Chapter 26: Guildmaster
Scarlet moved through the ruined city, the unconscious Juliana slung over her shoulder. The girl was strangely resistant to the infection, a curiosity Scarlet couldn't wait to explore further—or maybe the boss would know what made her special.
She glanced back, ensuring Fin wasn't following, then refocused on the looming tower ahead.
Suddenly, a blast of fire erupted nearby, missing her by inches and scorching the cracked pavement where she'd been a second before. The heat washed over her face.
She stopped, annoyance flickering in her eyes. She looked down from her rooftop perch. Standing in the street below was a group of Hunters. Four serious-looking A-ranks, their gear practical and worn, and leading them, a petite woman radiating calm authority. The Guildmaster from the Hunters Guild.
"Tch. This is inconvenient," Scarlet muttered. Her orders were clear: don't kill the main Hunter teams if possible, just let them walk into the trap. But these weren't weaklings she could just outrun.
She leaped down, landing lightly on the street a good distance away. Carefully, she propped Juliana against the base of a crumbling building wall, making sure she wouldn't fall.
Then, she turned to face the Hunters. A vibrant pink aura flared around her, shimmering in the dull light. Her fingernails elongated, darkening into sharp claws. A wide, predatory smirk stretched across her face.
"Well now," she purred, her voice laced with excitement. "Looks like playtime came early. Guess I have no choice."
The Guildmaster remained still, her eyes sharp and assessing, taking in Scarlet's transformation. The A-rank Hunters tensed, weapons ready.
Scarlet giggled, a manic sound that echoed eerily between the buildings. Before anyone could react, she vanished. In the next instant, she reappeared right in the middle of the A-rank Hunters. Her claws flashed out.
One of the Hunters gasped, eyes wide with shock, before collapsing to the ground, a dark stain spreading across their chest.