The Hero is Hunting me!-Chapter 41: The Mistakes of Careless People

I caught both of their attacks and made sure neither of them could escape.

"Let go of me, you lunatic!!"

Edgar shouted as he struggled to pull his arm free from my grip.

It was useless.

Right now, I was furious—far beyond reason.

Griffon tried to wrench his sword out of my hand as well, but that was just as pointless. I tightened my grip even more, channeling my power directly into my hands, ensuring that neither of them could break free.

My strength felt different.

Stronger.

Denser.

Sharper.

...Had my power evolved?

Was this an awakening?

Whatever it was, it worked in my favor.

I yanked both of them toward me and slammed their bodies into each other with overwhelming force. The impact echoed through the ruined battlefield before I hurled them away like discarded trash.

Griffon skidded across the ground, coughing violently as blood spilled from his mouth.

"You bastard... so you weren’t even serious until now."

I didn’t bother answering.

There was no need for words.

I walked forward slowly, then vanished—teleporting instantly in front of Griffon. I flooded my right hand with power, dark blue light gathering and pulsing around my fist.

Without hesitation, I punched him square in the face.

The force sent him flying straight into a nearby building, shattering concrete and steel on impact.

Edgar stared in shock.

But it was already too late for him to react.

I teleported directly in front of him and swept his leg out from under him, sending his massive body crashing down. Before he could even hit the ground properly, I drove my knee into his lower back, reinforcing the strike with raw power.

"Agh!!"

Edgar slammed into the ground, screaming in pain as his body convulsed.

From within the rising dust and smoke, a familiar blue flame flickered.

Griffon.

He was gathering his strength again.

With a furious roar, he charged forward and swung his sword at me.

In a low whisper, barely audible even to myself, I muttered,

"Void Shield..."

A compact blue barrier manifested around my arm. I blocked every slash from Griffon’s blade with ease, the impact ringing sharply through the air.

Edgar tried to attack me from behind, attempting to assist Griffon.

Unfortunate for him.

While deflecting Griffon’s strikes, I spun on my heel and kicked Edgar square in the face from behind before teleporting away.

Griffon’s next swing landed—not on me, but on Edgar.

"Agh!!"

Edgar screamed in agony.

"What the hell are you doing!?"

"Huh!? I—I didn’t mean to!"

Before they could even process what had happened, I reappeared behind Griffon and drove my elbow into his side.

"Ugh!!"

He staggered, spinning around and swinging wildly—but I was already gone.

This time, I appeared behind Edgar.

I gathered power into my fist and slammed it into his left leg.

The limb was erased instantly.

Edgar’s scream tore through the battlefield.

"Aghhhhhh!!"

Griffon turned back just in time to see Edgar collapsed on the ground, one leg completely gone.

"What kind of power... is this...?"

The confusion and fear in Griffon’s voice were unmistakable.

Then his gaze shifted.

I was standing behind Edgar, my right hand raised, my fingers positioned like a gun.

A concentrated blue light formed at the tip of my index finger.

In an instant, it fired.

Griffon’s right arm vanished.

Blood sprayed violently as his sword clattered to the ground. He screamed and dropped to his knees, clutching his shoulder with his remaining hand, his face twisted in unbearable pain.

"T-This hurts... it hurts!!"

Tears streamed down his face.

He looked around frantically—but I was gone again.

Teleportation.

Only then did Griffon realize something else.

A thick mist had formed around them.

He didn’t know where it came from, but every instinct screamed that this fog was not on their side.

"What’s wrong?"

My voice echoed from all directions.

"Scared?"

Griffon and Edgar desperately looked around.

"Come out, you bastard! Stop hiding and fight me face-to-face!!"

Edgar shouted, his voice shaking from pain and fear.

"Why would I follow your orders?"

My voice echoed again.

"Who do you think you are to command me?"

The fog thickened.

Their vision worsened.

Cold sweat ran down their bodies as fear finally took hold.

Griffon clenched his teeth and forced himself to stand, gripping his fallen sword with his left hand.

"Come out! Face me, damn it!!"

His face snapped sideways.

A punch.

My punch.

Griffon stumbled backward, his face bruised and swollen.

"I’m right here," I said coldly.

"Come at me—if you can."

Grinding his teeth, Griffon charged at me in a blind rage.

His attacks were sloppy. Reckless. Desperate.

I didn’t even need to block.

I simply took a step back.

"You’re angry? Frustrated?"

I looked him straight in the eyes.

"The one who should be angry... is me."

I struck his left arm, forcing him to drop the sword.

I raised my hand vertically.

"Void Slash."

His remaining arm disappeared.

Griffon collapsed to the ground, staring up at me in terror.

Fear consumed him.

"So originally... I planned to let you both go," I said as I crouched in front of him.

"But you crossed the line."

I lifted my finger under his chin.

"P-Please... spare me..."

"Spare you?"

I tilted my head slightly.

"And why should I?"

His expression froze.

Then rage returned.

"IF YOU KILL ME HERE, THE AMERICAN HEROES WILL HUNT YOU DOWN!"

I paused.

He wasn’t wrong.

If I killed them here, my peaceful life would disappear.

But then again—

Why should I fear them?

"And?"

Behind my mask, I smiled faintly.

"Can they actually kill me?"

Griffon fell silent.

"You were wrong about one thing," I continued.

"I’m not afraid."

"Goodbye... Griffon."

I leaned closer.

"Or should I say—Edward Grey."

His eyes widened in shock.

"W-Who are you—"

I fired.

His body fell lifeless to the ground.

I stood up and straightened my posture.

Only one nuisance remained.

*On the other side*

Edgar desperately crawled away, dragging his broken body through the ruined ground.

’I need to live... no matter what...’

’That thing... that monster... is impossible to fight...’

Blood loss weakened him. His strength was fading fast.

Then he heard it.

Whistling.

Footsteps.

Slow. Calm.

He looked back.

Through the thick fog, Indigo emerged, walking casually.

The sound was strangely pleasant—and absolutely terrifying.

’He’s coming...’

Edgar crawled faster.

The whistling stopped.

He turned around again.

No one was there.

Relief washed over him—briefly.

The whistling resumed.

Right in front of him.

He looked up.

Indigo.

At that moment, Edgar knew his life was over.

Indigo waved lightly.

"P-Please... forgive me..."

"Hah... you all beg the same way when you’re about to die."

Blue light wrapped around Indigo’s left foot.

"Goodbye, William Harvey."

Edgar’s eyes widened.

Then everything went dark.

Indigo brushed the dust from his hands.

He could have killed them sooner.

But for some reason—

He wanted them to suffer first.