CHAPTER 344: CHAPTER-344

Not away. Toward them.

She twisted her body, letting the first knife sail past. Ducked under the second. Caught the third one mid-air by the handle and sent it spinning back toward the hawk.

Fwip!

The hawk barely dodged, taking flight immediately.

Kaya grinned. "Not bad. But you’ll need to do better than that."

The hawk circled overhead once, then disappeared over the rooftops.

Veer stared at her. "You just... caught a throwing knife."

"It wasn’t that fast," Kaya said dismissively.

Sparrow was hyperventilating. "Haa... haa... haa... we’re going to die..."

Cutie’s frozen expression hadn’t changed, but his hand was now firmly gripped on his dagger.

Kaya brushed off her sleeves and continued walking like nothing had happened.

"One down," she murmured. "Four to go."

By evening, she’d had two more encounters.

The wolf beastman had tried to ambush her in a narrow alley, lunging from the shadows with claws extended. Kaya had sidestepped at the last second, using his momentum against him to slam him into the wall. He’d recovered quickly and retreated before she could follow up.

The snake woman had been more subtle—poison dart shot from a hidden position. Kaya had sensed it coming, knocked it out of the air with a stone she’d picked up, and smiled in the direction of the attack. The snake woman had vanished immediately after.

They were testing her. Probing her defenses. Learning her capabilities.

Smart.

But also predictable.

Back at the hotel that night, Kaya sat by the window once more, this time sharpening her own dagger. Shhk, shhk, shhk.

"They’re getting bolder," Veer observed.

"Mm," Kaya hummed in agreement. "One more day. Tomorrow they’ll make their real move."

"All five at once?"

"Maybe," Kaya said. "Or maybe they’ll come one by one, trying to wear me down. Either way..."

She held up her blade, examining the sharp edge in the moonlight.

"Tomorrow is when it gets interesting."

Veer watched her, that mixture of concern and admiration still present in his eyes. "You’re really enjoying this, aren’t you?"

Kaya’s lips curved into that dangerous smile. "Can you blame me? It’s been so long since I’ve had a real challenge."

In the corner, Sparrow had given up entirely. He’d accepted his fate. If he died tomorrow, at least the nightmare would be over.

Cutie remained vigilant, positioned by the door, watching the darkness outside.

And somewhere in that darkness, five hitmen were making their final preparations.

Tomorrow was the third day.

The deadline.

And one way or another, blood would be spilled.

Kaya set her dagger down and gazed out at the city one last time before bed.

"Come at me with everything you’ve got," she whispered to the night. "Show me what you’re really capable of."

The moon hung high and bright above the capital, a silent witness to the coming storm.

Tomorrow, the hunt would reach its conclusion.

And Kaya could hardly wait.

The third day dawned blood-red.

Kaya stood by the window, watching the crimson sunrise paint the city in shades of fire. She’d been awake for hours already—not from anxiety, but from anticipation.

Today was the day.

She could feel it in the air. The weight of it. Five killers, all independently converging on this single point. None of them knowing about the others. All with one goal.

Her.

She dressed carefully, methodically. Dark clothing that wouldn’t show blood easily. Her hair tied back tight. Weapons secured but easily accessible. Every movement precise and deliberate.

Behind her, Veer was doing the same. His usual playful demeanor had shifted into something more focused. More dangerous.

"They’ll come separately," Kaya said, almost to herself. "None of them know about the others. Each one thinks they’re the only hunter."

She smiled at the thought. "This is going to be interesting."

Cutie was already positioned by the window, his eyes scanning the streets below. His hand rested on his weapon, ready.

Even Sparrow had resigned himself to his fate. He sat quietly in the corner, no longer trembling. Just... waiting.

The morning stretched on. Quiet. Tense.

Then, around mid-morning, it happened.

Kaya was sitting by the window, apparently reading a scroll, when she sensed movement on the rooftop across the street.

The hawk beastman. Positioning himself for a strike.

She didn’t react. Didn’t acknowledge it. Just kept her eyes on the scroll.

Whoosh!

A throwing knife came through the window—aimed directly at her throat.

Kaya tilted her head slightly. The knife sailed past, embedding itself in the wall behind her. Thunk.

She set down the scroll calmly and looked up at the rooftop.

The hawk was already diving, talons extended, coming through the broken window in a flurry of feathers and violence.

CRASH!

Glass exploded everywhere.

Kaya moved.

She rolled to the side, letting the hawk crash into where she’d been sitting. Before he could recover, she was on her feet, dagger drawn.

The hawk spun, his wings spreading wide in the confined space, knocking over furniture. His eyes were wild with killing intent.

"Fast," Kaya acknowledged. "But not fast enough."

She lunged.

The fight was brutal and quick. The hawk was skilled—his aerial maneuvers adapted for close combat, his talons sharp as blades. But Kaya was faster. More experienced.

Within minutes, she had him pinned against the wall, her dagger at his throat.

"Who hired you?" she asked calmly.

The hawk glared at her, breathing hard. "Go to hell."

Kaya pressed the blade slightly. A thin line of blood appeared. "Wrong answer."

Before the hawk could respond, there was a knock at the door.

Everyone froze.

Another one? Already?

Kaya smiled. "This is getting fun."

She knocked the hawk unconscious with a swift strike to his temple and let him drop. Thud.

"Tie him up," she told Cutie, who moved immediately to comply.

Then she walked to the door and opened it.

Standing there was a messenger—a young rabbit beastman, looking nervous.

"D-delivery for Miss Kaya?" he stammered, holding out a sealed letter.

Kaya took it, gave him a coin, and closed the door.