Entering the Finale 3

"I'm a Flame ability user, what's wrong with that?"

As I asked, I remembered telling Zhu Shi about my superpower and how she was surprised that I defeated the Fallen Demon Hunter using my flame abilities.

And during my encounter with the Fallen Demon Hunter, when he discovered I was a Flame ability user, his guard dropped significantly.

He had been cautious before, carefully using feints against me, an opponent with unknown abilities. Afterward, he boldly closed the distance. It seemed not just because the unknown had become known, but also because he genuinely believed flame abilities weren't anything special.

Did Zhu Shi think the same way? But I had already told her about my fight. Since she considered the Fallen Demon Hunter a strong opponent, then I, who could defeat him relatively easily, shouldn't be seen as weak, right?

"The common problem with Flame ability users is a severe lack of defense and mobility," Agent Kong provided the answer. "Ability users like you who manipulate natural elements, especially those who manipulate fire, are characterized by extremely powerful destructive capabilities. If an opponent takes your attack head-on, they'll easily be pulverized. Even if the opponent has strong defenses, it's just a matter of attacking a few more times—provided they stand still like a target for you to hit.

"Conversely, your tolerance for danger is far lower than your opponent's. Once you embark on the path of a Demon Hunter, you'll face countless dangerous abnormalities, some of which can afford you countless mistakes; you only get one mistake before it's irreversible.

"To walk the path of a Demon Hunter for a long time, the key isn't how much success you achieve, but how much failure you can withstand."

"I see, it's a matter of tolerance for error..." Now I completely understood. "In other words, I just need to improve my defense and mobility?"

"Easier said than done, it's actually very difficult. Abnormalities bring danger in numerous forms, not just physical strength, but also mental power and curse power. There are even space-time powers and rule powers, and even more incomprehensible forces. That's why I never envy those Demon Hunters; the world they face is too terrifying," Agent Kong sighed. "You've experienced it yourself, haven't you? That feeling of true helplessness, of despair from which you can never break free...

"Zhu Shi mentioned in her report that the cave beneath the room on the fifteenth floor leads to an absolutely isolated other dimension. Not only can electronic signals not be transmitted, but even supernatural connections are severed. It seems you have a mental connection with the flames you summon; that should be the conclusion you reached through your exploration."

"That's right," I recalled the feeling of isolation beneath the cave and said empathetically, "Even with great power, when facing unpredictable abnormalities, there are times when you feel utterly powerless... So, is this why Zhu Shi is resistant to me becoming a Luoshan Demon Hunter?"

Thinking about it, Zhu Shi didn't directly present this argument to me, perhaps fearing she might hurt my pride.

"It's not just that," Agent Kong thought for a moment. "Zhu Shi also strongly dislikes killing and bloodshed. Even so, she will act when she needs to... In short, a Demon Hunter's opponents aren't just monsters and abnormalities, but also humans who wield mana to do evil. She probably doesn't want you to kill people."

"Even though I've already fought a Fallen Demon Hunter?" I retorted.

"That's different. Firstly, the Fallen Demon Hunter didn't die by your hand; secondly, he wasn't defeated by you in human form." His voice suddenly became very serious. "With your superpower, killing a human would be effortless. There's a saying, whether true or not, that on today's battlefields, humans overcome the psychological burden of killing each other more easily than in ancient times. Do you know the basis for this saying?"

I had never been to a battlefield, but I immediately understood his implication: "Because of the difference in weapons?"

"Exactly. In ancient times, humans killed with swords and spears. While there were ranged weapons, it was more about thrusting weapons into the opponent's living flesh face-to-face, and even hearing their screams and seeing their pained faces up close. The process was very brutal," he said slowly. "In modern times, humans use firearms. Pulling the trigger can take an opponent's life.

"Even easier than soldiers using firearms are the powerful superiors. They only need to give an order in their office to have certain people miles away die, with even less psychological burden. Many superiors plague the masses endlessly, not because they were born cold-blooded demons, but because it's all too easy for them, no different from playing a strategy game and clicking the left mouse button.

"And you? As a superpowered individual, you naturally possess 'power' far more terrifying than that of superiors. You don't need to move your hands or feet, nor do you need to order anyone else; you only need to think, and you can take many lives... Once you start killing, can you truly go back?"

Hearing his words, I couldn't help but engage in serious contemplation.

This was an interrogation of my own soul.

I knew very well that I possessed the power to take lives with a mere thought, and thus I had often imagined myself killing in the past. At this moment, I was simulating the act of killing in my mind, repeatedly confirming my resolve.

However, whether a person living in a peaceful society can deliver a killing blow at a critical moment cannot be truly confirmed until it happens; and whether one becomes indifferent to human life after killing with extreme ease, treating it as insignificant dust, is something that cannot be known without actual experience.

As I thought, I noticed Agent Kong didn't seem to be waiting for my answer. He was staring into the distance in silence, deeply lost in his own thoughts.

Suddenly, an idea flashed through my mind. His question wasn't just applicable to me, but also to the Demon Hunter community. Didn't they, like me, possess "power far more terrifying than that of powerful superiors"?

Perhaps not all of them had the ability to turn humans into ashes with such ease, but they surely possessed means like mental manipulation and curse attacks. Since ancient times, many grassroots heroes, when rising to power, would claim auspicious omens. Even a slight coincidence in their achievements would be embellished as destiny, as if favored by beings beyond human comprehension, thereby gaining the support of many superstitious followers.

Even deception could have such an effect, let alone Demon Hunters who truly wield supernatural power?

Why, in the presence of supernatural organizations like Luoshan, has history still been dominated by ordinary people? Shouldn't the current political system be dominated by "supernatural beings" instead? It's not that "supernatural beings" would necessarily govern better than ordinary people, but in the struggle for power, it's hard to understand how ordinary people could compete with them.

Up to now, I had never heard of any Demon Hunter causing major turmoil in society, which meant a powerful restraining force had suppressed them.

Is this restraining force Luoshan? Then how does the Luoshan Demon Hunter community ensure they don't become a source of unrest?

According to Zhu Shi, the current Luoshan seems to be in a state of unsettling turmoil...

I don't know if I'm overthinking things in the current conversation, but I seem to smell the scent of impending storm.

As an outsider, I have no standing to investigate Luoshan's internal affairs. Even last time, when I asked why Luoshan concealed information about abnormalities from the general public, Zhu Shi was evasive.

It seems I'll have to become a Demon Hunter first to unlock more clues.

Agent Kong withdrew his gaze from the distance, then smiled, trying to lighten the serious atmosphere. "After saying so much, I actually hope you can join Luoshan."

I immediately paid attention: "Why?"

"I am a probe for Luoshan, and discovering potential Demon Hunters from the populace is part of my job, but that's secondary. More importantly, I hope Zhu Shi can become your guide, and you can stand by her side to help her," he said with a gentle expression. "As someone shouldering the mission of a Demon Hunter, she is far from as strong as she thinks. She's afraid of bleeding herself, and afraid of her opponent bleeding. Even if she kills a bad person, she feels remorse... She's truly too naive and fragile. It would be best if you could support her emotionally."

"She's my friend's sister. If she's in danger, I will definitely help her with all my might," I replied earnestly.

"That's good," he nodded with satisfaction. "Soon, I will be transferred to another region. With you looking after her, I can rest assured."

As we spoke, we had already left the residential area and arrived at the streets near Xianshui University. It was still rush hour, with heavy traffic on the roads. Many pedestrians and students passed by the street, and there were also breakfast carts parked at the intersection selling hand-grabbed pancakes and hamburgers.

Our conversation was interspersed with much secret information unknown to the general public, yet Agent Kong didn't seem to care if passersby overheard. Seeing this, I also spoke more freely. Obviously, even if passersby heard our conversation, they wouldn't believe it. Demon Hunters, superpowered individuals—to those who didn't know, these were all fictional concepts.

Although I was walking through this familiar scenery filled with everyday life, I suddenly began to feel a sense of "detachment from normal society."

This was a different kind of loneliness than the isolation beneath the cave.

"Agent Kong, can you answer one question for me?"

"As long as it's not a question I cannot answer," Agent Kong replied.

"It's about the time you impersonated a police officer."

"Cough cough..." He showed an embarrassed expression again. "Hasn't this topic already ended?"

"No, I'm not trying to tease you... I want to ask about the girl you accused of being a Serial Killer." I was speechless at first, then continued, "I asked Zhu Shi before, and she said it was your responsibility and she couldn't reveal more information, so I came to ask you.

"Why is Luoshan looking for this girl? Who is she?"