A Place of Shadows: Pyro's Restless Thoughts
In an unknown and desolate location, deep within a ruined underground lair, Pyro Cursed sat alone. His massive form radiated an intense heat, causing the very air around him to waver like a mirage. The battle with Dzeth had left a wound not just on his body, but on his pride.
"That technique... Dimensional Hunter Technique..." Pyro muttered under his breath, his molten eyes narrowing in frustration. He clenched his fists, lava-like veins pulsing across his muscular arms. "Why? Why does it exist? How does he possess it?"
He had fought countless enemies before hunters, cursed beings, even elites among them but none had made him feel such overwhelming helplessness. That moment when Dzeth vanished and reappeared behind him, slicing his body into fragments in the blink of an eye… it haunted him. If not for his Inferno Core, he would have perished that night.
"I need to burn him out of existence. That technique… I must erase it." Pyro's fiery aura flared, cracks forming on the ground beneath him. The flames of vengeance burned hotter than ever.
-
The Awakening at Hunter Academy
Meanwhile, in the Hunter Academy's medical facility, Akanza's eyes fluttered open. A sharp pain surged through his body, reminding him of the intense battle with Cryo Cursed. His head pounded, but his mind remained sharp.
The room was eerily quiet, except for the rhythmic beeping of the medical devices. He slowly turned his head, noticing that none of his teammates were present except for Syafi, who sat beside Dzeth's hospital bed, arms crossed, waiting.
Upon seeing Akanza awaken, Syafi leaned forward. "You're finally up," he said, his voice neutral but his gaze sharp. "So… you're the one who defeated Cryo Cursed?"
Akanza hesitated for a moment before nodding. He wasn't one for words, and he certainly wasn't the type to boast.
Syafi exhaled and leaned back. "I knew it… but man, Cryo wasn't an easy opponent. And now…" His voice trailed off as he looked at Dzeth, who still hadn't regained consciousness. How long is he going to sleep?
Akanza clenched his fists. He had pushed himself to his limit against Cryo, but something about that battle felt off as if something darker was waiting on the horizon.
-
The Dark Forest Mission: Hwang's Struggle
Elsewhere, under the pitch-black sky of the midnight forest, Hwang and his hunter teammates were engaged in a routine mission. The moon barely illuminated the thick canopy above, leaving the forest floor shrouded in darkness.
"So far, so good," one of his teammates whispered. "Nothing too difficult."
Hwang nodded. Everything had gone smoothly until he sensed it.
A cold, metallic scent filled the air. A pressure so intense that it sent chills down his spine.
From the shadows of a massive cave, a monstrous figure emerged its body composed entirely of glistening steel, sharp blades protruding from its limbs.
"Iron Cursed…" Hwang whispered, eyes widening in horror. A Grade S cursed being.
Without warning, the creature lunged.
The impact sent shockwaves through the ground, splitting trees in half. Hwang barely managed to dodge the deadly blades, rolling to the side before countering with a precise slash from his weapon. Sparks flew as his sword clashed against Iron Cursed's metallic hide.
The battle raged on, with Hwang expertly weaving between the creature's devastating strikes, searching for an opening. However, his opponent was relentless. Every time he struck, Iron Cursed adapted, strengthening its defenses.
Fatigue set in. His movements slowed.
Then.. BOOM!
Hwang hit the ground, coughing up blood. Iron Cursed loomed over him, raising one of its razor-sharp limbs to deliver the final blow.
But before it could strike..
"SWOOSH!"
A blur of motion. A crushing force.
Hwang barely registered what had happened before he saw Iron Cursed hurtling through the air, smashing into the cave wall with an earth-shaking impact.
Standing before him was Akanza, eyes glowing with fierce determination.
"You alright?" Akanza asked, glancing at Hwang without breaking his stance.
Hwang, still gasping for breath, nodded. "Y-Yeah… thanks…"
Akanza merely shrugged. "No problem."
However, before they could breathe a sigh of relief
A new presence emerged.
A suffocating heat filled the air. The very ground beneath them began to crack.
"No… not now..." Hwang muttered.
From the darkness of the cave, a familiar figure stepped forward flames dancing across his body, his molten eyes filled with pure malice.
Pyro Cursed.
-
Akanza vs. Pyro Cursed – The Flames of Battle
The moment Pyro appeared, Akanza's expression darkened.
"Run," he told Hwang without looking at him.
"But.."
"RUN!" Akanza barked, his voice sharper than ever.
Hwang clenched his fists before retreating into the shadows, knowing he was no match for Pyro.
And so, the battle began.
Pyro attacked first, launching a wave of scorching flames toward Akanza. The sheer heat ignited the surrounding trees, turning the battlefield into a blazing inferno. Akanza dodged swiftly, countering with a precision strike aimed at Pyro's core.. but Pyro was faster.
The two clashed, exchanging blows at blistering speeds. Every strike from Pyro sent shockwaves through the air, while Akanza expertly dodged and countered, his movements precise and calculated.
But there was a problem.
Pyro was getting faster.
He was adapting. His flames burned hotter. His attacks became more unpredictable.
Akanza gritted his teeth. Damn it. Even without using Eastern Dragon Awakening, I can't keep up with him…
Suddenly..
BOOM!
A powerful kick sent Akanza flying, crashing through a burning tree. He groaned in pain, struggling to stand. Pyro approached, his fiery aura intensifying.
"You're not strong enough," Pyro sneered. "And you never will be."
Akanza wiped the blood from his lips and smirked. "You talk too much."
Pyro roared, lunging forward
But before he could land the finishing blow
A gust of wind. A surge of energy.
And then..
Dzeth arrived.
-
Dzeth vs. Pyro – A Clash of Destiny
Dzeth stood before Akanza, his expression unreadable.
Pyro's eyes widened in recognition. "You again… That technique… You should be dead."
Dzeth didn't respond. Instead, he clenched his fists.
"I've grown stronger than before. I can beat him… but how do I use Dimensional Hunter Technique?"
He didn't have time to figure it out. Pyro attacked.
Dzeth dodged by a hair's breadth, countering with his Heavenly Dagger. Sparks flew as steel met fire. Dzeth focused, analyzing Pyro's movements, using his ability to read ten seconds into the future.
The battle intensified.
Pyro's attacks were relentless, but Dzeth fought with unparalleled precision. Every dodge, every strike was calculated. The two clashed in a whirlwind of fire and steel, neither willing to back down.
But then..
"AWAKENING: BLAZE AMBER."
Pyro's body erupted into a pillar of crimson flames. His power skyrocketed.
Dzeth narrowed his eyes. This… this is different.
As Pyro's flames consumed the battlefield, Dzeth tightened his grip on his dagger.
"No matter how strong he is… I will win."
To be continued…