SSS-Ranked Demon Hunter: The Prodigy
Chapter 78: Eclipse

Chapter 78: Eclipse

In the darkness, strange beings dragged me into the unknown. They moved on all fours, and through the folds of their cloaks I saw flesh—red, raw, and skinless.

Only a few dim lanterns illuminated the enclosed space. Water dripped from the ceiling, pipes snaked along the walls. Had they pulled me underground?

Before long, I opened my eyes. I was tied to a wooden chair, my body restrained by iron cables. I couldn’t move.

Facing me sat a man, cloaked in shadow. He wore a dark suit, his emerald eyes glowing faintly in the firelight. We were alone in a room where only a single torch cast flickers across the walls.

It was... the leader of Umbra.

As I came to, I struggled against the chains—but my strength failed me.

"No need to fight," the leader said with a calm, composed gaze. "You won’t leave this place alive."

Behind him stood the Crimson Reaper, guarding the entrance. And I could sense the presence behind me—a silver-haired boy: Death Icon.

Raising a bloodstained hand, the leader added, "One wrong move, and I’ll end you here and now."

"Then do it," I growled. "Try, if you have the guts."

He paused, then lowered his hand slowly.

"You’re right to be bold. But haven’t you noticed? You can’t feel your powers anymore. I felt it too, the moment I saw you—like your will to live had vanished."

"Not your business..."

"And yet, I’m pleased we’ve finally met. The Association’s worst nightmare—delivering you into my hands."

Grinding my teeth, I strained against the cables again.

"I don’t care what you want, and I don’t need to know. You’re the bastard who sullied my father’s name. Why should I believe a word from your mouth?"

"That’s exactly why you should listen. Because I have the truth—the story they’ve buried for decades. The one stolen from you."

"...What the hell are you on about? You want me to believe pretending to be my father was some noble act? You won’t fool me, terrorist scum."

"You’re right—I’m not Lee Yeonho. I never even met your father. My name is Mujin. But yes, I share his appearance. I used his identity to infiltrate the Association and plant doubt in their carefully crafted lies."

"Innocent people... You’ve killed thousands. What right do you have to judge anyone? You’re nothing but a butcher!"

"Perhaps. But the scale of my crimes doesn’t compare to the atrocities committed by the Association over generations. Call me a demon if you want. There’s more humanity in me than in you. Compared to you... I was born human."

"...What is that supposed to mean? You were human? Then why are you fighting against humans?!"

He smiled faintly, his glowing eyes piercing through me.

"Yes, I was human. Surprised? Tell me—would you still fight for the Association, knowing they’ve marked you for death? I have proof. Lady Sashi Heiwa herself—the new face of justice—gave the order to eliminate you."

I lowered my head. Beneath my hair, a bitter smirk curled my lips. A soft chuckle escaped me as my rage simmered beneath the surface.

"So what? I’ve got no one left. No reason to keep moving forward. Go ahead—kill me and be done with it. I’m not taking sides."

"...So you truly have lost the will to fight. Then why did you become a hunter? Wasn’t it for victory?"

"That’s none of your concern."

Interrupting me, Mujin said quietly, "It was for your parents."

His words pierced straight through me.

"Have you forgotten, Kihyun? You didn’t become a hunter for fame or fortune. A child with your past doesn’t care about those things. You wanted the truth—about your family, the truth the world stole from you. If you could, you’d bring your parents back from the grave."

"Shut the hell up!" I lunged forward, but my legs wouldn’t move. "Don’t talk about my family like you know them! You think you understand me? That you can crawl inside my soul and control me?!"

"No," Mujin replied, folding his arms. "But I know what people become when they’ve lost everything. Kihyun, the truth of this world... is a lie."

–––

A few days earlier, just after the battle in the Green Zone, Jisun stormed into Kang Suwon’s office without knocking. The director was already waiting—resigned, perhaps, to what was coming.

Jisun slammed his hands on the desk.

"Hey, old man. Your doctor friend is dead. Time for you to confess what the hell you’ve been doing. Don’t bother covering for him—he told me everything."

"I see," Suwon said. "Don’t worry, Jisun. I have no more lies left."

"Hmph. Looks like you’ve accepted your fate. What a damn waste... You’re not even worth killing."

"I’m ready for the consequences," Suwon muttered, hiding his despair behind a calm exterior.

Shortly after, Jisun entered Sashi’s office—his hands trembling. He had learned the truth about the world. A truth so dark, no one was ever meant to hear it.

But now, it had clawed its way to the surface—because all truths eventually do.

"Sashi. Call every hunter closely connected to Kihyun. Now."

Startled by his sudden entrance, she blinked in disbelief.

"Park Jisun?! We’ve been searching for you. Where the hell have you been?"

He stepped closer to her desk, voice unwavering.

"I confronted Kang Suwon. He confessed to everything."

Sashi was struck speechless.

"T-tell me everything! We need to document it. But the hunters... they’re exhausted. Maybe in a few days—"

"No. Not too long," Jisun muttered. "This world... it’s rotting."

–––

A few days passed. Under the pale glow of moonlight, a confidential meeting began within the Association.

Present were S-rank hunters Reina, Sora, and Jisun. Alongside them sat Yeonghee and the remaining members of Team Kusanagi. With no superiors in sight, Sashi took command.

"Thank you all for coming. The information we’ve uncovered cannot be disclosed to the general ranks... but in this case, exceptions must be made. You all know Lee Kihyun. His emergence as a hunter marked the beginning of the end for the system that bound us."

The room fell into silent tension. Sashi cleared her throat and resumed.

"Kihyun is currently hiding in the Red Zone. Based on drone surveillance, he was attacked by the demon Osiris. His status remains unknown."

Ryu raised his hand—my former trainee, still loyal.

"So... he might be dead? How do we know Osiris was the one who fought him?"

Despite rumors that I had become a Duke, not one of them doubted my allegiance to Kusanagi.

Especially Yeonghee, whose concern outshone all others.

"There is drone footage," Sashi replied. "Classified, but sufficient to confirm Kihyun’s location."

"And the outcome?" Yeonghee asked softly, twirling her hair.

"...Osiris was killed. By him."

The room erupted in disbelief.

"No way..."

"It’s hard to accept, but Kihyun is stronger than ever. We believe he was concealing his power all along."

"You’re wrong!" Yeonghee snapped. "If he was hiding his strength, he never would’ve let his comrades die."

Sashi studied her quietly.

"Perhaps. I’m only guessing. But that’s not the only reason I called you here. This concerns all of you. A truth about the war that was kept from every hunter..."

All eyes locked onto her. She took a slow breath.

"Your demonic powers weren’t a coincidence. They’re the result of blood grafting. Organ transplants. In childhood, your parents agreed to secret experiments—ones that shaped your destiny."

Yeonghee’s face went pale. Reina stood up, fury in her voice.

"M-Miss Sashi, that’s insane! I thought demonic powers appeared randomly!"

"There’s nothing random about it," Sashi said coldly. "Your parents made you what you are—even if you don’t remember it."

In the corner, Sora clenched her hands. She had known... but never spoken.

"How could this be..." Reina collapsed into her seat. "My entire life... every decision I thought was mine... it was all built on a lie?"

No one contradicted her. Everyone had begun to understand.

"Even A-ranks were victims. If your parents were hunters, their blood passed to you—creating B- and C-ranks. The cruelest truth is that your fate was decided before you were born. This blood... follows a hierarchy."

Meanwhile, across the city, Mujin told me the same thing.

"All demons are heirs of the Dukes’ bloodlines. And you, Kihyun—you carry the blood of the traitor. The one the other Dukes have sworn to hunt down. Now that we’ve captured you, you’ll be offered to them... as harvest."

"Damn it... So that’s your plan. No matter where I go, someone’s always trying to kill me, huh?"

"But I can convince them otherwise," Mujin whispered. "The Taurus Demon—one of the Four Dukes who serve the Demon King. Though all obey the King’s will, I might persuade him to spare you. The power of the Fourth Duke—your power—must return to demonkind. If you help us, Kihyun, you’ll live."

"No... That’s bullshit. I don’t believe you... Every word out of your mouth is a lie!"

"I understand—it’s hard to accept. Then let me tell you one more truth. One that will make you abandon humanity forever."

"What truth? I don’t want to hear any more of this. I can’t take it..."

"Kihyun. The secret of your mother’s death... Lee Yeonho killed her. He did it to prevent the rise of the Taurus Demon."

My eyes widened. My body froze. The weight of his words crushed me.

"H-how...? My father... killed my mother?"

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