The Rise Of The No. 1 Hunter-Chapter 153: ROOF SHATTERS

The explosion ripped through the skyscraper, concentrated and deadly. Shards of ice shot outward like a storm of jagged knives, piercing barriers, slicing concrete. One massive spike drove forward with terrifying precision, grazing Yakuro and chipping through his stomach armor. He staggered backward, chest heaving, blood seeping from the wound. His protective barrier flickered, cracking under the impact.

Raito's grin widened. Lightning danced in his eyes, a predator savoring the hunt.

Atop the shattered skyscraper, Chichiro sprinted forward, desperation written on her face. Her hands clutched Yakuro, trying to drag him to safety, but his weight pinned her in place. The ice spike still shimmered, embedded in his chest, a cruel reminder of the strike.

Yakuro's jaw tightened. With a surge of sheer will, he slammed his hand into the spike, shattering it from within. Pain coursed through his body, but he forced himself upright, collapsing onto the rooftop, blood spilling freely.

Chichiro's magic flared. Her hands glowed as alien energy coalesced, lifting the spilled blood and forcing it back into his body. Yakuro's wounds knit themselves closed, leaving him battered but alive. A faint green aura lingered over him, pulsing like a heartbeat.

Ilini Wright watched silently, her face tight with concern.

Chichiro turned to Raito, voice trembling but firm. "Please… don't do this. We don't have to fight. Why are you here?"

Raito's eyes locked on her, unwavering. "A friend of mine… was captured for no reason. Simply because someone held a grudge against me."

Chichiro's brow furrowed. "Then… then we can give her up. I've spoken with the team—the hunters who took her. She's in the torture chamber, but I begged them to stop. They finally relented. You can take her."

Raito's expression didn't change. Calm, resolute. "I promise… I won't make this any harder than it already is."

Then—thunder.

Jin landed on the rooftop with a deafening crash, the ground beneath him cracking under the force. His aura flared violently, red and raw, feeding the air with tension. Without a word, he surged forward, fist drawn, speed unmatched.

Raito didn't even blink. He caught Jin's punch midair, fingers closing around it with inhuman strength. The air screamed in protest. In one fluid motion, he lifted his leg and kicked—sharp, precise, unstoppable—smashing Jin squarely in the jaw.

The world seemed to slow. Jin's head snapped back. His body spiraled upward like a missile, spinning, rising higher and higher into the sky. The skyscraper beneath him seemed tiny, insignificant.

Chichiro's eyes widened, disbelief cracking her voice. "What the hell… who is this guy?"

Ilini gasped. "I saw him on the news… Jin is one of the strongest hunters alive… and he's still flying into the sky just from one kick?!"

Even blood trickling from his mouth, Jin didn't stop. The sheer force of his rage drove him, descending in a furious arc, landing back on the rooftop with a roar that rattled windows blocks away. The impact sent a shockwave through the concrete, dust and debris scattering.

The rooftop trembled beneath them. Concrete cracked, glass shattered, and steel bent under the pressure of their immense auras. Dust swirled in the wind, carried by the shockwaves of Jin's furious punches and Raito's calm, lethal movements.

Raito's eyes locked onto Jin. A small smirk tugged at his lips. Let's see how fast you really are.

Jin lunged, fists blazing with red aura, his movements a blur. Each punch was an explosion of force, one strike could level floors of the skyscraper. But Raito didn't move like a man—he moved like a shadow that knew the exact moment the world would breathe.

BOOM!

Jin's fist collided with Raito's palm midair. The impact sent shockwaves rippling outward. Time itself seemed to shiver. The air warped around them. Lightning arced from the collision, jagged streaks illuminating the shattered rooftop.

Raito's grip didn't falter. Instead, with a single motion, he twisted his body, kicking Jin straight in the chest. The force launched Jin upward like a missile, spinning violently.

"Whoa…" Chichiro gasped, clutching her robes as the wind from Jin's ascent tore through the rooftop.

Jin's aura flared brighter, crimson blazing as he twisted in midair, landing with a deafening CRASH. Concrete exploded beneath him, chunks flying like missiles. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. He spat it out, eyes burning with fury.

Raito's calm gaze followed him. "Your strength… impressive. But predictable."

Before Jin could respond, Raito surged forward, moving faster than the eye could follow. Every step kicked up concrete dust; every swing of his fists sent shockwaves that cracked nearby buildings.

Jin countered, swinging a fist that created a ripple of red energy across the rooftop. CLANG! The force collided with Raito, sending sparks and chunks of concrete flying. Both fighters froze mid-collision, breathing visible in the cold air of tension.

Then Raito smiled.

Time isn't linear for me.

In an instant, Raito's fists blurred. He struck Jin multiple times in a heartbeat—punches that shattered stone, ripped through air, and made the wind scream. Each impact forced Jin to stagger, blood dripping faster now.

"You… can't even land a hit," Raito murmured, voice calm over the chaos.

Jin roared, aura erupting like a supernova. His fists ignited with raw power, red and white lightning dancing along his skin. With a deafening shout, he lunged.

Raito tilted his head. Already overextending.

With a graceful pivot, he caught Jin midair—not with force, but with perfect precision—and sent him flying backward. The air split like glass as Jin slammed into the edge of the skyscraper, leaving a massive gouge.

Chichiro's eyes widened. "He's… he's just… too fast… too strong!" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Ilini Wright muttered, barely audible over the winds. "No human should be able to move like that… it's not natural."

Chichiro shouted from the side, panic creeping into his voice. "Raito, stop! This is too dangerous! You're… he's beyond anything we've ever faced!"

Raito didn't stop. His aura flared purple, his muscles moving in perfect synchronization. He snapped his fingers subtly, manipulating time around himself.