Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 615 Chapter 136.5 - The Hunt

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!-

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.