Hunt In Reverse

In a desperate struggle, momentum is everything.

Like a predator relentlessly pursuing its prey, I pressed my attack, giving the Leviasaur no respite, no chance to assess my true strength.

The distance I maintained, seemingly small, became an insurmountable chasm, a tantalizing gap the creature couldn't bridge.

Skyler Grant's earlier attack had left the Leviasaur as fragile as a cracked vase. Battered by the ceaseless onslaught of my bloody essence, this three-thousand-year-old vampire--once a force of nature--was now a cornered beast, fear gnawing at its core.

This fear stemmed not only from the looming threat of the H.A.R.M. general but also, surprisingly, from me—the young captain it had initially dismissed.

This damned captain wants to obliterate me!

The Leviasaur, its desperation growing, let out a piercing cry, preparing to transform and take flight. Even death at the hands of the general's halberd was preferable to falling victim to this Wave Realm weakling.

I am a Leviasaur lord! it raged internally. A cowardly captain like him dares to challenge me?

Observing the Leviasaur's desperation, a steely resolve hardened my gaze. Without hesitation, I drew my straight, black saber, its polished surface reflecting the creature's fear.

With a sudden burst of speed, I lunged forward, both hands gripping the weapon, bringing it down in a blinding arc. The air whistled as the blade cut through it, a whisper of death.

The sharp blade plunged into the Leviasaur's chest, sinking deep into its flesh with a sickening thud. My long, slender fingers, stained with the creature's hot, crimson blood, tightened around the hilt.

"You're courting death!" the Leviasaur roared, its voice a guttural growl of pain and fury. Its claws lashed out with terrifying speed, tearing through my shoulders, sending a spray of my blood, flecked with golden light, across its face.

The pain was excruciating, but I refused to falter. My eyes, though filled with pain and a hint of fear, held no trace of regret.

Am I afraid? I thought, Perhaps a little.

But will I kill it? The answer was immediate and unwavering.

I released my grip on the saber, my hands forming fists, channeling my inner strength.

Shadow Touch!

Ignoring the searing pain in my shoulders, I unleashed a barrage of punches, my fists striking the Leviasaur's pressure points with pinpoint accuracy and blinding speed.

Black scales, already scorched and weakened by the demonic flames, fell away like brittle leaves, revealing the intricate network of veins beneath. With each strike, another vital point was sealed, cutting off the flow of the creature's monstrous power.

"Get away from me!" the Leviasaur shrieked, its voice laced with panic. Its arms grew numb, its claws, still embedded in my flesh, unable to withdraw. It tried to push me away, but its once formidable strength was failing.

I pressed closer, unfazed by the pain, allowing the creature's scaled claws to sink deeper into my body.

"If you live," I whispered, my voice barely audible above the creature's ragged panting, "I'll never know peace."

With a final surge of adrenaline, I gripped the black saber protruding from the Leviasaur's chest and ripped it free with a savage twist. A fountain of blood erupted, arcing through the air like a crimson rainbow.

My torn black uniform billowed around me as I raised the blood-slicked saber and brought it down in a crescent moon arc.

The Leviasaur's head, its expression frozen in shock, rolled across the ground, its eyes staring blankly at the sky. A trail of blood followed its severed body, marking its final, desperate journey.

It was a path paved with blood and sacrifice, a testament to my unwavering determination.

[Slain a Crystal Realm Leviasaur, lifespan of 5,240 years, remaining lifespan of 1,970 years, fully absorbed.]

[Total Absorbed Lifespan: 3,274 years.]

My hand, still clutching the bloodstained saber, trembled slightly. A wave of exhaustion washed over me, the adrenaline that had fueled my desperate battle slowly fading, leaving a tremor of fatigue in its wake. I gasped for breath, my lungs burning, my body aching.

After a moment to collect myself, I gritted my teeth and pried the Leviasaur's claws from my wounded shoulders. The sharp scales, like barbed hooks, tore at my flesh, sending a fresh jolt of pain through my body.

That really hurt, I thought, grimacing, but a grim satisfaction settled over me.

The Leviasaur's severed body slumped to the ground, its once formidable form now a lifeless husk.

Even in death, it retained some degree of its human form, a testament to the lengths it had gone to conceal its true nature. No wonder it had remained undetected in Cascadia for over a century. I stepped onto the corpse, my saber poised to extract the vampire core.

The sound of approaching hooves drew my attention. I turned to see a magnificent crimson bloodsteed thundering towards me, its rider clad in gleaming black armor, an imposing steel halberd gripped in his hand. The old general, his face etched with the lines of countless battles, surveyed the scene with a hawk-like intensity.

Dozens of riders followed close behind, their expressions a mixture of shock and awe.

Such a large sect, yet they finished handling it already? I was surprised by their swift arrival.

The general, his gaze fixed on me, his eyes piercing and sharp, barked a command. "Why are you staring?" he demanded, his voice booming. "Continue. Take it."

I nodded, my movements fluid and precise despite my exhaustion, as I extracted the shimmering vampire core. The crystal pulsed with a faint light—a testament to the creature's immense power. With care, I tucked it into my belt.

The colonels stood frozen, their breath catching in their throats.

A flicker of amusement touched General Grant's lips. He pulled on the reins of his magnificent steed and turned to one of his colonels. "Give him your horse," he commanded with a firm voice.

The colonel, startled by the unexpected order, quickly dismounted and led the crimson stallion towards me, offering me the reins.

"I need to deliver the Leviasaur's body to the capital," General Grant explained, "so I can't give that to you. But take this horse back to H.A.R.M. headquarters in Seattle. And come find me in Vancouver when you have the chance. I have a position for you as my personal attendant."

The general's words stunned everyone, even Chandra Banerjee. He had personally informed the general of my exploits—slaying the thousand-year-old Leviasaur and forcing the Angry Sword Elder to take his own life—but even he hadn't expected such a reward.

A promotion to colonel would have been understandable, even expected. But a personal attendant,... that was an entirely different matter.

It meant that General Grant saw extraordinary potential in me, considered me a candidate to inherit his mantle, to one day become a H.A.R.M. general myself.

When the general retired, his attendants would have the opportunity to compete for his position.

More importantly, serving as an attendant came with immediate, tangible benefits. After a few years of dedicated service—not temporary assignments, but constant companionship—General Grant would write a letter of recommendation to the capital, vouching for my character and abilities. This would grant me access to a coveted Crystallization training technique. With further accomplishments, even visits to the Martial Abbey to extend my lifespan would be within reach.

And what were the chances of failure? General Grant, needing to maintain his strength to deter powerful vampires, rarely engaged in combat.

Under his protection, I would face minimal danger, a stark contrast to the life-or-death struggles of most H.A.R.M. agents.

"But sir," one of the colonels interjected, unable to contain his envy, "you've only just met him."

"Not exactly," General Grant replied with a cryptic smile, his eyes twinkling with amusement, recalling the photos recently taken from a certain temple.

His jurisdiction covered twenty-three counties, over two thousand villages, millions of people. He was constantly occupied, dealing with Crystal Realm vampires and maintaining the delicate balance of power within his territory, unable to attend to every matter personally.

This allowed a few minor vampires to establish hidden temples and amass followers. But this one was the first he had encountered who wore black uniform.

Such ambition, he mused, a hint of admiration in his thoughts. Stealing faith from right under my nose... with such audacity, no wonder he's so skilled at collecting vampire cores.

Back at the plaza, General Grant had observed Karim Shaheen's every glance towards the young captain. He had also witnessed my subtle frown and strategic retreat when the Leviasaur escaped. He had been occupied at the time, unable to engage in conversation.

There will be opportunities in the future, he thought, his eyes twinkling with anticipation.