CHAPTER 147: [IS THAT MEL?]

Eli barely had time to breathe—before Kairo’s arm shot around his waist.

"Wha—?!"

The world tilted. Water splashed up around them in a violent spray.

And suddenly, Eli was off his feet again, lifted clean out of the water and pressed tight against Kairo’s chest.

"Kairo—?!"

The hunter didn’t answer. Didn’t even look at him. His jaw was set, expression carved from steel, eyes fixed ahead.

And then he moved.

It happened so fast Eli’s mind lagged behind. One heartbeat he was staring at the monstrous silhouette in the distance—the next, the world blurred into streaks of dark stone and rushing water.

Kairo’s grip around him was unyielding, solid, the kind that made Eli realize just how much stronger he was compared to anyone else. Each step Kairo took sent ripples cutting through the flood, water splitting around him as if forced aside by sheer will.

Eli’s pulse tripped over itself, panic and confusion twisting in his chest.

’What the hell is he doing now?!’

"Kairo, wait—!" Eli gasped, hands fisting in the soaked fabric of his uniform.

Still no answer.

Kairo’s black eyes burned ahead, focused—sharp, unwavering. That same terrifying calm that made even S-Class Hunters hesitate when he gave orders. It wasn’t rage or recklessness driving him. It was precision.

Eli followed his gaze past Kairo’s shoulder.

Mio and Zaira were there—shouting something, waving their arms, their faces pale and streaked with blood. But whatever they were yelling was drowned by the roar of rushing water and the echo of collapsing stone.

And then—Eli saw him.

Mel.

Running just a few meters behind them.

At first glance, it almost looked normal. The familiar stride, the same tall frame. His body moved, staggering but quick—like someone trying to catch up.

But something was wrong.

’Wait... is that really—’

Eli’s breath hitched. His eyes darted to Mel’s face.

His skin looked drained, almost gray under the flickering light. His movements weren’t natural—they were stiff, jerky, like his body was following commands it didn’t understand.

And his eyes—

Vacant.

Completely hollow. Lifeless.

The kind of emptiness that made Eli’s stomach twist in horror.

"Is he... awake?" Eli whispered, his voice trembling.

’Or is he being controlled again?’

But that didn’t make sense.

If Mel was under the octopus’s control, the creature shouldn’t need to chase them. That was its advantage—its invisible manipulation, its way of using others to strike unseen.

So why show itself now?

Eli’s head throbbed as the pieces clicked together.

’Unless... it’s done hiding.’

The realization hit him like ice in his veins.

The octopus wasn’t hiding anymore because it didn’t have to.

It was confident now. Stronger. Smarter.

And it wanted them to see it.

Behind Mel, the creature loomed—a nightmare in motion. Its massive body undulated with each step, slick black skin glistening under the faint cavern light. Every twitch of its tendrils sent ripples through the water, a rhythmic, deliberate pulse, like it was breathing.

No—like it was waiting.

A low rumble rolled through the cavern, deep and resonant. The ground quaked. Water surged.

Eli’s stomach dropped.

"Oh god—"

He didn’t get to finish.

Because Mio and Zaira had sprinted past them, stumbling over the flooded stone to hide behind Kairo’s position, the tension snapped taut like a bowstring.

Water churned around their legs, the echo of collapsing stone roaring overhead.

But before Mel could even follow—before he could take a single step closer—

Kairo moved.

Fast.

The air cracked.

A shockwave split through the cavern as Kairo’s aura flared, bursting out in a violent surge of scarlet light that hissed through the air like wildfire.

The pressure rippled outward, water erupting upward in a chaotic spray.

Eli barely had time to blink.

Kairo’s arm flexed, muscles tightening, his grip around Eli securing him for just a heartbeat before his other arm shot forward.

His hand snapped out with terrifying precision—grabbing Mel by the shoulder.

The next second blurred.

A deafening rush. A pulse of power.

And then—

THUD!

Mel’s body hit the ground with bone-cracking force, the impact sending a geyser of water exploding outward. The cavern shook. Waves surged around them, slapping against the walls.

"MEL!" Zaira screamed, her voice raw, cracking with panic. She stumbled forward, water splashing high against her chest.

Mio’s threads flashed in defense, glowing faintly, but even he froze mid-summon—staring in disbelief at the scene before him.

Kairo stood over Mel’s fallen body, his back straight, aura still flaring in red arcs across his shoulders.

"Kai—Captain, what the hell?!" Mio shouted, fury breaking through the noise.

Eli’s breath caught. His pulse thundered so hard he could hear it pounding in his ears.

’He just—he just slammed Mel down like—’

"Captain! What are you doing?! Why would you do that?!" Mio yelled again, his voice echoing sharply.

"Stop! That’s Mel!" Zaira cried, wading closer. Her eyes were wide, terrified. "You’re going to hurt him!"

But Kairo didn’t stop.

He didn’t even look back.

Every ounce of him radiated lethal intent. His shoulders squared, his movements sharp, precise—like a predator zeroing in on its target.

Eli’s heart twisted.

This wasn’t panic.

This wasn’t hesitation.

This was focus.

Each of Kairo’s steps sent small waves rippling outward. The faint shimmer of his blood aura wrapped around his frame like heat off burning metal, distorting the air.

’He’s not regrouping,’ Eli realized, eyes widening. ’He’s going straight for it.’

"Kairo, wait—!" Eli shouted, struggling against his grip, his voice breaking with panic. "You can’t just—! That thing—!"

But the hunter didn’t slow.

He surged forward, each stride faster than the last, water splashing violently with every step. The crimson aura flared brighter, tendrils of energy pulsing across his body as the blood in his veins seemed to hum with restrained power.

The octopus reared back in response, as if recognizing the threat. Its tendrils lifted and coiled above, writhing in anticipation. The cavern trembled with the weight of its movement, the water vibrating under its control.

Eli could feel it—the crushing pressure, the pulse of something ancient and monstrous pressing against his lungs. His danger sense screamed louder than ever.

’He’s really going to fight it head-on?! Right now?!’

He could barely breathe. Fear clawed through his chest, hot and suffocating.

The monster’s shadow loomed over them, stretching across the water like a living storm.

And still—Kairo didn’t stop.

The blood aura roared to life around him, boiling the water beneath his feet in bursts of crimson steam.

His black eyes locked onto the octopus with murderous precision, every ounce of restraint stripped away.

A low growl escaped his throat—barely human.

He was already too close.

Too close to turn back.