Hunter’s Blade

C25 – Shattered

Shire clenched the rope tightly in both hands. There was no turning back now. The rope was entwined around the devil’s feet, and as it flapped its wings, it soared into the sky, rapidly lifting Shire’s body along. Within an instant, he ascended nearly a hundred meters. One of the Winged Devils flapped its wings, gradually closing in on the cloud cover.

A chill wind howled as the world spun around.

He continued to ascend, the familiar land fading from sight. Flying wasn’t a sensation humans were accustomed to. It was undeniably terrifying.

The devil intentionally manipulated its flight, attempting to shake Shire off to a deadly fall. Abruptly changing direction, it initiated a rapid descent. Shutting his eyes, Shire’s body spun in the air. The intense sensation of weightlessness left him feeling queasy and disoriented. He clung fiercely to the rope’s end. Regardless of his mid-air contortions, he held on tightly, refusing to let go.

“Don’t die, don’t die, don’t die!” Gradiu’s voice trembled with fear.

Is this even something I can decide? Shire’s body was tossed about, his aerial ride manipulated by the Winged Devil’s playful maneuvers. Whistling wind filled his ears, and he dared not open his eyes, as he knew he must be far above the ground. Simply imagining his present altitude weakened his limbs. A profound sense of frailty enveloped him.

This continued, he would unquestionably plummet to his death, unable to retain his grip on the rope. He would die for certain, no doubt about it.

If I die…… everything becomes meaningless.

Demons would run rampant in the human realm. Ordinary people would be powerless against them. The last successor of the Hunter Palace would vanish. All aspirations and dreams would fade into oblivion.

“Yaaa~” Shire’s shout was unleashed with all his might, but as his mouth opened, a fierce gust of wind surged in, stifling his voice.

The strength of his arms felt like it had reached its limit, liable to relinquish its hold at any moment. His arms drained quickly in this brief span, sustaining his grip was, in truth, a feat of its own.

Nausea, dizziness, his mind a cacophony. Chaotic currents buffeted him. A terror beyond any he’d experienced before manifested in the air. There was no equilibrium, no semblance of safety. Danger… danger… still danger! He was slipping, inching towards being flung off! And once he met the earth, survival was out of the question. Panic surged through Shire. He felt the urge to vomit, his stomach churning.

“Don’t die! Please, don’t die!” Gradiu implored. “Hold on! Hold on! What’ll I do if you die!”

He heard the people below shouting non-stop.

“Don’t fall!”

“Hold tight!”

“[Hold on tight, hold on tight!]” Unable to provide physical aid and refraining from firing arrows, they resorted to encouraging words to alleviate their anxiety. Shire faintly registered the shouts of soldiers and civilians amidst the turmoil. Surprisingly, a sense of serenity sprouted from the depths of his extreme fear. Ultimately, they were united against the devils.

“- Yafen Flame!” He bellowed, igniting the soul fire. Flames erupted from his form, enveloping him entirely. Moreover, they promptly consumed the devil’s rope as it ignited. Amidst the blazing inferno, Shire’s eyes opened. He realized the hue of the flames had shifted. No longer the pure golden flames from before, they were now a dark green blaze akin to the devil’s fire. It swiftly enshrouded the Winged Devil’s claw, igniting its entire body.

Incinerate this monstrosity!

Shire inhaled deeply, eyeing the magical rope in his grasp. The rope’s tip emitted a subtle gleam, employing its magical energy to firmly clasp Shire’s hand, assisting him in remaining aloft. He found himself inadvertently tilting his head downward, with his awareness momentarily hazy.

Nearly a thousand meters separated him from the earth’s surface, rendering him smaller than ants from this height.

Nevertheless, the fire was effective. One of the Winged Devils sensed the malevolent flames devouring its right extremity, prompting it to plunge downwards with savage intensity.

Peril had escalated to its zenith. As the devil plummeted, it dragged Shire along with it.

“May you perish,” a Winged Devil murmured, “Eternally.”

Buffeted by the fierce wind, Shire experienced intense agony throughout his body.

With rapidity, he descended. When he found himself approximately a hundred meters from the ground, he spread his wings once again, veering his body upwards.

The devil’s rope bound Shire and the fiend tightly. Initially subjected to a downward pull, the abrupt alteration in the devil’s course intensified the rope’s force, amplifying it severalfold. At this juncture, Shire could no longer maintain his grip on the rope.

The rope slipped from his grasp, severing his palm.

Earth approached rapidly. Suspended in the air like a toy tossed from a lofty building, his body tumbled.

Shire endeavored to chant an incantation, but only the initial note escaped his lips. Agony surged into his mind, shattering his resilience. His consciousness burst forth from its core. In the haze, he discerned his body tumbling across the ground. Multiple fractures had afflicted him, inflicting devastation. His entire being throbbed with agony. Gazing skyward, he spotted the Winged Devil wreathed in sinister dark green flames, its massive form now a sluggish fireball. Its once swift wings now moved sluggishly.

An enormous arrow, as broad as a grown man’s arm, shot forth from the nearby woods. This time, it forewent the nimble evasive maneuver of earlier, and was struck directly.

Well done! …… He blacked out.

I’m going to die.’

“Quit this foolishness!” Gradiu’s anxiety was palpable. “Stay alive for my sake!”

The shroud of dark energy entered Shire’s body, causing a tingling warmth that spread throughout his being.

“You’re so adamant about preventing my demise,” Shire thought with a dazed mind.

The agony was unbearable. His vision darkened, akin to the aftermath of severe blood loss.

“If you perish, I’ll reveal everything,” Gradiu’s invectives continued, “Had I known your inexperience, I’d have guided you through every battle.”

“I’ll obliterate you in the future.”

“Oh? You’re that eager for my demise? How about we play along together?”

Like a receding tide, the energy swiftly withdrew. The lingering warmth faded, replaced by a searing ache.

“I’ve stressed it before and I’ll say it again. It doesn’t matter if you’re used, hurt, tempted, corrupted, or debased… What matters is that you cooperate with me, live alongside me!”

Shire earnestly sought a means to spare Gradiu without succumbing to the devil.

“You won’t find one.” Gradiu whispered, “I’ve also searched for a way to preserve my existence without being confined to a human vessel.”

“You’re a demon.”

“So what if I’m a demon? When faced with survival, can you dismiss your futile hunter code?”

Approaching footsteps reached Shire’s ears from the side. His body felt torn apart, his thoughts shattered. He uttered a painful groan.

“Assist me,” Shire implored inwardly. It might be from this juncture that he resolved to unburden his heart.

Gradiu seemed highly content.

The inherent dark power surfaced once more, enveloping Shire’s form. His chaotic energy gradually stabilized, his external perception sharpened. People hoisted him up with all their might, carrying him on their shoulders. They hustled, taking him in a certain direction. The jarring motion inflicted agonizing throbs throughout his body along the way.

So painful…

“Move lightly!”

“Hey, you’re killing people!”

“Put him here!”

Shire felt relieved that someone could understand. The clumsy soldiers quickly put Shire down.

He heard the galloping of horses and the friction of the armor. Someone turned over and quickly walked to Shire’s side.

“Are you alright?” Rocher asked, “Are you still alive?”

I…

Shire was unable to respond. Although his body was being held up by Gradiu’s strength, his vision was still pitch black.

“He fell from such a high place, he’s dead for sure!” Someone shouted.

“Too tragic.

“He’s a hero!”

” He knows magic! “

“Sigh…”

Shire forced his lips to move, hoping that they could see it. Then, he fainted.

……

Upon waking, Shire realized he wasn’t buried but confined within a dim space. His body seemed to rest on something wool-like, and as his searching hand roamed, he encountered the sensation of a wooden surface.

Imprisoned, Shire was perplexed. What had happened? Why was he locked up?

He stretched his limbs, feeling a dull ache throughout his body, though it wasn’t too severe. His bones remained unbroken. It was almost like being bound with bandages. Limited in movement, he started cautiously unwrapping them.

“I apologize,” Shire murmured to himself, “You were right.”

Gradiu remained silent, leaving Shire with a sense of emptiness in his soul. He could faintly sense Gradiu’s presence, yet it seemed Gradiu was intentionally ignoring him.

He let out a prolonged sigh.

Almost as if stirred by Shire’s voice, a sound emerged from a corner.

His eyes caught sight of a small figure standing, carrying with it a familiar floral scent.

“It’s you?” Shire exclaimed in surprise.

“You’ve finally awoken,” Alicia’s voice was distinct and clear.

“Why are you here?”

“Why shouldn’t I be here? My legs are attached to my body. Worried that associating with me will tarnish your reputation? Perhaps you thought I was a little harlot? Maybe then I should just leave.” She nudged open the carriage door, allowing moonlight to seep in. Only then did Shire grasp his surroundings—he was inside a carriage.

“Don’t go,” Shire swiftly intervened. He held feelings for her. “How long was I unconscious?”

“A very long time,” Alicia responded. “I brought food to check on you.”

“What kind of food?” Shire admitted he was rather hungry.

“You don’t mind, do you?” She smoothed her hair and passed him something.

Shire accepted an apple pie. Its skin was tender, with a delicate hint of fruit fragrance. A bite revealed its cold, somewhat flavorless nature, indicating it had been stored for a while.

“It’s delicious,” Shire remarked.

“I waited for you for a long time… You didn’t wake up,” Alicia reproached.

“I’m injured.” Fear washed over Shire. Yes, he had been slow to react. If he had released the devil’s rope at the very first moment, he might not be in this dire situation. Yet, on second thought, the devil had taken the initiative to ensnare him. It had lifted him high into the sky and then plummeted to the ground, but in the process… it had also been scorched by Shire’s Aphen Flame. Without this, the devil could have exploited its aerial advantage to launch assaults everywhere. In the worst-case scenario, it would have escaped unscathed. That would have posed a different kind of challenge in locating it again.

“They were certain you were dead. They said you were covered in blood.”

“I’m resilient.”

“Really?” Alicia inched closer, touching the bandages on Shire’s body.

Proximity between them created an awareness of her breathing. Amidst the darkness, Shire’s vision was blurred. Yet, her facial features still intrigued him. Was it that every man, at some point, felt entranced by a girl they couldn’t shake off?

“I’m glad you made it here.” Shire admitted, “I didn’t anticipate it.”

“I think you’re a good person. I heard you vanquished the devil. Are you a Devil Hunter?”

Of course, I’m a Devil Hunter. An exceptional, well-trained Devil Hunter. Shire felt a strong urge to boast and exhibit his skills before her.

“Yes. But where is the devil now?” His resolve was to confront the devil, but he needed to ascertain whether the Flying Winged Devil was truly vanquished.

“I don’t know. I’m afraid of it.”

This implied that the devil wasn’t defeated yet, and it had the audacity to toy with me like that. It’s over for you—I’ll slice you into shreds.

Shire rose slowly to his feet.

“Where’s my stuff? My bag.”

“It should be here.” Alicia dragged Shire’s belongings from the side of the carriage—his bag, cloak, knife, crossbow, and other odds and ends.

“Wait here.” Shire swiftly gathered his belongings and then hunched down, exiting the wagon.

“Hey, I won’t wait around for you. Who knows when you’ll return?” Alicia exclaimed loudly, “But… please don’t die, okay?”

Shire leapt off the carriage, gazing back at her beneath the moonlight. He found her genuinely amusing. He liked her, truly.

“Don’t worry, I’m not one to die easily.” He assured her.