SSS-Ranked Demon Hunter: The Prodigy
Chapter 94: Tempest, Part 3

Chapter 94: Tempest, Part 3

The demons have been defeated.

All their defenses, built with such ferocity, have been destroyed. The Orange Zone is partially cleansed. And half a victory is still a victory.

We all understood: a handful of unruly enemies are nothing compared to the real headache.

Umbra.

Back at the base, we tried to rest. The briefing room they put me in was crowded.

With me were Ryu and Ming.

As well as the rest of Seoul’s S-Ranks: Sora, Reina, Chanwook, and Jisun. Later, Adam and Shingen entered quietly.

A heavy silence settled over the room. The kind of silence where every glance felt like a stab in the back.

The silence spoke for itself: there was no unity here. Everyone was divided. Different factions. Different ideals.

I’m no better. Other than the former Kusanagi team and my own squad, I don’t speak to anyone.

And the veterans...

They radiated cold, as if we were just noise in the background.

Then Ryu broke the silence.

"What’re you all staring at like you’ve seen monsters? Bit your tongues? Since when did you start treating us like crap?"

Shingen narrowed his eyes, pushing off the wall.

"You playing protagonist now, Ryu?"

"Huh? You just love being annoyed, huh, kid? Not that we can expect unity when there are over thirty S-Ranks in one city."

Adam raised an eyebrow.

"And what’s that supposed to mean?"

"Relax, bumpkin. Not that you have much going on in that head of yours," Ryu snapped.

All eyes turned to him.

Some indifferent. Others full of disdain.

"Disgusting, isn’t it? Working alongside comrades of a traitor who doomed people to die. ’Kusanagi this, Kusanagi that’ — you think we don’t hear your whispers?"

His voice was sharp, bitter.

I wanted to stop him — but let him speak.

"And the old generation? They look at us like trash. Like we can’t even summon a proper weapon. Isn’t that right, SSS-Rank hunter Jisun?"

Jisun didn’t respond. His calm demeanor was infuriating.

Some of the new S-Ranks lowered their eyes.

I knew their faces — former A-Ranks, promoted for bravery. And somehow... I didn’t care about them at all.

Ryu went on:

"That’s what I’m trying to say. Stop looking down on each other. We’re supposed to be united, and instead we’re fractured. Like this, humanity’s not winning anything."

A cold female voice cut through the room:

"Maybe you should filter your words first."

Reina.

Crimson hair, piercing gaze. As always — elegance and venom.

"You’re not exactly known for being friendly. Online they call you ’the arrogant pitbull.’ I agree with them. Maybe it’s time you rethink how you see yourself."

"Call me what you want," Ryu replied. "I’ve got the same goal as the rest of you: survive. And kill as many of those bastards as I can before they kill us."

He stepped forward, his voice sharper now.

"Of course, some of you still dream of a happy future. One where we win this war. But how exactly?"

Silence.

"Kill all the enemies, save humanity... Childish fantasy. We’re up against gods. Higher beings. How can normal people — even with Kenketsu — fight that?"

He was harsh. But every word rang true.

"You believe Jisun will get stronger and take down the Serpent Demon? Or that Lee Yeonho will wake up and tear our enemies apart?"

Jisun looked up.

"No," he said evenly. "That’s impossible."

"Exactly. We can’t beat gods."

"So you want the help of another god?" Jisun interrupted. "Lee Kihyun? That’s why no one trusts you. You’d betray us for this so-called ’god.’"

"It’s not about gods or enemies," Ryu countered. "You’re wrong. The only one who might help us... is the one who accepted his nature and mastered it. That’s why the Taurus Demon is our best hope. Or do you think it’d be easier to convince the Demon of Hatred to slaughter demons for us?"

Jisun tensed.

"It’s too dangerous to trust either of them. See? You have a dream too. Even though the authorities branded Lee Kihyun a traitor and enemy of the state, you still hope he’ll return. Or... maybe you know something we don’t?"

The room tensed.

But Ryu didn’t flinch. He welcomed the question.

"You like doubting your comrades, legend," he smirked. "But whatever happens, I’m not turning my back on humanity. I’m still human. I love my country. And even more... I love watching demons suffer in front of me."

A manic grin twisted his face. Even his eyes smiled.

Some people shivered.

"As long as you still call yourself human, Jisun — I won’t touch you."

Jisun looked away.

"Hm. Fair enough."

And with that, it ended.

The S-Ranks began leaving. The air remained sour. No apologies. No farewells.

I was the first to leave, my squad following. I gave everyone in the room one last cold glance.

Showing them — they meant nothing to me.

And as much as I wanted to shed the title of Ice Queen — I was still her.

Maybe it was the fracture between us.

Maybe it was me.

Do I look down on them...

Or do I just hate what I’ve become?

Either way — we stepped outside. Fresh air. Heavy skies. And a step into the unknown that crept ever closer.

The crowd of hunters spread across the square. No one knew what to say.

Some exchanged glances. Others pretended to be busy.

Then, through the crowd, a young girl from my squad ran up to me. She stopped, bowed deeply.

"I... I offer my deepest apologies for the others, Captain. You’re nothing like they say. No matter how they treat you — I believe in you. And I’ll always stay loyal."

Her voice trembled, but her sincerity was real.

I held her gaze for a moment.

So sincere. So... pure. Young, inexperienced — and hardly worthy of the S-Rank title. But her honesty moved me.

Another squad member joined her — a boy, scratching his head awkwardly.

"Yeah, she’s right! God, what’s wrong with those other S-Ranks? So damn stuck up."

I turned to Ryu, who stood nearby, leaning against a wall with his hands in his pockets.

"But you went too far, Ryu," I said. "You should’ve chosen your words more carefully."

He snorted, unbothered.

"What difference does it make now? I said what I meant. If nothing changes after this — that’s on them. Hunters today are all about politics. Like a damn kindergarten."

"I understand. Still, it took guts to speak against Jisun. He was your commander once, wasn’t he? Seems like your departure hurt him more than he let on."

Ryu looked away but stayed silent.

And then, rare as it was, Ming spoke.

"Someone had to say it. Everyone was thinking it — they just stayed quiet."

Ming was usually silent. But among us, he was the one who held us together.

Not a captain — but the soul of the team.

"So we argued, big deal," he added, slapping Ryu on the back. "No one threw punches. That’s what matters."

He was right.

But this was just the beginning.

If Ryu’s words didn’t break the ice — the next storm wouldn’t be verbal.

The rift between hunters was more dangerous than any demon.

Us.

We were rotting from the inside.

Are we to blame...?

Under the new system, any A-Rank with enough combat experience could be promoted to S — based on merit.

But I was the first anomaly. The first phenomenon.

The one who proved that even A-Ranks could summon Kenketsu — blood-forged weapons — without mutating their arms. Something thought impossible until now.

It should’ve become a precedent.

Maybe I need to speak to Madam Sashi.

Raise the question of revising the ranking system.

To open the gates — not to those who fit the mold — but to those truly worthy.

Or rather...

Who do we even consider worthy anymore?

Wouldn’t you agree, Mr. Park Jisun?

...

And Jisun, in truth, had always cared more about the fate of his comrades than about victory itself.

He was a man of the old guard — one who believed that an S-Rank Hunter should be the perfect weapon: strong, disciplined, fearless, and unwavering. Armed to the teeth, with a will forged of iron.

He couldn’t bear it when his comrades died. Whether on raids, in ambushes, or simply defending the city..

And every time the battle ended, he would step back into the light...

Only to be greeted by cheers, applause, and wide smiles. They called him "the child of prophecy," "a legend," some even dared to call him a god.

But behind him... were corpses.

They had died for the victory. For him.

He stood in the glow of the spotlight, while in the shadow behind him — the bodies of fallen soldiers. Friends. Brothers. Those who had fought by his side. No one remembered them as heroes.

And every time he heard the applause—

—there was a ringing in his ears.

Unbearable. Sharp. Endless.

In reality, he hated applauds.

"They know nothing... What it truly means to carry such a burden."

Late that night, Jisun woke up with a jolt from another nightmare.

Sweat clung to his temples. His chest rose and fell heavily. One trembling hand reached upward — as if grasping at nothing.

But he was in his bed. In his own home.

He pressed a weary hand against his eyes, trying to chase away the remnants of sleep — as if he could tear from his mind the gray silhouettes that had returned once more.

"It’s over. I made it through another day."

But the dream came back every night.

Gray faces. Eyeless. Soldiers who had fought beside him.

The ones he couldn’t save.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.