The alley fell into silence.
Dark.
Narrow.
Heavy with killing intent.
The Demon's grotesque mouth stretched wider, rows of jagged teeth glistening in the dim light.
Its voice echoed unnaturally.
"I'll enjoy this… Hunter."
Tachibana Hina exhaled slowly.
Her grip tightened around her katana.
Her stance—loose, yet ready.
"Come then."
In an instant—
WHOOSH!
The Demon lunged forward.
CLANG!
Steel met flesh.
Hina blocked just in time, her blade stopping the Demon's claw inches from her face.
The ground beneath her feet cracked from the force.
"Fast…" she muttered.
The Demon grinned.
Then—
Its neck twisted unnaturally—
And from its mouth—
A long, grotesque toxic tongue shot out.
SHHHHHK!
The tongue lashed toward her like a whip.
Hina's eyes widened—
She leapt back—
But the tip grazed her sleeve.
SIZZLE!
The fabric dissolved instantly.
Acid.
"…poison?"
The Demon laughed.
"Not just poison… it melts everything."
The tongue struck again—
Faster.
Sharper.
Deadlier.
SHHHK! SHHHK! SHHHK!
Relentless strikes filled the narrow alley.
Walls were torn apart.
Concrete melted.
The ground hissed under the toxic impact.
Hina moved—
Dodging.
Sliding.
Twisting her body with precise control.
But—
Her breathing grew heavier.
"…annoying."
The tongue shot straight for her throat—
Hina's eyes sharpened.
She stepped forward instead of back.
"…Hi no nagare."
Her voice was calm.
Low.
Focused.
"Hi ga moete imasu."
In that instant—
FWOOSH!!!
Flames erupted.
Fire burst from her katana—
Bright.
Wild.
Burning with intense heat.
The incoming toxic tongue—
Met the flames—
SZZZZZZAAAAA!!!
Steam exploded into the air.
The acid burned—
But the fire consumed it.
The alley lit up in blazing orange.
The Demon shrieked—
Its tongue recoiling—
Burned.
Charred.
"What—WHAT IS THIS?!"
Hina stepped forward.
Her blade now engulfed in roaring flames.
Her eyes calm.
Unshaken.
"Your attacks…"
She tilted her head slightly.
"…won't reach me."
The Demon roared in fury—
Charging again—
Claws raised—
Mouth wide open—
Hina lowered her stance.
Her flames intensified.
"…Hi no nagare."
The fire gathered.
Condensed.
Breathing like a living entity.
"Doragon no iki."
She swung her blade.
FWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!!!
A massive wave of fire erupted forward—
Taking the shape of a dragon's breath.
The flames devoured everything in their path.
The alley—
The walls—
The air itself trembled.
"NO—WAIT—!!!"
The Demon screamed—
Its body engulfed instantly.
"STOP—PLEASE—!!!"
Its voice twisted in pain.
Desperate.
Begging.
"I WON'T—KILL ANYMORE—!!!"
Hina froze.
Just for a moment.
Her eyes flickered.
"…?"
The flames continued burning.
But her grip—
Loosened slightly.
"…should I… stop?"
For a split second—
She hesitated.
And that was enough.
SHHHK!!!
From within the flames—
A half-burned, grotesque shape burst out.
The Demon—
Its body charred—
Eyes filled with madness—
Its toxic tongue launched forward one last time.
"DIE!!!"
Hina's eyes widened.
She couldn't react in time.
But—
ZAAAAAAP!!!
A streak of crimson lightning tore through the alley.
Faster than sound.
Faster than thought.
SLASH!!!
Everything stopped.
The Demon's movement froze.
Its tongue—
Mid-air.
Then—
Slowly—
Its head slid off its body.
THUD.
The flames faded.
The body collapsed.
Silence returned.
Hina stood still.
Breathing slightly heavier.
Eyes wide.
In front of her—
A figure stood.
Calm.
Unshaken.
Katana already lowered.
Seiichi Asuka.
"…you hesitated."
His voice was cold.
Direct.
Hina clenched her fist slightly.
"I thought—"
"Don't."
Asuka cut her off.
"Demons lie."
His eyes glanced briefly at the burning remains.
"If you hesitate…"
A short pause.
"…you die."
Silence filled the alley once more.
Hina looked down.
Then back at him.
Her expression… slightly frustrated.
"…you stole my kill."
For a brief moment—
Asuka said nothing.
Then—
He turned.
"…you're still alive."
And with that—
He walked away.
Hina stood there.
Staring at his back.
"…what's with that guy…"
But deep inside—
She knew.
If he hadn't moved—
She would've died.
Her grip tightened around her katana.
"…Seiichi Asuka…"
Her eyes sharpened.
"…Special Grade."
To be continued…