Ignite the Soul Chapter 08 (Early Preview)

Chapter 08: Hunters Meet A Haunter

Danny uncapped the Fenton Thermos and aimed it at the largest demon, the one that had been trying to feed on the old man's soul. "Better get comfortable in there. It'll be a tight fit with your friends."

A beam of swirling green energy shot from the thermos. The creature shrieked and tried to teleport away, but the energy held it. Its form began to stretch as it was pulled toward the thermos opening.

"No! This can’t be happening!"

The remaining demons watched in horror as their comrade was compressed and pulled into the small container.

The demons wondered why this stranger hadn't tried to kill them. At least when the Demon Hunters killed their kind, their energy would dissipate and return to Gwi-Ma in the demon realm. This… was unprecedented.

The rest of his brethren were sucked into the infernal device without a second thought. The last thing the demons knew was that they were somewhere dark and cramped.

Danny was about to put away the thermos when someone shouted.

"What the hell!"

It came from above. Danny looked up. Three figures stood on the rooftop of the adjacent building.

Earlier

The alley behind Club Pulse reeked of soju. Neon signs from the adjacent buildings offered little light. One could still hear the bass line from inside the club as they left for the night. 

Above, the Honmoon barrier rippled. A magenta tear opened ten feet from the dumpsters. From the rip, demons crawled through the opening. 

One demon crouched low, sniffing the ground. Its nostrils flared. "Fresh," it said in guttural Korean.

Another demon tilted its head toward the club's side door. "Lots."

A heavy metal door crashed open halfway down the alley. Five partygoers stumbled out. A woman in platform heels leaned against her friend as they struggled to remain upright. Two men followed. One rifled through his pockets for cigarettes.

"I told you this place was overrated." The tallest man pulled out his lighter. "Two hundred thousand won cover charge for that DJ? Highway robbery."

His friend mumbled agreement, oblivious to the demons gathering.

The demons watched, perfectly still. One lifted a clawed hand, pointing. "Easy."

One man broke away from the group as he bent to retie his shoelace. The nearest demon approached.

Suddenly, a silver blade embedded itself directly between the demon's eyes. The creature froze, its jaw still grotesquely extended.

The demon burst apart in a spray of glittering particles that dissolved into mist. At that, the demons froze.

The drunk man glanced up. "Were there fireworks tonight?" He rejoined his friends as they wandered toward the street, none the wiser.

With the people gone, three figures stepped in.

Rumi stood in front, sword in hand. She wore dark tactical clothing, practical but stylish. Her face was covered by a sleek mask.

Zoey followed a step behind, dressed similarly. She rolled her shoulders, loosening up.

Mira brought up the rear, Gok-do at her side. She rolled her shoulders once, stretching.

The five remaining demons hissed in unison. They spread out, forming a semicircle. "Hunters!" one snarled.

Rumi rolled her neck and readied her Saingeom Sword. "Just another night with you guys."

Zoey adjusted her grip on the knife in her right hand and bounced lightly on her toes. "Ruining our night before bed."

Mira cracked her neck. "Let's make this quick. I want to sleep."

The demons exchanged glances. Without warning, they attacked.

Two launched themselves at Rumi. Another dove toward Mira. The largest demon and its companion circled toward Zoey, attempting to flank her.

More went for Rumi. She sidestepped the first, her blade flashing out to slice across its ribs. The second demon came in low, claws reaching for her legs. Rumi jumped, planting one foot on its shoulder and pushing off. She flipped backward, landing in a crouch. Both demons turned to follow.

Rumi ducked under claws aimed for her throat and slashed upward across a demon's chest. Her blade then pinned the shoulder of another demon briefly to the wall before it dissolved. Rumi's blade then pierced a demon's throat from behind until it shattered into particles.

Zoey faced her attackers casually. The first demon lunged. Zoey stepped aside, letting momentum carry the creature past her. Her knife connected with its spine, killing it. Another demon came in low. She jumped, planting her boot on its shoulder and vaulting over. Her blade flashed down as she passed, striking the demon's skull. It exploded beneath her as she landed.

One grabbed for Zoey. Zoey twisted away, but claws caught her sleeve and tore fabric. She hissed and slashed sideways across its chest. Zoey then drove one blade into a skull. The creature dissolved instantly.

Mira appeared behind another one, sneaking up. She grabbed its head with both hands and wrenched onto her spear. The demon convulsed and burst into particles. 

Two more demons circled her. One feinted left while the other rushed from the right. Mira responded by sweeping her Gok-do in a wide arc.

The taller demon swiped at her face. Mira pivoted and spun the glaive vertically, deflecting the attack with the shaft before bringing the blade across its chest. 

Without pausing, Mira reversed her grip and drove the blade backward, pinning the second demon to the wall. She spun again, the blade cutting the first demon's throat. 

The injured one tried to flee. Zoey hurled her blade. It punched through the demon's spine and pinned it to the dumpster. The creature shrieked until violet light consumed it.

Rumi launched forward. The Saingeom Sword connected with a demon before it could raise its claws. The blade sliced through its shoulder. Rumi pivoted into a spin that brought the sword around for a second strike.

A demon shrieked. Rumi didn't pause. She dropped low, avoiding retaliatory claws, and thrust upward. The Saingeom pierced the creature's chest.

The second demon lunged at her exposed back.

 Without looking, Rumi twisted the sword free and swept it behind her. The blade caught the attacker mid-leap, slicing through its midsection. They burst simultaneously, particles scattering. Rumi was already moving toward her next target.

A demon approached more cautiously, circling her. It feinted left. Zoey didn't react. It tried again, committed this time. She spun inside its reach and drove her knife up under its jaw and out the top of its skull. Violet light flared. The demon exploded into mist.

The second one screeched and jumped at her back. Zoey twisted, pulling her knife free, but she was off balance. The demon's claws raked toward her throat.

A Gok-do whistled past her ear and took the demon in the chest. Mira appeared beside Zoey, yanked her spear free.

"Thanks," Zoey said.

"Anytime." Mira spun to face the largest demon. It seemed more armored than the rest.

Zoey threw her right blade at a smaller one heading toward Rumi, the weapon spinning through the air before burying itself in the demon's chest.

Across the alley, Mira was struggling with the armored demon. Its strength had her on the defensive.

Rumi and Zoey regrouped with Mira to give her some breathing room.

HUNTR/X formed a triangle around them, weapons raised.

"Ready?" Rumi called.

"Ready," Mira confirmed, adjusting the power flow to her Gok-do.

"On my count," Zoey said, her Shin-kal glowing brighter. "Three, two, one... now!"

They struck simultaneously, each weapon finding its mark. Rumi's Saingeom Sword pierced the armored demon's back. Mira's Gok-do drove through its chest from the front. Zoey's twin Shin-kal was embedded in the demon's throat. Glimmering embers filled the air around HUNTR/X.

Rumi dismissed her sword, satisfied. "Nice work. That big one actually made me break a sweat."

The last demon stood alone in the center of the alley. It looked between the three hunters, chest heaving. Its eyes darted toward the club's back door.

Rumi stepped forward. "Don't bother."

The demon bolted anyway.

It made it three steps before Mira's blade took it in the back. The demon hit the ground hard. Mira walked over, planted her boot on its shoulder, and pulled the blade free. She stabbed down once more. The demon shattered.

Rumi dismissed her blade. "That's more than usual."

Mira sighed. "Great. Just what we need during the break.”

Sweat stuck Zoey’s hair to her forehead. "Anyone hurt?"

"I'm good," Mira said.

Rumi shook her head.

Zoey glanced at her torn sleeve. Just fabric. She'd had worse.

The side door opened again. A bouncer stepped out with a cigarette. He glanced at the three of them standing in the alley. "You girls need something?”

Zoey played it casual. "Just getting some air. Headed out now."

They walked past him, down a quieter street toward where they'd parked.

"Think there'll be more tonight?" Mira asked.

Rumi shrugged. "Probably.”

As expected, they noticed another ripple in the Honmoon. 

Rumi nodded toward the rooftops. "Let's move.”

#

After parking closer to the area, the three climbed to the rooftops. Zoey, Rumi, and Mira stopped at the edge of an apartment building.What they saw made them freeze.

A lone figure was surrounded by a demons. He wore what looked like a modified hanbok in black and white, with a dark mask covering the lower half of his face. 

They were about to help until they noticed that he was floating. His hair was white, and his eyes glowed a vibrant green.

The masked figure bobbed his head slightly between movements, small white earbuds visible in his ears. If they listened hard enough, they could hear him speaking.

Rumi tilted her head. "Is he… singing?"

Zoey focused on the stranger's movements. They followed a pattern that felt oddly familiar. His movements were almost like choreography.

A faint melody he sang reached them. Zoey recognized it. "That's... our song." Flattering. A stranger was also fighting demons to HUNTR/X's track. To her song.

Beside her, Mira crossed her arms. Her lips curved into a small smile, appreciation evident. It was clear that she recognized the flow of his movements. "Whoever he is, he's good. Look at that counter-spin. I'm stealing that for our next fight." Her amusement seemed genuine, the dancer in her recognizing skill regardless of its source.

Rumi remained stoic as she tracked the stranger's movements. "Keep watching. If he's a demon, he's not one of Gwi-Ma's."

Below, a particularly large demon lunged at the masked figure, claws extended. Instead of dodging, the stranger simply... vanished. The demon's attack passed through empty air before the figure reappeared behind it.

A beam of concentrated energy erupted from his palms, striking the demon squarely in the back. 

Their questions multiplied as they continued watching. The stranger pivoted midair, catching another demon by its arm. He sent it skyward with another blast of green energy.

The figure phased again. A demon lunged, claws extended, and passed straight through his torso. He reappeared three feet behind it again. A blast hit the demon square in the chest.

The figure pivoted midair. He caught another demon by the arm as it jumped, spun it like a ragdoll, and hurled it.

Then it happened. The stranger took a deep breath and opened his mouth.

Green waves of visible energy rippled through the air. Windows rattled. Pavement cracked. The wail shook the ground and set off car alarms nearby. The remaining demons dropped to the ground instantly, covering what passed for their ears, unable to withstand the sonic assault. They were writhing on the ground.

HUNTR/X flinched from the raw force, resonating in their bones.

When the wail subsided, most demons lay incapacitated on the ground. They twitched and moaned but made no attempt to rise or continue fighting.

Rumi noted it first. "Why isn't he killing them?"

Mira added, "Too soft? Maybe he's not a hunter."

The stranger floated in place, seemingly unbothered by the exertion. He casually brushed dust from his hanbok sleeve.

Mira squinted. "Is he supposed to be a demon?"

Zoey shook her head slowly. "He's not a demon… I think?"

Rumi's jaw tightened. "If not, then what is he?"

Below, the masked figure pulled out a smartphone. His voice was too faint to make out the call clearly.

"He's calling someone?" Mira whispered incredulously.

Rumi's eyes narrowed. "That means he has other friends."

Zoey watched the figure. Despite his otherworldly appearance, there was something decidedly human about him.

They remained hidden, curiosity outweighing any sense of threat, until they saw what happened next.

The stranger pocketed his phone and pulled out a small metallic cylinder.

The three hunters leaned forward simultaneously.

"What is that?" Mira whispered.

"A soup can?" Rumi suggested, confusion rare in her voice.

"Maybe he's thirsty?" Zoey added, equally perplexed.

The figure pointed it at the nearest demon. The biggest one, still twitching on the ground. He pressed a button on the side.

A swirling vortex of green energy burst from the device. The creature's body contorted unnaturally as it was pulled into the cylinder. Its mass compressed and funneled into the small container. He then continued to suck up the remaining demons.

The figure snapped the cap shut with a metallic click. The green glow faded. He inspected the container with casual satisfaction. 

Silence filled the alley, and HUNTR/X stood frozen in disbelief.

Rumi's mouth pressed into a thin line.

Zoey whispered, "He captured it."

Mira's eyebrows shot up. "That's not possible. That's… What the hell!"

The masked figure froze, head snapping upward toward them. A heartbeat of silence passed.

Even from street level, Danny could make out their rather stylish combat outfits, complete with face coverings. 

He floated upward a few feet, awkwardly aware that he'd been caught in the act by what appeared to be locals who knew about these weird ghosts.

"Oh, uh..." Danny gave a small wave and smile. "Hi?"