The Primal Hunter

Carmen stood over the body of the demon. Blood dripped onto the floor from fists that didn’t even have a single scratch on them. She breathed heavily as she kicked the corpse in frustration at the fucker dying so fast. She knew it wasn’t all fair that she had let out everything on a man she had only met less than an hour ago, but from the looks of it, he was a fucking asshole. Fit right into the family.

At least he had been worth more than her pathetic uncle and aunt. They could barely handle anything, and she was relieved to see at least one of them still alive despite her injuries. They were still D-grade after all, and anything short of blowing up their entire torso or ripping off their heads wouldn’t lead to instant death, which is why it was maybe overkill to tear her uncle in two, though that shouldn’t have killed him instantly.

Anyway, it was good the demon guy had at least been a bit durable to let her vent, considering the rest of her family were too pathetic. And they were pathetic. She wanted to kick herself for being so scared before coming that day. These people were nothing more than bottom feeders.

She looked into the room and saw Jake stand together with the shady City Lord Renato, but she also saw her mother lay there unconscious. Jake gave her a nod to make her know she was okay, and even Sylphie mimicked him, making her smile a bit internally. Finally, she saw the tied-up Beatrice.

I’ll save her for last.

Carmen turned her attention to the other family members in the room. As she looked at them, her anger flared again. No… they deserve worse than death.

“Get the fuck over here!” she yelled at them.

“Little Carmen, please, this is all a big misunderstanding!” she heard her grandmother, who had managed to survive, cry out. She even had the gall to use the name she used to call Carmen when she was like five.

“I told you all to get the fuck over here,” she said again. It seemed to get the message across the second time around as she also pointed at her aunt. “And drag that bitch along. If any of you are healers, fix her up too. At least enough so she doesn’t die too quickly.”

They did as ordered without another complaint or word spoken. Only now did Carmen truly recognize how fucked up their sense of authority was. The moment she had the upper hand, pretty much everyone just rolled over and did as told. It was pathetic.

Jake and Renato then walked over, with Jake dragging the bundle of mana strings containing Beatrice. The woman was wriggling, trying to get loose as she looked up at Carmen with fright. Carmen had to hold herself back from just stomping on her head then and there as she turned to Renato.

“Is this all of them?”

“Everyone from the Salvento family present in Paradise, yes,” the man confirmed.

“And you really have no issues with everything that happened today?” she also asked.

“I have major issues with it. I lost a major source of income and an important part of our infrastructure. Your family – or former family – were at least decent at their jobs, and it will take a long time to find suitable replacements,” the man answered honestly but added. “However, this is a preferable outcome to dealing with the fallout of making you an enemy. Moreover, it was only a question of time before they tried to reach beyond their station and would no doubt go for the position of City Lord eventually. So, truly, good riddance.”

Carmen just sighed as she wondered what to do next. She considered if she should just kill them all, but then she saw her mother. Still unconscious. She gritted her teeth as she sighed and looked at Renato and Jake. “Can you help me contain them or something? I think I need to have a talk with my mom.”

Jake nodded and smiled as he tossed her a few potions. “Good luck.”

“Thanks,” she smiled as she went into the other room with her mother and shut the door, trusting Jake to make sure no one escaped. Even if they did, she had confidence he could track them down again.

Jake stood in the large central banquet chamber and saw it all torn up and destroyed. Renato stood silently at his side as the man just seemed happy with everything being contained within the mansion and that nothing spilled outside to impact the rest of the city.

“You allowed them to get away with a lot,” Jake finally said, both men knowing what he was referring to.

“A balance is required,” Renato just said in defense of himself.

“They have a fucking dungeon full of prisoners. Human experiments. I am pretty sure this goes against the so-called rules of Paradise,” Jake shot back.

Renato sighed. “I was aware of some of it. Slaves were brought in from the outside. While slave trading is illegal, owning them is not… and even if it is frowned upon, we simply didn’t have the means to investigate and-

“Bullshit,” Jake said. “You just didn’t think it was worth it.”

“As I said… a balance is required,” Renato just said as the two of them stood in silence. “But do know that I shall strive to improve things.”

“I hope so,” Jake said.

light a fire under your ass and make you get

Hours passed.

heard the whole story. Between sobs and apologies, Carmen became a bit more clear on what had been going on back then. When Carmen gave her dear cousin a good pummeling and

a year or so before they would agree for her to get out. With the

could have no contact with her during this time, and her mother had agreed. Carmen did learn that some things did not line up. The letter disowning her was news to her mother, making her cry even more at

got worse after she went to prison. Her father got more aggressive and short with his wife, and her freedom was limited. Her father and mother had apparently been threatened to be cut off

them is worth keeping alive?” Carmen

mother said with hesitation. “Carmen, we shouldn’t stoop to their level. Please, enough people have

yet it also made her a bit glad. She also decided that she wanted another perspective on this as she dispelled

sitting. The woman looked like a mess,

sure you want me

best I got,” Carmen just scoffed with a smile. “You have been keeping an eye on my “family,” any thoughts

throw under the bus, but it seems like they all agreed on the uncle, aunt, and Beatrice as well as that grandmother of yours. A few more, too, probably. They are all kept in the room so you can figure out what you want to do with them,” Jake

do? No… what would you do?” Carmen

a moment to think. Would he kill them all? Maybe. It seemed like a waste of time to

want out of their deaths? Remember, this is not about them but you. If you genuinely believe killing every single one of them will make you feel better, do that. That would also remove all karmic ties and potential future issues one of them could bring. If you believe that leaving them alive - and that they are no future threats - will make you feel best, do that,” Jake answered honestly.

looked like she considered her

husband alive or not?”

“Your father-“

I am not a part of that shitty Salvento

know,” her mother shook

woman so… lost. Her entire life had been upturned in just a few minutes, and all the conditioning would take far

mother to rest for now? We have plenty of

finally nodding. Maura didn’t even try to argue but did say

Renato for a moment. Jake understood at that moment what she had decided. “Have

you back at the hotel?” Jake

as she closed the gate and entered the

had once called family. Once. She realized that forgiveness was just not

there were only four left, as her chair moved a bit as her dear

she grabbed her thigh of Beatrice and let her fingers sink into the flesh as the woman made

other two people were her aunt, grandmother, and father. Sadly her uncle had died during the fight with the demon, leaving only four of her primary targets. None of them spoke for good reason as they all lay on the ground, every single limb

up and made sure to do a back-kick into her cousin’s stomach as she walked over to the vile old woman. Carmen squatted down

Carmen asked as she held up the woman by her frilly white hair. The

“Devil… spawn…”

have reached the realm of godhood; did you know that? No, probably not based

head. Her finger penetrated the skull and sank into the old hag’s brain as her eyes opened wide before going

over. “For you, I really have no grand speech. I always fucking hated you. You are a coward and an utter failure as a parent and a person. The mere fact you managed to pop out

tongue and broken her

mother over to her by her hair. “I wondered for a while If I should kill

kept hold of the long hair on her aunt’s head. All the hair was ripped out as the woman was smashed down. Carmen had

that remained of her head was a mass

wasn’t better back on that fateful day. If I was as skilled then as I am now, I would have killed you in time. I did try

here, let me help you answer,” Carmen said as she pulled out a potion and fed Beatrice. She instantly

fucking psycho! You are never going to get away

what? Fixing a minor family issue?”

you get raped to

Carmen interrupted her as she ripped it out again. “You really don’t

closed her eyes. She put a hand on each side of her cousin’s face and lifted her up. Opening her eyes, she stared straight into