Jack's voice hung in the air like a demon's whisper. To King, it sounded exactly like a horror story being read aloud.
The tiny flame of hope—the dream of reuniting with his two-dimensional wives—had just ignited in his heart. Now it was mercilessly extinguished. Doused by a bucket of ice-cold reality.
What followed was despair. Deeper than a week of high-intensity special training. Deeper than anything he'd felt before.
King: …
He opened his mouth. Tried to speak.
But his throat felt constricted—squeezed by an invisible hand. No words emerged. Only his body, trembling slightly from excessive shock. Only his eyes, once again devoid of light. Silently conveying everything he couldn't say.
NO——————!!!
(Snowflakes fluttering~♪ North wind whistling~♪)
Jack bid farewell to King and stepped out of the apartment building.
The sun was bright. Streets bustled with traffic. No different from any other day.
Yet Jack felt an inexplicable emptiness. He looked up at the towering building behind him.
In this day and age, natural Monster spawn points are hard to find.
Don't worry, King.
I'll be back.
(King, somewhere above: Σ_(꒪ཀ꒪」∠) Vomiting blood.JPG)
Jack hailed a taxi. Gave the address of the unfinished building complex in the M City suburbs.
The driver was a talkative middle-aged man. He glanced at Jack through the rearview mirror—young, handsome, extraordinary demeanor. While driving, he offered a casual reminder.
"Young man, you need to be careful going to that place."
His tone turned serious.
"We drivers have the most up-to-date information. That unfinished building complex? Not peaceful at night. You can often see ghost fires floating in the distance. Eerie even during the day."
He shook his head.
"Heard several people went in. Never came out. Best not to go in."
"Thanks for the reminder." Jack smiled slightly. Didn't care.
Ghost fires? That means Flame of Impure Ardor is active in the area.
Saves me the trouble of making a commotion to find him.
They arrived at the destination. Jack casually paid double the fare as a tip.
The driver was profusely grateful. He watched Jack walk alone into the desolate, dilapidated building complex. Shook his head again.
"These young people nowadays… they're really brave!"
The taxi roared away.
The unfinished complex was massive. Weeds grew between broken walls and ruins. A desolate atmosphere hung in the air.
Jack walked through it. His sharp gaze swept every corner.
Soon—traces of human life. Ground floor of an unfinished tall building. Extinguished campfire ashes. Discarded food wrappers. Cleared-out corners where someone had clearly rested for a long time.
This is the place.
He found a spacious yet relatively secluded platform on the second floor. Sat down. Waited patiently.
Time passed. The sky shifted from bright to dark. Dusk arrived.
The setting sun was like blood—painting the clouds in tragically beautiful colors.
Just as dusk deepened—a figure appeared.
Silently. On top of the tallest building in the complex.
Black tight-fitting suit. Flame-patterned beast-skin vest. Two swords on his back. Tall, upright physique. Explosive black hair—resembling a Super Saiyan's—swaying slightly in the wind. Stern face. Eyes sharp as an eagle's.
Flame of Impure Ardor.
Jack looked up.
Their gazes met across the distance. An invisible collision—killing intent and vigilance—occurred in the space between them.
Found him.
Flame of Impure Ardor had not yet consumed a Monster Cell. At this moment, he was essentially still human. The 'Not Human System' displayed no ability information.
But Jack could deduce. Ninjutsu. Assassin skills. Refined through years of training. His combat power at this stage? Roughly comparable to high-level Demon-level. Basically on par with Wind of Cyclone in human form.
Perfect.
Such strength—enough to enter the S-Class Hero rankings—was, in front of Jack, somewhat insufficient. Even maintaining human form transformation with full power suppression, he could handle this easily.
Neither side spoke immediately. Neither moved. They waited—each for the other to break the delicate balance first.
The tense atmosphere built. Approached its peak.
Then—
A voice shattered it. Slightly frivolous. Undeniably powerful. Echoing from the entrance of the unfinished building.
"Special S-Class wanted criminal—Flame of Impure Ardor!"
Footsteps. Heavy. Confident.
A man strode in. Burly. Muscular. Short brown hair. Red vest—tight, leaf-patterned, stretched across bulging muscles like a bodybuilder's second skin. Jeans. Every muscle contour clearly outlined, as if containing explosive power.
The man's burning gaze locked onto the figure on the rooftop. A grin spread across his face—excited, confident, hungry.
"Hahaha! What luck!"
He cracked his neck. Rolled his shoulders.
"I just heard from a taxi driver—someone might be in danger here. Decided to check it out on the way." His grin widened. "Didn't expect to hit the jackpot!"
He stretched. Limbs popped. Muscles trembled under the vest's restraint.
"Killing you?" White teeth flashed. "Besides the generous bounty, my A-Class Hero ranking should rise significantly too, right?"
Jack glanced at the newcomer. Recognition flickered.
A-Class Hero. Rank 9.
Vest Vegetarian Faction. The only A-Class Hero—besides Vest Sage himself—in the Vest Army. The faction under S-Class Hero Vest Sage.
This one's brave.
On the rooftop, Flame of Impure Ardor's stern face curved into a mocking arc.
"Oh? So I'm being treated as prey by so-called heroes?"
His voice cooled.
"To have something like this happen in front of the new organization I'm about to join… unexpectedly embarrassing."
"New organization?" Vest Vegetarian Faction's brow twitched. His gaze shifted—caught Jack, watching from the shadows of another unfinished building. His eyebrows shot up.
"I didn't expect… an unexpected bonus!" Laughter boomed. "Hahahahaha—!"
He pointed.
"No matter what evil organization you're joining—today, both of you will be apprehended by me! A-Class Hero—Vest Vegetarian Faction!"
He jabbed a thumb at Jack.
"Hey, you! Don't run either! Once I deal with the S-Class wanted criminal—you're next!"
Jack: …
(눈~눈)
Dude.
Are you always this brave?
He glanced at Flame of Impure Ardor.
And you. Leaking Monster Association information like this. As an excellent employee under Great Eyes—I'll have to report this properly.
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