Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

615  Chapter 136.5 - The Hunt

What is the thing that differentiates the demons from the other Awakened species?

From Elves or Dwarves, for instance.

What is the main difference between them?

They're different from the rest of the Awakened species. Elves, Dwarves, and even humans... We all use mana.

But demons? They have something far more corruptive: demonic energy.

The difference between them and the other species is stark, almost fundamental.

For most Awakened—whether Elf, Dwarf, or Human—mana was a pure force, a neutral energy that could be shaped and wielded according to one's will. It was balanced, allowing the wielder to create magic and control elements with precision. Even with years of practice, it required discipline, refinement, and a deep connection to nature or the world around them. But it never twisted the soul.

Demonic energy, on the other hand, was an entirely different beast.

It wasn't just a form of mana—it was violent, corrosive, and filled with malice. Unlike the natural flow of regular mana, demonic energy raged like a storm, constantly threatening to spiral out of control. It corrupted, sinking into its wielder's very core, twisting their thoughts, desires, and emotions.

Most demons who continued on their path of awakening and embraced this energy became vile creatures, consumed by darkness. The more they wielded this energy, the more it ate away at their humanity, leaving nothing but a lust for power and destruction.

But that's not the only difference.

Demons, unlike the other Awakened species, don't rely on external resources as much to get stronger. While Elves required centuries of growth, honing their connection to nature, and Dwarves needed rare ores and years of meticulous crafting to reach their full potential, demons advanced quickly. They didn't need the same refinement or patience. Instead, they accumulated their power directly into their demonic core, a vessel that allowed them to absorb and store energy at an accelerated rate. They grew in power faster, quicker, and more explosively than any other species.

But that speed came with a cost.

While their ability to accumulate power quickly made them dangerous, it was also their greatest weakness. The more demonic energy they absorbed, the more their desires—whether for blood, dominance, or destruction—began to take over. It made them arrogant, reckless, and prone to losing control. Their emotions, their primal urges, all fed back into the very energy they wielded, creating a cycle of corruption.

And that is their main weakness.

"So, you've got some tricks up your sleeve. Dodging won't save you for long, human. I'll rip you apart, piece by piece."

"Heh... We will see about that..." I muttered, my eyes still locked on Zharokath as his void energy pulsed dangerously around him. He stood there, brimming with power, every muscle tensed.

'At the end, nothing but a low born.'

Void energy is indeed dangerous, as it can distort the space and the fundamental property of the mana itself.

The energy.

His muscles tensed, his eyes burning with intent as his void energy crackled around him, distorting the very air. His frustration had given way to cold calculation, and now he was ready to end this fight.

He wasn't the type to drag things out—he knew his location was compromised. If I had found him, others might be on their way.

And a demon like Zharokath didn't enjoy loose ends.

With a savage snarl, he launched himself at me again, this time even faster than before. His speed was immense—far beyond anything I could match physically. His claws, now coated with demonic energy, shimmered.

The air seemed to warp as he tore toward me, each step a calculated movement designed to end the fight as quickly as possible.

I barely had time to react.

-CLANG!-

I deflected the first strike with my dagger, the impact sending tremors through my arm. His strength was overwhelming, far more than I could handle in a direct clash. The force of the blow sent me skidding backward, my boots digging into the ground as I fought to maintain my balance.

But Zharokath wasn't letting up. He pressed the attack, his claws slashing through the air with terrifying speed, each strike emitting dark tendrils of void energy that threatened to tear me apart.

-CLANK! CLANK!-

I parried and dodged as best as I could, the wind from his attacks cutting through the space around me. Every time our weapons met, the sheer power behind his strikes sent shockwaves through my body. His speed was relentless, his movements precise and controlled. There was no hesitation in him now—he wanted me dead, and he was going to make it happen fast.

'Too strong... too fast...'

I couldn't afford to stay on the defensive forever. His raw power would overwhelm me eventually.

But that was the difference between us—I had patience, and I knew how to exploit his weaknesses.

Demons, especially ones like Zharokath, always became reckless when they thought victory was in sight.

He slashed at me again, this time aiming for my throat, but I twisted my body, ducking under his arm just in time. His claws ripped through the air above me, missing by mere inches.

As I moved, I summoned the storm within me again, activating [Typhoon Burst] in a controlled, precise manner.

-BOOM!-

The burst of wind exploded from my feet, propelling me backward, gaining distance from his relentless onslaught.

The force of the maneuver sent me into the air, twisting away from his lethal claws. But this time, I didn't stop to retreat.

As I landed, I immediately unleashed a barrage of mana-infused projectiles; each one imbued with the full power of [Celestalith] in its ranged form.

-PIU! PIU! PIU!-

The mana bullets tore through the air, heading straight for Zharokath. He snarled, raising his arms to block, the dark energy of the void swirling around him to shield his body.

The projectiles collided with his defenses, exploding in bursts of energy that rocked the room, but he barely flinched.

His demonic aura absorbed the brunt of the impact, but the blasts slowed him down, forcing him to stop his charge for just a moment.

'Now!'

I activated [Shadow Leap], slipping into the darkness just as Zharokath recovered from the explosions. He blinked, his eyes scanning the room, but I was already behind him.

Reappearing in the shadows, I swung my dagger in a low arc, aiming for the back of his legs where his armor was thinnest.

-CLANG!- n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

The blade struck true, slicing through the tendons just above his knee. Zharokath let out a roar of pain as his leg buckled beneath him, his speed faltering for the first time.

"ARGH! You... insect!" he snarled, spinning around with a vicious backhand swipe, but I was already gone, vanishing into the shadows again.

'Now a wide area attack.'

Surprisingly, it is really easy to predict what your opponent will do when they are agitated, especially if you know what type of character they are.

A snarl was let out first.

BOOM!

Followed by a sudden surge of demonic energy as the hands were slammed into the ground. Dark tendrils of void energy exploded outward, warping the space around him as they snaked in every direction.

The sheer force of the attack cracked the stone floor, sending a wave of destruction through the room. The tendrils moved fast, tearing through walls, floors, and anything in their path. He was trying to force me out, hoping his void energy would either catch me or flush me into the open.

But, well, it was obvious.

SWOOSH! As the void tendrils shot toward me, I slipped into the shadows, avoiding the attack with [Shadow Leap]. The dark energy passed harmlessly through where I had been standing moments earlier, destroying the walls and leaving deep gashes in the stone.

From the shadows, I pulled out a small, shiny marble—one of the tools I had prepared specifically for this fight. A blinding flash bomb, designed to disorient even the most powerful foes for a brief moment. Zharokath's senses were sharp, but this would be enough to blind him temporarily.

I waited, timing it perfectly. Just as his wide area attack began to slow, I activated the marble and tossed it into the air right in front of him.

-FLASH!-

The marble exploded in a brilliant burst of light, blinding him instantly.

He staggered back, his hands instinctively going to his face as he tried to shield his eyes from the sudden assault.

That was my cue.

Without wasting a second, I darted forward.

From all of the virtual meridians that I had formed in my head, the mana circulated all across my body, taking the [Storm Stance] form within, enhancing my speed as I circled around him.

I lashed out with my dagger, carving shallow cuts along his exposed skin. One slash across his arm. Another across his ribs. A third across his back.

-CLANG! CLANG!-

Each strike was precise, and none ever missed.

Zharokath's demonic hide was tough, but my celestial blade cut through it like butter, leaving glowing red trails where the wounds began to form.

He let out another roar of pain, swinging wildly. But his attacks were blind and frantic. He couldn't see me. He couldn't catch me.

'Time is over.'

But then, the time was over. And this trick would no longer work. Most of the superhumans were all monsters, after all, and they evolved and adapted fast.

Their bodies were all enhanced, and a mere trick of nerves would no longer work a second time.

And just like that, Zharokath's eyes snapped open, burning with renewed fury. His demonic energy pulsed outward, crackling as it rippled through the air, distorting the space around us.

"ENOUGH!" he bellowed, his voice filled with raw, unbridled rage. His body shifted as he stood tall, the void energy swirling around him, darker and more potent than before. The air grew thick with his malevolent aura, warping and twisting reality itself.

Then, without warning, he moved—faster than before. His massive frame, despite its wounds, shot toward me with terrifying speed. I barely had time to react as his claws swiped at me, glowing with a deadly void energy that could tear through anything.

I activated [Shadowborne], slipping into the shadows to evade his attack, but something was wrong.

The shadows... they didn't respond.

'Tssk.'

He had used his ability.

And a sharp pain flared in my chest.