At the rooftop of two separate buildings, soaked in the heat of the sun, Ermit fervently tried convincing Wolf to sign up for the White Hawks guild. However, as Ermit had foreseen, his persuasive words proved futile.
"We're birds of a feather, you say?" Wolf burst out cackling. "That's a very clownish thing to say!"
Ermit maintained his composure, unruffled by the derisive laughter that echoed in the silent and wrecked promenade. He let out a sigh, surmising that convincing a murderous criminal like the person who stood atop the building before him was seemingly hopeless.
Convicts like Wolf and all members of the Headhunter have zero chance of repentance, hence the world despises them.
"I suppose negotiating with a cynic is not the wisest resolve," Ermit said, shifting his entire posture facing the direction of where the entrance gate is located.
"Hey, your foe is here! Wandering your eyes only gives me an opening to plant a bullet in your head."
"Try it then. You have the liberty to do so," Ermit said, fastening the belt as the sheath fluttered along. "That is if you catch me."
*ZOOM!*
Ermit flashes away, leaping from one building after another, with his geta (Japanese footwear) clacking like a drum roll against the roof as he bolts across the buildings.
'Fuck, he's going at the eye of the gate.'
Wolf chased Ermit, not letting him off that easily. His only objective is to keep Ermit company until the archdemon is defeated, and he must not let him anywhere near the fight scene.
It was a long pursuit, hopping from the next building with 10 feet of gaps. Despite Ermit's masterful parkour techniques, Wolf is managing to keep up with his pace.
As the strenuous pursuit continued, Wolf refrained from pulling the trigger despite having a clear shot at Ermit's unprotected back. Of all the bullets he had discharged so far, only one had grazed his cheek, and even that had been more a stroke of luck as Ermit isn't aware of the threat his ammunition could deal.
He was left with his final 3 ammos, and he's patiently waiting for an opening where Ermit can't dodge or nullify the bullets.
"Running away? You're a fucking sheep, aren't ya!" Wolf taunted Ermit, hoping he'd turn back to fight him if he provoked his ego.
"My apologies for interrupting our dance, but my comrades require my assistance," Ermit said as he ran away.
After gliding through the buildings, they eventually hopped onto the curved roof of the gymnasium in front of the entrance gate.
Ermit, being on the lead, sighted the frame of the gate. However, the awful eerie silence creeps into him.
Ermit drew out his sword as he approached the end of the roof, preparing himself for the terror he sensed. The area is supposed to be the center of the umbrella gate, and yet, he hears no growling demons.
Upon reaching the very end of the roof, a bloodbath confronts his eyes. Ermit paused, gazing down at the distasteful view of the mercilessly slaughtered humans. No, they were not just slaughtered; one's decapitated, some are cleaved in half, there's even torn into a disproportional state that they look unrecognizable, and lastly, half of them had their insides gushing out. Their intestines are spilling like noodles and their blood serves more of a soup, soaking their deceased bodies. It's a massacre only a diabolical demon could bear doing.
And the carnage beneath, they're not just humans, they were a skilled unit, ranging around a couple of dozen B and C-rank demon hunters.
And some of them are Ermit's colleagues.
'He stopped?' Wolf noticed Ermit acting passively.
'It seems like his head is buffering; did he see something gruesome? Or was there a naked chick below that made him this idle? Regardless, Ermit oughta die.'
*Bang*
Ermit rapidly turned to face Wolf the moment he heard the shot, then, he took one step back as he swung his katana upwards, unleashing a powerful strike that summoned a sharp wind, cutting the travelling bullet, and continued moving towards Wolf.
Wolf shifted his weight to his side, moving ever-so-slightly to narrowly evade the slash, only missing him by an inch.
'He jumped!'
As Ermit fell, their eyes crossed, and Wolf recognized the disgusted look on his face. Ever since earlier, Ermit was serenely focused and never lost his temper despite Wolf's provoking mockeries. But at this moment, those eyes strike Wolf, sharper than his own katana.
'He's really mad.'
*Crack!*
The metal roof of the gymnasium split apart between Wolf's legs.
With both his legs pulled apart by the separating structure, he lost balance and crashed down with the ceiling.
Ermit, on the other hand, landed on his feet and promptly noticed a clashing sound beyond the gate.
~~~~~~~~~~
"Humans taste better when they fight back!"
*Scratch*
Thick, tooth-like fingernails surged towards Victor, their menacing tips aimed to rend flesh. With fluid movements, Victor utilized his luminous long sword in his right hand, deftly parrying the claws as he subtly shuffled to maintain his stance.
The winged human relentlessly pummeled its clawed fist, each strike came with a laugh as if it was toying with Victor. It has a nasty grin stretched across its face, revealing rows of teeth drenched in the blood of its previous victims.
"You're a lunatic," Victor muttered.
"Hunn?" Its grin gaped wider.
An attack slipped through Victor's defensive sword, a pointed claw darting forward to his abdomen. Swiftly, Victor uses his light magic, summoning another long sword in his other hand, then deflected the attack.
At the same time, Victor's other hand was left open for a counter-attack. Seizing the chance, he aimed for the neck and swung.
However, before his blade empowered by light reaches the lunatic's neck, he catches it bare-handed. He then rolled his wet tongue around his lips before pulling the sword, also pulling Victor in his direction. When Victor is within his reach, he thrusts his foot forward, delivering a powerful blow to the chest with the force of his heel, propelling him backwards. The impact sends Victor hurtling into the campus wall with such force that it leaves a massive dent.
Victor unfortunately hit his head and blood streamed down the left side of his face. He sat motionless on the ground with his back inclined against the wrecked wall.
The winged man slowly went towards Victor as he wondered at the delicate taste of a high-ranking DH with every step he took. Then, one more step before he had his meal, the wall behind Victor combusted.
*Swoosh!*
Ermit swoops in, his katana leading the charge through the debris from the wall, then straight towards the winged man.
He curled his arms, blocking Ermit's blade with his forearms.
*Clang!*
The contact when the impact occurred emits a ringing sound similar to when metal collides. It's as if the arm he used to shield himself is made of steel.
"Hunn? Another dish? I couldn't be more fortunate!" the lunatic exclaimed, stimulated by having an extra dish on the table.
With a sharp, piercing gaze and a dead serious vocal, Ermit uttered, "Distasteful."
He reinforced his hand with the other, wielding the katana with both hands. Mustering his wrath, he gathered every ounce of it, converting it to strength, giving him the willpower to push through.
The blade shallowly sank into the hard skin.
*Whoosh!*
It penetrates through, cleanly slicing the forearm off with a satisfying sound.
Alarmed, the lunatic spread its wings and swiftly flew as its missing forearm bounced down the ground.
Victor recovered in no time and got back up to his feet.
"I am not inclined to be your savior," Ermit declared to Victor. "Nevertheless, I will require all the help I can get to vanquish this demon."
"I can follow," Victor replied.
A temporary alliance between two high-ranking DHs has been born. This was a rare occurrence, after all, they're from different guilds which had an enraging dispute as of this day.
The demon hovering 10 feet above ground observed his severed arm. It was gushing out of purple fluids and its flesh was beating.
The demon rolled its tongue from the arm, all the way to the cut, scooping the spilling nasty juices.
"Scrumptious! Do you wish to savor some?" he offered as a sadistic grin rippled across his face.
The two could only grimace.
Then, it grew another arm, perfectly identical to before. It can regenerate in seconds and it's as if it was never sliced.
Ermit assessed the situation and it's as clear as the sun above that this demon isn't any other demon. It has a pair of wings, a crazy appearance that reciprocates a human exterior, and an uncontrollable obsession with human flesh consumption. Though there are some, not all demons have the urge to devour humans. But in this case, the fact that it has a demonic presence and a human figure is enough for Ermit to conclude his thought. There's a type of demon that rises among the others…
"It's an archdemon."
"We guessed the same," Victor replied to Ermit.
Ermit stood up straight, pulling his head up and focusing his gaze on the archdemon.
"I am profoundly dismayed that many lives slipped away upon the pandemonium you brought to this peaceful land," Ermit hollered. "Countless will lament for the fallen souls, yet you relish every bit of this moment. Therefore, this havoc shall be put to an end."
Ermit's knees bent, setting his attacking stance.
"You have all the right to perish, and I will grant the justice my fellow beings deserve."
Ermit was prepared to launch himself into the air and dice the archdemon like an onion, but out of nowhere, Wolf was suddenly on his back, arms outstretched, gun held ruler-straight away from Ermit's skull, and index finger coiled around the trigger.
*BANG!!!*