It was the fourth day of the week and things were looking good for Paul and the team leaders.

Reverence for him had come back in full force as they had all watched him effortlessly take down the horde of demons the previous day single handedly.

They were wary of concluding early but they were confident that they would win the round.

As usual, they hadn’t seen any signs of the Hoarder.

He was on the mind of everyone though.

At the moment, the Guildmaster was in his office making calls.

He was idly twiddling a pen while he talked to the leaders he had put in charge of the other branches of the Alliance.

He was stressed by the responses he was getting from some of them.

"Why are people unable to see the big picture," He wondered to himself as he listened to the other speaker

"What’s so difficult to understand? He said, stopping himself in time from banging the desk. You’re endangering the rest of them by keeping the gates open."

He was informing the other branches around the world to close off their doors so as not to incur further casualties.

Surprisingly, he met with some resistance as some of them thought it was inconsiderate of them to do such.

The guy he was talking to at the moment was more concerned about the people outside that were trying to get in.

It was infuriating to deal with.

Paul calmed himself down as he tried to make him see the big picture.

"The people outside your base had a chance to join your ranks long before now. You shouldn’t endanger your own people now to suit them."

"If you don’t close the gates, your base would be overrun by the demons. The same people you are looking out for would be transformed too and then you would have to kill them. Surely, you don’t want that on your conscience."

When put like that he couldn’t argue again and he acquiesced to the demands of the Guildmaster.

"Whew" Paul said in exasperation as he got off the call and turned to Lillith who was standing beside him.

"Tough call?"

"You can say that. James and some of the others gave me a tough time but they backed down in the end."

"Good thing they listened to reason. I assume there is a plan for all these."

"Yeah there is, you’ll see," He said, rising from his desk to head out.

He was prepared to end the week’s task once and for all.

"You want to fight the demons on your own just like yesterday?" 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"Yes, only that this time, I want to end them for good and complete the week’s task."

As if summoned, the rest of the team leaders came out to join him.

"This is a solo fight so stay out of the way," Paul instructed, his voice calm but authoritative. "It might get messy when I handle the demons."

The tension was palpable in the air.

They were fewer in number compared to other branches, but what they lacked in manpower, they made up for with determination and the strategic advantage of their fortified base.

They were not really surprised by what he said since he had done something similar the previous day.

Paul had ensured every member was well-prepared and well-protected.

Somehow the current operation seemed more dangerous than what they had encountered before.

His subordinates nodded, trusting in their leader’s prowess. They had seen his strength firsthand, and they knew he was more than capable of handling the horrors that awaited outside.

As the moon turned a menacing blood-red, Paul stepped out into the night.

The portals flickered open, releasing a flood of demons onto the darkened streets. But Paul was undeterred.

He activated [Skill Interference] to suspend their movements as he faced the portals.

From where Lillith and the rest of the team leaders watched, they couldn’t see what he was doing as he had his back turned to them.

They had been shocked when the demons froze just before they attacked the Guildmaster.

Their eyes bulged out when he did something to a portal and the rest of the portals all blinked and fizzled out.

The only reminder that it had been there was the frozen demons it had spawned.

"Uhhhh..."

"What did he...?"

"How...?"

They were all dumbfounded with what they were seeing.

A smile danced across Paul’s lips as he saw that his plan had worked.

He had closed off all the portals in the area.

"Now to finish off the rest of you all."

He removed the skill he had placed on them earlier and their movements resumed once again.

With a steely gaze, he activated two long katana blades, its edge glinting ominously in the moonlight.

The first wave of demons lunged at him, their grotesque forms moving with unnatural speed. Paul moved faster.

~WHAMM!!!~

~SLICCEEEE!!!~

~BOOOMMMM!!!~

With precise, lethal strikes, he cut through them, his blade a blur of motion.

Each swing was calculated, every movement efficient. The demons fell one by one, unable to match his skill and power.

Inside the HQ, the team leaders all watched in awe and relief through the reinforced windows.

"He’s incredible," Tia whispered, impressed by what she was seeing .

"I’ve never seen him fight like that, it seems familiar."

"It’s almost as if he’s fighting like you," Nye said trying to follow his movements which was too fast for his eyes.

In truth Paul was using [Perfect Predator] skill which granted him fluidity greater than that of an Assassin like Tia for instance.

He continued his relentless assault. He moved through the throngs of demons with the grace and precision of a seasoned warrior.

His mind was focused, his senses honed to a razor-sharp edge. No demon could touch him, let alone harm him.

It was more impressive because it was rare to escape without a demon at least getting you.

They weren’t powerful but had sharp reflexes like a cat.

He dispatched the last of the demons with a powerful swing, the creatures all dissolving in a mix of blood and gore.

Without looking stressed at all, Paul scanned the area.

Not a single demon remained. He had cleared the perimeter entirely.