CHAPTER 31: CHAPTER 31

Suzune stood in the middle of the arcade’s main hall, surrounded by a handful of the Hunters.

Their faces were twisted with desire and arrogance, eyes crawling over her curves as if undressing her in their minds.

The room was heavy with the stench of cheap cologne, sweat, and cigarette smoke, and their smirks only deepened as she smiled at them calmly, brushing a strand of hair away from her cheek.

One of them, a tall man with greasy hair and yellow teeth, licked his lips and said with a chuckle, "What’s a fine woman like you doing with that punk Seijirou? You could have fun with us instead."

Another laughed and added, "Yeah, babe, forget him. You got a body like that, you should be worshipped. We’ll take real good care of you."

Suzune giggled softly, almost innocently, her tone playful yet cold underneath.

"Oh my, there are so many of you who want me," she said, tilting her head slightly as her eyes sparkled with amusement. "But if you all want a turn, you’ll have to get in line. I’m quite a popular woman, you see."

The men laughed, thinking she was flirting, but before any of them could respond, her hand shot out.

In one smooth motion, she grabbed the nearest man by his collar and pulled him forward.

Her knee rose sharply, smashing into his gut.

The man folded over, coughing blood, and before he could fall, Suzune spun gracefully and struck his temple with a roundhouse kick.

He dropped like a sack of bricks, unconscious before he hit the floor.

The sudden violence froze the others for a heartbeat.

She smiled again, her expression still teasing but her eyes sharp and cold.

"What’s wrong? Didn’t you all want me?" she asked sweetly. "Come and get me."

That was enough to break their hesitation, and they all rushed her at once.

Suzune moved like water, her body flowing through the chaos with impossible grace.

She sidestepped a punch, leaned backward to avoid a swing, and countered with a sharp elbow to the ribs.

Her footwork was elegant and precise, each dodge perfectly timed.

She spun in place, her hair fluttering as her heel crashed into another man’s face with a cracking sound.

Blood sprayed, and the man fell back, his nose broken and eyes rolling upward.

Two came from behind her with knives, but she dropped into a split at the last second.

The blades slashed harmlessly above her as her legs swept across the floor, tripping both attackers.

Before they could recover, she stood up in a single smooth motion and stepped on their faces with both heels.

The crunch was audible.

Then, she noticed one of them grinning beneath her boot, his face turning red but not from pain.

He was smiling.

Suzune blinked, her expression deadpan.

"You’re enjoying this?" she muttered. Her cheek twitched slightly before she removed her foot in disgust. "Pervert."

The man groaned something incoherent that sounded like a laugh, and Suzune sighed softly, shaking her head. "Some men are hopeless."

She turned her attention back to the others.

Most of them had stopped moving, uncertain whether to attack or back away. Their weapons trembled slightly in their hands as they stared at her.

Suzune raised one leg high, effortlessly, until it was almost vertical. The movement was elegant and her balance perfect.

She looked at them with a teasing smile.

"You’re all wondering why I’m so flexible, right?" she asked casually.

No one answered, their faces tightening as they stared in silence.

Suzune lowered her leg slowly, her tone turning playful again.

"Well, that is because I’ve practiced ballet since I was a child, and I do yoga every morning," she said as if chatting with friends, her voice soft and feminine.

"Flexibility has many uses." She paused, smiling mischievously. "Especially in bed. Seijirou surely enjoys that part the most."

That was enough to make the Hunters lose it.

"Kill that bitch!" one shouted furiously, charging forward.

Suzune’s smile faded into something sharp and predatory. She sidestepped the first attacker, grabbing his wrist and twisting it until his weapon clattered to the ground.

Her knee rose again, hitting his chin, followed by a spinning kick that sent him crashing into a stack of boxes.

Another came from her left, swinging a metal bat.

She ducked low, feeling the wind of the swing pass above her, and swept his legs from under him.

As he fell, she twisted and kicked him square in the chest, sending him rolling backward into another thug.

Her movements were fluid, beautiful, and merciless, every strike carrying both elegance and lethal intent.

Within minutes, the floor was littered with groaning men clutching broken limbs and bleeding faces.

Suzune stood among them, brushing a speck of dust from her jacket, her breathing steady, her expression calm.

She looked around, then murmured to herself, "Honestly, men these days talk too much."

She cracked her neck, glanced toward the back room where Seijirou had gone, and smiled faintly. "I hope he’s not having all the fun without me."

*

*

*

Seijirou’s body moved like a machine fueled by precision and violence.

The first thug lunged at him with a broken bottle, but Seijirou caught his wrist mid-swing, twisted it backward, and drove his knee straight into the man’s ribs.

The crack of bone was sharp and deafening.

Before the man could fall, Seijirou spun, his elbow crashing into another attacker’s jaw with enough force to send him crashing into an arcade cabinet.

Two down in seconds. Both are disabled, and neither are getting back up.

He didn’t stop there.

He moved quickly, his steps light and agile as his eyes locked on the leader trying to flee through the back.

He followed, every thug that stood in his path was knocked down with mechanical brutality.

A forearm to the throat.

A stomp to the knee.

A heel to the temple.

Each strike was short, efficient, and merciless.

When Seijirou pushed through the back, he found himself in a dim, wide space filled with broken tables and hanging wires.

The smell of stale beer and dust filled the air. The leader stood there with a smug smile, confidence returning to his face as he looked to the right.

Beside him, a large, burly man slept with his head resting on a pool table. His breathing was deep, steady, almost animalistic.

The man’s shoulder-length black hair framed a face lined with scars, his massive arms covered in old bruises and faded tattoos.

Even sitting, he was intimidating.

When Seijirou entered, the leader grinned wider, as if he’d just found salvation.

He called out in a mocking tone, "Ryuhei. Wake up, man. Got someone here who wants to die."

The large man stirred, groaning as he lazily lifted his head. His eyes opened halfway, heavy with sleep, but even that half-lidded stare radiated danger.

The leader stepped closer to him, puffing out his chest as he started bragging.

"You’re finished, Seijirou. You see this man? He’s Ryuhei. The former district leader of the 24th District before he was defeated by the current one. His strength is second only to the district leader himself. You don’t stand a chance."

Before he could continue his speech, Ryuhei stood up, stretching his neck as if the whole thing bored him.

His joints cracked audibly a he looked at the leader, then at Seijirou, his eyes now slightly more awake but still calm, almost lazy.

"What’s this?" Ryuhei asked in a deep, rumbling voice. "Who’s the kid?"

The leader pointed at Seijirou. "He’s the one who attacked us. Says he came to declare war on the Hunters."

Ryuhei blinked slowly, then let out a low hum. "Declare war, huh?"

He stepped forward, each movement heavy enough to make the floor creak. Standing fully upright, his presence dwarfed Seijirou’s.

He was easily over two meters tall, his muscles built like they’d been carved from stone.

Seijirou, at one-eighty, had to tilt his head upward just to meet his gaze.

Ryuhei looked down at him, studying his expression.

"So, you came here to declare war?" he asked again, voice even but cold.

Seijirou’s answer was steady, almost calm.

"I’m not here to declare war." He took a single step closer, his eyes unflinching. "I’m here to destroy you."

For the first time, Ryuhei’s lips curled into a grin. It was wide, sharp, and filled with genuine excitement.

"Interesting."

He rolled his shoulders and cracked his knuckles. The sound echoed like gunfire through the empty hall.

"Let’s see if you can back that up."