The next few days were eerily quiet. The city went about its normal rhythm—people commuting, students chatting in the hallways, life continuing as it always did. But for Akira, each passing hour felt like the calm before a storm. He could feel the impending clash like an invisible weight pressing down on him.Yumi hadn't stopped worrying about him. She'd started following him around more, pestering him with questions, but Akira kept his answers vague. He appreciated her concern, but this wasn't something she could help with. The thought of her getting caught up in the coming battle made him sick to his stomach.Ren, meanwhile, kept his distance. He no longer provoked Akira in class, no longer watched him from the shadows. It was as if he was waiting, observing what Akira would do next. And that only made Akira more uneasy. What was Ren's plan? Was he an ally or just another predator waiting for the right moment to strike?That evening, Akira sat in his apartment, staring out at the darkening sky. He could feel the tension in the air, the unsettling energy creeping closer. The hunters were near.He stood up, the weight of the black crystal in the shrine pulling at his senses. Its dark pulse seemed to be calling out to him, urging him to reclaim the power he had long kept sealed. But Akira knew that if he did, there would be no going back.With a final glance at the crystal, Akira grabbed his coat and left the apartment, heading toward the city's outskirts. If the hunters wanted him, they wouldn't get the satisfaction of destroying everything he cared about. He would face them on his terms.The wind was cold as Akira arrived at the edge of a desolate park, the towering trees casting long shadows in the pale moonlight. He stood still for a moment, sensing the presence of those who had come for him. They were close—watching him from the darkness, waiting for the right moment to strike."So, you've come," Akira muttered to himself, his body tensing in anticipation.Without warning, three figures stepped into view, emerging from the trees like phantoms. Their movements were swift and silent, their eyes glowing with unnatural light. They were hunters, just as Ren had warned. Their auras were thick with malice, their intent clear.One of them, a tall man with silver hair and piercing red eyes, stepped forward. "So, this is the famous Demon Lord who's hiding among humans. You look weaker than I expected."Akira's expression remained neutral, though his heart pounded in his chest. "I don't want to fight."The man's lips curled into a sneer. "You don't have a choice. Your power is too great to ignore. If you won't use it, we'll take it from you by force."Akira clenched his fists, feeling the pull of his demonic power stirring inside him. "And what will you do with it? Cause more destruction? Rule the Underworld?"The hunter's eyes gleamed with hunger. "That's none of your concern. You've had your time, Demon Lord. Now it's ours."The other two hunters flanked him, their movements precise and deadly. One of them, a woman with sharp, glowing blue eyes, raised her hand, summoning a sphere of dark energy. It crackled with violent force, sending a chill down Akira's spine."You should've stayed hidden," she hissed, her voice dripping with malice. "Now, you'll die."The three hunters attacked in unison, their speed and power overwhelming. Akira barely had time to react, dodging their strikes with a fluid grace that belied his human appearance. But he knew that without tapping into his full power, he wouldn't last long.He gritted his teeth, evading a blast of energy that tore through the ground where he'd been standing. His mind raced as he calculated his options. He could feel the black crystal's pulse growing stronger in his chest, tempting him with its dark allure.No. I can't use it. Not like this.But the hunters weren't giving him a choice.