While the fight was going on the outside.
"You know he'll kill you when he comes back, right?"
Inside the warehouse's basement, Soohyun sat tied to a chair thinking what would come next. Her breath was heavy.
*Rumble*
"Hey, do you hear some heavy rumbling coming from the top?"
"Heh, maybe the boss is angry and is destroying some shit or something."
"You hear that?" One of them leaned in closer. "Oh come on, sweetheart, we don't wanna hurt you, just tell us what the boss wants to know," he sneered, his voice dripping with condescension. "It'll save you a lot of pain."
Soohyun glared up at him, her eyes blazing with defiance. "Go to hell," she shouted.
"Bahah!" The other guard chuckled and stepped forward. "They say hot girls come with crack minds, lol," he said, his tone mocking.
"You really think you can hold out forever? No one knows you are here! We have all the time in the world."
*Rumble*
"He sure is pissed!"
The 1st man moved even closer, his face just inches from Soohyun's. "Last chance," he growled. "Tell us what we want to know, or things are gonna get real ugly for you."
Soohyun's response was immediate.
She spat directly into the man's face, the spit landing on his cheek.
"Bahaha! She really spat on you!" The other one laughed.
His expression twisted in fury as he wiped it away with the back of his hand. "You little bitch!" he snarled, raising his hand to strike her.
Then he stoped.
By a voice.
"Uu, Uu, Uu. I wouldn't do that if I were you.." The voice was very soft but filled with coldness.
Hearing the voice, a chil ran down the two men and they turned back to see a handsome red-haired man in a black coat, "A..Azaroth Morningstar?" One of them said in disbelief.
Seeing him through the disheveled strands of hair "Azaroth, ..you came?" Soohyun muttered, her voice barely a whisper.
Seeing Azaroth's face inside the warehouse, Soohyun felt an immense wave of relief wash over her.
The poor girl had gone through too much, and just after saying those words, she became unconscious with a faint smile on her lips.
"I'm here," he murmured gently taking a step towards her.
"You.. You stop right there!" The men fearfully came in front of her chair.
"How did you get inside?" one of them managed to stutter, their voices trembling with a mix of shock and horror.
They had expected to see their boss coming from the outside, but the appearance of Azaroth inside the warehouse was a mystery.
"Yes, how did you come inside!? Damn it, what was our boss doing!"
"Well," Azaroth's cold eyes darted between the two men, and he slowly advanced towards them, his black coat swirling around him.
"I just asked him and he let me in." With a cold smirk, he replied.
Seeing their bewildered face he chuckled,
"Don't believe me? Here! Ask him yourself." As he spoke, he tossed something towards the ground.
*Thud**Roll-Roll*
A big ball rolled on the floor—It was a head!
The disfigured and agonized head, The mouth was agape, the teeth were shattered, and the most eye-catching part was- they were no eyes on the empty sockets.
"B-boss.... H-How..?"
The stench of blood filled the air, and the empty sockets of the head stared blankly at the ceiling, the sight sending shivers down the men's spines.
"oh! Don't panic!" Azaroth spread his hands, "You two were just following orders right?" he said.
Listening to that the men smiled a little, so it was true that Azaroth was really a nice man. They were just following orders, right? Surelly they won't share the fate of Dongsoo, right?
"So, I propose a deal." Azaroth said in a happy tone.
"Yes, we accept! What ever it is we accept!"
"That was quick, well, you two are B-rank hunters, right?" Azaroth looked rather harmless now.
"Y-Yes!"
"Then here is the deal you two just agreed. You guys will fight me and if you managed to stay alive for more than a minute, I'll let you live~"
"....."
The two men looked at each other.
"Oh, don't worry, you are to fight me at the same time"
"Ok, I'll hold back, now don't be shy~" The playful tone was becoming harsher, "Or do you prefer going out without a fight!"
The last sentence shook the whole warehouse as Azaroth's aura filled the entirety.
The two B-rankers looked at each other and slightly nodded, they activated their aura.
"Yes, that's the spirit! Your time starts! NOW! COME AT ME!"
The hunters charged at Azaroth, their fists swinging wildly, the mana around them intensifying. They knew that if they didn't survive for a minute, their lives would be forfeit.
But Azaroth was agile, dodging their attacks with ease and grace. He pulled his sword's scabbard from the inventory, the black scabbard's silver art glinting in the dim light of the basement.
Swinging it in an elegant arc, he parried a wild haymaker from one of the hunters, the clanging noise filling the room.
"C'mon, guys! That's it? You guys don't seem to be desperate enough~"
The red-haired man stepped forward, his eyes burning with a fervor that unnerved the hunters.
With a swift movement, he lashed out with his scabbard, slicing open the neck of one of the men.
"Ugh!"
Blood sprayed across the concrete floor as the hunter's eyes went wide, and he fell to his knees, gagging on his own blood.
The remaining hunter's eyes darted between his dying companion and Azaroth, terror gripping his heart. But he knew he had no choice but to fight.
He charged mana deeply within himself, feeling it course through his veins and empower his fists.
"Oh? Was that neck made of paper?" Azaroth smirked, his eyes full of amusement, and pulled his hands back, summoning flames that danced around his fingers.
As the hunter rushed forward, Azaroth unleashed a torrent of fire upon him, engulfing his body. He tried to suppress the flames, but it was too late, and the hunter screamed in agony as his clothes caught fire.
Within seconds, the fire consumed him, leaving behind only ash and the charred remains of what once was a living being.
"Hmm.. I should eat meat today~" The smelly reminded him of roasted meat.
"I can't believe these fucking cock suckers can smell like a delicasy? Should I try eating a human..? Well, whatever.." Azaroth snuffed out the flames with a wave of his hand, a look of disgust crossing his face.
He strode over to the chair where Soohyun was still tied up and, with a few quick movements, untied her.
Her eyes were still closed, and she was unconscious, but she was badass till the last moment and didn't snitch on him.
That was all that mattered to Azaroth.
_______