"Ack!"
"What was that!?" Luna exclaimed, her voice laced with frustration as she winced from the sudden interruption of her charm.
Confusion rippled through the remaining members of the audience, bewilderment etched upon their faces, particularly the crowned figures within the black box, their mouths agape in astonishment. Micah, in particular, radiated excitement, his eyes alight with anticipation.
"The Hunter's Spark!" echoed in the minds of Cole, Lex, Jin, and Micah simultaneously.
"That was..." Jin began, his voice trailing off as he struggled to find the right words.
"The Spark!" Micah interjected, his excitement palpable.
"The Hunter's Spark," Cole continued, his expression a mixture of astonishment and wonder.
"It remains one of the realm's greatest mysteries, but that kid…actually did it!" Cole exclaimed, running a hand through his hair in disbelief and exhilaration.
The Hunter's Spark—a enigma shrouded in mystery, an enigmatic power that has captivated the minds of all who dare to seek its incomprehensible embrace. It is a phenomenon with a legend that transcends time and space. Many, even the most brilliant minds of the realm, speculate that it is a stroke of fate, a chance occurrence that defies explanation. Yet, despite the veil of uncertainty that surrounds it, three conditions have emerged, guiding those who aspire to wield its extraordinary power.
First, one must adopt the mantle of the hunter, casting aside notions of mere combat and embracing a primal instinct to track and conquer their prey. It is not enough to view one's adversary as a mere opponent; they must be seen as prey to be pursued relentlessly until victory is assured.
Second, all earthly bonds must be severed, leaving the wielder unshackled by mortal constraints. Only when one is free from the burdens of the material world can they tap into the boundless potential that lies within.
And third, a mystery lingers, a riddle waiting to be unraveled. What hidden truth lies at the heart of the Spark? What secret holds the key to unlocking its full potential? These questions haunt the minds of scholars and hunters alike, driving them to seek answers in the darkest corners of existence.
Throughout the ages, only a select few have managed to achieve the Hunter's Spark, their names etched into the Archives of history. And now, among their ranks stands Belial—a chosen vessel for the power that defies comprehension.
As the mutant unleashed its multitude of black tendrils, Belial's senses heightened, his perception sharpened by the pulsating energy surging through his veins.
"This power..." Belial mused, his mind racing as he observed the tendrils weaving through the air with newfound clarity. In that moment, time seemed to slow, granting him a glimpse into the very fabric of reality itself.
But the true extent of his newfound abilities soon became apparent as his wounds, once gaping and raw, began to mend before his very eyes. With each passing second, the pain ebbed away, replaced by a surge of vitality that coursed through his being.
The mutant, sensing Belial's newfound resilience, lunged forward with renewed ferocity. Its eyes gleamed with malice, its movements swift and calculated as it closed the distance between them.
Yet, to Belial's astonishment, he found himself reacting with an agility and speed beyond anything he had ever experienced. With a deft motion, he countered the mutant's assault, sending it reeling back with a force that seemed to defy the laws of nature.
"What is this..." Belial muttered, his gaze flickering to his hands, which now bore no trace of the injuries that had plagued him mere moments before.
The realization dawned upon him—his injuries were not merely healing, but Reconstructing piece by piece at a very fast rate by the mysterious power coursing through him.
The first spark, a manifestation of the Hunter's innate power,it is speculated that it unleashes a surge of energy that amplifies their capabilities to a staggering 300%.
But its effects go beyond mere enhancement, diving into the realm of miraculous healing through a process known as Ether-Matrix Reconstruction (EMR). This extraordinary ability harnesses the ether energy surrounding the individual, utilizing it to reconstruct their body on a molecular level.
Lex's eyes widened in astonishment as he beheld Belial's transformed state. "Isn't that—" he began, his voice trailing off in disbelief.
"How is this possible?" Lex muttered to himself, his mind racing with questions. "Isn't she sealed? And if that's her kid, then how—"
But before he could finish his thoughts, another realization struck him. "And it looks like he also inherited that innate talent, but it seems like it's still premature..."
Meanwhile, Gael emerged from the shadows of the forest, a triumphant grin adorning his face as he brandished the head of a mutant. "So you've finally done it!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with satisfaction. "You can finally use ether properly... and more.."
Belial's expression darkened at Gael's words, annoyance flickering in his eyes. But even amidst his frustration, a sense of realization dawned upon him.
'Judging by how he's acting," Belial thought to himself, "I doubt he would actually let me die like that because he has too many eyes on him. So why the hell was he so petty? There wasn't that many mutants back there'
As Belial observed the mutant, he sensed a surge of energy emanating from its core. In a flash, the creature grew two additional arms, its ether expanding exponentially. With a shared understanding, both hunters shifted their focus to the looming threat before them, bracing themselves for the impending clash.
Gael wasted no time, launching himself into the fray with a ferocity unmatched. His strikes were swift and precise, each blow carrying the weight of his ferocity. Belial followed suit, summoning his swords with practiced ease and leaping into the air to deliver a devastating blow.
But the mutant was not easily subdued. With its newfound strength, it deflected both attacks effortlessly, its additional arms proving to be formidable barriers against their onslaught.
Undeterred, the creature unleashed a counterattack, striking out with its fourth arm to send Gael reeling backward and hurl Belial through the air with equal force. As Belial landed on the ground, blood streaming down his face, a sense of frustration gnawed at his resolve.
"Tsk," he muttered under his breath, his gaze locking onto the mutant with annoyance.
But Gael, undeterred by their setback, rose to his feet with a gleam of excitement in his eyes. "Oh yeah! Let's do level 3!!" he exclaimed, his voice reverberating with anticipation.
A surge of ether enveloped Belial as he activated his shadow trigger,
The three clashed in a flurry of strikes and parries, Belial's keen instincts took note of their opponent's strengths and weaknesses. Despite being barley evenly matched in speed, the mutant possessed greater physical strength, a fact that made Belial act carefully.
'We're even in speed, but he's stronger,'Belial thought to himself, his mind racing with strategic calculations.
'But Gael makes up for it. If we keep this up, we'll win!'
With renewed focus, Belial adjusted his stance, compensating for the mutant's superior strength with swift and precise strikes. Meanwhile, Gael unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks, exploiting every opportunity to press their advantage and gain the upper hand in the fierce exchange.
Suddenly the mutant unleashed a new tactic, sprouting spikes from its body with a sudden and unexpected ferocity. Belial and Gael reacted swiftly, leaping back to evade the deadly projectiles,
Gael glanced up at the mutant, a look of confusion crossing his features. He had never encountered a monster like this before, and its rapid adaptation left him bewildered and unsure of how to proceed.
But Belial's mind raced with a sudden realization, a crucial piece of information flashed in his memory. He recalled Cole's words,and he spoke with urgency and warning.
"It's adapting!" Belial exclaimed, his voice ringing out with a note of urgency.
Gael's eyes widened in understanding as Belial continued, his thoughts racing to formulate a plan of action.
'It's way weaker compared to the one Cole fought though,' Belial added quickly,
Gael nodded in agreement, his expression hardened with resolve. "What I mean is, we have to kill it before it can completely heal," Belial concluded,
"Gael, I'll need you to keep the mutant at bay for abit and do as much damage as you can to it, I have a plan"
"Don't tell me you're going to run away," Gael mused, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"if this doesn't work, I will." Belial replied, his tone deadpan but tinged with defiance .
Gael nodded and turned to face the mutant
"Looks like it's just me and you now," Gael remarked with a hint of amusement, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Let's have some fun!"
With a surge of power, Gael unleashed the Lightning Dragon Fist technique, channeling his ether into each strike with electrifying precision. As his fists connected with the mutant, bolts of electricity danced across its form, causing it to convulse with each impact.
But the mutant was not one to be underestimated. With a deceptive agility, it countered Gael's onslaught with a barrage of spikes and tendrils, each one aimed with deadly accuracy. Gael dodged and weaved with graceful agility, narrowly avoiding the lethal projectiles while launching his own relentless assault.
The battlefield crackled with energy as Gael and the mutant clashed, each blow resonating with explosive force. Despite their equal footing in strength, the mutant's unpredictable nature and adaptive abilities made it a formidable opponent, constantly keeping Gael on his toes.
But Gael was not one to back down from a challenge. With each strike, he pushed himself to his limits, tapping into the full extent of his power to match the mutant blow for blow. His movements were fluid and precise, each attack calculated to exploit the mutant's vulnerabilities while minimizing his own exposure to danger.
With lightning-fast reflexes, he dodged and countered each attack with precision, his movements a blur of speed and ferocity.
Due to the The Lightning dragon fist technique Gaels fist and ether was molded into having an electric like feeling after each hit
With a swift motion, Gael unleashed the 'Lightning Dragon Fist technique' his hands swirling in a circular motion as he centered his gravity. The air crackled with electricity as he gathered clouds of energy, preparing for the impending strike.
As the tension mounted, Gael planted his feet firmly on the ground, channeling his power into a devastating attack. With a thunderous roar that echoed through the battlefield, he unleashed,
{Lightning Dragon Fist: Roaring Thunder}, sending shockwaves rippling through the air and disorienting everyone nearby.
And then, with a final surge of ether,
Gael unleashed the ultimate technique; {Lightning Dragon Fist: Furious Lightning. }
With a clean and powerful strike, he delivered a decisive blow to the mutant, causing it to stagger back in stunned disbelief. A gaping hole was left in its form, revealing the pulsating core within—a vulnerable target waiting to be exploited.
Lurking in the shadows, charged with anticipation, Belial waited patiently for his moment to strike—an opening in the mutant's defenses that would allow him to unleash his devastating attack.
"Shi yu—Death Lily Sword Style: Sanctuary of Death!" Belial exclaimed, his voice resonating with power as he conjured a dome of blades around the mutant. Normally, such a feat would be beyond his capabilities, but with the Hunter's Spark amplifying his ether, he wielded the power of his Hax with unparalleled strength.
Within the sanctuary of death, blades materialized from every angle, raining down upon the mutant in a relentless onslaught. But the creature, resilient and tenacious, began to heal itself, slowly encasing the gem that served as its life force.
The blades materialized in a whirlwind of motion, surrounding the mutant from every angle. With each strike, Belial unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks, his resolve unwavering even as the strain of the shadow trigger began to take its toll.
But as the mutant fought to heal itself, Belial felt the pressure mounting. His nose began to bleed, the pain intensifying with each passing moment. Yet, driven by the spark- to see his prey vanquished, he pushed himself beyond his limits, his blade slicing through the air with lethal precision.
"Death Lily Sword Style, No. 1: Rebirth!" Belial declared, his voice a whisper of resolve as he unleashed a single, clean slash that cleaved through the mutant and its gem, shattering it into oblivion.
As the barrier dissipated, Belial felt the weight of exhaustion bearing down upon him, threatening to pull him into unconsciousness. But before he could succumb to fatigue, a familiar touch enveloped him, providing support and reassurance in his moment of weakness.
"About time you came, Xin," Belial murmured weakly, his eyes closing in relief as he surrendered to the embrace of familiarity.
But as he reopened his eyes, he realized the truth—this was not Xin at all.
It was Lex, wearing a wide, sinister grin gazing down at Belial.