Unyielding Strategies

"That's not gonna work, but it's impressive," the hunter remarked casually as he effortlessly freed himself from the spectral hands holding him down. Kenji's eyes narrowed, frustration simmering beneath his calm exterior. He didn't have time to waste; this hunter was skilled, and every second counted.

Without hesitation, Kenji swiftly reached for another paper from his bag, this time pulling out a concealed pistol hidden within its folds. He fired several shots at the hunter, who easily dodged them, his movements fluid and precise. But Kenji's final bullet was different—a conjured bullet infused with a spell that he had prepared for just this moment.

The hunter, focused on dodging the conventional shots, didn't realize the danger of the last bullet until it was too late. As it closed in, a powerful explosion erupted from the bullet, sending the hunter flying backward with a violent blast. The shockwave rippled through the street, and the hunter was thrown into the air, landing hard several feet away.

Kenji stood alone in the aftermath, breathing heavily as he watched the smoke clear. The hunter was down, at least for the moment, and Kenji allowed himself a brief sigh of relief. His gaze lingered on the spot where the explosion had gone off, knowing that this brief victory was only a temporary reprieve.

Meanwhile, the rest of the hunters were locked in a furious battle against the swarm of demons that continued to pour into the city. They fought relentlessly, their blades and spells cutting through the demonic horde, but their progress was slow, each demon they felled replaced by another.

As the swarm intensified, the group of hunters began to drift away from the one who was still bound by Ichiro's water chains. The bound hunter, struggling against the restraints and the oncoming demons, called out to his companions as they moved further away.

"Hey! Don't leave me behind!" he shouted, his voice edged with desperation.

One of the hunters, a fierce and determined woman, paused just long enough to glance back at him. "Since you're a demon hunter, defend yourself," she snapped, her tone harsh and dismissive. She tossed a piece of paper in front of him that conjured a small protective wall.

The wall materialized, offering a brief flicker of hope, but almost immediately it began to crumble, the fragile structure disintegrating before his eyes. The binded hunter stared at the crumbling remains, his expression shifting to one of visible confusion. The reality of his dire situation sunk in, the flimsy barrier doing nothing to shield him from the relentless assault.

The fight between Ichiro and the hunter raged on, swords clashing in a relentless flurry of attacks. Ichiro could sense the hunter's true strength—far beyond what he had initially shown. Despite Ichiro's best efforts, the hunter seemed to hold the upper hand effortlessly, his movements calm and precise.

Ichiro knew he couldn't afford to drag this out. He steeled himself to finish the fight, but a sudden commotion below caught his eye. The hunters were struggling against the demons, their formation breaking apart in the chaos. The distraction was brief but costly.

Seizing the moment, the hunter moved with blinding speed, slicing through Ichiro's blade with ease. Ichiro's eyes widened in shock as his sword splintered. The hunter closed the distance, and with a casual breath, exhaled softly—a barely perceptible puff of air that sent Ichiro hurtling backward. Ichiro was flung through the air, and before he hit the ground, he quickly cushioned his fall by conjuring a layer of water beneath him.

Meanwhile, the hunter bound by Ichiro's spell stared at the crumbled wall with visible confusion and disappointment. Feeling the fluctuation in the binding spell's chakra, he seized the opportunity and managed to channel some of his own. He shot a small fireball from his mouth, aiming at a nearby hunter to catch their attention.

The hunter glanced over and, seeing the assist, smirked and called out, "Thanks for the assist." He smiled to himself and continued his battle, unfazed by the brief interruption.