Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 650 142.6 - Void Dragon

But I wasn't about to let it.

"YOU ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE!" –Umbralith.

I shifted Celestalith into its purple form, [Umbralith]. The weapon thrummed with power, responding instantly to my intent. I focused on the dragon, channeling mana into Umbralith's unique ability.

In an instant, gravity around the Void Dragon doubled, forcing it back toward the ground just as it started to lift. Its massive wings strained, and the beast roared in defiance, fighting against the force.

But I wasn't done.

With a surge of energy, I increased the gravity further, the force quadrupling around the dragon's struggling form. It thrashed, its wings beating furiously, void energy flaring as it tried to counter the overwhelming pressure. But I pushed harder, the gravity intensifying to eightfold.

The Void Dragon screeched, its body shaking violently as it struggled to remain airborne. The cavern itself seemed to tremble under the immense gravitational force, cracks spidering along the ground beneath the dragon's massive claws.

"Fall!" I roared, pouring every last ounce of mana into the weapon. The gravity spiked to sixteenfold, an insurmountable weight pressing down on the dragon's form. Its wings buckled, unable to withstand the pressure, and with one final scream, the creature plummeted to the ground, crashing into the stone floor with a thunderous impact.

BOOM!

It was all thanks to the fact that my stats were increased further by %35. Just as I held the Void Dragon pinned under the crushing force of [Umbralith], I felt the gravitational field dissipate abruptly. –Null.

The dragon's eyes glinted with cunning as it writhed, free from the field's crushing grip. The nullification cooldown had ended, allowing the creature to dispel my last tactic. It rose slowly, void energy flickering weakly along its scales, but the battle was far from over.

But this was all the time I needed.

Without hesitation, I shifted Celestalith into its crimson form, dual daggers that glowed a deep, bloody red. As they materialized in my hands, a surge of raw power washed over me, the edges of my vision tinged crimson. The injuries I'd sustained pulsed with energy, amplifying my strength through the weapon's unique bond—the more blood spilled, the stronger I became. The pain, now less a hindrance and more a source of power, coursed through me like fuel.

I reached into my spatial storage, pulling out the Void's Bane concoction. With a swift flick of my wrist, I dripped the toxic liquid onto the daggers' blades, watching as the crimson metal absorbed the poison, veins of dark energy pulsing along their edges. I tossed the empty vial aside, gripping the daggers tightly as they thrummed in my hands, alive with power and purpose.

"Here I come." The Void Dragon's gaze sharpened as it sensed the threat, but it was too late. SWOOSH! With a final, steadying breath, I braced myself and dashed forward, the crimson-tinted world narrowing to a single point of focus: the dragon's weakened, pulsing form.

Each step brought me closer, my body moving fluidly despite the bruises and gashes. The power of Celestalith's crimson form pushed me past my limits.

The Void Dragon lashed out, its claws raking through the air, but I ducked and sidestepped, closing the gap with lethal intent.

'Slow.'

But it was slow. Just slow. –SWOOSH!

The Void Dragon swung its massive claw toward me, but I slipped past it effortlessly, my body a blur as I blasted forward. I saw the panic flicker in the dragon's eyes as it leaped back, desperate to avoid the inevitable. Its wings began to beat frantically, each powerful stroke lifting it off the ground.

But just as it started to rise, the dragon let out an agonized scream, its wings seizing mid-motion. The once-mighty creature faltered, its wings stiffening as the void energy flickered erratically along its form. I allowed a grim smile to spread across my face, knowing exactly what was happening.

Void's Bane had taken root in one of the most critical pathways I had targeted earlier. The nerves running through that specific weak point connected directly to the muscles that controlled its wings. With the poison spreading through those delicate, essential channels, the dragon's wings were rendered useless, paralyzed by the toxic mana coursing through them.

This was why I had taken the risk in the first place. The initial strike had been more than just an attack; it was a strategic gamble. Trading blows and enduring the dragon's strikes allowed me to target this vulnerability, knowing the payoff would be worth it.

CRASH!

The Void Dragon crashed back to the ground, its wings now limp, useless appendages that dragged along its sides. Fury and pain burned in its gaze as it glared at me, the once-mighty beast now grounded and struggling, its defenses shattered and its movement sluggish. I tightened my grip on the crimson daggers, each step bringing me closer to its exposed, vulnerable form.

The dragon had nowhere left to run.

"heheheheh..."

It couldn't escape.

It was completely trapped.

But what to do? Every living being has an instinct to leave, that is how the world works. The Void Dragon let out one last, primal roar, its entire form trembling as it gathered every last ounce of void energy, directing it toward me in a final, desperate attempt. I could feel the intensity of its power, the forceful attempt to disrupt my movements, to render me still. But it wasn't enough. The dragon, in its not fully developed state, couldn't command the strength necessary to nullify my actions.

After all, if it were to do that, it would have done it long ago. I continued my advance, undeterred, my eyes locking onto the creature's agonized gaze. Each step was purposeful, the crimson daggers humming with energy as I raised them, closing the distance. The Void Dragon's void energy flickered one final time before it sputtered out, the remnants of its strength ebbing away, leaving it vulnerable, defeated.

Standing before the beast, I took a deep, steadying breath, feeling the weight of the moment settle around me. I closed my eyes, centering myself, channeling the remaining mana within me as the crimson world around me sharpened, amplifying my senses. My grip tightened around the daggers, and a calm resolve washed over me.

–"Onslaught of Crimson Moon."

I unleashed my final move. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

I struck with precision and relentless fury, each slash of the daggers carving through the beast's flesh with lethal intent. My movements were swift, almost a blur as I danced around its vulnerable body, the daggers leaving crimson arcs in the air as they cut through its hide. Each strike was methodical, aimed at vital points I had marked in my mind, the void energy within it collapsing with every blow.

The dragon's body shuddered, each pulse of the Void's Bane working its way deeper into its core as the crimson onslaught continued. Finally, with one last, decisive strike, I drove both daggers into its heart, feeling the creature's life force ebb beneath the blades.

The Void Dragon let out a final, weakened roar, its voice fading into a faint echo as its body went limp. The battle was over, and as I pulled the daggers free, the beast collapsed, void energy dissipating like mist into the air.

The victory was mine, hard-won and absolute.

Then, out of nowhere, my heart thundered with a single, brutal THUMP!

A wave of dizziness overtook me, and I felt the strength drain from my limbs, my body suddenly heavy and sluggish. The pill. The [Overdriving Pill]'s effects, which had granted me that extra edge, had finally caught up with me. My vision blurred as the intense crash hit, and my senses dulled and unsteady. It was as if someone had flipped a switch, cutting my power and leaving me with a body that felt alien, and weak.

I stumbled, clutching my side as I tried to steady myself. "Haaaaah...Haaaaah….."

My stats had plummeted, and the hibernation state of the pill's aftermath took hold, draining a staggering seventy percent of my strength. Every movement felt like dragging lead, and I had to force myself to stay upright, each breath laborious.

'As expected...Just a second late and I would no longer be able to live.' I made one mistake in the fight.

A single mistake, where I couldn't predict the fact that the dragon would have [Nullified] my [Grapple]. Had I made more than one mistake, I would not be here breathing right now. The timing had been everything.

The end of the pill's effects, the initial strike, and every precise maneuver—all of it had to be executed flawlessly. Had I slipped up even once more, the three minutes of enhanced strength would have ended in the heart of battle, leaving me exposed, and helpless. If I hadn't planned my movements down to the second, I wouldn't be here, standing victorious.

But that didn't matter now. What was important was that I had survived, the Void Dragon was defeated, and I'd managed to emerge from the fight in one piece—barely.

Despite the crash of the [Overdriving Pill] draining most of my strength, my injuries had largely healed, thanks to the properties of [Crimson Celestalith]. With each strike, I'd absorbed a fraction of the dragon's vitality, fueling my own body even as I wore it down. I could feel that essence lingering, an echo of the force pulsing within me, knitting together wounds that would have otherwise left me struggling.

'Fortunate,' I thought, steadying myself, forcing my breath to slow, to find a rhythm again.

Just as I steadied myself, feeling the faint pulse of the Void Dragon's vitality knitting me back together, an unexpected surge of energy struck me like a tidal wave. It was powerful, overwhelming, and unlike anything I'd ever felt before.

A torrent of demonic energy flooded my body, dense and intense, carrying with it the raw essence of the Void Dragon itself.

It wasn't just demonic—it was something deeper, something primal. The energy surged through me, unrelenting, filling every cell with an almost unbearable pressure. My body reacted instinctively, my mana channels opening wide to absorb it, but the force was too much, too fast.

My vision blurred as the world around me spun, and I could feel my senses dimming, unable to handle the onslaught. The dragon's life force was like a wildfire, searing its way through me, merging with my own mana in chaotic pulses. My heartbeat quickened, each beat more strained than the last, struggling to keep up with the new power rushing through me.

My knees buckled, the strength leaving my limbs as the energy overtook my mind, overwhelming every sense, every thought. I fought to stay grounded, to keep some semblance of control, but the energy was too vast, too all-consuming. I could feel my consciousness slipping, fading beneath the relentless flood of power.

And then, darkness.