The factory fell silent.
Smoke drifted slowly through the broken structure.
Hina dropped to her knees slightly.
"…we actually beat a Red Level…"
Aoi smiled softly.
Still catching her breath.
"…that was my first time…"
Hina laughed weakly.
"Same here."
For a moment—
They allowed themselves to relax.
But—
BOOOOOOM!!!
Something crashed down from above.
The ground shattered.
Dust exploded into the air.
"…?!"
Shin's eyes sharpened instantly.
"…get back."
From within the dust—
A figure emerged.
Tall.
Distorted.
Long, sharp claws extended from its hands.
Its presence—
Heavy.
Crushing.
"…you three…"
Its voice echoed.
Low.
Menacing.
"…you're stronger than I expected."
A pause.
Its eyes gleamed.
"…but I'm more interested in a Special Grade…"
It grinned.
Wide.
Unnatural.
"…still—"
"…you'll make good food."
Claw.
Threat Level.
The air turned suffocating.
Hina's body froze slightly.
"…this pressure…"
Shin stepped forward.
"…stay behind me."
Claw laughed.
"Too late."
Suddenly—
SHHHHHK!!!
Its claws slashed through the air—
"…Blood Demon Technique—"
Its voice rose.
"Desukurō!!!"
In an instant—
Multiple claw slashes tore through the space—
Invisible—
But deadly.
"MOVE!" Shin shouted.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Explosions erupted around them.
Hina barely dodged—
Aoi rolled to the side—
The ground was shredded apart.
"…what kind of attack is that?!"
Shin didn't answer.
She moved.
WHOOSH!!!
Her spear shot forward—
A direct strike—
Claw caught it.
With one hand.
"…you think speed alone can beat me?"
Shin's eyes narrowed.
She jumped back instantly.
"…Kage-hō."
The air darkened slightly.
"…Shadou Kurōn."
In an instant—
Multiple shadow clones appeared.
They rushed forward—
Attacking from all directions.
THRUST! SLASH! STRIKE!
Claw moved—
Fast.
Too fast.
SHHHK!!! SHHHK!!!
Claws tore through shadows—
Destroying them one by one.
But—
Shin appeared behind—
THRUST!!!
Her spear pierced—
CRACK!!!
Claw was forced down—
The ground shattered beneath it.
"…tch."
For a moment—
Claw knelt.
Hina's eyes widened.
"…she's winning…?"
But—
Claw started laughing.
"…is that all?"
In a blink—
SHHHK!!!
A claw strike—
Shin's body jerked.
"…!"
Blood splashed.
Then—
Another—
SHHHK! SHHHK!
Cuts appeared across her arms.
Her side.
Her shoulder.
Shin staggered back.
"…fast…"
Claw stood again.
Unharmed.
Smiling.
"…now this is fun."
Shin gritted her teeth.
Her breathing heavier now.
But her eyes—
Still sharp.
"…damn monster…"
Claw tilted its head.
"…you're getting slower."
Another strike—
SHHHK!!!
More blood.
Hina stepped forward.
"…Shin!"
"DON'T!"
Shin shouted—
"…run."
Silence.
"…take Aoi and run."
Hina froze.
"…what?!"
Shin didn't look back.
"I'll handle it."
Claw laughed loudly.
"Ah… how touching."
"…a Hunter who still cares about her teammates."
Its claws extended further.
"Don't worry…"
"…I'll kill you first."
A pause.
"…then them."
The air trembled again.
Hina clenched her fists.
"…I won't run!"
But before she could move—
A voice echoed.
Calm.
Cold.
"…and after that?"
Silence.
Claw froze.
Then—
Jumped back instantly.
Distance.
Its eyes narrowed.
"…that aura…"
"…so you finally came."
From the shadows—
A figure stepped forward.
Hands in pockets.
Eyes half-lidded.
Unbothered.
Seiichi Asuka.
Claw grinned.
"…Special Grade."
Asuka stopped.
His gaze—
Cold.
Locked onto Claw.
"…you talk too much."
The air—
Shifted completely.
Even Claw—
Felt it.
"…this is going to be interesting."
To be continued…