The alley was silent except for the steady dripping of black blood pooling at Raziel's feet. The first Nightfang twitched once before going still, its body rotting into a dark mist.
One down.
But he wasn't alone.
The two other beasts let out growls that rumbled through the street, a warning before their hunt. These creatures just saw their kin fall. The remaining two would be more cautions, and more aggressive.
Raziel rolled his shoulders, gripping his blade tighter. He had no intention of letting them escape.
A blur of motion—one of the Nightfangs lunged. Raziel felt the rush of air as its claws slashed past his ribs, missing by inches. The stench of decay was suffocating, its breath like spoiled meat.
He countered with a strong slash across the beast's hind leg, forcing it to stumble. The other Nightfang took advantage of the opening, circling around to attack from the side.
Smart. But not smart enough.
Raziel pivoted, slamming his foot into the ground and twisted his body into a wide arc. His sword flashed as he develivered a precise, brutal strike across the second Nightfang's exposed side. Black ichor gushed onto the pavement as the creature howled in pain.
Before it could recover, he dashed forward, blade ready for a killing blow—
THUMP!
A heavy force slammed into Raziel's side, launching him off his feet. He hit the ground hard, rolling to absorb the impact. When he looked up, he saw the first wounded Nightfang standing protectively in front of the injured one, its eyes glowing with rage.
Pack behavior. Even corrupted, they still protect each other.
Raziel wiped blood from his mouth, rising to his feet. "Loyalty won't save you."
The uninjured Nightfang snarled and lunged again. This time, Raziel didn't dodge. He stepped into the attack, blade raised, and met the creature head-on. Steel clashed against bone as he drove his sword into the beast's exposed core beneath its ribcage.
A single, precise thrust.
The Nightfang shuddered. Its red eyes dimmed as its body collapsed, deteriorating into dark mist like the first.
Two down.
The last remaining Nightfang, still wounded, backed away. It growled but hesitated, its primal instincts warring with its corrupted nature. It was losing.
Raziel stepped forward, raising his blade.
The Nightfang turned and ran. He let it go.
A wonded beast might spread fear among its kind. Or it might return stronger. Either way, I am certain it will remember me.
[Quest Complete: Special Beast Hunt]
[Rewards Obtained: 3,500 Execution Points, Executioner's Whisper (Absorbed: Footsteps silenced, movement speed increased by 5%)]
Raziel felt the effects immediately: his body felt lighter, faster, quieter. A fitting reward for a hunter.
But before he could dwell on it, a slow clap echoed through the alley.
"Not bad, rookie."
Raziel turned to see Garrick and Selene standing at the edge of the fight, both watching with interest.
Garrick crossed his arms. "That was one hell of a clean-up. Didn't even break a sweat?"
Raziel sheathed his sword. "They weren't worth breaking a sweat over."
Selene smirked. "Cocky. I like that." She stepped closer, eyeing the dissolving corpses. "Most newbies would've frozen up after realizing there was more than one."
Raziel shrugged. "They were predictable."
Garrick let out a low chuckle. "You know, if you ever get tired of solo work, you'd make a damn good teammate. People around here could use someone like you."
"I work alone."
Selene raised an eyebrow. "Maybe now. But let's see how long that lasts."
Raziel said nothing, turning away from the two hunters. He had finished the job, and he had a deal to finish.
...
Back at the Hunter Guild, the atmosphere was as lively as before. Screens displayed updated mission results, and hunters crowded around tables, sharing drinks and stories of their latest hunts.
Raziel spotted Dante Moreau at the bar, already nursing a drink. The blond hunter smirked as Raziel approached.
"Well, well," Dante drawled, setting his glass down. "You actually finished the mission? And here I thought I'd be collecting on that drink."
Raziel didn't respond immediately. Instead, he pulled out the mission tag and placed it on the counter. The scanner above the bar flickered before confirming Mission Complete.
Dante chuckled. "Guess that means I owe you a drink." He gestured to the bartender. "Whatever he wants, put it on me."
Raziel ignored the offer. "You said you had information."
Dante leaned back, grinning. "Straight to business, huh? Alright, listen up." He lowered his voice. "You want strong prey? You want to make a name for yourself? There's something big brewing in the underground circuits. Not just your standard guild missions—something off the books."
Raziel's eyes narrowed. "Illegal hunts?"
Dante smirked. "Let's just say, the guild doesn't regulate everything. Corrupted creatures aren't the only monsters out there."
Raziel studied Dante's expression. The man was too smug, too eager. Either he genuinely had something valuable, or he was testing Raziel to see how desperate he was for power.
"Sounds like a good way to get killed," Raziel said, watching for a reaction.
Dante just smirked. "Only if you don't know what you're doing."
Raziel considered his words carefully. If the underground hunts were real, that meant there were creatures, or even people, being hunted outside the guild's jurisdiction. And if the Divine Bounty System recognized them, it could mean more Execution Points, more relics, and more power.
Dante swirled his drink. "You interested?"
Raziel met his gaze. "Tell me everything."
Dante grinned. "Knew you were my kind of guy."