Slay the Sinners

The winds howl, the streets are quiet, and the moon rests high in the sky—the perfect hunting ground.

However, this was no ordinary mission for Tsuki no Ran. He's used to dealing with criminals, mercenaries, and corporate bodyguards. Of course, a couple of regular college students pale in comparison to those trained in combat. 

Still, he would not show them mercy. As far as he's concerned, these boys were about to commit a crime. With that as his reason for retribution, he will treat them as such.

"Yo, Haruto," Kurobe called out. "You got it right?"

"Hah. Of course," the one called Haruto said.

With his hands still in his pockets, Haruto stepped forward. Tsuki couldn't help but notice what a defenseless stance he was holding. For a moment, he questioned whether or not these boys were truly inexperienced in combat, but he cast the idea aside. After all, even within the Hunt, there are very few assassins who can match him.

"Look, buddy. Last chance," Haruto sneered. "Move out of the way—"

Tsuki quickly threw a jab at his left shoulder, causing him to stumble back. Before he had a chance to recover, Tsuki landed a strike on his stomach before kicking him behind the knee, forcing him to the ground. As a final strike, he curled his fingers into a fist and drove it into Haruto's neck.

Just like that, he fell to the ground, unconscious with his mouth gaping wide open. The group of boys all took a step back. It took only five seconds for Haruto to fall, which left them perplexed.

Tsuki took a deep breath and lifted his fist. Already, it was subtly bruised from all the hard hits he made. Nonetheless, his head tilted up as he glared at them once more. In them were the eyes of a true killer, and despite the sudden fear that washed over them, the boys were none the wiser.

"Next," Tsuki muttered dangerously.

"Shit..." Kurobe said. "Fucking jump his ass!"

The rest of them, including Kurobe himself, charged forward. The first one lifted his hand to strike from above. Tsuki took a step back, allowing him to fall over. He then pulled his arm and landed a heavy punch to his face.

Tsuki stepped aside to avoid a lurker, grabbing the arm of another as he went for a flank. After nearly breaking it, he raised his hand to block Kurobe, who was charging from the front. Tsuki elbowed him in his ribs and parried a jab from his friend. He then took his wrist and twisted it, causing him to scream in pain while providing a clear shot to land a kick.

Every time the boys tried to hit him, Tsuki either dodged, blocked, or parried them with some relative ease. All the while, he combined his speed and his strength to send out devastating blows that would leave them with just enough energy to stand back up.

He wasn't willing to let them off the hook so easily. To keep the fight going, he pulled his punches and allowed them chance after chance. He'll make sure to break them all so that they will never cross the line again.

All the while, Taiyori watched attentively from the sideline. It was a stark similarity to the moment when he saved her from her abductors. She recalled when Tsuki told her his identity, but she couldn't help but think about just how unrealistic it sounded. Anyone would doubt it if someone told them they were an 'assassin.' Seeing him now, fighting without even breaking a single sweat, every doubt she had crumbled instantly.

Finally, the brawl fell to a standstill. There stood Tsuki with those murderous eyes, unchanged and still filled with rage. The boys surrounded him, yet their condition was much worse than before. One had a bloody nose. The other had a purple eye. Another couldn't even stand up properly.

"Shit... The fuck is this?!" Kurobe yelled. "How did you guys not get one clean hit on him?!"

"I told you, man!" Daiki cried out. "There's something seriously off about this guy! I fucking knew he wasn't normal."

"Not normal... huh...?" Tsuki muttered. "Was this... 'plan' of yours normal? Is sexual assault a normal thing in your world? The answer is so blatantly obvious that even someone like me knows what it is..."

He suddenly dashed across the pavement, pulling one by his neck and slamming him against the ground. His friends could only watch as Tsuki stood upon the body.

"... But if you see otherwise, then you're just like the rest," he finished. "Sinners who must be hunted."

"F-fuck him up!" Kurobe shouted again.

This fight, however, would not be a dragged-out battle like before. Tsuki chopped the first guy on his neck before driving his fist into his stomach. He then rushed towards another, jabbed him in the throat, and flung him over his body.

Besides Kurobe, the last one standing was Daiki. Tsuki thought he'd set an example, so he allowed him to land a good hit on his face. With that, Daiki backed away with a surge of confidence, but that immediately faded when he saw Tsuki still standing completely upright.

Tsuki slowly twisted his neck and spat out a small drop of blood. Daiki rushed in with his arms raised, but the moment he swung, Tsuki stepped back and grabbed his wrist, bending it upwards while pulling it down. As Daiki fell to his knees with a cry of agony, Tsuki kicked him straight across the face.

Now, Kurobe was the only one left.

"Who... Who the fuck are you...?" he stuttered fearfully.

Without a response, he lunged at Kurobe, striking him in the neck and kneeing him in the stomach. As he stumbled back, Tsuki landed an uppercut dead in his chin, sending him to the ground.

"...Your personal grim reaper," Tsuki answered coldly.

Slowly, he crept forward menacingly.

"G-get away from me!" Kurobe shouted as he attempted to crawl away.

Ran stomped on his ankle, causing him to howl in pain. He then forcefully turned him over and lifted him by the collar.

He pulled his arm back, balled his hand into a fist, and swung as hard as he could. Kurobe struggled as much as he could, but he couldn't make him budge.

Tsuki struck again. And again. And again. Every hit sounded like an explosion, further ripping the string that held Kurobe to his life.

A splatter of blood painted the ground, followed by more and more. Finally, after many devastating blows, he was barely conscious.

That wasn't enough. 'He needs to pay,' Tsuki thought to himself, and he pulled his arm back for one last strike—a strike that would undoubtedly kill him.

"The Hunt sends their regards," he muttered as he plunged his fist down.

"Tsuki!" Taiyori cried out.

Right as he was about to hit, Tsuki stopped just a hair away from Kurobe's face. Slowly, his head twisted, but they were not the eyes that Taiyori was so used to. They were the eyes of someone who was about to kill without remorse.

"T-that's enough..." she struggled to say. "Please..."

For a moment, he hesitated. His rage had not yet been quelled. He needed to kill Kurobe. That was the only way.

Despite his killing intent, Tsuki let him go, allowing him the privilege of evading his wrath. He tilted his head to the sky and let out an exhaustive breath.

Finally, he turned around, but instead of those horrifying eyes, he had calmed down enough to return to the face that Taiyori knew all too well.

"Taiyori... Are you... alright?" he asked softly.

"Eh? Uh... Y-yeah," she replied, dumbfounded.

"That's good... Are you sober enough to go home by yourself?"

Taiyori tried to stand, but her legs gave in the moment she tried to straighten her knees. Just then, she reached for her head when a sudden strike of pain began to plague it.

"I... don't think so..." she said.

"I see. Should... should I help you?" he asked nervously.

For a moment, she paused.

"... If you don't mind."

Tsuki knelt down next to her.

"Is it okay if I pick you up now?" he asked.

She nodded her head, so Tsuki gently wrapped his arms around her shoulder and legs. With a push, he effortlessly lifted her off the ground.

"Then... lead the way," he said.