The horde of golems and chimera ants surged forward, a tide of monstrous might and relentless fury.

Their footsteps shook the cavern, echoing like a drumbeat of impending doom.

While the chimera ants darted between their legs, their sleek bodies and razor-sharp mandibles gleaming in the light.

As the monsters closed in, Cain’s lips curled into a smirk.

The green aura swirling around him intensified, its serpentine tendrils slithering in the air, oozing menace.

Tyrant. Cold-blooded killer. More merciless than the Demonic Guild itself.

These were the names whispered in fear, but none held as much weight as Serpent.

His eyes glinted, cold and calculating, a predator sizing up its prey.

The golems’ fists came crashing down like meteors, aiming to crush him into the ground.

But all they struck was empty air.

Cain had already vanished, his speed blurring him into a ghost.

Before the first golem could recover, Cain reappeared at its flank, his twin daggers gleaming in the dim light.

With practiced precision, he slashed at the creature’s stone body.

The blades didn’t just cut—they carved deep grooves, leaving behind a sickly green glow.

The poison.

This wasn’t just any toxin.

It was a concoction so potent it could dissolve steel in moments.

The golem’s thick, stony hide began to sizzle, molten cracks spreading across its body like veins of magma.

The creature groaned, its glowing core now exposed through the melting stone.

Cain’s green eyes narrowed, and with a single fluid motion, his dagger pierced the core.

The golem froze, its towering form crumbling into a lifeless heap of rubble.

Cain didn’t stop. He couldn’t.

Another golem lunged at him, its massive arm sweeping across the battlefield like a wrecking ball.

Cain ducked under the swing, his movements as fluid as water.

With a burst of speed, he leaped onto the golem’s arm and sprinted up its length, his daggers flashing.

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This one, too, fell, its core shattered in an instant.

The chimera ants were faster, their six legs skittering across the rocky ground as they swarmed toward him.

Their mandibles snapped with terrifying speed, aiming to tear him apart.

But Cain was faster still.

One chimera lunged at him, its body a blur. Cain sidestepped effortlessly, his dagger slicing through its leg.

The creature screeched, collapsing to the ground, where a second slash ended its life.

Another came at him from behind, but Cain twisted midair, driving both daggers into its eyes.

He was everywhere at once—a phantom weaving through the chaos.

Where the other hunters struggled, Cain thrived.

As the battle raged, the hunters couldn’t help but remember who Cain truly was.

The Vice Guildmaster of Black Serpent.

The son of the greatest assassin.

The strongest A-rank hunter of his time.

Though he usually operated from the shadows, orchestrating ruthless plans to annihilate his enemies, Cain was also a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield.

His green aura was like venom, suffusing the air with dread.

Against the backdrop of crumbling golems and dismembered chimera ants, Cain stood tall.

He was untouchable, unstoppable—a living weapon honed to perfection.

The hunters watched as Cain tore through the golems and chimera ants with precision and efficiency.

Inspired by his ruthless determination, they found their courage rekindled and charged into battle.

The battlefield was a cacophony of roars, clashing weapons, and shouts.

Though the hunters were strong—especially the A-rank ones—the golems and chimera ants had sheer numbers on their side.

For every golem defeated, another seemed to rise from the ranks.

Hunters worked together, some focusing on the golems’ cores while others distracted the relentless chimeras.

However, the numerical disadvantage pressed hard against their defenses.

Scarlet and Cain became their beacons of hope.

Cain didn’t just fight—he commanded.

Between lethal strikes, he barked out orders to hunters nearby, pointing out weak spots and coordinating their attacks.

"Aim for the joints! Immobilize them before striking the core!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.

Scarlet, meanwhile, unleashed her fiery fury.

With a wave of her hands, she summoned blazing spears of flame that rained down like a meteor shower.

The heat was intense, the light blinding, and the impact devastating.

The golems emerged from her firestorm cracked and weakened, their cores exposed.

The chimeras, however, had no such resilience.

They screamed as they burned, their exoskeletons melting under the relentless flames.

Even so, some of the chimeras pushed through the fire, their scorched bodies moving with unnatural determination.

But for every one that came forward, Scarlet’s flames consumed three more.

Despite the overwhelming odds, the hunters began to turn the tide.

Their coordination improved as they followed Cain’s commands, while Scarlet’s firepower decimated the enemy’s numbers.

“I think it will be done soon,” Scarlet said, glancing at Cain.

“Hm.” Cain gave a curt nod.

He was breathing harder than usual, his green aura flickering slightly from the constant exertion.

Still, his sharp eyes scanned the battlefield, ensuring no detail escaped him.

They both believed the battle was nearing its end.

But then, a hunter came sprinting toward them, his face pale and his breaths ragged.

“What’s wrong?” Scarlet asked, her fiery aura dimming as she turned toward the hunter.

“Ma’am,” the hunter gasped, “the nearby village… it’s under attack. Golems—hundreds of them. They’re tearing through everything.”

Scarlet’s expression darkened.

“What? We have to move now! We can’t let them destroy the village!”

“No.” Cain’s voice was sharp, cutting through the urgency in hers. “Abandon them.”

Scarlet’s head snapped toward him, her fiery eyes blazing with anger.

“What nonsense are you saying? How can you even suggest letting innocent people die?”

“It’s a trap,” Cain said coldly, meeting her furious gaze without flinching.

“Don’t be stupid, Scarlet. If we split up now, we’ll weaken our forces and lose more than just the village. They’re baiting us.”

“I don’t care if it’s a trap!” Scarlet shouted. “There are people in danger, Cain. People who need us!”

“Damn it, Scarlet, think for once!” Cain barked back, stepping closer.

“Your hero complex will get everyone killed. Do you think the Demonic Guild doesn’t know how predictable you are? They’re counting on this!”

“It doesn’t matter,” Scarlet said, her voice trembling with conviction.

“Even if it’s a trap, even if I save just one life, it’s worth it. That’s what being a hunter means, Cain. Protecting those who can’t protect themselves.”

Cain’s face hardened, but his eyes flickered with something unspoken—a memory.

“Scarlet,” he warned, his voice low and tight, “you’ll regret this decision.”

“It’s my choice to make,” she said firmly. “You can handle things here. I’m going.”

Without another word, Scarlet turned and called for a small group of hunters to follow her.

Together, they rushed toward the village, their resolve unshakable.

Cain stood there, watching Scarlet disappear into the distance.

For a moment, his hand twitched as though he might call her back, but he didn’t.

“Shit!” he cursed under his breath, clenching his fists.

Her words echoed in his mind.

Even if I save just one life, it’s worth it.

They were the same words his father—his legendary father, the Guildmaster of Black Serpent—used to say.

And those same ideals had put his father in a hospital bed, clinging to life.

Cain’s jaw tightened, his green aura flaring briefly before dimming again.

He turned back to the battlefield, his expression colder than before.

“Idiots,” he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. “They never learn.”