The Rise Of The No. 1 Hunter

Chapter 157 157: BOW BEFORE THE STRONGEST

He smirked.

"The ones people look up to."

Then his smile faded.

"And yet…"

His eyes turned cold.

"You're scared of one man."

The room shook with pressure.

Raito took one step forward.

"All that big talk…"

He sighed.

"…and this is what you amount to?"

Hayata's face twitched.

His pride shattered.

His aura flared violently as he turned toward Kazuki.

Kazuki met his gaze.

They didn't even need words.

Just one nod.

They understood each other instantly.

Kill him.

Both of them exploded forward at the same time.

Their speed tore the air apart.

The ground cracked beneath their feet.

They moved like two lightning bolts, blades raised.

Their swords aimed directly for Raito's neck.

A perfect double slash.

A killing formation.

But Raito…

didn't move.

Not even slightly.

He casually placed both hands inside his pockets.

As if they weren't even worth raising his arms for.

Hayata and Kazuki's blades reached him.

SHIIING!

The slash came down.

But before the swords could even touch his skin,

Raito lifted two fingers.

Just two.

With one hand,

he caught Hayata's blade between his fingers.

With the other hand,

he caught Kazuki's blade between his fingers.

The room froze.

Their eyes widened.

"What?!"

Raito's expression remained bored.

Then,

SNAP!

With a simple squeeze,

both blades shattered.

Cleanly.

Split in half like brittle glass.

The sound echoed through the room like thunder.

Hayata and Kazuki stumbled back in shock.

Their hearts pounding.

Their faces pale.

But they didn't even get time to breathe.

Raito stepped forward.

His fist rose.

No aura explosion.

No dramatic stance.

Just raw, effortless strength.

He punched Hayata in the chest.

BOOOOM!!

The impact detonated.

Hayata's body launched backward like a cannonball.

He smashed through the wall.

BOOM!

Then through another wall.

BOOM!

Then into the next building.

BOOM!! BOOM!!

The shockwaves ripped through the structure.

Concrete exploded.

Glass rained down like a storm.

Hayata's body kept flying until it finally vanished into the distance.

Then,

Raito turned slightly.

Kazuki hadn't even recovered.

Raito raised his fist again.

And punched him in the jaw.

BOOM!!

Kazuki's head snapped upward.

His body shot into the ceiling like a rocket.

His skull slammed into it,

and got stuck.

His body hung there.

Motionless.

Unconscious.

His eyes rolled back.

Blood dripping down the ceiling.

The room fell into complete silence.

Every hunter stood frozen.

Their mouths slightly open.

Their legs shaking.

One of them whispered, voice trembling.

"…What the hell is this guy?"

Another hunter's eyes widened.

"That wasn't even a fight…"

"That was execution…"

Raito didn't even look at them.

"Five of you left…" Raito's voice cut through the tension like a blade.

Jolly frowned, his fists clenched.

"What the hell do you mean, move?" Santos barked, eyes blazing. "Can't you tell? We're the ones trapped here! We're the ones being humiliated in this place!"

Jolly jaw tightened.

"He beat Hayata and Kazuki… easily. Even if we fight with everything, what do you think our fate will be?"

Santos' pride flared, unyielding.

"Our pride… as hunters… it matters more than our lives. We won't let someone like him look down on us. We won't bow!"

He stepped forward, aura igniting. A fiery ball of energy formed in his palm.

Raito glanced at it.

Caught it.

Just like that.

The fire vanished.

Every remaining hunter released their aura at once. Strength, power, energy, everything surged to its peak.

Raito just put both hands in his pockets.

Then he spoke calmly.

"Absolute Suppression."

Instantly,

Their auras died.

Their bodies froze.

They couldn't move. Not a muscle.

Panic flickered across their eyes.

"What… what's happening?" Santos stammered.

"I… I can't use my skills!" Itsuki whispered, voice trembling.

"This isn't possible…" Jolly said.

Rodin's legs shook. "My strength… it's gone!"

Raito stepped forward. One footfall echoed like a judgment.

"Why are you moving back now?" he asked, voice low, almost bored.

"You were just about to fight, weren't you? So fight."

He tilted his head slightly.

"Don't back down."

Santos spat blood.

"You bastard… you won't get away with this!"

Raito's smirk widened.

"Weaklings…"

The air grew heavy, oppressive.

Absolute gravity slammed down on them.

Like a mountain crushing their spines.

Their knees buckled. Their ears rang. Their lungs screamed.

They were pinned to the ground. Helpless.

Blood drained from their faces as fear took hold.

"…Who… what… is this?!" someone gasped.

"Just… what kind of monster is he…?"

Raito didn't answer.

He just waited.

Bored.

Calm.

Untouchable.

Raito walked.

Calm. Controlled.

Every step precise.

The five remaining hunters stayed on the ground behind him, pinned by absolute gravity, bowing without moving, their pride shattered, their strength nullified.

"You… this is your position," Raito said softly, voice smooth as steel.

"You, who thought yourself superior…"

"…you bow to those truly above you."

He walked past them, shoulders straight, aura unshakable.

Ahead, Kira was bound, ropes coiling around her wrists, small sparks of electricity lingering from cruel shocks.

Raito stopped.

One hand moved, effortlessly snapping the chains.

Another flick of magic, gentle and precise, and the bruises and burns along her arms vanished.

Every mark of pain healed in an instant.

Her eyes widened just a fraction before he bent down.

He lifted her onto his shoulder, careful, precise, no unnecessary movement.

He didn't rush. Didn't run.

Every motion measured.

They descended, stair by stair, floor by floor.

The skyscraper was huge, but Raito's presence made the vastness feel insignificant.

Down, down, down until they reached the ground floor.

He stepped through the exit.

Outside, uniformed police froze. Guns raised.

"Hands behind your back," one officer barked.

Raito glanced at them, calm, unflinching.

Then he spotted Jiro. Cuffed. Stoic.

Jiro gave him a subtle nod.

Raito nodded back once.

He carried Kira toward the police line.

"Take her," he said softly, almost lazily, as if speaking to a child.

A female officer stepped forward, hesitant, cautious.

Raito lowered Kira to her gently.

The officer quickly secured her with a chain, careful not to harm her.