Chapter 36

A.N: you mtfs better show me some love, I'm uploading chaps even on vacation cuz I love yall, but enough jokes, leave some reviews fookers.

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The atmosphere in the Korean Hunters Association's base in Busan was tense. Chairman Go, Jinwoo, and other top S-Rank hunters were gathered around a large table, discussing strategies to counter Kade's growing power.

Chairman Go addressed the group, his expression grave. "We need to come up with a solid plan. Kade's power is increasing rapidly, and we can't afford any more losses."

Jinwoo nodded. "We need to gather mo—"

Before anyone could respond, a loud crash echoed through the room. The roof shattered as Kade and his twenty minions burst in, debris scattering everywhere. The hunters quickly stood, weapons ready, their faces a mix of shock and anger.

Kade landed gracefully in the center of the room, his smile wide and confident. "Good evening, everyone. I hope I'm not interrupting anything important."

Chairman Go stepped forward, his aura flaring. "Kade! How dare you show your face to us even after all we've done for you!"

Kade chuckled, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Oh, come now, Chairman. You didn't really think you could hide from me, did you?"

Jinwoo's shadows surged forward, ready to defend, but Kade's minions intercepted them, engaging in close combat. The room erupted into chaos as hunters clashed with Kade's guild members, the air filled with the sound of weapons clashing and magic flaring.

Jinwoo moved towards Kade as he pulled out his newly acquired dagger. "It will be different this time."

Kade smirked, easily parrying Jinwoo's attacks. "The only difference right now is the place you'll die."

Despite the hunters' best efforts, Kade's minions were overwhelming. Their regenerative abilities made them nearly invincible, shrugging off attacks that would have incapacitated normal hunters. The Korean hunters were being pushed back with ease as their defense crumbled under the attack of Kade's mere lackeys.

The most humiliating part was that only a couple of them were fighting, the rest were merely standing aside as if they were only there as a show of power.

Kade's eyes locked onto Jinwoo, and with a swift motion, he extended his dark tendrils, wrapping them around Jinwoo's body.

"You're strong, Jinwoo, but just not strong enough," Kade taunted, his voice dripping with malice. "It's time for you to join me."

As Kade began to consume Jinwoo's essence, a sudden surge of power erupted from within Jinwoo. His eyes glowed with an intense, otherworldly light. Deep within his consciousness, Jinwoo heard a voice, a voice that resonated with dark power and authority that made his entire being shake.

"Arise, my successor."

Jinwoo's eyes widened as he recognized the voice of Ashborn, the Shadow Monarch and King of Death. In an instant, Jinwoo felt a rush of memories and power flooding into him. Ashborn's full strength was being transferred to him.

Jinwoo's aura exploded, pushing Kade's tendrils away. His shadow soldiers, now empowered by Ashborn's energy, surged with newfound vigor and readied for round two.

Kade looked at Jinwoo and couldn't help but sigh and facepalm. "Why does this feel like a movie…he just keeps getting a power boost."

The shadow soldiers attacked Kade's guild members with enhanced power and renewed energy. At this time, all of Kade's members moved and attacked Jinwoo's soldiers.

Jinwoo himself vanished as he attacked Kade, barely dodging Jinwoo's dagger. Kade felt a small cut on his neck.

"Hmm, it seems you've grown yet again…what a surprise," Kade remarked sarcastically as both his arms transformed into long curved blades.

Jinwoo's dagger and Kade's arms, now blades, met, creating a shockwave that blew everything within dozens of meters.

Kade didn't limit his ability to make his whole body a weapon to just a blade. Within moments, Kade's arms turned into long tendrils with blades at the ends, imitating whips.

Without giving Jinwoo a rest, he attacked, his now two long arms chasing Jinwoo, creating a strange scene.

Meanwhile, while the two were fighting, Jinwoo did not notice the damage they'd caused. The Busan city center was now a mess due to collateral damage, killing hundreds of people in the process.

Chairman Go and the other S-Rank hunters were busy fending off Kade's very own soldiers. Cha Hae-In was too caught up in Jinwoo's fight, causing her to lose focus, a mistake one should never make when fighting a strong foe.

Everyone watched as Woo Jinchul appeared in front of Cha Hae-In, burying his hand into her stomach, with black tendrils coming out of his hand and going inside of her.

"No!" Chairman Go and the rest yelled as their auras flared up even more, rushing to save Cha Hae-In…but it was too late.

They watched as Cha Hae-In's eyes became blank, just like Kade's puppets.

Jinwoo looked at where she was and was shell-shocked to see her fall into the enemy's hands.

Kade didn't waste this opportunity as his whip blade pierced Jinwoo's chest, more precisely his heart…both his hearts.

Kade had heard two beatings coming from within Jinwoo, so he knew. Although it was weird, he didn't care.

Jinwoo's eyes opened wide as he stared at Cha Hae-In, tears falling from his eyes. It was as if his world came crashing down on him.

"N-no…please no!" Jinwoo yelled as he tried to reach for Cha Hae-In. Though he couldn't reach her, he saw tears fall from her eyes, even though she was no longer herself.

"How saddening…don't worry, she's not going to die…ever," Kade said as he started consuming Jinwoo's body.

It was easier due to Jinwoo's mental damage, Kade was able to consume him fully.

Everyone watched as they saw Kade's exploding aura as he consumed Jinwoo. Then, they felt it—the dreadful aura that befell them. Then they saw the terrifying sight of Kade grinning as his body glowed with darkness.

"It's over…there's no defeating that monster," Baek, the one who usually doesn't give up and always fights to the end with the hope of victory, did not feel that hope this time.

Chairman Go himself was still staring at where Jinwoo was, blaming himself for everything that's happened. If only they had been more careful when they accepted Kade as one of their own, none of this would've happened.

But as they were all busy regretting and grieving, they saw Kade start walking towards them with his smile, not knowing what he'll do next.