THE STREET KING

---

1. Trapped in the Inferno

Jinwoo barely had time to react as another explosion shook the building. The glass windows shattered, sending shards flying across the room. Smoke and fire filled the air, the heat already becoming unbearable.

Hye-jin coughed, covering her nose with her sleeve. "We need to get out—now!"

Jinwoo grabbed his gun and pulled her toward the emergency exit, but as soon as he kicked open the door, gunfire erupted from the stairwell.

"They're waiting for us," Hye-jin hissed.

Jinwoo's mind raced. This wasn't a random attack—Mirae had planned this down to the second.

She wasn't just trying to kill him.

She was hunting him.

Jinwoo pulled Hye-jin back into the room and glanced toward the broken window. Below, flames consumed the lower floors, but the rooftop was still clear.

"We go up," he said.

Hye-jin didn't argue. They sprinted for the stairwell, dodging debris as the fire spread. The building groaned under the strain of the damage, but they didn't stop.

When they burst onto the rooftop, Jinwoo spotted a helicopter in the distance. It was heading straight for them.

"Mirae…" he muttered.

Hye-jin reloaded her gun. "We take them down before they take us."

Jinwoo smirked. "That's the plan."

---

2. The Queen's Arrival

Mirae sat in the helicopter, her gaze locked onto the burning building below. Through the smoke, she could see two figures standing on the rooftop.

Jinwoo.

She let out a soft chuckle. "Still alive, huh?"

The pilot glanced at her. "Should we open fire?"

Mirae shook her head. "No. I want him to see my face before he dies."

She leaned forward, grabbing a sniper rifle from the seat beside her.

"Bring us in close," she ordered.

As the helicopter hovered above the rooftop, Mirae stepped onto the edge, her rifle aimed at Jinwoo.

"Jinwoo!" she called out.

Jinwoo turned, his eyes locking onto hers. For a brief second, there was no war, no betrayal—just history.

Then Mirae pulled the trigger.

---

3. The Fall

Jinwoo barely managed to dodge as the bullet whizzed past his head. He dived behind an air-conditioning unit, pulling Hye-jin with him.

"She's trying to finish this right now," Hye-jin said.

Jinwoo reloaded his gun. "Then we finish it first."

The helicopter circled, Mirae repositioning for another shot. Jinwoo took a deep breath.

He had one chance.

As soon as the helicopter came into view again, he rose from cover and fired. The first shot missed. The second hit the pilot's shoulder.

The helicopter tilted dangerously, spinning out of control.

Mirae cursed, grabbing onto the frame as the aircraft lurched. The pilot struggled to stabilize it, but it was no use.

Jinwoo and Hye-jin ran for the edge of the rooftop as the helicopter spiraled downward.

Then—impact.

The explosion lit up the night sky, sending shockwaves through the air. Jinwoo and Hye-jin barely managed to jump onto the adjacent rooftop before the flames consumed everything.

Jinwoo groaned, pushing himself up. "Did she…?"

Hye-jin wiped the blood from her forehead. "No way she's dead that easily."

Jinwoo clenched his fists.

This wasn't over.

Not even close.

---

End of Chapter 51

(Next Chapter: The Last Hunt.)