David rushed into the village.
The thing he had feared the most… had finally happened.
Monsters had always been lurking around this place. No matter how many he killed, they never seemed to run out.
Those creatures hidden in the darkness must have already set their sights on this small village of only a few hundred people.
Every morning, old Larsen would speak of another villager gone missing.
There was no need to guess—
They had all been eaten.
And tonight—
The monsters had finally lost patience.
They had invaded the village.
David thought of Siti.
The farmer's daughter with that alluring figure.
A trace of guilt rose in his heart.
He did not want to see her die at the hands of those creatures.
Now—
He was strong enough.
But when he rushed into the burning village—
He saw no monsters.
There was only one invader.
A human.
A man in a long black coat.
A tricorne hat.
A silver sword in his right hand.
A short firearm in his left.
He walked through the flames.
His blade flashed with silver light—
Effortlessly slaughtering the villagers.
One strike.
One kill.
"A hunter! It's a damn hunter! Kill him! Kill him!!!"
The villagers charged forward one after another, fearless.
They swung hoes and cleavers—
But the hunter's movements were uncanny.
He dodged with ease—
And with a flick of his blade—
Slit their throats.
But—
The villagers did not fall.
Clutching their severed necks—
They roared and charged again.
Their arms bulged with muscle.
Their fingers extended into sharp claws.
They used everything—
Even their teeth—
To try and kill the hunter.
Someone noticed David—
And grinned at him.
A twisted, horrifying smile.
…Ah.
David slowed.
Then stopped.
Now he understood.
That gaze.
That unease.
That wrongness.
He remembered.
He saw old Larsen—
Kind, gentle Larsen—
Swinging a severed, iron-green arm at the hunter's blade.
He saw the villagers—
Who once brought him food and water—
Blocking bullets with their claws.
Their bodies swelled.
Twisted.
Turned pale and monstrous.
David suddenly laughed.
A bitter, self-mocking smile.
Why had Siti not cared about his gaze?
Even when—
Driven by the Watcher's influence—
He had reached out like a "gentleman" to lift her skirt—
She hadn't panicked.
She had smiled.
Now—
He saw the hunter's silver sword pierce into her mouth.
The "girl" didn't care.
Her face split open—
Revealing over a dozen eyes.
Her jagged teeth clamped onto the blade.
She laughed.
Of course.
Why would a monster care about such things?
Everyone in this village—
Was a monster.
They had looked at him—
Like a delicacy.
Feeding him—
Was just to fatten him up.
As for the missing villagers?
They had simply died—
At his hands—
When he hunted monsters.
They never cared.
"Kill the hunter! Then butcher that pig!"
The "girl" shouted as she tore at the blade.
She had clearly been holding back for a long time.
Bang!
The hunter's firearm roared.
A blood-infused bullet—
Blew her head apart.
His efficiency remained terrifying.
Unfazed.
Experienced.
He was a veteran hunter.
One by one—
The monsters fell.
And David—
Standing still—
Drew closer and closer to him.
Then—
He saw the hunter's face beneath the brim.
Memories surged.
Now he remembered.
Everything.
Why the son of Viscount Frank had died during that ritual—
Allowing him, a transmigrator, to take over the body.
It was all—
Because of this man.
Hunter Widens.
He had given the noble son a potion.
Called it—
"The path to power."
Now David understood.
It had been a ticket to hell.
As for why Widens wanted him dead—
He didn't know yet.
But one thing was certain—
After killing the villagers—
The hunter would not spare him.
He had come—
For David.
Their eyes met.
Under the brim—
Widens smiled coldly.
"Finally found you, boy…"
He hadn't expected the foolish noble to escape across the Klan Mountain Gap—
And make it this far.
When he learned the boy was missing—not dead—
He immediately set out.
Tracked him here.
Why hadn't the poison worked?
He no longer cared.
This time—
The boy had to die.
Widens wiped his hand across his blade.
Blood infused with Spiritual Energy spread over it—
Whoosh—!
Flames erupted.
"Evil God—Scott's Flame!"
The burning blade cut through monsters like butter.
Even the strongest one—
Lost an arm instantly.
Widens stepped forward—
His body, enhanced by tainted blood—
Exploded with speed.
Afterimages trailed behind him.
He pinned the last monster to a mud wall.
Flames burst—
Blasting a hole through it.
Larsen—
Was gone.
Then—
The hunter turned.
And looked at David.
"Scared stiff? Hah… pitiful boy. Stay still. I'll make it painless."
David lowered his gaze.
Is it me…
Or is this world insane?
The next moment—
His dark pupils flipped upward—
Locking onto Widens.
A health bar appeared.
[Life Energy: 378 / 400]
"…That's it?"
David frowned.
He had assumed all supernatural beings grew like him.
Apparently—
Not.
A grin spread across his face.
"That's all you've got? How are you supposed to beat me?"
Shing—!
A flaming blade pierced through the air—
Straight into his chest.
His smile froze.
HP…
Wasn't everything.
A true hunter used everything—
Even his own life—
To wield greater power.
Widens was fast.
Too fast.
By the time David reacted—
The blade had already pierced his chest.
Fzzzz—!
His Life Energy dropped by over 300.
But—
That was all.
Against his 3500+ Life Energy—
This strike—
Was not fatal.
David smiled again.
Ignoring the sword—
He raised his arm—
And struck.
Widens' expression changed.
Impossible.
The blade had pierced—
But the muscles had clamped down on it.
No real damage.
Then—
A weak-looking punch came.
He dodged instinctively.
Boom!
A green claw erupted from the other side—
And slammed into him.
Through the Demon Arm—
David felt resistance.
Armor.
Hidden beneath the coat.
Still—
Over 100 Life Energy lost.
"How many hits can you take?"
David retreated after landing the blow.
Another 300 Life Energy burned away from the blade in his chest.
If possible—
He should have used the God Corpse Arm earlier.
But he had used it already—
Its cooldown wasn't over yet.
Still—
Even trading damage—
He had the advantage.
…Did he?
As the battle continued—
A chill crept into David's heart.
Widens adapted quickly.
He realized—
This noble boy was no longer weak.
But—
Still inexperienced.
So—
He changed tactics.
Using superior speed—
He dodged the Demon Claw—
Again and again—
And struck—
Precisely—
At David's vital points.