Chapter Start
Heavy rain pours across the battlefield.
The ground is covered in water, and thunder echoes through the sky.
In the center of the battlefield, Jay and Red Hunter stand facing each other.
Every hunter watches them.
Suddenly—
BOOM!
Jay dashes forward and lands a powerful kick.
Red Hunter slides backward several steps as raindrops strike his mask.
Then he laughs.
"Let's take this to the next level."
His voice echoes across the battlefield.
"Normal Inferno."
BOOOOOOM!
A massive shockwave spreads outward.
Hunters are pushed back, windows shatter, and the ground trembles.
A dark red aura surrounds Red Hunter, and his eyes begin to glow crimson.
Jay stares at him.
Then he calmly says,
"Normal Inferno."
A dark aura surrounds Jay as well.
His eyes turn black, with glowing red dots in the center.
The hunters watch in shock.
At that moment, Ansh jumps down from a nearby building.
He removes his glasses and stands beside Jay.
"Now this is getting interesting."
Soon, Aditya, Dhruv, Amar, and Kabir join them.
All of them stand together.
Jay looks at Red Hunter.
"Maybe you're stronger than all of us."
"But..."
"Our bond is stronger than your power."
Red Hunter laughs.
"What an emotional speech."
The next second—
Everyone charges toward him.
Red Hunter moves forward as well.
"Let's get rid of the weak ones first."
A black sword appears in his hand.
He rushes toward Kabir.
Just as the attack is about to reach him—
Someone blocks it.
It is Jay.
His hand is bleeding slightly from stopping the blade.
Memories flash through his mind.
Arjun.
His friend.
The battles they fought together.
Jay's expression hardens.
"This time..."
"I'm not letting any of my friends fall."
The battlefield becomes silent.
Red Hunter looks at him and smiles.
"Very well."
"I'll focus on you first."
Suddenly, he turns and attacks Amar.
Amar blocks with both arms but is pushed backward.
Red Hunter raises his hand.
"Chain Strike."
Dark chains emerge from the ground.
In moments, Dhruv, Amar, and Kabir are trapped.
"What?!"
Kabir struggles, but the chains tighten.
The distraction is exactly what Red Hunter wanted.
"Infernal Armlet."
A dark-red armlet appears on his right arm.
An intimidating aura spreads from it.
In an instant, he appears in front of Aditya.
BOOM!
One powerful strike sends Aditya flying backward through several walls.
"ADITYA SIR!"
Ishita shouts.
Jay's anger grows.
He appears in front of Red Hunter and launches a full-power punch.
BOOOOM!
For the first time, Red Hunter is pushed backward.
Lightning crackles around Jay.
Red Hunter straightens himself and smiles.
"So..."
"You really are different."
Ansh steps beside Jay.
"Jay."
"No more holding back."
Jay nods.
"Yeah."
Red Hunter lifts his sword.
"Then let's begin the second round."
CRAAAAACK!
Thunder roars across the sky.
The rain becomes even heavier.
Then Red Hunter lowers his sword and quietly says—
"Prime Inferno."
For a brief moment, everything becomes silent.
Then—
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
A massive pillar of energy rises into the sky.
The pressure alone makes many hunters step back.
Far away, Aditya sees it and immediately recognizes the form.
His eyes widen.
"No..."
"Not this again."
Ishita helps him stand.
"Sir, what is happening?"
Aditya keeps staring at the beam.
"That..."
"is Prime Inferno."
"A form that only a handful of people have ever witnessed."
They quickly return to the battlefield.
Meanwhile, Ansh looks at Jay.
"If we want to win..."
"We'll need everything we've got."
Jay nods.
The energy beam slowly disappears.
Red Hunter begins floating above the battlefield.
Glowing red lion tattoos appear on his forearms.
A powerful aura spreads in every direction.
Many hunters instinctively step back.
Some even begin retreating.
"What is that?"
"He's unbelievable..."
Ansh watches carefully.
"This..."
"is Inferno Prime."
Then Red Hunter opens his eyes.
They are now glowing purple.
FLASH!
He vanishes.
Jay looks around in surprise.
"What?!"
Suddenly—
Red Hunter appears behind him.
BOOM!
A powerful kick sends Jay high into the air.
Red Hunter follows instantly.
A rapid exchange begins.
The two move so quickly that most hunters can barely follow them.
Shockwaves ripple through the storm clouds.
Jay is forced back again and again.
But he refuses to give up.
Finally, he raises his sword.
"HEAVENFALL!"
CRAAAAACK!!!
Lightning pours from the sky toward Red Hunter.
For the first time, Red Hunter is forced to defend himself.
Using the opportunity, Jay lands back on the battlefield.
He is exhausted and breathing heavily.
His diary suddenly glows.
Jay raises a hand.
"Summon Health Potion."
A small portal opens.
A potion falls into his hand.
He drinks it immediately.
The diary displays:
[60% Recovered]
Jay smiles.
"Good enough."
He stands once more.
His aura reignites.
Ansh walks to his side.
"Ready?"
Jay grips his sword.
"Ready."
The two of them face Red Hunter together.
Red Hunter smiles.
"Interesting."
"Now things are getting exciting."
Jay and Ansh charge forward at full speed.
Red Hunter moves toward them.
Their auras collide in the middle of the battlefield—
And at that exact moment...
Chapter Ends