''Gggrrrrrrr!!"
"Aahhhhhh!!"
In unison, all the Ant-horns surrounding the area rushed toward Dante to tear him apart.
Similarly, he ran towards the Ant-horns that were closing the distance.
Crack!!
The spear he had explosively jabbed out obliterated an Ant-horn's head.
"Graaaaa!
Another Ant-horn rushed in from the right side.
It was an 'Elder' that was one step larger compared to the other Ant-horns.
Normal, low-level 1 Awakener's eyes wouldn't have been able to follow its movements, but Dante was different.
Boom!
Calmly he launched his body by slamming the butt of the spear against the ground.
Like a pole vaulter, his body explosively soared through the air.
Spin!
He rotated his body in midair as he grabbed onto the spear.
While the Elder Ant-horn that had lost its target was in a panic, he accurately pierced through its head.
Craaaack!!
Another one was killed, this one was different than the other as he provided him more soul power.
An electrifying thrill ran from his spine through his body.
'Not bad, I'm slowly getting accustomed to my new strength.' Dante murmured.
The power all over his body was boiling up.
Suddenly, he thought of something.
'What will happen if instead of using lightning element externally I used it internally? Just a small amount.'
The only way to find out was to test it and Dante immediately did that. He converted the mana in his body into a small lightning stream that spread through his entire body in an instant. The result was beyond his expectation.
''Huh?" From the distance Cecilia was shocked as she felt something but decided to watch the show, she would eventually find out what that feeling was.
Meanwhile, more Ant-horns charged at Dante.
Every single detail of the Ant-horns rushing towards him was engraved onto his retina as if he was seeing things in a slow motion
'Let's not get too excited.'
Collecting his breath, he kicked off the ground, widening the distance between him and the Ant-horns.
Crack!!!
He calmly swung his spear around and continued to reduce the number of Ant-horns.
Even while simultaneously facing off against dozens of Ant Horns, he didn't feel tired at all.
''Ah! I see. You're using it like that.''
The Black Witch Cecilia goddess narrowed her eyes and looked towards Dante, who was fiercely fighting amid the Ant-horns. She was able to finally understood that mysterious feeling she felt a few seconds ago, it must be because how Dante was using lightning to accelerate his reaction speed and cognitive perception on a molecular level. A pretty daring move, truly ingenious of him. She was happy with his ingenuity but she wanted to see him use more his stigma, so she suggested.
''You are not making real use of your stigma. So, I suggest you to do it now.''
Upon hearing this suggestion, Dante's eyes naturally headed toward the left side of his chest. The Devil's stigma was giving off a subtle glow.
That's right.
Until then, it had only given off a subtle light.
Devil's stigma or the Angel's blessing would give off a much more brilliant light when used.
He had not been using the power of his stigma, if he had done that he could control powerful level of lightning or fire.
Thinking that it was time to use it, Dante poured mana into the stigma, wishing to test his lightning element and the stigma glowed, reacting to its owner's wish.
Bzzzzzt!!
A blue lightning crackled across his entire body.
A blinding blue light explosively scattered out of the stigma on his left chest.
"Grak, Graaaa!!"
The Ant-horns that were momentarily hesitant started to rush in again.
This time, they were in a formation with three Elders positioned in the middle.
"Huu…"
Inhaling, Dante lowered his stance.
Bzz, Bzzzzt!!
The blue lightning that coiled around his body gathered around the spear's tip.
Swiftly straightening his crouched hips, he threw out his spear with blazing blue lightning.
'Now, let's see.'
How incredible the strength of the devil's stigma used to control an element is.
[ "Blue Lightning Lv1" is activated.]
Nemesis's voice rang out inside his head but it was more robotic probably because of cautiousness.
C R A C K L E ! ! ! !!
"...!!"
The lightning storm spread from the spear's tip, swept the surroundings away, and turned the surrounding Ant-horns into ashes.
One Strike.
With just one attack, the Ant-horns that numbered in the dozens were turned into ashes.
"G-Grr!"
"Kra!"
Within the lightning storm, the only survivors were the elder Ant-horns.
One of the elders that took the lightning head-on died immediately.
"Grrrrrr! Graa!!"
"Kraaa!!"
Step step step step!
The Ant-horns that had intuitively realized they were no match simultaneously turned their bodies and started to run away.
Upon seeing this scene, Dante was amused and his sadistic side got awakened. Using the devil's stigma, he gathered lightning under his feet and shot forward like a rocket.
Bang!
Swoosh! Swoosh!!!
He caught up with the fleeing Ant-horns and with a few thrusts of his spear he finished them off. Making his tally of monsters slain reaching thirty.
Back to Cecilia's location, Dante suggested that they would go back as he was done with his goal here, he would find out more in the dungeons. The current him could fight against a veteran LV1 Awakener without giving his all.
Cecilia nodded before snapping her fingers, bringing them back to the sanctum.
''The result did not disappoint me but you will have to work harder from now on.''
Dante said nothing and was about to turn around and leave when suddenly he stopped because of Cecilia's question.
''What is your goal? What are you trying to accomplish?"
''Freedom.'' Dante did not hesitate nor he lied about what he desired the most as it would be a foolish thing to do knowing Lucifer, he must have known for long, and he must have predicted and planned many things. So, in a scenario like this better be frank than try to sugarcoat your way through because this will let the other party know what you are trying to do while at the same time serving as a reminder that you don't mind them knowing your goal, they are using you and you'll also use them to reach your goal.
"An honest answer and I like it. Here is the last thing an emissary of the lord tasked me to give you.'' Cecilia announced before throwing a black letter with the crest of the Hunter association on it.
Dante caught it with a subtle smile.
'They even predicted this. How fearsome, how amusing.'
''I believe this will help you and don't forget to donate before leaving,'' Cecilia added before throwing him out, he offered a donation of 30 thousand UD.