Chapter 79: Hunter or Prey
The night seemed to tighten around Kingsville.
Smoke drifted across the rooftops, swallowing the moonlight little by little as the distant cries of terrified civilians echoed through the streets. Somewhere in the city, buildings continued to burn, their orange glow staining the sky like an endless sunset.
It felt...Wrong.
As though something unseen had wrapped invisible fingers around the city and slowly begun to squeeze.
* * *
Daito stepped away from Mei-Mei's home in silence.
The wooden door behind him closed gently.
Click.
For a brief moment, he simply stood there.
His thoughts lingered on everything that had been said inside the house, but they were quickly interrupted.
"...Daito."
A familiar voice called from the darkness.
He turned.
Champagne emerged from the shadows between two buildings, his breathing slightly heavier than usual. Although he appeared composed, Daito immediately noticed the tension in his posture.
Something was wrong.
"We don't have time," Champagne said.
Daito's expression sharpened instantly.
"What happened?"
"A Freaker outbreak."
Champagne took another breath before continuing.
"City center."
His eyes drifted toward the orange glow rising beyond the rooftops.
"It's spreading faster than the Defence Force can contain it."
Daito followed his gaze.
"...That explains the fires."
He frowned.
"I saw them from the park."
Champagne nodded.
"...There's more."
His voice dropped lower.
"I've got a bad feeling."
Daito looked back at him.
"What kind of feeling?"
Champagne slowly scanned the surrounding rooftops.
"...Like we're being watched."
The words had barely left his mouth—
SHHHHK!!
A deadly storm of kunai erupted from the darkness.
They came from every direction.
They were fast, silent and lethal.
Daito's instincts reacted before his mind could.
He twisted sideways.
WHOOSH!
Three blades sliced past his face.
Champagne vaulted backward at the same instant, narrowly avoiding another volley.
Steel buried itself into nearby walls.
THUNK!
THUNK!
THUNK!
Wood splintered.
Stone cracked.
Several blades embedded themselves only inches from where they had been standing.
Silence returned.
Neither man moved.
Their eyes searched the darkness.
Then...Footsteps.
Slow, unhurried and confident.
A lone figure stepped into the moonlight. Purple hair shimmered beneath the silver glow.
A crooked grin stretched below his face mask, as though he had been waiting for this moment all evening.
Baekho.
He casually rolled one shoulder before cracking his neck.
"...Sharp instincts."
His grin widened.
"I like that."
Champagne stepped forward.
His gaze never left the newcomer.
"You're with Silver Moon."
Baekho shrugged.
"What if I am?"
That answer was enough.
The street exploded.
BOOOOOOM!!
Both Daito and Champagne vanished simultaneously.
Daito launched himself skyward, descending like a falling meteor with his fist drawn back. Champagne surged low across the ground, his body twisting into a devastating uppercut.
Baekho barely had time to blink.
CRAAACK!!
Daito's fist crashed into his neck.
At the exact same moment—
BOOOM!!
Champagne's strike slammed upward into his ribs.
The combined impact folded Baekho's body between them before launching him straight through the nearest building.
KRAAAAAASH!!
Brick and timber exploded outward.
The entire wall collapsed beneath the force. Without hesitation, Daito and Champagne charged after him. Neither intended to give him a chance to recover.
They burst through the ruined wall—
BOOOM!
Then stopped.
Baekho was standing.
Completely calm.
One hand gripped a terrified civilian by the throat, lifting him effortlessly off the ground.
The man's legs kicked helplessly. His face had already begun turning blue. In Baekho's other hand rested a thin silver needle.
Its tip was buried deep inside the man's neck. The victim trembled violently. His breathing became erratic. His veins slowly darkened beneath his skin.
Off to one side, huddled together in the corner of the ruined room, a family watched in horror.
Two young children clung desperately to their mother, tears streaming down their faces as they struggled to remain silent.
Baekho glanced toward them.
Then back at Daito.
"...See that?"
His voice remained disturbingly cheerful.
"...Consequences."
His smile grew wider.
"If you hadn't punched me through this building..."
He casually tightened his grip on the man's throat.
"...I never would've found him."
The children looked toward Daito.
Their faces were soaked with tears. They couldn't speak. They didn't need to.
Their eyes begged him.
Please...Save him.
Something inside Daito broke. Not his composure but his restraint.
The world narrowed until only Baekho remained.
He disappeared.
BOOOM!!
The floor shattered beneath his feet.
Baekho barely turned his head.
CRAAAAACK!!
Daito's kick connected squarely with the side of his face.
The impact echoed like thunder.
Baekho's body became a blur as he was launched through the opposite wall, skipping across the street before smashing into another building.
KRAAAASH!!
The structure collapsed around him in a cloud of dust.
At the same instant, Champagne caught the collapsing civilian before he hit the floor.
He gently lowered him onto the ground.
His fingers immediately checked for a pulse.
"...He's alive."
His expression darkened.
"...Barely."
The man's breathing remained shallow.
The strange discoloration beneath his skin continued spreading.
Champagne frowned.
"...Whatever that needle was..."
He looked toward Daito.
"...It wasn't normal."
Daito didn't answer.
His eyes remained fixed on the distant cloud of dust.
Waiting.
Watching.
Several seconds passed.
Then a figure slowly emerged.
Baekho wiped blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand before flexing his bruised forearm.
"...Heh."
He laughed quietly.
"...That actually hurt."
He reached up and touched a small communication device hidden beneath his ear.
"...Yo."
A brief pause.
"...Looks like we're switching to Plan B."
Silence.
A faint voice answered from the other end.
Whatever was said caused Baekho's grin to widen even further.
"...Got it."
He looked toward Daito one last time.
"...Try not to die too quickly."
Without another word, he turned and ran.
WHOOSH!!
His speed was astonishing.
Within seconds, he disappeared into the maze of burning streets leading toward Kingsville's city center.
Champagne immediately looked toward Daito.
"...Go."
There wasn't even a hint of hesitation.
"I'll take care of them."
Daito gave a single nod.
"...Don't let him die."
Champagne smirked faintly.
"...Just don't be late this time."
For a heartbeat...Neither moved.
Then—
BOOOOOOM!!
The ground exploded beneath Daito's feet.
A powerful gust of wind surged through the street as he launched himself forward with terrifying speed.
Windows rattled.
Loose debris scattered in every direction. Roof after roof blurred beneath him as he raced toward the inferno consuming Kingsville.
The burning skyline reflected in his eyes.
Gone was the uncertainty that had clouded his thoughts these past few days.
Gone were the distractions. Gone was the hesitation.
His focus had returned, completely.
This was no longer just another assignment. No longer another investigation. No longer another mission handed down by someone else.
This...Was war.
* * *
Far ahead, beyond the flames and smoke...
Beyond the terrified screams echoing through the city...Two figures stood atop the tallest building overlooking Kingsville.
Mirage.
Shogun.
And somewhere unseen...Baekho, closing the distance.
Mirage gazed silently over the city as chaos unfolded exactly as planned.
Fires spread. Freakers hunted.
The Defence Force fractured into smaller groups, desperately trying to save lives. Everything was proceeding according to schedule.
A faint smile touched his lips.
"The pieces are moving."
His cold eyes shifted toward the distant silhouette racing across the rooftops.
"...Come, Savages."
His voice was barely louder than the wind.
"...Let's see whether you're the hunter..."
A pause.
"...Or the prey."
High above the burning city...
The Silver Moon waited.
To Be Continued...