Chapter 16: 'Can I Hunt This Scumbag?'
Ana's voice tore through the chaos, raw with fury.
"Stop it, IK! This is not the time for such nonsense!"
On the top floor, clad only in her nightgown, she stretched out her hand. Sparks erupted as her sword materialized — Voice of Lightning. She gripped it so tightly her knuckles whitened, the blade itself sparking violently as clouds gathered overhead. The air thickened, thunder rolling so loud it made ears ache.
IK laughed, sarcasm dripping from every word. "What better time is there for kidnapping and sabotage?" His cloaked and armored followers chuckled, some nodding, others even giving him mocking thumbs‑up.
Ana's rage surged. "Do you even understand what you've done? The beast instigating these attacks evolves using human blood and life force. You've opened the gates — countless lives lost — and now you attempt kidnapping? That is unforgivable!"
Lightning flashed across the sky, thunder resounding in the darkness of early morning.
IK smirked, voice mocking. "We all know how powerful you are with VOL at your side. But can you really fight all these saint‑level people while protecting Taka and those stupid kids you picked up? By the way, where is that rude little bitch? I thought you and that dog would be having a threesome with that kitten." He enunciated each insult deliberately, a scheme to make Ana lose her composure — and she fell for it.
Her body blazed with lightning, sword glowing brighter. She leapt through the broken wall, descending like a bolt of divine wrath. Sparks scattered, thunder roared, her rage electrifying the air.
One of the twenty saint mages intercepted, wind mandate swirling — but Ana's blade slashed downward, lightning erupting. His body split into two perfect halves, charred black where the sword touched. Debris scattered violently as she landed, lightning exploding around her.
IK's grin widened. "Amazing. No wonder the young master is obsessed with you cousins. Too much talent, too much potential. How about it? Be my wife, and you won't suffer under him." His laughter was vile, his words dripping with lust and cruelty, clearly referring to his sadistic cousin.
From the broken walls above, Tor and Jin appeared, overlooking the battlefield.
The village guards and Ana's men were tied down by beasts — some saint‑level, their attacks coordinated with unnatural precision. Roy, Ana's head guard, was trapped at the gates, unaware of the chaos at Lightning Delights.
Taka lay broken in the rubble, one arm hacked off, deep lacerations covering his body.
Ana clashed with IK, their auras colliding — lightning against wind, storm against gale. The surrounding saints pressed in, not striking, but hemming her in, suppressing her movements without killing her.
And then, from the forest, a malevolent aura pulsed. It absorbed blood and essence from the fallen, swelling with every death.
Tor's eyes narrowed. "Can you sense that?" he asked calmly.
"Yes, young master. It seems very dangerous," Jin replied, her gaze fixed on Ana's situation. She hadn't moved yet — not because she couldn't, but because she hadn't been given permission.
Tor smirked, striking the Great Elder's favorite pose. "The Great Elder always said danger is excitement. And this aura… it feels like Mak's blood armor. Strange." He exaggerated the pose, though he had no sword at his waist, making Jin giggle before she composed herself.
"So you're going to hunt it, young master?" she asked.
"Do you even need to ask?" Tor replied, stepping toward the edge.
IK's gaze snapped upward. "Oh look, Ana — the kids woke up." His eyes locked with Jin's. He saw her mocking stare, felt her daring him to strike.
"What's with that gaze?" he sneered. With a swing, his gale slammed Ana into the wall, pinning her helplessly.
He walked toward her, hand vilely groping her chest. "I don't think my young master needs both cousins. I'll bury you with this city, give your cousin to him, and keep that foul‑mouthed beauty as my slave." His laughter echoed, eyes fixed on Jin.
Jin's pupils turned crimson. "Young master, may I hunt this scumbag?"
Her hands plunged into spatial distortions, pulling free twin blades that gleamed with killing intent.
Tor's voice was calm, almost bored. "Fine. But be done by the time I'm back."
Permission granted.
IK sneered, preparing to mock her transformation — but froze as a head rolled across the ground. One of his saints had been decapitated in an instant. Jin kicked the body toward him with such speed it blurred, forcing IK to shred it apart with a wind barrier.
With this permission Jin had no more need to hold back.