The Hunter's Odyssey-Chapter 72: After the Storm

The rain had softened to a thin mist.

It drifted quietly over Orchard Road, washing the last streaks of blood from cracked asphalt and carrying them in narrow crimson streams toward the drains. What had been a battlefield of thunder and violence only minutes earlier now felt strangely hollow. The screams had faded. The clash of steel had fallen silent.

Exhaustion had finally claimed everyone.

Hunters moved through the wreckage like ghosts wandering the aftermath of a storm. Some searched carefully beneath collapsed concrete and twisted metal beams, calling out hoarsely for anyone still alive. Others dragged bodies from the rubble and laid them in rough rows along the edge of the plaza.

Survivors slowly emerged from the mall.

Civilians who had hidden through the nightmare stepped carefully over shattered glass and scorched debris, offering what little help they could. Strips of cloth were torn from ruined clothing and wrapped around wounds. Bottles of water were passed between trembling hands.

No one spoke loudly anymore.

Even the Bloodclaws had grown quiet.

A Bastion healer knelt beside an injured Bloodclaw fighter, her hands glowing faintly green as she pressed them against a deep gash across his ribs. The man gritted his teeth but said nothing. Rain slid down both their faces as the soft glow of her magic stitched flesh together.

The fragile alliance still held.

But the celebration from earlier had faded.

Reality had returned.

The corpse of the Troll King dominated the shattered entrance of Paragon Mall. Its colossal body lay half buried beneath rubble and collapsed pillars. The massive yellow eyes that had once burned with feral intelligence now stared blankly into the gray sky.

Steam no longer rose from its wounds.

The monster was finally still.

Shin Lu stood at the edge of the crater.

His spear rested lightly against his shoulder as he watched the hunters move across the ruined street. Rain slid down the scar carved across his face before dripping from his chin onto the soaked pavement below.

Behind him, boots scraped softly against wet stone.

Reika approached.

Her greatsword rested casually across one shoulder, the massive blade balanced with effortless ease despite its weight.

"So," she said.

Shin Lu did not turn. "So."

Reika nudged a loose piece of asphalt with the tip of her boot. The chunk skidded forward and dropped into the crater, bouncing once before disappearing beside the Troll King’s lifeless body. "That was fun."

Shin Lu exhaled slowly. "You have a strange definition of fun."

Reika smirked. "You’re still alive. So am I. That counts as a good night."

Shin Lu finally turned his head slightly.

"I’m now level thirty-eight," he said calmly. "Got a few goodies with that, too."

Reika snorted.

"Instead of gloating about what you got, you could thank me." She bumped his shoulder with hers. "I gave you the kill."

Shin Lu scoffed, though the faintest hint of a smile touched his lips. "Your arrogance is a plague."

"Call it confidence," Reika replied immediately. "It’s gotten me this far."

For a moment, they stood there together, watching the aftermath of the battle unfold beneath the fading rain.

Then Shin Lu spoke. "So. What happens now?"

She shrugged before he could answer.

"The same thing that always happens." She gestured lazily toward the skyline where distant pillars of light still pierced the cloud cover. "We go kill another giant monstrous fucker."

Shin Lu followed her gaze.

Beyond the ruined buildings of Orchard Road, Singapore still burned.

Forty-five more monsters like the one they had just killed were still out there.

"By the way, the monster core is mine."

Shin Lu chuckled and turned away, "Yeah, like I had a choice."

-

Across the street, Lynis dropped heavily onto the curb.

His shield clanged against the pavement beside him as he leaned back, stretching his aching shoulders. Zaila slumped against him, her head resting lightly on his shoulder.

Her eyes were barely open.

"Eh," Lynis muttered, nudging her slightly. "Don’t die, ah."

Zaila cracked one eye open. "I don’t have any wounds. I’m not dying anytime soon. Just tired."

"Good." He paused, shifting his weight slightly. "Because carrying you out of danger just now really wreck my back, you know. Cannot keep carrying a cute woman everywhere like that."

He grinned.

Zaila snorted weakly. "What, you calling me fat?"

Lynis blinked immediately. "Oi! No lah!"

She smirked faintly. "Relax. I’m joking." Her eyes drifted closed again for a moment before she added quietly, "...Thanks for saving my life."

Lynis rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Yeah lah. That’s what a man does."

-

In the plaza, Porpo crouched beside Jane.

Jane had been kneeling beside a wounded hunter, carefully wrapping a bandage around the man’s arm. Her movements were steady and precise despite the exhaustion written across her face.

Porpo watched her for a moment. "You’re quiet," she said. "I know I said I’d drop it, but I still have some questions."

Jane tied the knot tightly before standing. "No questions," she said calmly. "I’m tired."

Porpo narrowed her eyes. "No. That’s not it."

Jane did not answer.

Porpo tilted her head slightly. "You’re thinking about him."

Jane finally looked at her. Then she turned away and moved toward another wounded hunter. Rain slid down her chin, tracing a line through the grime and dried blood on her face. "Am I?"

Porpo folded her arms. "Did you even try to stop him?"

Jane knelt beside another hunter and began wrapping a fresh bandage around her arm. Her thoughts drifted for a moment. Her hands tightened without realizing. The bandage cinched too hard.

"Ai yah ma!" the hunter yelped.

Jane blinked and immediately loosened the wrap. "Oh. Sorry."

"Careful lah," the woman muttered.

Jane nodded once before finishing the bandage. Then she finally looked back at Porpo. "Stop with the questions," she said evenly. "He made a decision, and why would I talk him out of it when he was never part of our group in the first place?"

She stood and walked away before Porpo could respond.

Porpo frowned but remained silent for now.