Chapter 614 136.4 - The Hunt
With all the alarms and formations neutralized, I silently made my way back to the nearest rooftop, taking care to avoid any remaining patrols. The high-rise building loomed before me, its windows gleaming in the dim light of the city. To most, those windows would reveal nothing—a blank, impenetrable surface. But to me, with my [Eyes] and my understanding of mana, the truth was laid bare.
I crouched low, peering through the barrier that concealed the room. There, beyond the layers of deception, I saw two silhouettes.
One was unmistakably Zharokath—his demonic aura pulsed faintly around him, his form seated comfortably as if he were in control of his world. But the second figure was smaller, more fragile.
A young child.
The sight of the small form sent a surge of anger through me. It was clear what Zharokath intended to do. The child, likely one of his victims, would soon be consumed.
And that sight….
It made me remember something.
A certain moment.
'Calm down.'
But right now, I must keep myself calm. This rising feeling of anger must be kept under control.
'Calm down.'
I took my position on the rooftop, the distance between me and the window providing the perfect vantage point. The wind was calm, the night still. There was nothing to distract me from the task at hand.
I reached into my spatial space, summoning [Celestalith]. The weapon responded instantly, shifting into its rifle form with a soft hum of mana. Its sleek, elongated barrel gleamed faintly in the moonlight, its power coiled within, ready to be unleashed.
The compressed mana surged through the Celestalith's barrel, glowing faintly as I focused all my intent on the target. Zharokath, oblivious to his impending doom, leaned in closer to the trembling child, his demonic form beginning to show.
'Not today.'
-PIU!
The mana-infused shot ripped through the air, piercing the window in an instant. The barrier shattered like glass, and the bullet found its mark. Zharokath jerked violently as the shot hit his chest, tearing through the right side of his heart.
"AAAAAH!"
A bellow of pain echoed through the room, and for a brief moment, Zharokath's gaze flickered in shock.
But I wasn't done yet.
Before the demon could recover, I fired again.
-PIU!
This time, the shot drove through his right shoulder, throwing him off balance. Blood sprayed from the wound, but even as the pain contorted his face, Zharokath's eyes narrowed in furious realization.
He was ready.
-WHOOSH!
[Shadow Leap].
Zharokath's form blurred as he vanished, melding into the shadows of the room. But I had already anticipated it. Without hesitation, I activated my own skill, teleporting into the room in an instant.
The shadows welcomed me as I materialized amidst the flickering light. The room was small, the air heavy with the scent of blood and fear. The child lay crumpled on the floor, shivering, but I couldn't afford to check on him yet. Zharokath was the priority.
Without a sound, I shifted Celestalith into its chakram form, the sleek blades humming with energy as they began to orbit around me, ready to strike at my command. But before I attacked, I reached into my belt and activated the artifact—the one I had taken from the assassins who had assaulted Ethan and Emily.
It clattered softly onto the ground between us. Zharokath's eyes flickered toward it, a scowl crossing his twisted features. He didn't have time to react.
-SNAP!
With a sharp click, the gadget activated, creating a small space where now everything would remain in this place and no one outside would be able to sense what was happening inside.
'You are isolated.'
He no longer could rely on any outside help. Unless he left this place, he would be mine.
'You are my prey now.'
-CLINK!
Zharokath's body jerked violently as the shot pierced through him, but his reaction was almost instantaneous. The pain twisted his expression for only a fleeting moment before his eyes narrowed in rage. His chest, now bleeding, heaved as he struggled to stay composed. With a guttural roar, he launched to his feet, his demonic energy erupting from him like a dark flame.
"Who dares?!" Zharokath bellowed, his voice booming throughout the chamber. His demonic energy surged, causing the very walls of the room to tremble. "Who dares attack me?!"
I remained silent, my eyes focused on him, unwavering. The atmosphere thickened as Zharokath's mana flared, his physical form now shimmering with the oppressive aura of a Void Clan demon. His towering frame grew even more menacing as his muscles bulged, rippling under the dark energy wrapping around him like a second skin.
"You… You insolent worm," he snarled, his voice dripping with malice. "Do you know what I am?"
Without warning, he lunged at me, the floor cracking beneath his feet as his sheer speed sent him barreling through the room. I barely had time to shift Celestalith into its dagger form, blocking his initial strike.
His strength was overwhelming—his raw power sent vibrations through my arms, threatening to shatter my guard.
I grit my teeth, pushing against his force, but he was relentless.
"You're nothing!" Zharokath roared, his claws slashing with terrifying speed. His strikes came fast and precise, each blow leaving trails of void energy in their wake. My body screamed in protest as I dodged and deflected, the impact of every blocked strike numbing my arms.
Despite his wounds, Zharokath was an experienced warrior—physically more powerful than me. Every move he made was calculated, ruthless, a display of his mastery over his demonic form.
I could feel the weight of his centuries-old experience pressing down on me. He wasn't just a demon; he was a predator, hunting with precision and savagery.
I activated [Shadow Leap], slipping into the shadows just as his claws slashed through the space where I had been standing. Reappearing behind him, I swung my dagger at his exposed back.
But Zharokath was faster.
In an instant, he twisted, his hand catching my wrist mid-strike. His grip was iron, unyielding, and he yanked me forward, his other hand already poised to strike.
"Foolish human," he spat, his eyes burning with cruel delight. "You think you can match me?"
I could feel the void energy gathering in his claws, dark and malevolent, ready to tear through my flesh. But I wasn't done yet.
-BOOM!-
The chakrams I had released moments earlier came crashing down on him, their celestial energy slicing through the void mana. Zharokath let out a snarl as they collided with his body, forcing him to release his grip and stumble back.
I landed, breathing heavily, my body aching from the brief clash. He was quite strong, just as I had expected.
But strength alone never mattered in a fight.
I spat onto the ground, my eyes narrowing as I locked onto Zharokath. In that brief exchange, I had already begun to piece together his fighting style—the way his body shifted, the precise, predatory movements.
His instincts were honed, his reactions too quick for simple muscle memory. This demon had seen countless battles, and his fighting psyche was wired to react, to adapt swiftly.
But that didn't mean he was unbeatable.
Zharokath's eyes burned with fury as he wiped the celestial energy from his chest, his injuries already beginning to close, the dark void energy mending his flesh with disturbing speed. Being a demon, his physical capabilities were top-notch, and it showed.
His wounds knitted together as if they were never there, leaving only faint traces of where my chakrams had struck him.
"HOW DID YOU ENTER THIS PLACE?!" he bellowed, his voice thick with rage as he launched himself toward me, claws outstretched. "WHO SENT YOU?!"
He was fast—faster than before. His body blurred with demonic energy, the sheer power radiating from him making the air around us heavy and oppressive. The walls of the room trembled from the force of his movements, the shadows deepening with each pulse of his void energy.
But I was ready.
While my physical stats were much lower than him, that did not mean I was slower. Thanks to the footwork of [Cyclone Stance] and the way that I had figured out to circulate my mana all around my body, the enchantments around me were much more effective. As Zharokath descended on me, I shifted my weight, calculating his trajectory. His strikes were precise and lethal but predictable in their aggression. I could see the opening—the moment he overextended, banking on his raw strength to overpower me.
-CLANG!-
I parried his strike, the force of the impact jarring my arms. His claws scraped against the celestial metal of my dagger, sending sparks flying. But I didn't stop there. As his momentum carried him forward, I twisted, ducking under his arm and driving my knee into his ribs. The blow landed hard, though his thick demonic hide absorbed most of the impact.
Zharokath snarled, his claws swiping at me again, but I was already gone, slipping into the shadows with [Shadow Leap].
"SHOW YOURSELF!" he roared, his eyes scanning the room, searching for me. His frustration was palpable, his pride wounded by the fact that I had slipped from his grasp again.
I reappeared behind him, close enough to feel the heat of his demonic energy radiating from his form. But instead of attacking immediately, I stayed low, analyzing his stance, the way his muscles tensed and his head jerked with every sound.
'He sensed.'
I felt the shift before it happened. Zharokath's demonic energy surged, twisting unnaturally as the mana around him condensed into a focused, dangerous mass. His muscles tensed, and I could see the void energy coiling around his hands, warping the space ever so slightly.
'A void attack.'
I knew exactly how deadly those were. The void didn't just cut—it devoured, and if I allowed myself to get caught in it, I wouldn't just take damage; I'd be erased, piece by piece. It wasn't something I could afford to take head-on.
Zharokath's lips curled into a predatory grin, his claws glowing with dark energy as he prepared to unleash the strike.
No matter what, I couldn't let him hit me with that.
As the void energy crackled ominously around him, I reacted instantly, my instincts screaming at me to move. I braced myself and activated [Typhoon Burst], the technique from the [Storm Stance] designed for moments just like this. The air around me exploded with a burst of mana as the ground beneath my feet cracked from the sudden force.
-BOOM!-
The blast of wind from [Typhoon Burst] propelled me into the air, launching me backward with incredible speed. The sheer force of the move carried me high above the ground, and I could feel the rush of air as I gained distance, twisting in mid-air to avoid the void strike.
Zharokath snarled in frustration as his void attack missed its mark, the space where I had been seconds earlier distorting violently. Dark tendrils of void energy tore through the air, consuming everything in their path as they lashed out blindly.
I landed several meters away, skidding to a halt as the wind settled around me. My breathing was heavy, and the blast had drained a fair bit of my mana, but it was worth it—I had avoided the void attack.
Zharokath's eyes narrowed, his frustration now fully apparent. He wasn't playing around anymore. His stance shifted, his body now radiating raw power as he took the fight seriously.
"So, you've got some tricks up your sleeve," he growled, his voice low and dangerous. "But dodging won't save you for long, human. I'll rip you apart, piece by piece."
"Heh...We will see about that…"
This low-born demon was as shallow as ever.
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