Chapter: 57. The Hunter’s Pursuit
In the forest near the coastline.
Nagi and the others were transported here by the Mist Authority through thick fog.
Due to the X-class esper deploying a field, the Mist Authority could no longer easily send them off the island. This was the maximum distance that the Mist Authority could “fulfill wishes.”
The next moment.
The arrival of the pseudo-god Bai Ling tore apart the heavy domain covering the island.
DD-chan and Yui exerted their utmost effort to tear open a “path to the afterlife” for Nagi and the others.
The damp mist swirled in the forest, and a ray of the setting sun broke through the distant horizon, its golden light piercing through the fog and casting mottled spots of light on everyone. Above them, dark clouds loomed heavily, often flashing with azure lightning amidst the thick layers of clouds.
In the distance, a fierce battle erupted between the pseudo-god Bai Ling and the X-class esper, the intense sounds resonating through the forest, awakening the momentarily dazed group.
Now was not the time for hesitation.
The first to regain composure was Maria.
“On the southwest side of the island, there’s a secret port where the Stargazers have a few speedboats docked. We can take a boat to leave for a short distance, avoiding the detection of my magical response by the X-class esper, and then use our abilities to evacuate to a safe area as quickly as possible…”
As she spoke, she stood up, her gaze falling on Kanade.
It seemed she had something to say, but in the end, she swallowed it in silence.
On the other side, Erika helped the dazed Nagi up.
“…No, you all go ahead; I need to go back and inform the team.”
Kanade rejected Maria’s suggestion.
His teammates were still on this island.
Moreover, judging from the X-class esper’s earlier attitude, their targets were definitely not just the Stargazers and Professor Tenshichō.
From their murderous gazes, it was clear that even he, an S-class, was one of their targets.
Then his “Special Team for the End”, which he led, would surely not be overlooked.
They didn’t yet know that these X-class espers were enemies.
As captain, he had to remind them.
Kanade’s communicator had been taken out and destroyed before DD-chan after learning the truth of the β system.
Now, he had no other way to get in touch with the team.
The only option was to circle back and find them—
—Damn it, he should be alive no matter what…
Kanade thought he was already prepared for the resolve that if he could resurrect that girl, he would pay any price.
But when the power of the Box of Kaurah was sealed, he realized he was “weaker” than he had thought.
He didn’t want anyone to be sacrificed.
He wanted everyone to welcome the HY end together.
This was her wish from years ago, a belief she had taught him over a lifetime—
“—In that case, I’ll go notify them.”
Maria called out to Kanade, who was about to turn back.
Her words caused Kanade to look back in shock.
In Maria’s determined gaze, he could vaguely see the influence that someone once had on her.
It was the same belief.
“You take them to the secret dock first and drive the speedboat away from the island. After I finish notifying them, I’ll rush back to meet up with you.” Maria spoke in a low voice, her tone calm and firm, her gaze never leaving the surrounding mist.
In the dim forest, the fog swirled around the dry branches and damp earth at their feet, the dark clouds obscured the sunlight, and distant thunder rumbled, the magical aura in the air growing increasingly restless.
For Kanade, who had become a mere ordinary person, to return to this battlefield would undoubtedly be a fool’s errand.
“This is the stronghold of the Stargazers.” Maria continued, slightly tilting her head to look at Kanade. “I know the terrain of this island better than you do, and I have a better chance of finding them than you, who are now just an ordinary person.”
However, before she could finish her sentence, a few chilling laughs suddenly echoed from deep within the woods, grating like metal scraping.
“What a remarkable piece of news— the legendary S-class ‘Black Flame King’ is now merely an ordinary person?”
Accompanied by a low, eerie laughter, several indistinct figures slowly emerged from the swirling fog, dry branches and leaves crackling beneath their feet, producing an unsettling sound.
They wore the tattered battle coats unique to the Hunter’s Guild, varying in style but all in poor condition, the heavy fabric stained with dried blood and dirt.
Some wore broken goggles with a shattered lens.
Some had hoods pulled over their heads, revealing chins scarred and covered in dust.
Others had half-burnt cigars dangling from their mouths, embers flickering in the haze.
Though their formation was scattered and their steps unsteady, the oppressive feeling of walking on the edge of life and death, drenched in blood, enveloped the air without need for words.
Each of them wielded different weapons—some modified firearms, others adorned with shimmering magical armaments.
The glow of magic burned in their eyes like venomous snakes’ flicking tongues, locking onto Kanade and the others as their new prey.
The man leading them revealed a greedy and sinister smile, licking his cracked lips as his gaze fell on Kanade, as if he were eyeing a gift from the heavens.
“If I can take down the legendary S-class, I’ll become famous, platinum—no, even mithril-level hunter…”
They were espers summoned nearby by the Alpha system.
These members of the Hunter’s Guild, who did not belong to the Special Circle SEMAs or the three major academies, have long wandered the gray area between order and chaos.
Sometimes they are the heroes raising their fists in triumph, sometimes easily abandoning their beliefs for profit.
In the eyes of Kanade and the others, these members of the Hunter’s Guild were undoubtedly—an unruly mob.
They adopted a hierarchical system of iron, copper, silver, gold, platinum, and mithril to compete with the Special Circle SEMAs and the three major academies, but it was merely a product of their own vanity. Even the top-level “mithril” could hardly compare in strength to a true ACE-class esper.
Even so, this unruly mob had become a threat that could not be ignored.
The only one currently capable of fighting was Maria.
Although her combat abilities were not inferior to any of these individuals, having to fight while also protecting others had always been Maria’s weakness.
To make matters worse, the enemy could use more than one type of ability—
“It seems today is truly my lucky day.”
One of the hunters revealed a sinister grin, excitement almost sickly, as he spoke while pulling a crystalline syringe from his waist pocket.
Inside the translucent liquid floated a jet-black fine line, as if moving slowly.
A secret drug.
It could grant the injector specific abilities temporarily, along with the residual magical energy within.
Even an ordinary person with no innate talent could instantly become a dangerous force after injection.
The syringe reflected the light of the setting sun, casting a glow into Nagi’s dull eyes, as if illuminating a touch of starlight.
