[ Appraisal ]
[ Name: Draconic Skeletal Sword (Sentient) ]
[ Grade: C ]
[ Attack Power: 91 ]
Durability: 300
Special Ability: Dragon’s Wrath; It triggers at critical times, dealing massive damage upto 200 points.”
Without wasting a moment, Ethan gripped the newly acquired sword firmly and swung it down with all his might at the demon, who was poised to launch another attack.
“Slice!”
This time, the blade cut through the demon’s flesh with an ease that was previously unattainable. The demon let out a gut-wrenching scream of agony, his fury palpable as he was astonished by the injury inflicted by the seemingly insignificant human.
The wound on the demon’s chest began to close rapidly, the healing process visibly accelerating.
“Damn! Are demons some kind of undead ro something?” Ethan exclaimed in frustration, “How am I supposed to kill these things?”
The demon, now enraged, charged at Ethan with its gaping, bloody mouth to bite him and drink his blood.
Ethan began to defend himself while retreating, his mind racing to find a way to finish the demon off.
Just as the standoff reached a critical point, a striking figure with silver hair appeared beside him. It was Aria. Without hesitation, she tossed a gleaming sword toward him.
“Ethan, use this!” she urged, her voice filled with urgency.
Ethan caught the sword effortlessly and, in a seamless motion, cast [Azula Sword Strike].
The demon, caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, was sliced cleanly from his waist by the flaming sword. As the sword struck, the demon’s body erupted into flames, reducing him to a charred, burning corpse. Ethan stood momentarily stunned by the sheer power of the weapon; its potency was beyond what he had expected.
“Appraisal:
Holy Elemental Sword (Fire)
Grade: B
Attack Power: 148
Durability: 340
Special ability: Holy purge; it has effect to purify demons.
The sword was a B-grade weapon, imbued with holy fire that radiated a sacred aura. It was designed specifically to combat demons, and its holy flames were a testament to its divine nature.
“Thanks, Aria. If you hadn’t shown up, I’d have been in serious trouble. You’re a lifesaver,” Ethan said gratefully.
Aria responded with a warm, charming smile. “Yes, I can see that.”
Ethan was momentarily entranced by her radiant smile, her lips a striking red. But he quickly refocused on the pressing battle at hand.
Approaching the demon’s lifeless body, Ethan seized the opportunity to activate [Skill Absorption]. He knew he couldn’t afford to miss this chance.
“Ding!”
[ Congratulations! Your Skill Absorption was successful ]
[ You have acquired a new demonic ability—Blood Regeneration. ]
[ Blood Regeneration: A species skill originating from the demon race. This unique skill, typically exclusive to demons, allows you to regenerate health by absorbing the blood of fallen enemies. You are the first human to possess this skill. You can’t use the skill due to your lack of Nether Energy Core.]
Ethan read the description carefully, understanding the gravity of the skill he had obtained. The ability to absorb blood for regeneration was a technique usually reserved for demons, a practice that was considered taboo for humans. He can’t even use this ability due lack of something called Nether Energy.
“What’s a Nether core? Is it some kind of energy source from the demons?”
Aria, noticing Ethan’s intense focus, gently inquired, “Ethan, is this how you always say goodbye to your enemies?”
Ethan chuckled, “Oh, what a pleasant misunderstanding! You can think of it that way.”
“I see. You’re really kind,” she said, her gaze affectionate as she smiled at him.
Ethan felt a rush of embarrassment at her compliment. However, their moment of respite was interrupted by a deafening roar that drew their attention to the center of the auction hall.
There, high-level hunters were locked in fierce combat against classic and elder demons.
The once pristine auction hall had become a scene of utter devastation. The ground was shattered, walls had collapsed, and the bodies of both demons and humans lay strewn across the debris. It was a hellish tableau of destruction.
“Hahaha! Do you think you two can challenge me?” The Devil Ape Clan leader’s voice echoed with contempt.
“How laughable! You haven’t even reached S-Rank, yet you dare confront an S-Rank like me? Allow me to show you the true power of an S-Rank!”
As he spoke, Gideon, the Devil Ape clan leader, transformed into a colossal fifty-meter-tall Devil Ape. His form was engulfed in dark energy, radiating an aura so deadly that it seemed capable of extinguishing life with a mere touch.
Mirrel Nortel and Alger Silvermoon, facing this formidable opponent, exchanged concerned glances. Gideon was an S-Rank powerhouse, a rare and elite figure even in the city of Arcadia where S-Rank hunters were the pinnacle of strength. Only two people had achieved this rank within the city till now.
With a deafening roar, Gideon launched himself forward with incredible speed.
Mirrel and Alger, recognizing the peril, quickly took defensive positions. Mirrel transformed into a twenty-meter-tall Winged Tiger, his form both majestic and fierce. Alger Silvermoon melded with the shadows, preparing to strike decisively.
The Winged Tiger and the Devil Ape collided in mid-air with a thunderous impact.
“Boom!”
The collision generated a massive shockwave that obliterated everything in its vicinity. The force of the impact sent debris and dust soaring, turning everything caught in the blast radius to ruin. Fortunately, Ethan and Aria were outside the immediate danger zone, though they watched in horror as the battle unfolded.
The raw power of A-Rank and S-Rank powerhouses were astounding. Even the residual shockwave from their clash was powerful enough to cause harm from a distance. The aftermath of the collision was stark—the Winged Tiger was hurled back violently, blood pouring from his mouth. The gap in power between S-Rank and A-Rank was painfully evident.
Yet, the Devil Ape was far from finished. With unrelenting determination, he charged forward, intent on securing victory and finishing the fight.
