Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 649 142.5 - Void Dragon

The shockwave blasted toward me, but just as it closed in, I activated [Aegis Guard] from the [Storm Stance], channeling energy around my body in a protective layer. In the same instant, I shifted Celestalith into its [Martial Artist] form, feeling the weapon respond and morph into a shield that expanded before me, absorbing part of the impact.

-BOOM!-

Despite the layered defenses, the sheer force of the dragon's attack overwhelmed me, sending me hurtling backward. I flew through the air, slamming into the cavern wall with a bone-jarring impact. Pain exploded through my body, my vision blurring as I felt the blow reverberate deep, churning my insides. I tasted the metallic tang of blood as it filled my mouth, spilling over my lips with a violent cough.

"Cough…." For a moment, the world was a blur of pain and sound. My body felt battered, every muscle screaming from the impact. But I forced myself to focus, my eyes locking onto the Void Dragon. 'Heh...' The daggers I'd thrown before the blast had found their mark; were embedded deep in the weakened points, each one pulsing with mana that disrupted the flow of void energy within the creature.

"SCREEECH!"

The dragon's agonized scream echoed through the cavern, a piercing sound filled with fury and desperation. Its massive form shuddered, scales twitching erratically as if caught in the throes of a berserk state. The void energy within it, once an unstoppable force, was unraveling, disrupted by the effects of my attacks and the Void's Bane that laced the daggers.

Through my blurred vision and battered body, I activated my [Eyes], focusing on the chaos within the creature's mana pathways. The once-stable flow of energy inside the dragon was spiraling out of control, twisting and convulsing, unable to maintain its usual coherence. The Void's Bane had taken root, spreading through its veins like poison, breaking down its defenses from the inside out.

I smirked, feeling a grim satisfaction despite the pain. Everything was finally coming together.

Each dagger pulsed within the beast, radiating the toxic mana of the Void's Bane, amplifying the disruptions and forcing the void energy to go berserk. The dragon's eyes rolled with agony, its body convulsing as it struggled to maintain its form. Veins of energy bulged beneath its scales, glowing faintly as the poison wreaked havoc within its system.

The Void Dragon's attacks grew frantic, clawing at the ground and slamming its tail against the stone in a frenzied attempt to shake off the growing pain. But the damage was done. "Hehe…..Now, here I come." I reached into my spatial storage, fingers brushing against the cool, smooth surface of the [Overdriving Pill]. Without hesitation, I popped the pill into my mouth, feeling its potent contents dissolve and flood my system. Almost instantly, a surge of raw energy coursed through me, mana converging around my body like a pulsing aura. My muscles tightened, revitalized by the intense boost. The injuries I'd sustained still throbbed beneath the surface, but the pain dulled, becoming more bearable, at least for now.

The effects were undeniable: a staggering 35% increase in my stats for the next three minutes. I felt my senses heighten, my reaction time sharpening, and my strength returning in full force.

The Void Dragon seemed to sense the shift in my aura, its vertical slits narrowing, glowing with a fierce yellow intensity. "ROAAAAR!"

The creature's body convulsed as it struggled to control the berserk void energy wreaking havoc within it, pain and fury blazing in its gaze. Driven by rage, the dragon roared, shaking the cavern as it charged toward me with terrifying speed.

SWOOSH! But this time, I was ready.

With the heightened agility granted by the pill, I sidestepped its attack, feeling the rush of air as its claws scraped past me, narrowly missing. The world around me felt slower, my movements sharper, more precise. As the dragon's claws dug into the ground, I twisted out of its reach, maneuvering around its massive form with newfound ease.

The Void Dragon lashed out again, its strikes wild and furious, but I weaved between its attacks, faster than it could track. Each motion felt fluid, and controlled—no longer a desperate attempt to survive but a calculated assault.

SWOOSH! The beast's pain and anger grew with each missed strike, and I could see its movements becoming more reckless. 'You are in pain.'

And when a beast is in pain, it becomes erratic. That is the basic rule.

SWOOSH! The Void Dragon raised its colossal body, channeling the ambient mana that filled the cavern. The void energy in the atmosphere, unleashed from its own disrupted pathways, began to converge, swirling around it like a vortex of dark power. Its eyes glowed with renewed intensity, and its form seemed to blur, growing faster, more dangerous.

In one of its massive claws, the dragon summoned a spear of condensed mana, dark and pulsating with void energy. With a fierce glare, it swung the spear toward me, a powerful arc of energy trailing behind it. But this time, I didn't just evade.

I reached into my spatial storage, retrieving the daggers Kieran had provided, each one coated in Void's Bane. The toxic mana shimmered along their edges, ready to slice through the dragon's defenses with deadly precision.

SWOOSH! As the dragon's spear sliced toward me, I leaped into the air, twisting just out of its reach. The force of the swing sent a gust of wind rushing past, but I was already moving. HOWL! While airborne, I cast [Grapple], sending a thread of mana latching onto the dragon's rough hide. With a sharp pull, I changed my trajectory mid-air, shooting toward the dragon's exposed underbelly.

In the blink of an eye, I was face-to-face with the vulnerable area I'd been aiming for.

Without hesitation, I drove the daggers into its flesh, both blades piercing through its thick hide with the added potency of Void's Bane. The poison acted swiftly, spreading through the dragon's veins, amplifying the disruption in its energy flow and pushing the creature's berserk state even further.

The dragon let out a bone-rattling roar, its body convulsing as pain surged through it. The void energy around it flickered wildly, destabilized by the concentrated poison of the daggers.

Gripping the hilts, I twisted the blades deeper, feeling the dragon's blood pulse against the metal as its body shuddered. Its defenses were breaking down, its energy spiraling out of control as Void's Bane continued to eat away at it from within.

"RRRRROOOOOOAAAAAR!" But, that wasn't the end. A dragon was a dragon after all. The Void Dragon's furious roar reverberated through the cavern as it smashed its tail into the ground with bone-shaking force. The impact sent tremors racing across the floor, throwing me off balance for a split second—just long enough for the dragon to take advantage.

Its massive tail whipped around in an arc, aiming straight for me. I reacted instantly, casting [Grapple] to hoist myself out of reach. But just as the mana thread extended, it vanished—nullified by the dragon's ability to disrupt spells.

TAK! Before I could adjust, the tail struck me with crushing force, sending me hurtling across the cavern and slamming into the wall. The impact churned my insides, and I felt another mouthful of blood rise as I hit the ground.

'Can't waste any time. Wake up.'

Ignoring the pain, I forced myself to my feet. I didn't have the luxury of recovery; the three-minute window from the Overdriving Pill was quickly ticking down. My options were narrowing with each second.

Since [Grapple] was no longer an option, I channeled the remaining mana into my legs, amplifying my speed and power. SWOOSH! CRACK! With a burst of energy, I launched myself toward the dragon once again, weaving through its onslaught. The dragon's spear came down in a deadly vertical arc, but I sidestepped at the last moment, feeling the rush of void energy as it struck the ground beside me.

It lashed out with its claws next, but I ducked beneath the swipe, narrowly evading the jagged talons that sought to tear me apart. Then came the tail once more, sweeping through the air with deadly intent, but I managed to leap over it, my heightened reflexes keeping me just ahead of each strike.

And there it was—the opening I needed.

With a final burst of speed, I closed in on the dragon's belly, pulling another pair of daggers from my spatial bracelet. The beast's void energy flickered wildly, struggling to stabilize, but its massive form was still formidable. I drove both daggers into its exposed underbelly, feeling the resistance as they sank deep, their blades infused with Void's Bane.

But this time, I didn't linger.

Sensing the dragon's impending counterattack, I immediately released the daggers, abandoning them as I pushed off from its body, creating as much distance as I could. The dragon roared in agony, its eyes blazing with a renewed fury as the poison took hold, further destabilizing its energy.

"ROOOAR!"

And then it finally used one thing that it had not been using. Its wings. The Void Dragon, in a final attempt to escape its torment, unfurled its wings, the dark, shadowy membranes stretching wide. With a powerful beat, it tried to lift itself from the ground, desperate to take to the air and escape the poison ravaging its system.

But I wasn't about to let it.

"YOU ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE!"