Spirit Hunting Union

At first, Quinn didn't follow River as she instructed.

Fuck everything else. He just wanted to assure his mum he was alright. Even if this would be the last time he would show up.

But the Curse was onto something else.

It had just said a few words. And Quinn was already obeying.

… '[Move on. This is your first mission as a Spirit Hunter.]'

That was all that echoed in Quinn's head.

God damn it, why was he suddenly running into the alleyway too?

He couldn't control his legs!

But at a certain point inside the alley, he felt his calves finally relaxing. And like that, he brought himself to stop.

Quinn panted lightly.

His eyes scanned around.

At first, he stared back, almost thinking of rushing back to his mother. Because he was unable to say anything before leaving just like that.

But Quinn held his breath upon realization.

The damned Curse wasn't going to allow him, that simple.

Quinn's brows knitted.

'First mission, eh? What are these people up to now? I thought we only fight Spirits, not ordinary, innocent people!'

Because, why the hell did the girl go after his science teacher like he was some bad guy? That was Mr Miller!

Geez, he must find her quickly. And stop her from doing anything stupid.

Quinn said aloud,

"Let's continue. Take me to where she is at. Quickly!"

The screen flared up.

[Transformed Quinn, it's part of your mission to handle everything alone.]

Quinn clenched his jaw.

"What the fuck. You're never really helpful!"

***

Why didn't the Spirit cover its scent despite having the Negator?

… River asked herself.

Soon, realisation dawned on her. She gasped.

It was just as she had predicted. Just as she had feared!

Without even knowing it, she took a step back.

"Crazy bastard!"

Her pulse thudded in her ears.

The fluctuating scents. Quinn being in the black ocean… Everything slotted into place like jagged shards of glass.

If she was right, then the bastard hadn't just been toying with her. He had already chosen his prey. And that same prey had been walking straight into his hands this whole time!

River's throat tightened. But in a matter of seconds, she straightened her back.

Now that it has come to this, there's only one way. To face it.

At least, thankfully, they weren't completely caught in the Spirit's trap.

She recalled looking back at the house while driving out of their neighbourhood hours ago.

Unknown to the newbie, she had communicated with the other teammates. Lady Maya and the team leader, who had stood by the window.

By now, those two should be nearby…

River breathed in and shifted her glance upwards.

Two daggers swirling with pure white energy materialised in her palms. She then moved towards the man - calm, almost with no care for the world.

A D-rank or C-rank Dimensionist? She couldn't tell yet.

Her voice echoed down the alleyway,

"How many stabs before you snuff out?"

And the man's expression was perfectly neutral.

He simply stuck his finger at River while contemplating,

"You could locate me by my scent. That's a very rare ability. And a unique one at that. I guess that's why it's like that for you guys… Only one person gets such from within the hunting team. And the others tend to value you more because they need you. To find us. Is that supposed to be fun?"

River stepped closer nonetheless.

The man pushed on,

"Do you have any other interesting abilities?"

River was now a mere distance away. She spun her daggers slowly.

Yet, the asshole pressed on.

With questions.

Without anyone to answer.

A moment, River's shadow swallowed him.

She didn't say anything.

Stayed calm and composed.

And just drove her daggers forward.

At first, she moved them slowly. Baiting the man into a relaxed mood. She did this because she knew he was some cocky bastard. So, if he saw an attack he could follow closely, of course, he wouldn't fret a bit.

And he didn't…

Then, at blinding speed, River stabbed towards his arm.

The Spirit's eyes widened a little, River noticed.

But the next moment, he grinned.

Not bad.

River wasn't surprised at all.

His fist came rotating forward, circularly. He then jabbed it against her thumb. While perfectly avoiding the dagger moving towards him.

The thumb is everyone's weakest grip point. So, naturally, she lost her grasp on the dagger…

But it's too early to celebrate.

River still had the other.

Without hesitation, she clenched her fist around the second dagger. And punched the Spirit's torso.

Why not stab him instead? That's what a clueless person would ask.

The Spirit's body flew backwards, towards a distant wall.

But River moved as swiftly as the wind. Grabbed him fast mid-air. And flung him in the opposite direction.

His body hit the ground hard. Toppled a few times before stabilising.

He spat out blood.

But in the next second, he was already trying to get up.

River expected such durability. After all, he wasn't human.

But what she still found by surprise was about that newbie. Why's he not here yet?

Well, maybe this is for the better. Because…

She faced front.

… That would only put him in greater danger than he already was in.

In an instant, she saw the man pin his palms together.

His voice cascaded down to her,

"That was brilliant."

River swallowed a little. She dared to blink.

But she shouldn't have.

Black domes appeared here and there across the surface. And even in the thin air.

The man popped up from each of them in split seconds.

It was almost impossible for River to follow his movements. She could barely catch sight of him.

The wind sharply gusted past her neck.

Everywhere went dangerously quiet. The beating of her heart was like thunder in her ears. Black embers from the dissolving domes drifted slowly down through the air. Like snow. As a matter of fact, it smelled like burnt metal all over…

"You dodged it."

The raspy, masculine voice sounded from behind her.

River's eyes widened.

She immediately dashed forward. Metres away before turning around. She then saw the Spirit.

He had been behind her the whole time?

'How did he move so fast...?'

The thoughts froze in her throat as the man vanished again. The wind gushed quickly at her.

She gasped.

He soon manifested very close to her, half-buried in the black dome. When they locked eyes, he vanished again with a deep giggle. Embers filled the space he was in.

Now, River understands how he got so fast to her rear. His speed within the dome is unpredictably insane!

Before she even took a breath, he came out again.

Then, the same thing over and over again.

Appear. Lock eyes. Giggle. Vanish.

The domes make loud, disturbing noises when they close. It made River's head ache.

While repeating the same thing, the man started,

"I bet you have got it figured out now. Envisioned the boy half-gone in the black ocean, haven't you? My skin prickled when you did, so, yes, you have. But despite knowing everything, you still came? I can't deny that you're foolishly adorable."

River clenched her jaw, looking here and there as the Spirit switched positions.

"... Saw him almost drowning in it? Not hovering above? Of course, you know he's trapped. Then BACK OFF! Instead, you followed him here… For what exactly? Protect him, if I might come for him?"

River squinted her eyes a little.

How did he know this much?

She questioned,

"So, my guess was right. You did feed him your blood."

The man's chuckle reverberated in her ears.

"He just wouldn't die. Wouldn't burn. I even poured more gasoline on him. And waited for the fun to start. But his skin was as tough as metal. Then, I thought, if my blood runs in him, I'd know wherever he is. Couldn't have made any better bet, right?"

River's saliva ran dry.

"You're insane."

The man chuckled again. In a moment, he stabilised himself a few metres away from River.

The embers drifted to the ground non-stop. Those were from his black domes - portals.

He was a Dimensionist, after all.

Thus, he could teleport to wherever he wants. If of the primordial or god-tier levels, then you would expect him to open multiple dimensions. And control them, like a typical creator.

…

The man suddenly turned his back.

River's brows furrowed.

She heard him say,

"I give up on trying. You won't be easy to kill at all. I would go and get my original target instead."

As soon as River hurriedly moved forward, the man opened another portal. She froze in her steps immediately, shoulders twitching.

The Spirit tilted his head with a smile.

"One step in. And I have already got to him."

River couldn't resist the question,

"Why him, though?"

"You mean Quinn Vale?" The man raised his brows. Then, he tapped his head. "This stupid man holds him in his heart too much. Must be another teacher-student thing."

"So, you're after the guy because your host doted on him? That doesn't make any sense."

The Spirit shrugged.

"I don't expect a human to understand me anyways. Anyways, see you. And, ah… you can still try to stop me from killing him. Makes it more fun. Just know I'm getting there in a second now."

And so, he stepped in…

River groaned, her leg lifting off the ground,

"Geez."