Chapter 21: The Hunter from Earth

Chapter 21: Chapter 21: The Hunter from Earth Kai felt different. It wasn’t just the lack of system buffs. Not just the absence of the divine whispers. Not even the silence where guilt used to echo. It was the freedom. Raw. Cold. Unstable. Like walking a tightrope with no net and no gods left to catch him. [Status: UNBOUND HERO] Divine Contract: Severed Path Alignment: ??? Protection Buffs: None Enemy Detection: Disabled Warning: You are now a valid target for celestial retribution. The others felt it too. Yulia said nothing, but her scans came more frequently. Lira watched him like a blade on a spring — one step from sheathing, one twitch from striking. Elira... sat closer to him now. But said less. Virela? She just smiled more. It wasn’t peace. It was the eye of a divine storm. Somewhere Else — At That Exact Moment The gods held council. Cold, voiceless, omniscient. They watched Kai. Saw the severance. And passed judgment. "He has chosen mortality." "Then we will give him death." A celestial key turned. And far across the continent, inside a sealed monastic gate forged from star-metal and prayer— She woke up. Present – A Flash of Light at Dusk The party had just set up camp when the air cracked like lightning. Trees bent. Mana flared. And a girl fell from the sky. She landed with a shockwave that shattered stone and sent birds fleeing from miles around. And when the dust cleared— She stood. Straight-backed. Unsmiling. Clad in black-and-white exorcist robes, katana sheathed across her back, hair bound in a crimson ribbon. Not glowing. Not screaming. Just watching. Kai’s system pinged first. [System Alert: Earthborn Detected – Divine Hunter Class] Name: Akari Morimoto Origin: Earth – Tokyo Summoned: 3 Years Ago Rank: A+ Objective: Annihilate Unbound Catalyst Target: Kai Veyron He didn’t recognize her. But she recognized him. Akari’s voice was calm. Controlled. "Are you the one who severed the Tether?" Kai nodded once. "And you’re the Hero who defied the gods?" "...I guess I am." She exhaled slowly. Then drew her blade. "I’m sorry." Elira jumped between them, sword raised. "No." Yulia readied a binding spell. Virela purred, "Now this just got fun." Only Lira didn’t move. Because she knew. This wasn’t a warning. This was a sentence. "Stand down," Kai said, stepping forward. Elira turned sharply. "No—are you insane?!" "She’s not here to talk," he said. "And I won’t let her hurt any of you." "Let you?!" Yulia snapped. "She’s going to carve your heart out like a ritual offering!" "Exactly," he muttered. He took another step. And met Akari’s eyes. "I’m not your enemy," he said. Her grip didn’t change. "But I’m your assignment." A pause. Then she moved. Fast. Too fast. One blink, and her blade was at Kai’s throat. He hadn’t even seen her draw. Elira shouted. Lira lunged. Yulia’s spell burst— But Akari didn’t move. She hadn’t struck. Yet. Kai didn’t flinch. He just whispered, "What did they promise you?" Akari’s eyes didn’t soften. But her voice dropped. "...To go home." He swallowed. So did she. And in that moment, the battlefield tilted sideways. Because neither one of them wanted this. But both knew how it would end. [System Conflict: Catalyst vs. Hunter] Outcome Forecast: 3 Paths Possible — [1] Death — [2] Surrender — [3] Corruption Kai stepped back. And offered his hand. "Then let’s find a way where neither of us has to die." Akari stared at him. Unmoving. But the sword trembled—just slightly. Somewhere, the gods roared in fury. Because even now, even without them— He was still choosing mercy. And mercy is the most dangerous choice of all.