Goddammit, Anri... Run!!" the leader shouted. "Grab what you can and move!"

They took off, but Anri couldn’t move—paralyzed by fear.

The demons lying near the bat-demon and hidden inside the boutiques began to stir. Dozens of red eyes lit up in the darkness, glowing with hunger.

"Anri!" Eunji yelled. She stopped, ran back, and helped him to his feet.

Tiger Cub grabbed him and hoisted him onto his back.

"Shit—can’t breathe!" he panted, struggling to keep up with the others.

"Hurry!"

The leader waited for them near the escalator, but seeing the demons chasing Tiger Cub and Anri, he nearly gave up hope.

That’s when Eunji turned around and hurled a fragmentation grenade. She ducked behind the rubble just in time to avoid the blast.

The explosion threw her two friends toward the escalator. The leader helped them up, but Eunji was now surrounded—demons encircling her like hungry predators.

The sound of the explosion had roused the rest of the demons across the floor, and they charged toward the trio.

"Run!" the leader shouted. Anri bolted after him. "Tiger Cub, don’t fall behind!"

Tiger Cub couldn’t believe they were leaving her behind like a sacrifice. Clenching his fists in frustration, he followed, bitter but alive.

Eunji was alone on the bottom floor. Her legs froze, her breath hitched. She knew her sacrifice had been the best chance for the others to survive.

The demons drew closer. The bat-demon swung its massive arm at her.

And then—a flash of death. Like a laser, something sliced through the air.

Eunji barely registered it. In the blink of an eye, the bat-demon and the others were split in half.

"What... was that?"

More four-legged demons emerged from the shadows—only to be instantly carved apart again. Eunji couldn’t tell who or what was slaughtering them so fast.

Without wasting another second, she gathered the fallen supplies, shoved them into her bag, and sprinted for the escalator.

Meanwhile, the remaining three stalkers were being chased down by the horde. Spotting the exit, they ran full speed, their heavy backpacks weighing them down, slapping against their shoulders with every stride.

Suddenly, the demons stopped.

Something had distracted them—something that made them hesitate.

The stalkers managed to get outside. As they caught their breath near the mall’s entrance, Anri looked back—and saw a force tearing through the demon horde like a blade through paper, turning their bodies into pulp.

"What the hell is happening in there...?"

They huddled by the ruined wall, and before long, a familiar figure stepped out of the mall’s main entrance—Eunji, with her bag slung over her shoulder.

"E-Eunji!" the others cried out in relief, rushing to meet her.

By then, the oppressive darkness of night had given way to the silver glow of the moonlight, casting a serene light over the devastated streets.

"You guys... you saw it too, right?"

"Yeah. Something saved us... Was it a god? Or maybe the devil himself decided it wasn’t our time to die?"

"There you go again with your jokes," said the eldest, swatting Tiger Cub on the head. "Still... I’m glad we all made it out. Eunji... I’m sorry. I failed to protect you. I put us all at risk. I’m just... really glad you’re okay."

"This was my fault," Anri added, hanging his head. "I froze... and almost got us all killed..."

Eunji waved her hands.

"No... there’s no need to apologize. What matters is—we get to go home now."

"Yeah, we should head out. With luck, we’ll make it back before sunrise."

As the stalkers began their journey back, Eunji glanced over her shoulder one last time. She thought she saw two silhouettes watching them from the rooftop. But in the next second, they were gone—and she told herself it was just her imagination.

On the rooftop... we stood, silently watching over the young scavenger.

"I didn’t know you could mutate your arms like that, Hizumi."

"I’m not very good at it... I hardly ever use my powers. I’ve lived most of my life as a human, after all."

"You did well."

"Tell me, love... are you happy?"

"Seeing them alive... yes. I’m beyond happy. They get to go home. Back to their families."

The moonlight shimmered in her eyes, and a gentle breeze swept through her hair.

"Darling," she said, brushing back a lock, "you still want to fight, don’t you?"

I looked away. She was right. No matter how far we ran from war, I knew in my heart—I was being pulled back. Like there was something unfinished I had to return to.

And she understood me.

"There are no winners in war. Soldiers die in droves, and in the end, their families receive body parts as mementos. Kihyun... if you go back, you’ll be gambling with your life again. But I suppose you know that already."

"I know. I just... can’t accept the world we were born into. I want to stay with you, but every bone in my body screams to go back."

"So what then? You return to war, and what? They already see you as a traitor—just another outcast. You’ll walk in unprepared and get yourself killed."

"I don’t need allies," I said with a small smile. "I’m enough to stop the demons. Even if the whole world turns against me."

Hizumi frowned at my answer. She turned away and walked ahead.

"You idiot, darling..."

I must’ve hurt her feelings.

As we walked down the street, I was struck by how still everything felt. As if time itself had stopped.

"It’s strange, how peaceful this land feels. In the books, the Red Zone was described so differently—chaos, war, endless bloodshed."

"That was decades ago," she replied coolly, still upset. "Besides, the Serpent Demon made his mark here. Most demons are probably hiding underground by now."

She was still bitter over what I’d said.

I gently took her hand.

"Let’s dance a little ballet."

"W-What? So sudden... I’m embarrassed."

"No one’s watching. I want to dance with you. Will you sing that song again? ’A Love Letter to You,’ wasn’t it?"

"You remembered the title... Ugh, I’m flattered, but still mad. You’re a fool."

"I’m your fool, and you’re my princess. So, would my princess grant me one dance?"

She sighed, then smiled faintly.

"I will."

We began to dance—clumsily, childishly, but with genuine warmth. She softly sang the tune, and I followed the rhythm—not of music, but of her breath. Slowly, her lips curled into a smile. Our movements grew bolder, and we spun faster. Beneath the moonlight, among the ruins of a shattered world—we danced, creating a world of our own.

Some time later, we arrived at the building. As we climbed the stairwell, I was about to unlock the front door when Hizumi suddenly raised her hand to stop me.

"Wait!" she whispered urgently. "Someone’s inside..."

"What do you sense?"

"This scent... No, it can’t be. Not him. How did he find us?!"

"Who is it, Hizumi? Get a grip!"

"We have to run—"

She didn’t finish. The door burst apart, splinters flying, as a towering figure stepped through.

"Not so fast, lovebirds."

It was Osiris—the last person we wanted to see. My sworn enemy.

Without thinking, I smashed through the side wall, dragging Hizumi as we leapt through the opening into the night.

"How the hell did you find us, you bastard?!"

"We can’t hide from him," Hizumi muttered. "That man... his sense of smell is terrifyingly sharp."

Osiris stepped out of the breach, laughing darkly.

"What do you think, kids? Was it fate? Or just my burning desire to put an end to you, Kihyun?"

"Shut up, freak. Wasn’t the last time enough? You ran off like a coward."

He sneered.

"Such sharp words... That battle taught me something. There is no justice in this world. It doesn’t deserve honor. You, Kihyun—you crushed my pride into dust. You and your pathetic team of hunters... I’ll find every last one of you and squash you like insects!"

Leaping from the broken wall, he slammed into the ground, sending a plume of dust into the air.

This was it.

I couldn’t run.

This bastard had to pay—for Blade, and for every innocent life he’d taken.

Summoning the Godslayer Swordspear into my hand, I lunged at him. Hizumi ran, desperate to find a way out. Deep down, we both knew we couldn’t win against Osiris.

But I didn’t care.

If he lived, we’d die. And I wouldn’t allow that.

I spun around him with blinding speed, slashing furiously with the demonic blade. Each strike carved the earth, tearing through concrete and steel. Osiris dodged with precision.

Every time he retaliated, his attacks sought the gaps in my defense. I had to leap back, knowing full well—if he landed a solid hit, I wouldn’t walk away from it.

I didn’t summon Kuroen—it was too dangerous to use or rely on it now. All that mattered was endurance. I had to outlast him!