The days passed, and the long-awaited moment arrived.
A hundred A-rank hunters, twenty S-rank hunters, and René and Lionel stood before the massive black dome, which seemed to devour the light around it. It was enormous, ominous, pulsating with an oppressive aura that made even the air feel heavier.
Yet, René showed no concern. Instead, a smirk of disdain formed on his lips as he raised his hand into the air, tearing through the void to summon a long, black sword, its edges glowing with a faint crimson light.
"How pathetic."
He stepped forward, and in a flash, he swung his sword at the dome, whispering:
"Split."
In an instant, the entire dome cracked, shattering like fragile glass with a deafening sound.
"It's open! Move in!"
Cheers erupted among the hunters as they surged forward, but what they saw beyond the crumbling dome made some of them falter.
A colossal fortress loomed before them, its walls towering unnaturally high, as if built to keep even giants at bay.
But there was no time for hesitation.
"Charge!"
The hunters leaped over the walls, using their skills and techniques to breach the fortress. Yet the moment they landed in its vast courtyard, they found themselves face-to-face with an entire army of demons.
They were numerous, armed to the teeth, their glowing eyes filled with murderous intent. And at the forefront stood the Four Guardians, each exuding an aura reminiscent of legendary warlords.
René remained unfazed, simply ordering in a cold tone:
"Stick to the plan. Lionel and I will support from the rear and conserve our strength until the king appears."
—
The Massacre Begins
Blood spilled. Screams echoed. Chaos engulfed the battlefield.
The battle erupted with unrelenting ferocity as the A-rank hunters clashed with the B+ ranked demons, each fight turning into a one-on-one deathmatch.
A blade sliced through a demon, cutting it in half.
Claws dug into a hunter's chest, sending him collapsing as he coughed up blood.
Hellfire exploded amidst the combatants, consuming everything in its path.
Meanwhile, on another front, a far more brutal confrontation unfolded.
The Four Guardians were nothing like the other demons. Each of them was battling five S-rank hunters simultaneously, yet they stood their ground with terrifying ease.
One wielded a massive demonic greatsword, swinging it as if it were weightless, effortlessly blocking strikes before slaying hunters in a single blow.
Another moved at an inhuman speed, toying with his opponents like mere children.
The third was a hulking figure, surrounded by an impenetrable dark shield.
The fourth was a sorcerer, tearing through hunters with spells that defied resistance.
From the rear, Lionel and René intervened whenever the hunters needed reinforcement.
Lionel darted through the battlefield like lightning, eliminating demons in an instant before vanishing again.
René unleashed devastating energy slashes, eradicating demons from afar.
—
The End of the Battle... and the Arrival of Disaster
After two grueling hours, the battlefield was drenched in blood and corpses.
The demons fell, one after another.
The Four Guardians were slain—one by one—but at a heavy price.
40 A-rank hunters were killed.
20 more were severely wounded.
Even among the elites, six S-rank hunters had perished.
Healing teams rushed in to save the survivors, but then—disaster struck.
The gate did not close.
Instead, it trembled violently, as though preparing to unleash something far worse than everything that had come before.
A storm of oppressive energy erupted from within.
And then… he emerged.
The Demon King.
—
The King Appears, and Fear Spreads
The moment his feet touched the ground, the very air seemed to freeze.
He was tall, imposing, his glowing eyes burning with unrelenting rage.
Then, in a thunderous voice, he roared:
"Aaaaaaaaah! My followers… How did they fall to these wretched creatures?!"
"You humans… I will show you the true meaning of fear!"
His aura exploded outward, and disaster struck once more.
Hunters collapsed unconscious, their bodies unable to withstand his mere presence.
Who remained standing?
Lionel, René, Amelia, and three others.
—
The First Battle Against the King
The king wasted no time. Instead, he gave a simple command:
"Sebas, deal with them."
From behind him, a tall demon with long hair, clad in dark armor with cold crimson eyes, stepped forward.
Sebas gripped his spear and spoke in an emotionless tone:
"As you wish, my lord."
Before he could advance, René barked an order:
"Amelia! Handle him! My brother and I will take on the king!"
—
Marco, Ray, and Selina's Struggle
Marco, Ray, and Selina lay among the fallen hunters, paralyzed after being overwhelmed by the king's aura.
But unlike the others, they were still conscious, watching the battle unfold in frustration, unable to move.
Selina (gritting her teeth): "Damn it! I can't move…!"
Ray (struggling to stand): "Lionel is there… If only I hadn't blacked out for a moment, I could've gone to help him…"
Marco (punching the ground): "Damn it! Are we really this useless?!"
They were seething with rage, but at this moment, there was nothing they could do… at least, not yet.
—
The Decisive Battle Begins
Lionel and René stood before the Demon King, their eyes ablaze with determination.
René: "Enough talk. We'll end you here and now."
The King (smirking): "End me? Hah… Humans alway
s think they're strong."
"Come then… Let me show you what it means to stand before a true king."
The battle for survival was about to begin.
End of Chapter 6.