"Haha, is that why you're all so confident about?" The Devil Ape Clan leader's laughter echoed through the air, dark and mocking. "Then let me show you something."
At his signal, the shadows around him seemed to writhe and stretch as more Elder demons emerged. The ground trembled under the weight of at least twenty more elder demons that appeared, their massive forms looming like nightmarish towers.
The five great clan members stared in disbelief. They had expected a tough fight, but this—twenty-five Elder demons—was beyond their wildest fears. The unexpected appearance of so many powerful foes sent waves of panic rippling through them.
"What do we do, Clan Leader? I don't want to die here," one of the panicking warriors cried out, his voice trembling.
"Clan Leader, there are twenty-five of them! Should we retreat before it's too late?" another asked, eyes wide with terror.
"Enough!" Mirrel Nortel's voice cut through the chaos with a sharp edge. "Shut your mouths, cowards! We are not going to surrender. If anyone's going down today, it will be him!" Mirrel Nortel pointed toward Gideon.
Aria's uncle, standing close by, looked around with increasing anxiety. "Brother, we're in serious trouble. They have a thousand ordinary demons and twenty-five Elder demons. We barely have over a hundred fighters. Shouldn't we have brought more men? And that arrogant Gideon is an S-Rank powerhouse. We're no match for him at all." His gaze locked onto Gideon with a mixture of fear and awe.
Aria's father, maintaining a grim but composed demeanor, addressed the situation with a steely resolve. "Don't panic. Help will arrive soon. Focus on dealing with the other demons for now."
Aria, positioned near her father, was intensely focused on Ethan, her worry for his safety growing with every passing second. Amidst the roiling chaos of battle, her gaze was fixed on him, her concern palpable.
"Kill everyone!" The Devil Ape Clan leader's command rang out like a death knell, directing his demons to commence their onslaught.
"Defend and charge!" Mirrel Nortel's order was immediate and forceful. His voice was a rallying cry for all the hunters behind him, members of the five great clans. The clan leaders were ahead ready to face the elder demons.
Armed with holy elemental swords, the hunters advanced towards the demon ranks. Their blades glowed with sacred energy as they fought valiantly to protect the terrified commoners. Despite their skill and determination, the sheer number of demons made their task nearly impossible.
They fought with fierce determination, bringing down a few demons, but the battlefield quickly turned into a cacophony of demonic roars and anguished screams. Blood and fire mingled in a gruesome dance.
"Brother Alger, come with me," Mirrel Nortel shouted over the din. "The rest of you, Please focus on taking down the Elder demons!" He said to the Zephyr Stormclaw and other two leaders.
In response, they nodded and ordered their men to kill the lesser demons, while they would be facing the elder demons, even though the task seemed impossible.
"Yes, leader!" came the unified response. The hunters moved swiftly, their resolve set on the daunting task before them. Their fate was uncertain, hanging in the balance between life and death. This could even be their last fight of their lives.
Ethan stood alone, his heart pounding as he saw a demon approaching him, its grin predatory and menacing.
"Oh, sh*t," he muttered under his breath, his mind racing. "What level is this guy? Can I handle him?" He activated [Appraisal] to gather information about the demon.
"Name: #&%#&
Species: Blood Demon
Rank: Lesser Demon."
"That's it? What's Lesser Demon rank? Is it their own hierarchical rank? No specific level?" Ethan cursed softly, frustration mounting. "Looks like I'll have to find it out in the hard way."
Drawing his sword, he prepared to face the demon.
"Roar!"
The demon charged with a guttural roar, its claws and teeth gleaming with lethal intent.
"Azula Sword Strike!"
Ethan took a deep breath, channeling his energy into his attack. The blue flames of his sword surged forward with incredible speed. But—
"Clang!"
The sword collided with the demon's tough hide, producing a metallic clang. The blade failed to pierce through the demon's flesh.
"Uh!" Ethan's eyes widened in shock. "Why is their body so tough? It's like I am hitting somekind of hard metal. Are demons always this tough?"
"##@#&##&."
The demon spoke in an unfamiliar, mocking tongue, taunting Ethan for his blatant weakness.
Undeterred, the demon intensified its assault. Ethan, sensing the urgency, activated [Muscle Enhancement] and [Enraged], feeling his strength surge to new heights.
With boosted agility, he dodged the demon's ferocious claws, narrowly avoiding deadly strikes.
"##&#%#&#."
The demon's rage seemed to escalate. Ethan's annoyance grew. "You talk too much. Time to end this."
He activated [Inferno Leap], propelling himself into the air with a blazing force.
"Boom!"
The impact of Ethan's leap created a massive crater upon landing. The enhanced [Inferno Leap] showcased his newfound power, and a few onlookers, including some of the combatants, noticed the display with astonished expressions.
However, they were too occupied with their own battles to offer comments.
Aria, watching Ethan intently, was stunned by his dramatic increase in power. However, she understood that despite his newfound strength, it wasn't enough to defeat a demon without holy swords. Determined to help Ethan, she focused on her own fight against an Elder Rank demon. She intensified her attacks, using her dagger with renewed ferocity.
As the dust began to clear, Ethan observed that the demon's wounds, though significant, were healing at an alarming rate.
"If this continues, how am I going to kill him?" Ethan thought, frustration growing.
"If only my sword was more powerful," he mused. His gaze fell upon the Wyvern Bone lying nearby.
Acting quickly, he crouched down, placing his sword beside the bone. He carefully concealed his actions from view.
"Synthesis!"
He activated Universal Synthesis and silently prayed for the success.
"Ding!"
[ Congratulations! Synthesis successful.]
[ Appraisal: Titanium Runic Sword (D) → Draconic Skeletal Sword (C) ]
The sword had transformed into a formidable, sharp bone weapon. Crafted from Wyvern Bone—a lesser species of dragon known for its might, the sword now looked both majestic and formidable, reflecting the power of its draconic origins.