Chapter 15: The Hunt Begins
The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the decaying buildings of the industrial district. Nyx and Veyron stood atop a weathered rooftop, surveying the location given to them by the AGC agent. The air was thick with the scent of rust, oil, and something far more unpleasant—the stench of human desperation.
Nyx wrinkled her nose, flicking a strand of raven-black hair over her shoulder. What a horrible place for an S-rank to be staying in, don't you think, Veyron?
Veyron said nothing. His glowing yellow eyes swept over the landscape, taking in every detail. Below them, a worn-down apartment complex stood in disrepair—its walls stained with grime, windows either shattered or covered with makeshift curtains. The balconies sagged under years of neglect, and the rusted railings looked as if they would crumble at the slightest touch. Trash littered the narrow alleyways between buildings, and a faint stench of decay hung in the air.
Nyx let out an exasperated sigh. I don't sense any Awakened nearby… Maybe he isn't here.
Veyron's gaze didn't waver. I'm glad he isn't.
Nyx raised an eyebrow at him. Why?
Veyron didn't look at her as he replied. We're not actually thinking of fighting him, are we? His voice was calm, but there was something else beneath it—something cautious. We don't know what he's capable of. We don't even know how strong he is. If we face him now… He paused. He might kill us. Just like he killed those two.
Nyx's expression darkened for a moment before shifting into a smirk. Tch. She folded her arms. Then why don't we destroy this place? she suggested, her voice laced with amusement. Kill these insects and leave a message for him? Let him know that we were here.
Veyron shook his head. We don't have to do that. We have to be smart about this.
Nyx rolled her eyes. You're no fun at all. Then, as if a thought suddenly struck her, a grin spread across her lips. I want to hunt some Awakened. Feast on them. Would you care to join?
Veyron exhaled through his nose. Alright. Whatever.
Without another word, the two Hallows vanished from the rooftop, melting into the city below like shadows on the prowl.
********
The dim afternoon sunlight filtered through the blinds of Cedric's office, casting streaks of gold across the wooden desk. The faint hum of air conditioning was the only sound until the door swung open, and an AGC agent stepped inside, his face grim.
Cedric, who had been lazily leaning back in his chair, barely glanced up. What is it?
The agent hesitated before speaking. Sir… we've found a dead AGC member. Murdered near the west district. It's definitely the work of a Hallow.
The relaxed air in the room disappeared instantly. Cedric sat up, his sharp blue eyes locking onto the agent.
Where exactly?
An industrial zone. Fifteen minutes from here.
Cedric's gaze shifted to the four individuals seated in front of his desk.
Quinn, Mira, and Elise.
A smirk tugged at his lips. Why don't you three check it out? He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. After all, you're all going to be guild members together soon.
Quinn groaned, rubbing the back of his head. Why me? he muttered, clearly annoyed.
Cedric's smirk widened. Because you'll get paid at the end of the month.
Quinn scoffed. Fine. Whatever.
Mira simply nodded, and Elise adjusted the leather gloves on her hands. None of them looked particularly thrilled about the task, but they didn't refuse.
The three of them stood up and left the office, making their way down the hallway to the elevators. The ride down was silent, the metallic hum of the elevator filling the space.
By the time they reached the ground floor, a black AGC vehicle was already waiting for them.
An agent in the driver's seat turned his head slightly. Get in. We'll be there in ten to fifteen.
The doors shut with a heavy thud as the car pulled out of the AGC headquarters, moving swiftly through the city streets.
As Quinn gazed out the window, watching the sun dip lower over the skyline, an uneasy feeling settled in his chest.
Something about this felt off.
And deep down, he knew—this was only the beginning.
As the AGC vehicle rolled to a stop near the crime scene. The industrial district was eerily quiet, with only the occasional rustle of trash in the wind and the distant blare of car horns breaking the silence. The sky had deepened into a hazy shade of orange as the sun began its descent.
Quinn stepped out first, his sharp eyes scanning the area. Mira, and Elise followed, their boots crunching against the cracked pavement. The stench of blood mixed with the damp, rotting scent of garbage from the overflowing dumpsters nearby.
An alley stretched between two worn-down apartment buildings. A single streetlamp flickered weakly at its entrance, casting long shadows over the body slumped against the wall.
A lone AGC agent stood nearby, his uniform slightly disheveled. His face was stiff, eyes shifting between the corpse and the four newcomers. "You're the ones Sir Cedric sent?"
Quinn gave a slight nod. "Yeah." His tone was flat, his focus already on the scene before him.
The body belonged to a fellow AGC member—or at least, what was left of him. His uniform was stained dark with blood, his hands limp at his sides.
His head was there—but it wasn't attached to his body.
It had been severed so cleanly that, at first glance, it almost looked like it was simply resting on the ground beside him. The cut was precise, surgical, with no jagged edges or tearing. Blood had pooled beneath the body, soaking into the pavement, but strangely, there were no signs of struggle.
Mira knelt beside the corpse, her eyes narrowing as she traced a gloved hand along the severed edge. "This wasn't done with claws or brute force. The cut is too smooth, too deliberate. It's almost like…" She hesitated. "Like a guillotine strike—instant and precise."
Quinn crouched beside her, his sharp eyes scanning the surrounding ground. Blood splatter patterns, footprints, minor disturbances in the dirt—each detail told a story. His mind worked quickly, piecing together the sequence of events.
"There were two of them," he said, voice calm but firm.
Elise looked at him, intrigued. "How do you know?"
Quinn pointed to the ground, where the blood had spread unevenly. "The way the blood is smeared—he was struck before he even hit the ground. Someone caught him mid-motion, then dropped him." He turned slightly, gesturing toward two faint sets of footprints in the dust-covered pavement. "Two different sets of prints. One lighter, one heavier. One of them was faster, moved around a lot. The other… more deliberate, calculated."
Quinn thoughts shifting to his last battle against Hallows. He had survived that fight. If these two were anything like the others… they had to be careful.
"If another strong Hallow is out there," he muttered, clenching his fists slightly, "I should be ready."
Mira stood up, dusting off her gloves. "So, what now?"
Before Quinn could answer, the AGC agent's radio crackled to life. The man who had driven them there pressed a hand to his earpiece, his expression stiffening.
"We've got another incident," he announced grimly.
Quinn glanced at him. "What kind?"
The agent hesitated.
"Multiple Awakened found dead."