The Hero is Hunting me!-Chapter 53: The Predator Unleashed

Jacqueline stared at Indigo.

Confusion, fear, and something far darker twisted together in her eyes.

This didn’t make sense.

The Indigo she had beaten half to death before—

the Indigo who had struggled, bled, and barely survived—

His aura back then was nothing like this.

What stood before her now felt... wrong.

Terrifyingly wrong.

It wasn’t just pressure.

It wasn’t just killing intent.

It was the overwhelming presence of something that did not belong beneath her.

Jacqueline slowly pushed herself up from the ground, her muscles still aching from the previous fight.

But—

The moment she lifted her gaze again—

Indigo was no longer standing on the rooftop.

Her pupils shrank.

Her heartbeat spiked.

Where—

Suddenly, a hand landed on her shoulder.

Firm.

Heavy.

Unavoidable.

"Hey," a calm voice whispered behind her.

"You’re the one who beat my cowardly version, right?"

Jacqueline’s body stiffened.

"But..." the voice continued, filled with amusement,

"why do you feel so weak now?"

Panic exploded inside her chest.

She reacted on instinct, twisting her body and launching a counterattack.

But Indigo simply flipped backward, a clean, effortless backflip that avoided her strike entirely.

"Whoa," Indigo said lightly, landing on his feet.

"You’re really impatient, aren’t you?"

His tone was mocking.

Casual.

As if he were talking to a child throwing a tantrum.

"You bastard!" Jacqueline roared.

"I’ll shut your mouth just like before!!"

She charged.

Her feet slammed into the ground as she rushed toward Indigo, unleashing a storm of punches and kicks.

The Indigo from before would have dodged.

He would have retreated.

But this Indigo—

He stood his ground.

He blocked every single strike with relaxed precision.

Jacqueline twisted her hips and launched a powerful kick, her right leg wrapped in dense purple aura.

But—

Indigo raised his left arm and blocked it.

Just like that.

No recoil.

No struggle.

Strange...

"Why are you this weak?" Indigo asked calmly.

The words struck deeper than any blow.

Jacqueline snarled.

Her anger exploded.

Purple aura burst outward from her body, swirling violently around her frame.

"I’ll silence you first!!"

"Oh?" Indigo tilted his head.

"Then go ahead. Try~"

Jacqueline vanished.

She moved with explosive speed, reappearing behind Indigo in an instant.

A cruel smile formed on her lips.

She had him.

Or so she thought.

Indigo’s head turned slightly.

From behind the black mask, Jacqueline saw them—

Glowing red eyes.

They burned like embers in the darkness.

In the next instant—

Indigo disappeared.

Teleportation.

Jacqueline’s eyes widened.

Before she could react—

Indigo reappeared behind her.

Dark blue light gathered around his right fist.

Then—

He struck.

His punch smashed into Jacqueline’s shoulder with monstrous force.

She was sent flying.

Her body skidded across the ground, tearing up dirt and stone as she was dragged along by the impact.

What...!?

What kind of power is that!?

Did he awaken!?

His punches were never this strong before!!

Jacqueline barely had time to process her thoughts—

Indigo was already standing in front of her.

Teleportation again.

"Hey," Indigo said casually.

"What are you thinking about?"

His fist crashed into her face.

Void-infused power detonated on impact.

Jacqueline was sent flying once more.

Teeth shattered.

Blood sprayed from her mouth.

She hit the ground hard, rolling uncontrollably before finally stopping.

Impossible...

Her entire body was reinforced with aura.

It should have been tougher than aluminum.

Stronger than steel.

And yet—

Indigo’s punches tore through her defenses as if they were nothing.

Blood dripped from Jacqueline’s lips.

Indigo spread his arms slightly, speaking from a distance.

"What’s wrong, Miss Jacqueline?"

"You used to beat me into the ground, didn’t you? And now you can’t even avoid my attacks."

Jacqueline dropped to one knee.

Her breathing became ragged.

Heavy.

Each breath felt like she was fighting a final boss in some cruel game.

She slowly forced herself back up.

Veins pulsed across her forehead.

"You...!"

"How dare you mock me!!"

Her purple aura surged violently.

Her body expanded.

Muscles bulged, swelling with raw power.

She lunged forward, unleashing a relentless barrage of punches.

But—

Indigo calmly blocked them all.

His arms moved with precise efficiency, parrying every blow without strain.

"Are you angry?" Indigo asked casually.

"Angry over such cheap provocation? That’s disappointing, Miss Jacqueline~"

His tone was playful.

Mocking.

Humiliating.

Jacqueline’s fists moved at insane speed.

But Indigo kept up effortlessly.

How...!?

How can he match my speed!?

He was just a brat who could barely land a few hits on me before!! 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Desperate, Jacqueline vanished and reappeared behind Indigo, preparing a devastating strike.

But—

Indigo caught her wrist.

Without even looking.

"All right..." Indigo said calmly.

"That’s enough playing around. I’m getting bored."

Jacqueline froze.

Indigo turned.

His fist smashed into her arm.

A scream tore from her throat.

But he wasn’t done.

His knee slammed into her stomach.

Jacqueline vomited blood as the impact sent her sliding backward.

She collapsed to one knee.

Indigo walked toward her.

He grabbed her purple hair and yanked her upward.

Then—

His right knee slammed into her lower jaw.

The impact launched her into the air.

Before she could fall—

Indigo teleported above her.

He clasped his fists together.

And brought them down.

BOOM—

The sound echoed like a gunshot.

Jacqueline’s body was slammed into the ground.

The earth cracked beneath her.

Still airborne, Indigo extended his right leg downward.

He landed.

His foot crashed onto Jacqueline’s chest.

Blood burst from her mouth.

"Is that all?" Indigo said coldly.

"You’re pathetic, Miss Jacqueline."

Jacqueline trembled with rage.

She tried to rise.

But Indigo anticipated it.

Dark blue light gathered around his foot.

The pressure intensified.

Jacqueline was forced into the ground, unable to move.

"Ah ah ah~" Indigo said mockingly.

"You’re not allowed to stand up, Miss Jacqueline."

She screamed in pain, struggling uselessly.

Despite being twice his size—

She couldn’t move.

"W–Who are you!?" she shouted desperately.

"You’re not the Indigo I know!!"

"Oh?" Indigo tilted his head.

"Are you doubting your own prey? I am Indigo. The real one."

"Liar! You’re not him! You’re far more cruel—"

Before she could finish—

Indigo pressed his foot down harder.

"Aghhh!!!"

"Shhh..." Indigo whispered.

"It’s better if you stay quiet."

His gaze shifted.

He looked toward So-ah, Min-seo, Elvera, and Kim Gae-in—still unconscious.

A dangerous glint flashed behind his mask.

"Heh... you’ve got some nerve," Indigo said quietly.

"Beating my disciples this badly and coming here alone... I wonder what possessed you to do something so foolish."

Jacqueline clenched her teeth, trembling.

Her purple aura began to fade.

Her enlarged body slowly returned to normal.

Indigo finally lifted his foot.

He turned away.

"Hah... you’re boring," he said dismissively.

"For an SS-rank, you look like a cockroach now."

He began walking away.

Behind him—

Jacqueline forced herself to stand.

Her body was shattered.

Her vision swam.

But she had to capture Indigo.

With her last remaining strength—

She ran toward him.

Slow.

Clumsy.

Like an ordinary human.

As she closed in—

Suddenly—

Her body lifted into the air.

She didn’t even realize what happened.

Indigo had struck her jaw again.

Without stopping.

Without turning around.

Jacqueline’s consciousness faded midair.

Her body went limp.

The battle was over.