Max Ranker

Jin Hwan's boots scraped against the cracked concrete as he stepped into the next hunting ground—an abandoned subway station. The air was thick with the stench of rot, a disgusting mix of rust, dampness, and something unmistakably demonic.

He was exhausted. Blood soaked his hoodie, his axe was chipped, and his breathing was labored. But his mind was sharper than ever. 46 kills.

I just need 14 more to hit 60.

His grip on the axe tightened. He had cleared four locations so far—warehouses, back alleys, and ruined buildings infested with F-rank demons. Each fight had nearly killed him, but he was ranking up. He could feel it. His swings were faster. His movements were smoother.

But now, as he descended the dark subway stairs, he felt something different.

There was something here.

Something more dangerous.

His eyes adjusted to the darkness. The station was filled with shattered glass, abandoned benches, and torn-out train tracks. The electronic signs still flickered, showing old train schedules.

And then—he saw them.

A horde of demons.

There were at least twenty. Some crouched on the walls, their claws scraping against the metal. Others prowled between the broken pillars, their glowing red eyes fixated on him.

And then—they rushed him all at once.

Jin Hwan's muscles screamed in protest, but he moved. He swung his axe in a wide arc, cleaving straight through the first demon's chest.

[ Rank Up +1 ]

[ 47/100 ]

The second demon lunged at his side—Jin Hwan ducked, dodging by inches, before slamming his knee into its jaw. Bone cracked. He brought his axe down, splitting its head in half.

[ Rank Up +1 ]

[ 48/100 ]

Two down. Eighteen left.

A third demon pounced from above—he barely rolled away, but its claws ripped through his shoulder. He gritted his teeth, ignoring the pain.

Stay focused. If you stop, you die.

Jin Hwan kicked off the ground, rushing toward the demon before it could attack again. He drove his axe into its throat, pinning it against a pillar. It thrashed, gurgling, but he twisted the blade and yanked it out—ending its life.

[ Rank Up +1 ]

[ 49/100 ]

His body screamed at him to stop, but he pushed forward. Another demon charged—he sidestepped, grabbed it by the neck, and slammed its skull into the ground.

[ Rank Up +1 ]

[ 50/100 ]

Halfway there.

The demons were enraged now. They circled him, their snarls echoing through the underground tunnels.

Then—they attacked together.

Jin Hwan barely managed to block the first set of claws with his axe, but another demon tackled him from behind.

He crashed into the floor.

Pain shot through his ribs, but he didn't have time to react. The demon above him opened its jaw wide—aiming straight for his throat.

Jin Hwan jammed his forearm into its mouth, forcing its teeth apart. Blood poured from his arm as the demon bit down, but he used his free hand to grab a loose rail spike from the ground—

And stabbed it through the demon's skull.

[ Rank Up +1 ]

[ 51/100 ]

He shoved the corpse off him, just in time to dodge another attack.

One of the demons grabbed his leg, yanking him backward. Jin Hwan twisted midair, kicking it in the face before throwing his axe.

The blade buried itself into its forehead.

[ Rank Up +1 ]

[ 52/100 ]

His breathing was ragged now. His arms felt like lead.

But the fight wasn't over.

A demon came at him from the side—Jin Hwan caught it by the jaw and slammed its head against a metal bench until its skull caved in.

[ Rank Up +1 ]

[ 53/100 ]

Another demon jumped from the ceiling.

Jin Hwan grabbed his axe from the corpse and spun just in time—

A clean decapitation.

[ Rank Up +1 ]

[ 54/100 ]

The last few demons hesitated. They had started this fight confident. But now?

They were afraid.

Jin Hwan stood there, his body drenched in blood—some his own, some not. His breathing was heavy. His fingers trembled around his axe handle.

And yet—he grinned.

"Come on," he muttered. "I'm just getting started."

The remaining demons roared and charged.

Jin Hwan darted forward.

The first demon tried to claw at his chest, but he slipped past its attack and slammed his axe into its side. The demon screeched, but he didn't stop—he yanked the blade out and cut again, this time straight through its heart.

[ Rank Up +1 ]

[ 55/100 ]

Another demon leaped from behind, but Jin Hwan ducked low and spun, slicing its legs off at the knees. It collapsed, howling in pain—he ended it with a clean swing to the neck.

[ Rank Up +1 ]

[ 56/100 ]

Three left.

One tried to escape.

Jin Hwan was faster.

He threw his axe like a tomahawk—it spun through the air and impaled the demon right between the eyes.

[ Rank Up +1 ]

[ 57/100 ]

The last two demons attacked together.

Jin Hwan caught one by the wrist and twisted—breaking its arm completely. He pulled it in close and headbutted it hard enough to shatter bone. Before it could react, he smashed his knee into its stomach and sent it flying.

The second demon went for his throat—Jin Hwan caught its jaw with both hands and forced its mouth open wider… and wider…

Until its neck snapped.

[ Rank Up +1 ]

[ 58/100 ]

The last demon scrambled to its feet, but Jin Hwan was already moving.

He tackled it to the ground and raised his axe—before bringing it down with everything he had.

The blade sank deep into its chest.

The demon shuddered… then went still.

[ Rank Up +1 ]

[ 59/100 ]

Silence filled the subway station.

Jin Hwan let out a slow breath. His vision blurred. His body was broken.

But there was one more left.

He forced himself to his feet, gripping his axe one last time.

The final demon snarled at him from the shadows. It was larger than the others—a brute.

Jin Hwan smirked through bloody teeth.

"Let's finish this."

Jin Hwan could barely stand. His muscles ached. His arms felt like they were made of lead. His breath came in ragged gasps, every inhale setting his ribs on fire.

But he wasn't done yet.

The last demon stepped forward from the shadows. It was bigger than the rest. Its hunched frame was nearly twice Jin Hwan's size, its arms long and twisted with thick, rope-like muscles. Its claws scraped against the tiled floor, leaving deep grooves in the surface.

Shit.

Jin Hwan gripped his axe tightly. His fingers were numb, and the weapon felt heavier than before. But he couldn't stop. He was already at 59 kills.

Just one more would push him into the sixties.

The demon grinned, showing rows of jagged, rotting teeth. It was different from the others. It wasn't just feral. It was thinking. Studying him.

Damn it. This one's smart.

Jin Hwan took a slow step forward, adjusting his stance. The subway's emergency lights flickered, casting deep shadows across the bloodstained platform. His heartbeat pounded in his ears.

Then—the demon lunged.

Jin Hwan barely had time to react.

A massive claw slashed toward his face—he dodged by a hair's breadth, but pain exploded in his shoulder as the demon's other hand raked across his flesh. Three deep gashes tore through his hoodie.

He stumbled back, gritting his teeth.

"Damn… that hurt."

The demon didn't give him a chance to recover. It charged again, its powerful arms swinging in wide, brutal arcs.

Jin Hwan **ducked, rolled, and twisted—**barely avoiding the deadly strikes. But he was too slow. A backhanded blow slammed into his ribs, sending him flying across the platform.

His body crashed into a metal pillar. His vision blurred for a second, his ears ringing.

Move!

Jin Hwan **rolled to the side just in time—**the demon's claws ripped through the pillar where his head had been a second ago. Sparks rained down. The sheer force bent the metal out of shape.

Jin Hwan exhaled sharply. If that had hit him directly…

I'd be dead.

His grip on his axe tightened. He forced himself to his feet. Blood dripped down his arm, staining the floor beneath him. The demon let out a guttural growl, its red eyes filled with mockery.

It knew he was weaker.

It thought it had already won.

Jin Hwan gritted his teeth and raised his axe. "Yeah?" he muttered. "Well, screw you too."

The demon roared and charged again—Jin Hwan met it head-on.

It swiped at him—he ducked under the first claw, barely managing to avoid the second. The demon's sheer force sent wind rushing past him.

Jin Hwan jumped forward, swinging his axe toward its ribs.

The blade **dug in—**but not deep enough. The demon twisted, ripping the axe from his grip, and swung its fist.

CRACK.

Jin Hwan felt his ribs shatter.

Pain exploded through his chest as he was sent flying again. He hit the ground hard, coughing violently. Blood splattered onto the concrete.

For a second, his vision blurred. His body refused to move.

The demon walked toward him, slowly this time. Enjoying the moment.

Jin Hwan's fingers twitched. His mind screamed at him to get up.

Move. MOVE!

The demon raised a massive claw—

Jin Hwan's hand shot forward, grabbing a broken train cable.

He yanked.

**A shower of live wires snapped free—**and he shoved them straight into the demon's chest.

ZZZZZZZZZT!

Electricity surged through the demon's body. It screamed, convulsing violently as blue sparks erupted from its skin.

Jin Hwan forced himself up, grabbing his axe.

"Eat this, asshole."

He swung with everything he had.

The axe tore through the demon's throat—

Its head separated from its shoulders.

[ Rank Up +1 ]

[ 60/100 ]

The demon collapsed.

Jin Hwan stood there, panting. His entire body ached. His ribs were broken. His arms felt like they were about to fall off.

But he was alive.

He staggered back, leaning against a pillar. His vision swam. The subway station was littered with corpses. Blood pooled around him, seeping into the cracks in the floor.

His fingers trembled as he wiped sweat from his brow. His entire body felt numb.

Then—he heard something.

More footsteps.

Jin Hwan's eyes snapped up.

More demons.

At least twenty more.

"…You've gotta be kidding me," he muttered.

A smaller demon hissed and lunged—Jin Hwan sidestepped, bringing his axe down in a clean strike.

[ Rank Up +1 ]

[ 61/100 ]

Another attacked from the left—he turned and swung, burying his axe into its skull.

[ Rank Up +1 ]

[ 62/100 ]

More came.

Jin Hwan's exhaustion didn't matter anymore.

Adrenaline kicked in.

He moved on instinct. Every swing of his axe felt sharper. His footwork became smoother.

He dodged a claw, countered with a clean kill.

[ Rank Up +1 ]

[ 63/100 ]

A demon tried to grab him—he twisted, broke its arm, and slammed his axe into its back.

[ Rank Up +1 ]

[ 64/100 ]

His movements flowed like a dance.

For the first time—he felt it.

The rhythm of battle.

A demon jumped at him from above. Jin Hwan rolled backward, grabbed a broken pipe from the ground, and speared it through its throat.

[ Rank Up +1 ]

[ 65/100 ]

More came.

Jin Hwan grinned. His heart raced.

He wasn't afraid anymore.

He was winning.

A demon tried to grab him—he flipped the axe in his hands and sliced through its legs.

[ Rank Up +1 ]

[ 66/100 ]

Another rushed in—he sidestepped and decapitated it in one smooth motion.

[ Rank Up +1 ]

[ 67/100 ]

His strikes became cleaner. More efficient.

[ Rank Up +1 ]

[ 68/100 ]

[ Rank Up +1 ]

[ 69/100 ]

A final demon tried to run.

Jin Hwan grabbed it by the neck and slammed it into the ground.

Then—he brought his axe down.

[ Rank Up +1 ]

[ 70/100 ]

He exhaled.

Then fell to his knees.

The subway was silent.

Jin Hwan stared at his trembling hands. He had never felt like this before.

He wasn't just surviving anymore.

He was getting stronger.

And it felt damn good.