Free Web NovelChapter 116: Ninth Form
Stanley continued walking toward the demon.
Sensing the oppressive pressure radiating from him, the demon slowly turned its head and looked in his direction.
"Light Magic. Light Whip." Stanley whispered while clenching his right fist.
Instantly, multiple whips woven from pure light materialized around him. They shone as brightly as sunlight itself, each one connected to his right arm.
The luminous whips floated through the air, radiating a warm and comforting glow.
Yet the power contained within them was unmistakable.
Stanley raised his arm as though wielding a sword. Then he slashed downward diagonally.
Whoooosh!
The whips of light instantly lengthened.
Schlk! Schlk! Schlk!
They lashed across the demon’s crimson body at incredible speed. Multiple wounds tore open across its frame. The force behind the attack was so great that the demon was pushed backward, its feet carving trenches through the ground.
But Stanley wasn’t finished.
"Light Magic. Light Fist."
The glowing whips immediately wrapped themselves around his right arm, forming a radiant gauntlet. A dazzling light erupted from the construct.
Then...
Stanley leaned forward slightly.
BOOM!
The ground beneath his feet exploded. His body shot into the sky like a rocket. For a brief moment, he soared high above the battlefield. Then he descended. Like a falling meteor.
The demon could feel it. The opponent this time wasn’t weak. Though there were no traces of fear yet in its expression, it raised both its hands in a cross like a shield to block the incoming attack.
But the moment Stanley’s radiant fist collided with the crimson barrier....
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
A deafening explosion shook the entire battlefield. The earth split apart. Dust and smoke surged into the sky, swallowing everything from view.
Nobody could see what had happened. Everyone held their breath. Seconds passed.
Then the dust slowly began to settle.
And finally...
The scene beneath was revealed.
A massive fissure had been carved into the earth. It stretched across the battlefield like a scar left by a giant blade. The demon was nowhere to be seen.
Stanley started walking. He stopped at the edge of the fissure and calmly looked downward.
Far below, at the bottom of the newly formed chasm...
The demon lay there.
Its upper body had been completely blasted apart.
Silence. Absolute silence.
Many hunters stared at the fissure with their mouths hanging open.
Stanley Cooper was not an unknown figure. Everyone knew who he was. The former President of the Hunter Association. The strongest S-Class hunter in Delvan.
Even among S-Class hunters, there existed enormous differences in strength. And Stanley Cooper stood at the very peak.
Yet despite his fame, this was the first time most of those present had witnessed him fight. And they couldn’t help but feel their hearts tremble. Goosebumps spread across their bodies.
For the first time since the demon had appeared...
Hope was born.
Stanley stood before them like a beacon of light shining through endless darkness. A figure they could finally place their faith in.
"Damn, he’s cool." Leon couldn’t help but mutter under his breath. ’Hopefully, I can become that strong someday. Or maybe even stronger.’
Of course, Leon had no idea what awaited him in the future.
Meanwhile, Stanley slowly raised his right arm. The radiant gauntlet had already disappeared, and the light whips were gone.
"Light Magic. Light Domain." The moment those words left his mouth, the sky changed.
Hundreds of swords forged entirely from light materialized overhead.
Every hunter instinctively looked up. The countless glowing blades reflected in their eyes.
Then Stanley made a simple downward motion with his hand.
The swords started descending, one by one. Like divine judgment.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
One after another, the blades of light crashed into the fissure below. Each impact shook the battlefield. Explosions echoed endlessly. Dust and smoke surged upward from the chasm.
The bombardment continued relentlessly.
Nobody spoke. Nobody dared to blink. They were afraid they might miss something important. For more than three minutes, the rain of destruction continued.
Then...
It stopped. Silence returned.
At first, nothing could be seen through the thick smoke.
As it slowly dispersed, the hunters cautiously approached the edge of the fissure. The chasm had grown even deeper than before.
The demon was nowhere to be found.
"Did... did we do it?" David from the Razor Wolf Guild spoke in a trembling voice. Did we actually make it ali...."
His words suddenly stopped.
Something moved, deep within the fissure.
David froze. So did everyone else.
At the bottom of the chasm, a tiny red speck began to twitch. Then it started growing.
Larger.
And larger.
And larger.
With every passing second, it expanded until it resembled a massive boulder made entirely of flesh. The grotesque mass floated upward.
Then two arms burst from it.
Next came the legs.
A tail emerged, whipping through the air.
Finally...
The head formed.
The demon was back. Again.
Its three eyes slowly opened. Then they locked onto Stanley, standing at the edge of the fissure.
"Muahahahahahaha!" The demon threw its head back and laughed.
"Yes! More!"
The crimson creature stretched its arms outward.
"Entertain me more!"
The laughter echoed across the battlefield like thunder.
And with each word... The hope that had just been born was shattered once again.
Leon clenched his fists. ’Fuck.’ His expression darkened. ’What kind of monster is this? Is there really no way to kill it? How can it still regenerate after taking something like that?’
Just then...
’Master.’ A female voice suddenly echoed inside his mind.
Leon stiffened.
’Comprehend the ninth form of Sword Art Breathing. Only then will you be able to kill the demon. Combine the ninth form with Berserk Mode. At your current level, that is your only chance.’
A brief pause followed.
’Otherwise... everyone here will die.’
Leon’s head snapped from side to side. He searched the surroundings frantically.
"That voice again..." He whispered. "The same voice that told me to use the Frost Monarch’s Blade to cut through the illusion at the Bowen Estate."
His gaze swept across every hunter present. freёwebnoѵel.com
Yet nobody seemed to be paying attention to him. Every eye remained fixed on the demon and Stanley.
Leon frowned.
"Who are you? Where are you talking from?" frёewebηovel.cѳm
He scanned the area once more. "Show yourself."
"."
No response came.
It was as if the voice had never existed.
Leon began wondering whether he had imagined the entire thing.
Just as he was about to think further...
"Master." A familiar voice called out from behind him.
Leon immediately turned around. Frenrir and Noira were standing there. Both of them wore serious expressions.
"You need to form a bond with us."
Noira spoke without hesitation.
"Right now."
