Chapter 30 – Part 4: The Second Form of Antares
A crimson light enveloped Antares.
The ground shook, magma rising around him as if drawn by divine force.
When the light faded, the dragon was gone.
Before them stood a man — pale-skinned, with jet-black hair and golden eyes that burned like twin suns.
His scales were replaced by flawless human skin — too flawless.
He wore a white tank top and black pants, and behind him materialized a massive black sword that seemed to swallow light itself.
His gaze swept over the hunters.
But now, there was no aura.
Worse — what they felt was absolute nothingness.
A pressure so deep it erased the will to fight.
In an instant, Antares vanished.
A hot breeze brushed their faces — then he was already before Drake.
> Drake (thinking): How…? He didn't teleport… he just moved.
> Drake: "Titan's Strike – Horizontal!"
The sword tore through the air with a deafening sound —
But Antares caught it with his bare hand, unfazed.
> Drake (shocked): "Impossible…!"
He tried to pull away, but the dragon's grip was unbreakable — living steel.
> Antares (coldly): "Too slow."
With a flick of his wrist, he threw Drake dozens of meters back, the ground cracking beneath him.
> Nova: "Void Art – First Movement: Spatial Cut!"
An invisible wave struck Antares at the neck.
No effect. Not even a scratch.
> Nova (gritting his teeth): "Tch… He absorbed the attack?!"
His gaze darkened.
> Nova: "I've got no choice… Everyone, down!"
His energy flared.
Space cracked behind him, warped by magical pressure.
> Nova: "Void Art – Fifth Movement: Dimensional Slash!"
The air itself split in two.
Reality was sliced apart, and Antares stood at the center of the rift.
Moments later, space closed with a devastating shockwave.
The earth quaked.
But when the dust cleared, Antares stood unharmed.
His torso had already reformed.
> Antares: "All effort is meaningless. You have no chance."
Lya clenched her fists, frustration burning in her eyes.
> Lya: "Without my shadow powers… I'm limited."
> Valor: "Yeah… and it's only getting worse."
> Drake: "Ryn, you're up!"
Ryn: "Got it! Chains of Light!"
Golden chains erupted from the ground, wrapping around Antares.
The dragon sniffed the air, intrigued.
> Antares: "Light magic? Hmph."
> Drake: "Now! Everyone, hit him!"
Lya lunged, tracing a silver arc through the air.
> Lya: "Consecutive Strikes!"
Ryn raised her hand.
> Ryn: "Disintegration Magic!"
A white beam pierced the sky and struck its target.
Valor followed, a black sphere pulsing above his palm.
> Valor: "Absolute Void – Devouring Orb!"
The sphere shot toward Antares. The air trembled — everything around began to collapse, sucked into the void.
> Valor (panting): "I'm out of mana… finish him!"
> Nova: "Dimensional Slash – Consecutive!"
Drake: "Titan's Strike – Final!"
Their combined attacks struck as one.
A cataclysmic explosion engulfed the battlefield.
Fire, light, and void merged into a devastating shockwave.
Then… silence.
Dust slowly settled.
When their vision cleared, a lone black silhouette stood in the crater.
Antares was unharmed.
In his right hand, he held Drake by the throat — effortlessly.
> Antares: "I warned you… your efforts are futile."
He tightened his grip, ready to impale Drake on his dark sword—
But suddenly, he froze.
An overwhelming pressure fell upon the battlefield.
Even the volcano seemed to stop moving.
The air vibrated, distorted.
Antares slowly turned his head.
His gaze tightened.
> Antares: "…What is… that?"
A figure descended from the sky, slow and silent…
A presence far more crushing than his own.
> Nova (trembling slightly): "That mana… no… impossible…"
The figure floated down, his steps not touching the ground.
He had short midnight-blue hair and wore a large brown assassin's cape.
Each movement distorted the space around him.
> Nova (whispering): "That mana… it can't be human…"
The figure's eyes opened — glowing with a cold, cutting light.
> Naël: "I've waited a long time… to see you again, Antares."
The dragon's breath caught.
Even he… trembled.
---
Chapter 30 – Part 5: Naël, Transcendent-Rank Hunter
Naël landed upon Antares' domain.
A massive sword rested across his back, and his aura was so dense it seemed to split the air with each step.
Lya managed a relieved smile.
> Lya: "Naël… what are you doing here? Weren't you supposed to be on a mission?"
> Naël (smiling slightly): "I was tracking down a cult — one that worshiped your dear Antares. Following their trail led me here… and to you."
The other hunters bowed respectfully, exhausted yet filled with renewed hope.
> Naël (shrugging): "Come now, no need for formalities. And don't worry… I'll handle this big lizard."
A tense silence fell.
Then, a deep, rumbling voice broke it.
> Antares: "…Who are you calling a lizard, you insolent insect?!"
In an instant, Antares appeared before him, wielding his black sword.
He slashed downward, tearing through the air itself.
Naël raised a single finger.
The strike was silent — the blade deflected like a twig.
Before Antares could react, Naël pivoted and kicked him with monstrous force.
The dragon's humanoid body crashed through several rocky peaks before slamming into the ground.
The entire domain trembled.
> Lya (stunned): "He… he sent him flying… with one kick?!"
The hunters stood frozen. Even Nova, usually calm and analytical, couldn't hide his astonishment.
> Nova (thinking): His power… it's beyond anything I've ever seen. Even the laws of this domain bend before him.
Antares rose slowly, golden eyes burning with rage — yet behind the fury was a flicker of fear.
> Antares (panting): "He's dangerous… I feel a constant unease… as if he could bypass my immortality."
He roared, unleashing a fiery storm.
The domain's sky turned blood-red.
Antares rushed at Naël, slashing upward with enough force to rend space.
Naël simply tilted his head — the attack passed inches from his face.
A cold smile curved his lips.
> Naël (calmly): "Too predictable."
His hand became enveloped in dark, devouring energy.
He struck Antares in the abdomen — a wave of negative energy spread through him like poison.
The dragon screamed, staggering back.
His body cracked, tore apart, unable to regenerate.
> Antares (panicking): "I… I can't heal… because of this energy…!"
In desperation, he sliced himself in half, forcing his regeneration through sheer will and agony.
His flesh reformed slowly, his breath ragged.
> Antares (terrified): "This energy… no… impossible! Negative energy… no human can wield that!"
Naël advanced, unfazed.
The air around him shimmered, where light and shadow merged.
> Naël (coldly): "Immortality doesn't exist, Antares."
He vanished — reappearing right before the dragon.
Their faces were inches apart.
Naël raised his hand.
A tiny black orb formed between his fingers.
It didn't glow — it devoured light, sound, existence itself.
> Antares (panicked): "Wa—"
The orb touched his chest.
A silent wave rippled through the realm.
Antares' body disintegrated — not burned, not cut — erased.
His name. His soul. Gone.
Silence fell.
The volcano went still.
And amid that absolute calm, Naël sheathed his sword.
> Naël (softly): "Rest in dust… Dragon of Fire."
Behind him, the hunters stood frozen.
Drake finally whispered, voice trembling:
> Drake: "…So that's what a transcendent-rank hunter is…"
Naël slightly turned his head, his calm, piercing gaze meeting theirs.
> Naël: "No. It's just… a human who stopped fearing gods."
Chapter 30 – Part 6: Back at HQ
Antarès' body had disintegrated, and the dimension slowly began to stabilize.
Naël, calm and composed, turned toward the five hunters still standing: Drake, Lya, Nova, Valor, and Ryn.
> Naël: "Well. That's taken care of."
He nodded toward their injuries and added in a calm tone:
> Naël: "Ryn, heal our comrades."
> Ryn: "Yes, sir Naël."
Naël raised a hand, feigning offense.
> Naël: "Don't call me sir Naël, that makes me feel old. Just Naël is fine."
Ryn gave a shy smile before channeling her healing energy.
A soft light wrapped around the hunters, closing their wounds.
> Ryn: "There… that should do it."
> Valor: "I'm a bit low on mana, but otherwise, I'm fine."
> Lya: grumbling "Because of the stupid domain rules, my powers were limited. So frustrating…"
Naël crossed his arms, a faint smile curving his lips.
> Naël: "I saw your combined attack. It had potential… but you made a big mistake. Valor's strike should've been last."
> Nova: "Why last?"
> Naël: "Because it would've amplified the shockwave from the other three. You reversed the order, and your power scattered."
The hunters nodded, taking mental notes like students before their instructor.
> Lya: sarcastic "So you were just standing there watching us struggle, huh?"
> Naël: pretending to think "Struggle is a strong word… let's say I was observing your determination."
> Drake: "Yeah, while eating popcorn, I bet."
Naël flashed a mischievous smile but didn't reply.
He then bent down and picked up Antarès' black sword, still vibrating with energy.
> Naël: "Here, Drake. It's yours."
He tossed it lightly.
Drake barely caught it, eyes wide.
> Drake: "Me?! But that's a dragon relic!"
Naël: "And? You'll use it better than he did."
A brief silence followed.
Then, as if a thought struck him, Naël lifted his gaze and scanned the area.
> Naël: "This domain must be full of treasures…"
His eyes turned crimson, darting rapidly as he scanned every inch of the collapsing world.
In seconds, hundreds of glowing objects began to rise, pulled toward him like magnets.
> Lya: eyes sparkling "Ooh, look at that! Rare crystals, artifacts, mana stones! Let me store them in my shadow, Naël!"
> Naël: "Did you forget the law, Lya?"
> Lya: grimacing "...What law?"
> Naël: "The one that says: all rewards go to whoever prevented the end of the world. In other words — me."
> Lya: "...That's not a law, that's organized greed!"
> Naël: chuckling "Call it whatever you want."
Without further discussion, he raised his hand and made all the treasures vanish into a pocket dimension, as if he were packing them into an invisible suitcase.
> Naël: "There. Much tidier."
> Valor: "Bet he's gonna sell that to the Guild for a fortune."
> Naël: "Correction: I'll sell it for a transcendent price."
The hunters burst out laughing, the tension finally breaking.
Then, with a wave of his hand, Naël opened a blue portal leading out of the domain.
> Naël: "You go first. I've got one last thing to take care of."
The five hunters stepped through without question.
Naël remained behind, gazing at the ruins of Antarès' domain.
He stretched out his hand — the entire dimension began to shrink, compressing into a red sphere of light, and then he blew gently on it.
Everything vanished.
No more mountains, no more lava. Just emptiness.
> Naël (softly): "End of the nightmare."
He stepped through the portal.
On the other side, Lya was waiting, arms crossed.
> Lya: "So, you blew up another world, huh?"
> Naël: smirking "It was already unstable. I just… sped up the process."
> Drake: "Typical transcendent."
Naël walked past them, eyes lifted toward the sky.
> Naël: "Let's head back. HQ's gonna complain that we went over the mission budget again."
The hunters laughed, following him down the road home.
Chapter 31 – The Nameless Guest
With the Antares Gate finally destroyed, Nael and the other hunters were slowly making their way back to headquarters.
Meanwhile, far from the battlefield, two familiar faces were bored out of their minds…
In a large, silent office, Valen was slouched in his chair, head tilted back.
> Valen: "Aaah… I'm dying of boredom, Zarion…"
Sitting cross-legged on the couch, Zarion gave a slow nod, expression unreadable.
> Valen: "The other hunters still haven't come back from that damn gate? What are they doing, fighting a dragon or having a picnic?"
> Zarion: calm "A dragon, apparently."
> Valen: "Great. And we're stuck here, like two old bureaucrats waiting for retirement."
Silence.
Then Valen shot him a look.
> Valen: "Tell me, is it just me or do you try to act mysterious all the time?"
> Zarion: without looking up "No. It's just natural for me."
> Valen: "Right. Remind me never to put you on stage — you'd clear out the audience."
He suddenly stood up, stretching with an exaggerated sigh.
> Valen: "Come on, let's get some air. If I stay in this office one more minute, I'll lose it."
> Zarion: getting up quietly "Let's go."
They left headquarters, hands in their pockets, strolling down the sidewalk. Their next destination: the nearby café.
The plan was simple — eat, complain, and avoid all responsibility.
But the moment they turned the corner, a hooded figure fell from the sky, landing soundlessly before them.
His cloak rippled in the wind, and an invisible wave of energy made the air tremble.
Time itself seemed to pause.
> Valen: raising a brow "I don't know about you, Zarion, but I hate people who make dramatic entrances without warning."
> Zarion: arms crossed "You hate everyone except your own reflection."
> Valen: "That's false. I also love pancakes."
An awkward silence followed.
The stranger lifted a hand.
The ground quivered lightly, stirring the dust around them.
> Valen: sighing "Okay, so he's either mute or trying to act cool."
> Zarion: "You talk enough for two people. It balances things out."
Before Valen could reply, a deep, raspy voice echoed — as if it came from another world.
> The Stranger: "Divine Hunter… and you, Forgotten Child of the Void."
Both froze.
Zarion slowly turned to Valen, brows furrowed.
Valen blinked a few times, pointing at his own chest.
> Valen: "…Divine Hunter? Me?! Seriously?"
He laughed nervously. "Well, it's not wrong. Everyone knows I'm the Divine Hunter, the strongest man alive."
> Zarion: curt "And 'Child of the Void'… I assume that's me. He's not wrong, but I'd like to know how he knows that."
> Valen: "Wait, wait—'Child of the Void'? I've known you for months and you never mentioned a weird past like that."
> Zarion: cold "And you, Mister 'Divine Hunter'… how does a non-human know who you are?"
> Valen: shrugging "It's not a secret. I'm handsome and famous. Everyone knows me."
He pulled out a small mirror from his pocket. "Just look at this. Who wouldn't?"
The stranger slowly lowered his hood.
His face was pale, almost spectral. Silver hair fell in thin strands, and his icy blue eyes seemed to pierce through their souls.
> The Stranger: "My master awaits you."
A heavy silence fell.
> Valen: rolling his eyes "Of course… because nothing can ever be simple. We can't just grab food and watch a match in peace. No, someone from a nightmare has to show up and invite us to their 'master.'"
> Zarion: slowly drawing his weapon "Who is your master?"
> The Stranger: calm, almost smiling "The one who remembers everything… even you."
The wind picked up.
Streetlights flickered.
Valen frowned.
> Valen: "'The one who remembers everything'… so what? He's got a good memory, big deal."
He crossed his arms. "If this is a riddle game, I'm telling you now — I suck at those."
He stepped forward, a crooked grin on his lips.
> Valen: low, almost threatening "...Who the hell are you? And why shouldn't I just beat you up right now?"
The stranger didn't answer.
He simply smiled — a cold, empty smile — before his body slowly dissolved into a cloud of dark mist.
Within seconds, he was gone.
Zarion sheathed his weapon slowly.
> Zarion: "What do you think he meant by 'he remembers everything'?"
> Valen: back to his usual tone "That he's got an excellent memory. Now come on, before another weirdo shows up, let's finally eat."
> Zarion: exhaling "Even when the world's falling apart, you're hungry."
> Valen: with a grin "That's how I face fear — with a good sandwich."
They walked on as if nothing had happened.
But deep down, an uneasy feeling lingered.
Valen glanced up at the sky and murmured, barely audible:
> Valen: "'The one who remembers everything'… what a joke."