SSS-Ranked Demon Hunter: The Prodigy
Chapter 91: Aruya, Part 5

Chapter 91: Aruya, Part 5

Hi.

I am Aruya.

Three years ago, I learned the truth. My father had ties to the Mafia long before I was born.

My family was huge. And all of us were demons.

We struggled with the hunger that tore us apart from within. But we never ate humans. Never.

How did we survive in a human world?

Father made a deal. The Mafia covered for us. In return—silence. They didn’t care who we were, as long as we obeyed and paid our dues.

But one day, Father refused. When we finally found peace—he decided to break the chain.

And then they came.

Gunshots. Screams. I ran before it was too late.

And when I returned—our home was dead. Only bodies and the stench of blood.

One man was behind their deaths.

And today he stands before me.

My katana slid from its sheath with a cold ring.

The first mafioso—blinded in a blink. A slash across the eyes.

Roar. Blood.

The second lunged at me, pulling a knife. Behind him—gunfire. Dmitri fired his revolver.

Three bullets.

All missed.

I slipped under his partner, spun, and slashed through his chest. Blood sprayed across the wallpaper. The body hit the floor with a dull thud.

Dmitri didn’t wait.

He bolted out of the house. No words. No looking back.

I chased after him.

A sunny day. Too bright for such carnage.

I dashed down the street, katana flashing. The asphalt thundered underfoot. The air was taut, like a drawn string.

Damn... He’s fast.

I thought he had no demonic abilities.

Dmitri leapt across cars like gravity didn’t exist.

He wore a black business suit, a smirk on his face. Joy, thrill, adrenaline.

That bastard was high on the mere idea of being killed.

Only private houses around us. The street was nearly empty. No one in the way.

"Didn’t think your desire to kill me would make you lose your mind!" he laughed, jumping onto a garage roof. "I’m glad I have fans!"

"You won’t escape," I growled, climbing up after him.

A swift leap from the far side of the house.

Yuma. My white beast. Landed silently, blocking Dmitri’s path.

Now we had him cornered. He stood crouched, glancing around.

"See that beast? That’s Yuma—my power incarnate. I’ve trained all this time for this."

I pointed my katana at him.

"But you know... I’m grateful. And now—you’ll die by my own blade."

"Whoa," he smirked. "You’ve truly embraced your blood. Creatures like that should be called mounts, don’t you think?"

"Call it what you like. Yuma kills the strongest foes in three bites. 33% life each time. But with his great form... one bite’s enough for a god."

Dmitri brushed hair from his face.

"Revealing your secrets so easily? What’s feminine about you, aside from that short skirt?"

...Bastard.

Without warning—he lunged forward.

Yuma sprang, but missed—he slid across the shingles and leapt off the roof. I rushed after him.

The chase began again.

We cut through yards, vaulted fences, slipped through tight alleys.

He ran like a madman, a wild grin on his face. In every move—no fear, only ecstasy.

As if dancing on the edge of death.

I kept striking—lunges, dashes, katana swings. But he dodged them all—barely touched, like he could predict my every move.

He slid, bounced, darted forward like a beast in frenzy.

Yuma ran beside me, his guttural roar slicing the air.

Dmitri vaulted over a wall, skimmed a ledge, swerved onto the road. I followed.

He glanced back—no terror in his eyes. Just awe.

That’s when I realized: he lived for this.

For the hunt.

For the chase.

To die not as a man—but a demon no one could catch.

...and that’s when I stopped.

Held my breath. Let instinct take over.

Yuma—his paws tensed, ears perked. Nose caught the scent.

Dmitri turned into a dark alley.

Perfect.

I pressed my fingers together.

Snap.

He leapt out into open street—and right then, the asphalt beneath him trembled.

The world froze.

He felt it. That pull—when death brushes your breath.

From below, a maw burst forth.

Enormous.

A white tiger. Jaws the size of a truck. One bite—and the street became an abyss.

But that bastard dodged.

He leapt. But not unscathed—one fang ripped his abdomen.

He winced. Blood sprayed.

But he kept running.

People around scattered without a word. Hid under cars, dove into shops.

The city knew how to react to scenes like this.

"So this is what it’s like!" he laughed, bloodied, running like a madman. "The feeling of death closing in! Like a staircase rising to the heavens!"

"What are you babbling about?!" I yelled, rage licking my bones. "Planning to go to heaven? Hell’s your place!"

"Ha-ha-ha! What’s the difference? Can’t you feel it? This is why we live! When the whole world rushes past your eyes!"

...No fear in his gaze. Only rapture.

For him, this wasn’t a fight. It was exaltation.

Ahead—a wall began to shift.

Snap.

He realized. Too late.

Another maw.

It lunged from the wall, death from the shadows.

He dodged, fell to the side, slammed into the ground.

Didn’t notice his left arm was still in the beast’s jaws.

Smack.

I could barely stand.

My vision blurred, breath ragged. I clutched my katana to stay conscious. I was at my limit.

Damn... Not now.

Yuma... vanished too. I couldn’t summon him again.

"Hey... Don’t run... Damn it... I lived for this... Don’t run..."

I stepped forward.

One step. Then another. As if my bones were filled with lead.

Then he spoke:

"Truth is... they sent me to kill you," his voice rasped but steady. "Ridiculous, right? I’d need an army of mafiosos. Those idiots think they’re immortal. But they’re worth less than dirt."

He staggered, stumbled, but kept going.

"So I knew. You’d come to me. I guess we were meant to meet."

"Don’t... run," I croaked.

"Funny. You’ve got a purpose. Me? This life means nothing. People do the same thing until they die, hoping it’ll get better. You think that’s normal?"

We walked through the streets. Him—ahead. Me—behind. I couldn’t catch up, even though he was nearly dead.

"This world has lost emotion. It’s faceless, like all these people. Sure, happiness is different for everyone. Yours? Killing me. Right? Mine... living with no regrets. And by some stroke of luck, I always come out unscathed."

These three years.

I couldn’t reach you.

Every time I got close—you slipped away. As if fate itself kept stepping between us. I didn’t count days. I counted meters. The meters that separated us.

But now...

Stop already. Let me kill you.

"Stop..." I whispered.

"What, can’t catch me?" he smirked, glancing back. "You’re at your limit too..."

...Yeah.

He was right.

My breath was ragged, heart pounding in my skull. But I still moved.

None of us noticed the garrison soldiers on the rooftops. Armored, rifles ready, drones hovering. Watching our final act in silence.

One figure stood out among them.

A woman. Green uniform—like a demon hunter. Black hair tied tight. Ice-blue eyes.

...but I was still looking only at him.

Dmitri.

He’d lost too much blood. Each step swayed him like a leaf in the wind.

He didn’t use power. Didn’t try to heal.

He kept walking on inertia.

And at some point—he collapsed.

Silently. Like a broken doll.

Straight to the ground.

Motionless. Just breathing. Barely.

...I stopped.

My eyes widened. The cold left my face. In its place—pain. The kind I’d run from for three years.

Mom. Dad.

I stepped forward.

But before I could reach him—

Something landed in front of me.

Smack.

A hunter figure.

A woman. Cold gaze. No emotion. No words.

"That’s enough," she said in an eerily calm voice.

I froze.

She blocked the path.

Just a few steps between me and my vengeance.

I fell to my knees. My legs... just gave out. My body trembled from exhaustion, rage, from how close I was... and how it slipped away again.

"W-what are you doing?.."

The woman in green didn’t even turn.

"You did well. Your contribution to the Mafia’s destruction is immense. The Association thanks you."

She calmly approached the fallen Dmitri. Cold. Silent. And cuffed him.

"W-wait!.." I cried, rising shakily from my knees.

My voice trembled. I couldn’t believe it.

"No! Why are you arresting him?! He’s a killer... a maniac! He should die!"

But no one listened.

Hunters in uniform came from all sides.

Took him. Like he was just another detainee.

"He’s... a demon..." I whispered. "Don’t you kill those on sight?! Please... don’t let him go..."

I shook.

The ground beneath me felt meaningless.

My strength slowly returned.

The woman turned to me.

"You’re a demon too, aren’t you?"

...what?

"By that logic, we should kill you too."

I froze.

Meanwhile, they shoved Dmitri into an armored vehicle at the end of the street.

Door slam. Locks. Gone.

"My name is Kang Yeonghee. And we have questions for you too."

"Questions?.." I hissed. "He... should be dead."

"Unfortunately, that’s not possible right now."

I clenched my teeth. My body ached with the realization that the Association protected him.

"What questions. Everything’s obvious. He’s Mafia. He’s a demon. He’s killed dozens, maybe hundreds."

Yeonghee stepped closer. Slowly extended her hand.

"And yet you don’t care about your own life. No evidence. Not a shred. If you had killed him—we’d have to lock you up in a demon prison. So, what’s better: punishment for vigilantism... or a documented sentence?"

...It didn’t matter to me.

They took everything from me... again.

They stole my revenge.

I hate you all.

Every. Last. One of you.

I didn’t take her hand. I simply stood. My strength hadn’t fully returned—but it was enough.

To disappear.

In a flash, I slipped out of their sight. Melted into the shadows of nearby buildings.

Hunters rushed after me, but I knew these streets too well.

I vanished like smoke. Like hatred.

Yeonghee didn’t move. She just stood there, watching.

Maybe... you think I’m a fool.

A girl chasing an impossible dream.

But now...

Now you’re my enemy.

You’re just another obstacle standing between me and the one who must die.

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