In the training ground.
"Kirin, the first time we met is you tried to stab me. You did good, you almost got me. So I'm guessing you want to learn ascendance and weapons that could kill or toning it down neutralize an enemy." Shin said.
"Stop gaslighting me... You effortlessly dodge it." Kirin crossed her arms with a small smirk on her face.
Kaide spoked up. "So you tried to kill Shin?"
"Yep, well to be fair... A stranger suddenly appear in my place so I acted out of survival instinct alone." Kirin rub her arms looking down.
"Well to be fair at far glance Shin looks like he's evil." Sen joined in.
"Why the fuck am I catching strays out of nowhere?" He crossed his arms.
Shin sighed and crossed his arms. "Anyway let's get started."
Although the other's are giggling. They composed themselves especially Sen.
"Alright, so what's the first thing we need to do?" Kaide said.
"Sen out of nowhere came out with a bunch of weapons placed them Infront of a table. "Well first, pick weapons."
"Wait." Shin stopped them he raised his hand.
"Let me touch your chest." Shin said so calmly.
"What the fuck? No!" Kaide said.
"Yeah although you can do it to me~ kidding." Kirin said smiling playfully.
"No I need to do it. It's not like I'm going this with malice I need my flames to swallow you whole and look inside your soul to figure out what kind of powers or hint it will show." Shin said calmly.
"What? Didn't your flame burned a metal think steal easily back at that slave auction?! So what made you think it won't burn me alive?!" Kaide said.
Shin crossed his arms. "It won't. It's a multi functional ability. Trust me."
"Yeah it won't. Besides Shin only use it to open stop rather than ripping it open because he's reasoning are 'I don't want to make a mess' and yes it's a multi functional ability." Sen said.
"That doesn't make sense..." Kaide said.
"I know, I don't even know what I'm saying haha." Sen shrug fixing the weapons in the table.
Shin sigh and pulled Sen and then set him on fire.
He screamed in agony, he screamed to the top of his lungs.
"STOP SHIN WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" Kaide froze in shockness.
"SHIN STOP!" Kirin as well.
Shin rolled his eyes. "Stop acting damnit." Suddenly Sen stopped and laughed.
"It doesn't hurt see?" He popped in and out of the flame.
"I'm just fucking with y'all." He goes back into fixing the weapons in a mannerly order.
The two girls are frozen on shockness. Shin snapped his finger couple of times. "Hey? Are you two okay?"
They both shook their head. "We're okay... We just thought you set your own younger brother in fire."
"Even if I did he'll survive and walk it out. In comparison we're just the same in comparison of strength and capabilities." Shin said.
"The only exception is I can't rip people in half with my bare hands or lift thousand of tons like Shin!" Sen said so proudly while humming and setting the weapons neatly.
"...Alright so who will be the one to know their abilities?" Shin said.
Kirin stepped up. "I'll go."
Shin placed his hand on her chest. Slowly she got swallowed by his purple flame. "Hmm... Interesting." Shin continued to seek her soul even more.
"Hmm... Alright I have the hint." He stopped the flame and remove his hand from her chest.
"So how did it felt~? My chest of course?" She said with a playful smirk on her face.
"...Are you flirting on me?" Shin raised his eyebrow.
"Who knows?" She Shrug and stepped back because it's Kaide's turn.
Kaide stepped forward, closing her eyes as she braced herself. Shin placed his hand on her chest, and she let out a small, surprised sound.
"Don't make this weird," Shin said flatly.
"I'M NOT...! It's just... your touch is really gentle," Kaide mumbled, flustered.
Behind her, she felt an ominous chill. She peeked over her shoulder—Kirin was glaring daggers at her.
Sen chuckled. "Shin's always gentle with girls. Well... unless you're evil. Then he doesn't care who or what you are—he'll kill you all the same."
"It doesn't matter if someone's a man, woman, or whatever else. If they commit something truly unforgivable, we'll hunt them down." Sen added, casually arranging the weapons.
Shin looked into the depth of Kaide's soul. "...Kirin let me look into yours again."
Kirin came forward and Shin again looked into her soul. "Hmm... Despite you two's background and past your souls are very pure and kind."
Shin took off his hands from their chest. "Your past. The trauma, the bad events that happened. It never scratched your souls."
Shin crossed his arms. "Let me process things. Kaide became a slave before we saved you. Kirin lost her group and alone for a lot of times before being here... Huh, you two are strong in will... Sorry I'm not trying to remind you both of your past."
Kirin sighed. "I knew you're going to say that. You're not wrong but not entirely correct as well... When I lost my friends and my whole group I went into a... What do you call it.. psychotic meltdown."
Kirin sat down. "I lost my mind. I thought of taking revenge on them and their family for taking my only family to me..."
Sen turned to them. "What stopped you?"
"...Guilt. I am close, I am this close." She put her fingers close. "That close into killing their family members... But I saw the kids and that what stopped me... If I did it, if I actually fall into my thoughts.. I would have probably hate myself forever. They took my only family left but I won't do the same to them... I won't kill their love ones in sake of revenge." Kirin said.
She put her arms into her face. Slowly she sobs. "...I don't get it..."
Kaide run to her aid. "It's alright... Let it out
No one will judge you. Let it all out."
Kirin stutters before correcting her words. "I don't get it... My people. The people I cared for... Died in the most horrible way. They beheaded them... All of them and.. and stick them on the stick." She tried to control herself but she can't.
Shin and Sen's expression darkens. Their expressions are cold and disdainful.
"They did it like it's an achievement... I run as far as possible..." Kirin hold herself. But Kaide wrapped her arms around her trying her best to comfort her.
Shin looked at Sen and Sen nodded.
"Give us their location." Shin said.
"We will give you the revenge you seek." Sen said as he put his sword into it's sheet.
Sen's playful personality instantly died so does Shin's serious yet sarcastic remarks. Anger and coldness are the only remains.
"Guys..." Kaide said softly. "Let her mourn." She held Kaide closer.
Shin's hand who are burning with purple flame with anger disappeared instantly. So does Sen's hand burning with flames extinguished as well.
The brothers anger stood down for a bit. "I'm sorry..." Sen said.
Shin on the other hand sat Infront of Kirin. "I'm not good with emotions... But if I'm correct on one thing is that you don't let it consumed you. You've gone through something very traumatic but you hold on to yourself and manage to avoid the person you don't wanna be."
"You did the right thing. You spared the children's life because it's not their fault their parents are evil and don't deserve to live." Shin's once cold voice toned down into softness.
Kaide held Kirin even more tightly but gentle enough to give her the comfort she seek.
"They didn't do anything... My people... They just attacked us." Kirin buried her face into Kaide.
Shin gently hold Kirin's hand. "I understand..." Shin's purple flame swallowed her. It doesn't hurt, it's warm, and soothing.
"Hmm... Found them." Shin said. Kirin looked at him. "I know what you will do... And I know I can't do anything to stop it."
Kirin broke away from Kaide and hug Shin. "Please... Do whatever you must..." She tighten her grasp into Shin.
Shin understand her. Loosing everything and everyone she had. "Understood."
He gently break away from Kirin. "I'll give you the justice you deserve."
"Sen open a portal... I'll go alone." Shin said.
"I'll go too." Sen said but Shin shook his head. "Stay. They need to learn the basics of ascendance remember?"
Sen sighed. "Alright..."
Sen's hands began to flame. He held his sword to awaken it once again.
The presence of the heavenly sword is so much more intimidating knowing it's used to kill, to create portals and many more rather than being a symbol of hope and power.
"Go ahead Sen, do you thing." Shin said.
Sen with a nod swinged his sword. The fire surrounded them, the heavenly sword cutting the surface of the air in a vertical cut. "Are you gonna kill them slowly?"
"When do I kill sinful people quickly?" Shin said.
"Hm... Fair enough."
With that the portal through Sen's cut opened. A see through portal it leads into Infront of a mansion a huge mansion.
Kirin and Kaide though knowing Shin and Sen for their abilities looked at them. As if looking at gods that are in human skins.
They asked themselves. "What can this two not do?" Kaide said.
Infront of them are two brothers who gained the ability of millions of millions of humans strength combined and godlike abilities in their hands.
One that could easily lift thousands upon thousands of tons and have purple flames that are brighter than the aster flowers and can burn through flesh after flesh and can see through human souls easily.
While the other has flames that can awaken a sword sharper and stronger than any blacksmith could ever forge. A heavenly sword that can cut through air and create a path to other place.
Kirin spoke. "Can you... Try to retrieve my friends stuff... They each have a dagger please..." She spoke softly her voice sounded sore after sobbing for a while.
"Dagger? Alright. And they look exactly like?" Shin walked into Kirin.
"They have roses on the edge of the handle... It's a design for us to recognize our own daggers if it somehow fall into other weapons and lost it... It's the only memory I have to them... At least." Kirin said, she looked into Shin.
Shin gently patted her head. "Got it." Shin turned and went Infront of the portal.
"It's up to you if you wanna let them have a breather first." Shin said to Sen before going in.
Shin looked into the see through portal. "It's night there. Meaning they're in the other part of the world... Interesting they either have a plane or ship or abilities like ascendance to get into other parts of the world without a problem."
Kirin spoke. "...It happened two years ago. The day I lost them, it's not a surprise that they're far gone from the scene."
Shin nodded. "I'm not gonna sugar coat it. You deserve to mourn and let it out. I'm gonna reassure you that I will get the daggers your friends owned before they passed away."
"I'm not gonna force you to think that 'its okay' or 'its not your fault' but rest assure you will get their weapons back." Shin said.
Shin entered the portal and what came upon him was a heavy rain combined with a thunderstorm.
"Fuck! It's cold..." Shin was about to make his palm burn with his purple flame for warmth but decided not to. Because it may reveal his location outside the mansion.
Despite a portal literally fucking lighting in the background. "Oh yeah. What am I thinking?" Then Shin lit up his palm anyway.
Deciding not to go stealthy. It never was his style anyway. "Yup I'm gonna run through the wall this time. But I'm gonna see what they're doing first."
Shin went into a window. It seemed like a gathering is happening, bunch of people in a wealthy dress and suits are inside.
"How the fuck are this people...? It's been 7 years since the world went to shit... How can people still have wealth and have time for this" Shin scratched his head.
"Although it's not surprising that if you're smart enough you can use that remaining wealth to make it seemed more like you're not affected by the event this passed years." Shin talked to himself.
"Either way... They will still die... Unfortunately I have to kill them Infront of their families. Oh well justice needs to be serve." Shin sat in the grass, in the rain, in the night.
He thinks for a moment. "Hmm... Am I too cold? Why do I not feel any regrets killing them Infront of their families?" He looked at his burning palm.
In the rain, in the cold thunderstorm night. He sat in the rain. "Yeah... After this I'll make sure Kirin and Kaide don't turn the way I am now." Shin cross his arm.
Outside he quietly listens.
Inside of the mansion a gathering event is currently running on.
A bunch of classy people. Handsome guys, pretty ladies,old people. All in a wealthy suits and dresses.
"Welcome everyone. To this grand event, tonight we will celebrate the anniversary of being hunters." A announcement said.
"It's been 4 years since we started a new sport and that's hunting humans. Cheers for the hunters!" The announcer said.
Shin frowned. "...I changed my mind. I don't mind killing them Infront of their kids." He said to himself.
Shin warmed himself with his purple flame through the rain while listening. "... Should I just go through the wall like a tank or wait? Part of me just wants to wreck this wall but some part of me think waiting for the right opportunity is my pick." Shin spend more time thinking rather than actually listening to the people inside.
Shin sighed. "Why are so humans fucking stupid, selfish bastards anyway... Yeah fuck it."
Suddenly the crowed began to cheer. "Tomorrow at dawn we'll hunt rabbits and by I mean rabbits I mean young meats."
"...When I think it couldn't have gone worse they decided to hunt kids great. Fucking evil bastards." Shin stood up and slowly walked Infront of the mansion.
Shin took down a guard. He snapped his neck. "Better play it safe." He put the lifeless body down.
He goes for another one but this time a bit more brutal. He grab the guard on her throat and then crushed it. "Geez.. I know I don't discriminate but I hate hurting and killing women..." He put the lifeless body aside.
Shin entered the mansion. Then he heard.
"Thanks to our guest that have their supernatural abilities we are able to keep funding this event." The announcer said.
Shin clenched his fist. "Ascendance users." He continues heading down the hallway to the ball room. A guard notice him and tried to stop him but Shin grabbed him and burned his entire head with his purple flame.
"Killing children... Being greedy, being currupt, being so selfish... I'm done being soft." Shin said.
"I'm done holding back..." He entered the ball room.
Shin entered the ballroom. No one notice his presence. To their eyes he is just a wet nobody.
The announcer spoke."here we are guest. Look at our tomorrow prey." The light shine upon on the stage where a single mother and her children are tied together.
They looked so helpless, bruises on their faces and body. Clearly they're beaten to almost death. A weak prey for an easy yet satisfying hunt for the rich.
A handsome guy in a suit that seemed to be in 20's raised his glass of wine. "May I have everyone's attention?"
"I Oliver would like to get everyone's attention please." So does everyone looked at him with a smile on their face as if they're not violating any human rights.
"Tomorrow may we have a successful hunt! To the Drachenhold!" The crowed started applauding.
"Now behold our strong fighters who have supernatural abilities." He pointed his finger at them.
Across the room are the people who have ascendance. "I introduce my warriors!"
Seven of them stepped up. Three women and four men.
"Please allow us to introduce ourselves," the leader of the group said, stepping forward with a confident smirk.
"My name is Julius. I am the leader of this unit," he announced, bowing slightly, as if he were royalty. "And we are the strongest warriors in the empire."
Another man stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. "Ceasar. Strength is everything, and I've never met a man who could match mine." His voice carried the weight of arrogance.
A woman followed, her tone soft, almost sweet. "I'm May. If you're ever injured, come to me. I can mend even the worst wounds," she said, smiling as if she weren't part of a group of killers.
Then came a sharp-eyed woman, her stance rigid, disciplined. "Shao. Second-in-command." She spoke with no excess words, only cold certainty.
The next was different. Hesitant. Small. "My name is Oddesa..." she mumbled, eyes darting away from the crowd. "I... I can see people's strength and capabilities."
Another soldier stepped up, his posture stiff with forced loyalty. "Kay. My sight is unmatched. If I take aim, I never miss."
Last was a man with empty eyes, his voice devoid of emotion. "Heids." He didn't elaborate. Didn't need to.
The crowd erupted into cheers.
Oliver raised his hand, commanding silence. "Now, my warriors—show them what you're capable of."
Julius went first, igniting his hand in a controlled flame, embers licking the air. "Fire bends to my will. A battlefield is nothing but kindling to me."
Ceasar stepped forward, slamming his fist into the ground, cracking the stone beneath him. "Superhuman strength. You could sharpen a thousand blades, and none would pierce my skin."
Kay spoke next, drawing a pistol and firing into the distance without hesitation. A gust of wind shifted, and the bullet curved, hitting a precise mark on a far wall. "My sight is beyond human. You won't see my shots coming."
Heids exhaled slowly, lifting a hand. The nearest guard staggered, clutching his chest as if something inside him had twisted. "It doesn't matter what armor you wear. I only need to touch the air around you."
Shao raised a hand, and frost spread from her fingertips, freezing a goblet solid in seconds. She let it drop, and the ice shattered like glass. "Everything freezes under my command."
May smiled again, running her hand along the injured guard's chest. Flesh stitched itself back together like it had never been harmed. "Nothing is beyond repair," she whispered.
Oddesa hesitated but finally spoke. "I... I see potential. Weakness. Limits," she said. "No one is untouchable."
The crowd roared in approval, their excitement swelling like a fever.
The announcer grinned. "What a sight! Behold the strongest warriors in the world!"
The prisoners were bound tightly against the grand pillars of the mansion's hall, their backs pressed against the cold marble. The flickering chandeliers cast long shadows over their trembling faces. They knew there was no escape—tomorrow, they would be hunted for sport.
A mother clung desperately to her children, tears streaming down her face. "Please… I beg you… spare my children," she whispered, her voice breaking.
A gunshot rang out. The sound echoed through the vast chamber.
She screamed as blood pooled around her foot, her severed toe rolling across the polished floor.
Kay exhaled through his nose, lowering his pistol as if the act had barely been worth the effort. "Slaves don't get to beg." With a sharp click, he reloaded and slid the gun back into its holster.
The mother sobbed, cradling her ruined foot. Her children cried, their muffled wails breaking the eerie silence.
May knelt down, tilting her head with mock sympathy. "Such a waste," she murmured, lips curling into a smirk. "But I don't use my gifts on filth."
Laughter rippled through the group. Shao chuckled under her breath. Julius folded his arms, watching the scene unfold with mild amusement. Heids stood in silence, staring at the woman as if she were no more than a piece of discarded furniture.
Only Odessa shifted uncomfortably, her gaze flickering toward the mother's wound. "She's in pain… at least let me—"
May cut her off with a scoff. "You're too soft. That's why you'll always be the weakest."
Odessa's hands clenched at her sides, but she didn't argue. The woman's cries faded into the vastness of the hall, swallowed by the cold indifference of those around her.
Shin had enough.
His clothes were still damp from the rain outside, the cold clinging to his skin, but none of it mattered. What mattered was the people tied up in front of him—the mother clutching her children, knowing there was no escape.
He started walking.
The murmurs started immediately.
"Who the hell is that?" a woman muttered.
"He's wet… What kind of idiot shows up looking like that?"
Shin ignored them. He moved with purpose, heading straight for the prisoners.
Kay stepped in front of him, blocking his path. "Hey, you're not supposed to be here—"
Shin didn't stop. He shoved past him with a hard shoulder, not even sparing him a glance.
Kay stumbled, then turned, his face twisting in anger. "You bastard—!"
Shin knelt in front of the prisoners. The mother flinched, pulling her children closer.
"You don't deserve this," Shin said, his voice low. "None of you do."
The mother's breath was shaky, her eyes darting between him and the people watching.
"Close your eyes," Shin told her. "Don't let your kids see this."
She hesitated, gripping her children tighter.
"I'll get you out of here," Shin said. "I don't care what it takes."
The room was silent now. Everyone was watching.
It didn't matter. They'd all be dead soon.
Shao smirked, arms crossed. "Not bad. He's kinda handsome."
The announcer spoke up, forcing a polite tone. "Sir, please step away from the prisoners."
Oliver frowned. "Didn't you hear him? Move."
Shin didn't budge. His clothes were still damp from the rain earlier, clinging to his skin, but he didn't care. His eyes stayed on the mother and her children. She was shaking, arms wrapped tightly around them, trying to keep them close, as if that could protect them. She looked at him with a mix of fear and desperation.
That was it. He had enough.
"What the hell is wrong with all of you?" His voice was steady, but his body was tense. His eyes moved across the room—people in expensive clothes, sipping drinks, laughing like this was a show. "How can you all just stand here, treating human lives like entertainment?" His hands clenched into fists. "How do you live with yourselves?"
Julius scoffed. "Because life is simple. The strong get what they want. The weak suffer." He nodded toward the prisoners. "That's just how the world works. No point in crying about it."
Shin exhaled through his nose. His heart pounded in his chest, but he kept his voice low.
"You think that's strength?" His glare didn't waver. "Hurting people just because you can?" He took a step closer, his hands itching. "That's not power. That's just being a coward."
Oliver sighed, shaking his head. "Get him out of here."
Kay grinned and cracked his knuckles. "With pleasure."
Kay grabbed Shin's arm, trying to drag him away, but Shin didn't budge. Not an inch.
"The hell…?" Kay muttered, tightening his grip. He shoved harder. Nothing. Annoyance flickered across his face. "Get out of here, you bastard. You're lucky I didn't shoot you."
Shin finally moved—not because of Kay, but because he decided to. He walked toward the exit without a word.
Kay smirked, shoving his shoulder. "That's right. Keep walking."
Shin didn't react. He reached the only door and paused.
Then, without looking back, he shut it.
The lock clicked.
The room went silent.
Some in the crowd chuckled, thinking it was some kind of joke. Others frowned, confused. Julius raised an eyebrow. Kay scoffed, shaking his head.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Oliver asked, his voice edged with irritation.
Shin finally turned around. His face was unreadable.
No one in that room realized it yet, but things had already changed.
The warmth in the room vanished in an instant. Not just the temperature, but the feeling of comfort itself. It was subtle at first—like a draft slipping through a crack—but then it spread. The weight of something heavy and unexplainable pressed down on everyone.
Julius frowned, shifting uncomfortably. "What the hell…?" His voice lacked its usual confidence.
Oddesa tensed. Her ability allowed her to see the true strength of people, their potential laid bare like an open book. And right now, something was changing.
"Oddesa," Kay muttered. "Look. Find the source."
Heids and Ceasar weren't waiting for an answer. Their eyes were already locked onto Shin.
"He's the only one not reacting," Heids noted, his tone eerily calm.
Ceasar clenched his fists. "Then it's him."
The unease crept through the room like a slow infection.
The announcer forced a chuckle, trying to dismiss the tension. "Apologies, everyone! Looks like there's an issue with the warmth provider system. We'll have it fixed right away!"
But no one was listening. They were all staring at the only exit.
The door was closed.
And the man who closed it wasn't looking at them.
Oddesa activated her ability, her eyes scanning the crowd, searching for the source of this suffocating presence. The moment she found it, her stomach twisted. She doubled over and vomited onto the pristine floor.
Julius turned, alarmed. "What the hell's wrong with you?!"
Oddesa's breaths came out ragged. Her hands trembled as she wiped her mouth. "It's… it's something I've never seen before… Whoever is doing this… they're not human."
Shao's lips curled into a smirk. "Good. It's been a while since I fought someone worth killing."
May scoffed. "Whoever it is won't last long. They'll die like the rest."
"NO!" Oddesa snapped, her voice cracking. "You don't get it…! We're not facing a human. This thing—" she shuddered, "—it's a monster."
The room fell silent.
Heids finally spoke, his voice as cold as ever. "Kay. Point your gun at him."
Kay frowned. "What? Why?"
Ceasar's eyes were locked onto Shin. His fingers twitched, his muscles tensed like a predator sensing danger. "He's the only one not affected."
Oddesa turned her eyes to Shin, and the moment she focused on him, a wave of nausea hit her. Her body tensed, her stomach twisted, and before she could stop herself, she doubled over, coughing and gagging.
"Oddesa! What the hell?" Julius grabbed her arm, trying to steady her.
She sucked in a shaky breath, her wide eyes locked on Shin. "It's him… It has to be him…" she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.
She forced herself to look again, using her ability despite the sickening weight pressing against her chest. Normally, when she used it, she saw people's souls as animal silhouettes—predators, powerful creatures that matched their strength or nature. She had seen tigers, lions, even massive bears before.
But Shin wasn't like them.
There was no beast, no living thing. Just a shape—faint, barely illuminated, swallowed by darkness. It took her a second to make sense of it. A skull. A robe draped over it. Empty eye sockets that seemed to stare right through her.
She shuddered. Compared to the others, he wasn't just dangerous. He was something else entirely. Something that shouldn't exist.
"Oddesa, what did you see?" Kay asked, his tone still laced with arrogance, but even he seemed unsettled.
She swallowed hard. "He's not human."
"Kay, shoot him!" Julius ordered.
Kay didn't hesitate. He fired immediately, a relentless burst aimed at Shin's head, heart, and neck. The gunshots rang out, echoing through the hall as the bullets tore into their target.
Shin's body jerked from the impact before collapsing onto the floor.
Kay scoffed, blowing air through his nose. "Hah! All that build-up for nothing. Your ability must've glitched, Oddesa. That guy wasn't anything special."
Oddesa's breath was shaky. Her hands wouldn't stop trembling.
No. No, no, no.
She knew what she saw. What she felt.
Ignoring her body's protests, she used her ability again, forcing herself to see. Her eyes locked onto Shin's fallen form, and her stomach lurched.
His silhouette was still there—unchanged. Dark, shrouded, an empty skull beneath a flowing robe.
But now…
It was laughing.
The hollow sockets of the skull weren't just looking at her anymore. They were acknowledging her.
Her breath hitched as she stumbled back.
Kay slid his gun back into its holster and stepped toward Shin's body, nudging it with his foot. "Tch. Guy actually had some stuff on him," he muttered, crouching down. "Might as well take it. No point letting it go to waste."
The crowd chuckled.
"Yeah, take it," Oliver scoffed. "Surprised he even had anything, looking like a damn nobody."
Kay reached for Shin's coat.
Then—
A hand clamped around his throat.
It happened so fast that for a second, Kay didn't even process it. His breath caught in his throat, his fingers twitching uselessly as an iron grip tightened around his neck.
Then Shin moved.
Not struggled, not staggered—just stood up.
The room fell silent.
Shin didn't say anything at first. He just stood there, holding Kay like he weighed nothing, his expression completely void of emotion.
Then he exhaled, slow and tired. His voice, when he finally spoke, wasn't angry. It wasn't even mocking. It was just… done.
"Evil always thinks it understands strength." He adjusted his grip, watching as Kay choked. "That delusion is what gets it killed."
The bullets he'd been shot with clattered to the floor. Not a single one had pierced him.
Shin didn't even look at them.
"I have spent years killing people like you," he muttered, his voice almost too quiet. "Hundreds. Maybe thousands. But no matter how many I cut down…" His grip tightened. "...you keep coming back. Over and over. Like a disease."
His fingers flexed again, making Kay gag.
Shin's eyes darkened.
"And I'm so fucking tired of it."
Kay's hand twitched, weakly reaching toward his teammates. His breaths came in ragged, desperate gasps. His mouth opened, but no sound escaped.
Crack.
His neck twisted violently. His eyes bulged—veins bursting—before they popped from their sockets, and a wet splatter of blood hit the floor. His body gave one last shudder before going completely still.
Shin let go, and Kay's corpse crumpled to the ground like discarded trash. He didn't even spare it a glance.
The room was silent. Not a scream. Not a gasp. Just the sound of shallow, panicked breaths. No one moved. No one even dared to blink.
Shin exhaled, slow and measured. His voice cut through the air, void of emotion.
"You're superior at one thing, respectfully." He stepped forward, his boots pressing into the growing pool of blood.
"You're better at dying."
His words didn't ring like a threat. They weren't even a taunt. Just a simple, irrefutable truth.
The weight of his presence settled over the room like a crushing fog. Every pair of eyes remained locked onto him, too paralyzed to look away.
Shin slowly raised his arms. Dark purple flames ignited in his palms, casting eerie, flickering shadows across his face.
"Strength isn't about doing whatever the hell you want," he said, voice flat. "It's about protecting what matters."
The flames roared higher, swallowing his hands in violent heat.
"I've torn apart hundreds like you. And yet, trash like you keeps crawling back up, thinking you're something more." His gaze swept across the room, cold and unshaken.
"I'm done watching innocent people suffer because of filth like you." His fingers flexed, and the flames raged.
"I'm going to kill anyone—everyone—who threatens them."
The fire crackled, consuming the space between him and the frozen crowd.
To be continued…