Ex rank talent Awakening: 100\% Dodge rate-Chapter 115 - : DEMON HUNTERS(ORIGIN)

Scarlett followed closely behind the demon hunter commander. Both parties preferred the prevailing silence, neither eager to talk to the other.

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The commander led Scarlett to their hideout—an underground mini-city populated by beings of half-demon races.

The half-demons stared at Scarlett, clearly unwelcoming of her presence in their dwelling.

Scarlett remained behind the commander, unfazed by the judging and interrogating eyes of the city's inhabitants.

"Greetings, Commander. Pardon me, but may I know who the lady is?" a brave demon hunter asked.

"Who I am is none of your business," Scarlett replied coldly, making no effort to spare his pride. She would treat hostility with equal hostility. She wondered if her brother's character was rubbing off on her.

"You—!" The demon hunter was stunned by her sharp remark. He quickly regained himself, his glare seething with fury strong enough to melt an iceberg.

"Enough, Gendry. She isn't an enemy spy. You can relax your suspicion. Gather the rest of the captains; we will be having a meeting soon," the demon hunter commander, Aquarius, intervened, preventing an escalation.

"Yes, Commander," Gendry replied, bowing his head before walking away to carry out his orders.

Gendry was a half-demon, half-Trent demon hunter—a captain of the demon hunters, second only to the commander. He was proud and arrogant, possessing the appearance of a demon, though his skin was made of wood. Unlike the majority of half-Trents, who bore a more tree-like appearance—making them slow and highly vulnerable to fire—Gendry looked more demon than Trent. His woody skin was exceptionally resistant to flames, making him one of the strongest captains among the demon hunters.

But like many powerful people, Gendry allowed his strength to get to his head, fueling his arrogance. He strongly believed himself to be second in command after the commander, which led to his deep resentment toward Azrael, who was highly favored by Aquarius.

Scarlett sat comfortably on one of the available seats, the demon hunter commander sitting across from her.

"Since coming here, I have only seen half-demons—not a single being of just one race. I've been curious about that. Also, why exactly are you all demon hunters?" Scarlett asked the old man, believing now was the time to gather information from the demon-elf.

"The answers to your questions are intertwined. I suppose I should tell you a little story before every captain arrives.

"A long time ago, when the rift between the demon realm and the world of other races first opened, demons were not considered enemies. Although not openly accepted, they were tolerated. No race knew of the demons' true evil and malicious nature, so they welcomed them.

"Due to the mingling of different races, some demons genuinely grew attached to other beings—falling in love and starting families. While such unions were uncommon, they weren't forbidden. That was until the first war between demons and the other races erupted—a racial war where every faction fought for supremacy and control of the world.

"It was an era of war, violence, and lawlessness, until the first hero, Grey, single-handedly ended the battle. He drove the demons back to their realm, split the world into continents, and effectively separated the races, restoring peace.

"But you see, the demons became fascinated by Grey's strength and abilities. After much investigation, they discovered that Grey was the son of the Celestial King and a human woman.

"The demon god, who had been largely uninterested in the racial war, as well as his demon lords, suddenly saw merit in mixed-blood offspring.

"The first hero, Grey, became the precedent that led to the kidnapping of other races solely for breeding purposes in the demon realm. This resulted in the birth of many mixed-demons. However, when none of them matched Grey's potential, they were soon discarded—like broken toys," Commander Aquarius explained.

"So, you all came to hate the demons that abandoned you once they realized you weren't what they needed?" Scarlett asked.

"Definitely not. That would have been bitterness on a whole new level.

"Our mothers—those who were not demons—became useless to the demons once they lost interest in them. Left with no other choice, we created our own settlement, living together peacefully. A few demons who genuinely loved women from other races chose to join us, finding happiness despite the tragic circumstances that led them there.

"But as we half-demons grew, we began to understand our strengths and weaknesses—the unique gifts that came from being of mixed heritage.

"Some of our kind, foreseeing the danger should demons learn of our potential, built a secret underground city—one that was mobile and could change locations. They kept this secret closely guarded.

"But one thing led to another. Some demons living among us eventually learned of this secret—thanks to their loving spouses who trusted them.

"And, as expected of demons, they betrayed us for their own gain. They informed the demon god, who immediately ordered the extermination of all mixed-demons. After all, he is a being who despises loose ends, and we had become just that.

"That day remains fresh in my mind. I still recall the demon raids, the ruthless slaughter of the very offspring they had created, as well as the helpless races they had kidnapped for their selfish ambitions. As a child, I watched it all unfold. The only reason I survived was because of a group of mixed-demons who had anticipated such a day. They fought back, holding the attackers at bay while saving as many mixed-demon children and kidnapped women as they could.

"We escaped—but at a great cost. Our numbers dwindled to near extinction, and that became our next crisis.

"Thanks to the bravery of our kind, food was not an issue. But the survival of our race, that was another matter entirely.

We needed to prevent our numbers from dwindling any further, and thus, the plan to procreate out of necessity was set into motion.

New generations were born, while the older ones passed away one after another—most of them falling in battle. Watching our kind perish one by one, I believe it was only natural for us to develop the mindset we have today."