The first hunter arrived before midnight.
Ethan felt him—
Before he saw him.
A shift in the air.
A disruption in rhythm.
Like the world itself flinched.
Ethan stood on the rooftop, overlooking the city.
Lights stretched endlessly.
Cars moved like veins of fire.
Normal.
Too normal.
"They're close," he muttered.
Behind him—
Silence.
She was gone.
Or hiding.
Or watching.
He didn't know anymore.
But her last words lingered:
Run.
Ethan exhaled slowly.
"No."
His fingers flexed.
The memory of blood still lingered.
The hunger—
Still there.
"I'm done running."
A voice answered.
From the darkness behind him.
"Good."
Ethan turned instantly.
Too slow.
A figure was already there.
Standing at the edge of the rooftop.
Tall.
Wrapped in a long coat.
Face obscured.
But the presence—
Heavy.
Crushing.
"You're adapting fast," the figure said.
Voice distorted.
Unnatural.
Ethan stepped back slightly.
"Another one?"
The figure chuckled.
"Not like the last."
A step forward.
The air tightened.
"I'm here to test you."
Ethan's eyes sharpened.
"Then you're going to die."
Silence.
Then—
The figure laughed.
"Confidence."
"Let's see if it survives."
He moved.
Not fast—
Instant.
Ethan barely raised his arms—
Too late—
A strike hit his shoulder—
CRACK.
Bone shifted.
Pain exploded.
Ethan staggered—
Teeth clenched—
Stronger.
Much stronger.
"Too slow," the figure repeated.
Ethan's vision flickered—
Silver surged.
Not again.
He forced it down.
Think.
The man's stance—
Precise.
Controlled.
Not brute force.
Technique.
Ethan moved.
Low.
Fast.
He didn't aim for power.
He aimed for timing.
The figure struck again—
Ethan slipped—
Barely—
His hand shot forward—
Target: ribs.
Impact—
Solid.
But—
Wrong.
The figure didn't react.
Didn't even move.
"…Too shallow," the man said calmly.
Then—
Counter.
A knee—
Into Ethan's stomach—
Air gone.
A hand—
Grabbing his throat—
Lifting him—
Off the ground.
Ethan's vision blurred.
"You don't understand the rules yet," the figure said.
Ethan struggled—
Clawed at the grip—
Nothing worked.
"You think killing one of us makes you dangerous?"
His grip tightened.
"It makes you a target."
Ethan's lungs burned.
Vision darkening—
No.
Not like this.
Not again.
Something inside him—
Moved.
Not rage.
Not instinct.
Something colder.
Sharper.
He stopped struggling.
The figure paused.
"…Oh?"
Ethan's eyes opened.
Fully silver.
But this time—
Steady.
Focused.
His hand rose slowly—
Not frantic.
Precise.
He grabbed the man's wrist—
And twisted.
CRACK.
The grip loosened.
Ethan dropped—
Landing hard—
Rolling—
Distance.
Breath returned in sharp bursts.
The figure looked at his own arm.
Slightly bent.
Then back at Ethan.
"…Interesting."
Ethan stood.
Different now.
Controlled.
"You're not the only one learning," Ethan said.
Silence.
Then—
The figure rushed him.
Faster.
Deadlier.
Ethan moved.
Not reacting—
Predicting.
He stepped aside—
Turned—
Struck—
His fist connected—
This time—
Deep.
The figure staggered.
First time.
Ethan didn't stop.
Second strike—
Jaw—
Third—
Ribs—
Fourth—
Neck—
Relentless.
The figure retaliated—
But slower now—
Ethan slipped past—
His hand shot forward—
Again—
Straight into the chest.
THUD.
Silence.
The figure froze.
"…So you learn by killing," he murmured.
Ethan leaned closer.
Cold.
"No," he said quietly.
"I learn by surviving."
He pushed deeper.
The body went limp.
Second kill.
Ethan stepped back slowly.
Breathing steady.
Too steady.
Something was changing.
Faster now.
A sound echoed across the rooftop.
Applause.
Slow.
Mocking.
Ethan turned.
Three figures stood at the opposite edge.
Watching.
Waiting.
"Well done," one of them said.
A woman.
Smiling.
"But now…"
Her eyes gleamed.
"It's our turn."
Ethan's grip tightened.
Three.
At once.
Behind him—
A whisper.
Soft.
Close.
"Now you run."
Ethan smiled.
For the first time—
Not human.
"No," he said.
And stepped forward.