Chapter 95

Chapter 95
## Chapter 95: Banshee’s Demise

—

Staring into the swirling abyss of obsidian fire, Narsenti was consumed by a hopelessness so thick it felt as though it had been dragged from the most desolate corner of the void.

Watching the heavy metal shackles that bound and harnessed that very despair, she was struck by a sense of majestic terror—a cosmic awe that far surpassed simple fear.

“I have to get out of here.”

A survival instinct she hadn’t tapped into for centuries screamed in the back of her mind. Prying into the spirit of another was a gamble; if the connection reversed, the predator became the prey, leading to total spiritual collapse and agonizing ruin.

But this wasn’t just a wound.

This was extinction. She was facing her end. If Narsenti still possessed a physical form, her bladder would have failed her long ago.

“I’ve… I’ve existed for millennia.”

A soul’s power was built on the foundation of its history and gathered memories. The older the being, the more indomitable the spirit. It was logically impossible for a mere mortal, someone who hadn’t lived a single century, to exert this kind of pressure on her.

“…!”

The iron links restraining the black inferno began to grind and shift. The crimson-tinted chains braided themselves together, forming the likeness of a beast’s collar.

The fire condensed into a lupine shape, emitting a bone-chilling shriek as it struggled. Yet, the restraints remained absolute. They cinched tighter around the creature’s throat, twitching like organic parasites as they forced the wolf downward.

Despite its frantic thrashing, the predator was tamed by the pull of its leash.

“You can control that? That’s impossible!”

This wasn’t just a cage. Subjugating a primal force and domesticating it were worlds apart. To even house such a monstrosity within one’s soul without being consumed was a miracle of its own.

But those chains—the very essence of this individual’s spirit—had done more than hold it back. They had broken it. The gargantuan head of the beast, now following like a subservient hound, drifted toward Narsenti.

“S-stay away!”

The moment she turned to fly, thin scarlet links snared her ankles. They were the exact same chains that held the world-ending monster. Narsenti was paralyzed; there was no escape from this grip.

“Ah…”

The shadow of the black flames fell over her. The wolf-shaped fire loomed like a massive peak, blotting out everything else.

The creature unhinged its jaw. Its mouth was a gateway to an infinite dark. With a single snap, the beast closed its teeth over Narsenti.

She offered no defense, swallowed whole in an instant. Yet, in keeping with her status as an ancient banshee, she managed one final, desperate maneuver.

‘Immortal Legion.’

With her fading essence, she sent a warning to the Emperor of the Immortal Legion. A decree: *Do not engage this soul.*

No existence could endure a direct collision with this terrifying spirit. The message had to be delivered.

And with that, it was over. Banshee Narsenti—the timeless entity who served as the heart of the 1st-grade Erosion Core, Jauron Valley—suffered a death so trivial and weak it mocked the legend of her name.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

The fog in my brain lifted. The towering stone maiden that had loomed over the falls let out a final, piercing wail, her hands over her face as her form dissolved into nothingness.

I clicked my tongue and ran a hand through my hair.

“You really should check who you’re messing with before you pull a stunt like that.”

My consciousness snapped back from that mental realm, returning safely to the physical world.

Staring directly into the soul of a man who once stopped the apocalypse doesn’t exactly lead to a happy ending.

“It’s like a scammer accidentally calling the head of the police.”

She picked the wrong victim, and she paid the price. Psychological tricks don’t touch me. And if someone tries to grab my soul? Well, they get what she got.

The other hunters, who had been just as out of it as I was, began to blink back to reality. They stared at the evaporating statue with wide eyes and hushed breaths.

“Wh-what just happened?”

To Jung No-hoon’s confused stammering, I gave a blunt shrug.

“It’s over. Start packing; we’re going home.”

The entity was gone for good.

“But we didn’t even land a hit,” Han Sang-ah pointed out.

“Internal failure. She blew herself up.”

After giving Han Sang-ah a quick answer, I surveyed the area. The crystalline garden, once a masterpiece of gem-carved beauty, was spiderwebbing with cracks, falling apart as the dark energy dissipated.

Just like that, the 1st-grade Erosion Core Jauron Valley was finished in a surprisingly boring way. Considering we had to tear through Harbin and dodge the Immortal Legion to get here, the finale felt pretty underwhelming.

“Still, she was a 1st-grade core. She managed to get one last thing off.”

There had been a ripple in the ambient mana. I couldn’t be certain of the specifics, but a signal had definitely been sent. That was outside my ability to stop.

Suddenly, reward chests appeared for every hunter—the undeniable proof that the Erosion Core was dead. Seeing the boxes, the hunters finally snapped out of their trance and started cheering.

“We actually did it! I didn’t do a damn thing and the core just popped!”

Jung No-hoon was practically vibrating as he started tearing his box open. Man, he’s easy to please. Shaking my head, I popped the lid on my own reward.

“…A stone?”

Inside was a solitary, translucent rose-colored jewel. Shaped like a drop of water, the gem pulsed with a faint, internal light.

I reached in to pick it up, but the second my skin touched it, my fingertips started turning jet black. I immediately flared the Paradox Flame, incinerating the necrotic toxins before they could spread up my hand.

“What is this? This is supposed to be a reward?”

It was pure poison. Without my reflexes, I would have lost the finger. Even with the flame, it felt dead and numb. I guess it made sense as a trophy from Jauron Valley.

I studied the stone for a moment before snapping the box shut. I’d need Choi Seung-gi to take a look at this.

“Besides, the instructions mentioned we needed a medium.”

This jewel might be the answer. It didn’t matter that it came from the Immortal Legion; the enemy I’d faced was just one of many regional leaders. And the weapon I was currently using wasn’t a high-tier reward either.

To combine the two spears into one, I needed a specific catalyst. This gem from Jauron Valley looked like it fit the bill.

“Ah, looks like the exit is here.”

As I was thinking, the scenery shifted, and we were standing back on the surface of the frozen lake.

“That’s two.”

I whispered to myself, tossing the box into the air and catching it.

“I’m—we’re going to be absolutely loaded!”

Jung No-hoon let out a roar of laughter that echoed across the ice.

“Yeah, yeah, good for you, kid.”

I gave him a look then tapped my comms.

“Yoo Chan-seok reporting. The 1st-grade Erosion Core Jauron Valley has been neutralized as of this moment.”

—Understood. Confirmation received. Excellent work, Hunter Yoo Chan-seok.

Nearby, Han Sang-ah was quietly inspecting a pair of shoes she’d received. They were deep violet slippers with a ghostly, unsettling glow.

I looked at the footwear and it clicked.

“The Ghost Shoes.”

She looked up at me, curious.

“What are they?”

“They let you go intangible for a bit. Based on the mana signature, probably about five seconds.”

“That’s perfect.”

I wasn’t sure about my own gem yet, but it looked like Han Sang-ah walked away with the best haul from this mission.

The utility of being a ghost for a few seconds was massive. While active, you’re basically immune to physical harm.

The downside, of course, was that she couldn’t hurt anyone either while in that state.

“In a real scrap, five seconds is an eternity.”

She could use that time to reposition or charge a move, then strike the moment she solidified.

“You’re a one-shot specialist anyway.”

For her combat style—preparing that one perfect, lethal strike—these were a godsend. She’d probably keep those shoes until she retired.

“Either way, the investors are going to be thrilled.”

The news had likely already hit the wires. The corporations that backed us were probably popping bottles of expensive wine right about now.

We had secured Harbin and wiped out the threat of Jauron Valley. I opened the group channel on the comms.

“As we discussed before, everyone on the Jauron Valley team has a choice.”

You can take your payout and head home, or you can stay in the Harbin/Changchun area to hunt the lower-grade cores and sign on with the development firms.

“Decide within three days and let your handlers know.”

From there, the Gull staff would sort the hunters, match them with the right companies, and handle the paperwork.

They’d charge a fee, of course, but the companies would be the ones paying it, not the hunters. For the fighters, it was a free service.

It’s like the ‘ladies drink free’ rule at a bar. The ones who are desperate for the connection are the ones who pay the bill.

“Amazing work, everyone!”

Adakawa Nanami sprinted over and gave me a quick hug, her face glowing. She was still wearing that flashy gear of hers.

“You’re going to be a superstar back in Japan.”

She nodded enthusiastically.

“I’m the first Japanese hunter to ever clear a 1st-grade core!”

I mean, I was the one who actually killed it, but who cares. Just being on a successful 1st-grade raid gave you prestige—and usually a massive power boost from the rewards.

Han Sang-ah was a prime example; those shoes changed her entire tactical ceiling. Adakawa Nanami likely got something just as transformative.

“Good job, team.”

I sent out a final broadcast to all channels, then looked over at Han Sang-ah and Jung No-hoon.

“Let’s get back to Korea.”

Our work here was done. The rest—the land development and the security contracts—was for the suits to handle.

We packed our gear, waved goodbye to Adakawa Nanami, and caught a flight home. A few hours later, while we were in the helicopter, my phone buzzed.

“What’s this?”

A text from an unlisted number. I looked over and saw that Han Sang-ah and Jung No-hoon had received the exact same message.

[Hunter Yoo Chan-seok. This is the Wonder Club. We have been informed of your victory at Jauron Valley. First, accept our congratulations.]

It didn’t take much reading to get the gist.

“They’re inviting us to join the Wonder Club.”

It was a prestigious circle reserved only for those who had successfully cleared a 1st-grade Erosion Core.

According to the text, even the hunters ranked 2nd, 3rd, and 4th on the global Hope’s List were members.

Jung No-hoon looked like he’d seen a ghost.

“Holy crap… I actually lived long enough to get a text from the Wonder Club.”

“Is it really that prestigious?”

He nodded so hard I thought his neck might snap.

“Prestigious? It’s the top. These guys control everything. If you’re in the club, you’re set for life. It’s a total power move.”

Helping each other out, huh. Apparently, even if you cleared a 1st-grade core, they were picky about who they let in.

As the helicopter blades whirred overhead, I leaned back and drifted into thought.