*** Valyfir ***

When you are hunted by an apex predator, what do you do? Do you run and hide? Maybe seek help from another top tier existence, like a certain grumpy lich?

Well, I won't lie. I've been there and done that. But in time I realised that there is a better approach. While everyone believes you are hidden under a rock somewhere, you have the liberty to move unobstructed.

And this is exactly what I've been doing!

This morning I had, for the first time, a third degree encounter with a snow wyrm, a sub-dragon far stronger than mere drakes. And I came out on top.

Of course, the consequences of my actions were quite severe, with multiple dragons hunting me all across the Northern Desolate. Fortunately, no one can even come close to Lucy's realm and as long as that old man tolerates me, there is no reason not to take advantage of the situation and hunt some more.

Now, scurrying around the territory of a certain dragon that is way too lazy for his own good to the point where he doesn't even bother to deal with intruders, I search for my next prey.

Although this is strange, not going to lie. Usually lesser drakes are easy targets because their dragon bloodline makes them arrogant enough to come at me of their own volition, and their pride prevents them from flying away even while on the verge of death. Unfortunately, it looks like today I'll have to return empty-handed as nothing except endless snow dunes is in sight.

"Hm?"

Sensing a rather abnormal aura, I take a sharp turn and double my speed. Soon, a small black dot flying across the skies at extremely high altitude comes into view.

"I know this aura!"

In reality, I doubt there is anyone that has spent any amount of time around the abyss who couldn't recognise that accursed pressure.

'A Paragon? No… Too weak. Archon then.'

Coming to that conclusion, I hesitate no more and take my Flying Spear in hand. Activating the rune matrix inside, I infuse over 10% of my mana into it and throw it with all my power towards the fast moving prey.

'Boom!'

With the thunderous roar, the spear flies toward its target, leaving behind a line of incandescent mana.

'If a dragon is considered being conceited and arrogant, then there are no proper adjectives to describe an Archon.'

Finally, noticing the fast approaching projectile, my prey shifts his body to the left while preparing a few shields to deflect the potential shock-wave.

"Idiot!"

Who the hell does this stupid Archon think I am? I've been hunting one of the strongest apex predators of the Northern Desolate for decades.

When your target is a giant lizard which can fly at supersonic speeds, has tremendous defences and is a master of elemental magic, you need certain tricks in order to bring them down. The lessers are easy targets, but those higher ones that have developed intelligence are veritable monster who shouldn't be underestimated.

The moment my spear reached the same altitude as the Archon, I concentrate a wisp of mana towards my hand and, with a flick of my index finger, activate one of the advanced runes engraved on it.

Tier 9 Rune: Vector Alteration.

Then, with a swift movement that should be impossible, the spear rotates 90 degrees around its centre of mass and, keeping all its momentum, heads towards the surprised Archon.

Passing through his shields like a sharpened knife through drake liver, the spear is intercepted by his staff. Unfortunately for him, it's already too late, as in that moment, the infused mana inside the spear flows through the complex runes inscribed on it.

Tier 9 Matrix: Sun Flare.

Following a tremendous explosion that seems to ignite the atmosphere and a wave of hot air that melts the ice in a mile radius, a charred Archon falls to the ground.

Not daring to let my guard down, I summon from my storage my Dragon Slaying Spear, one of the strongest weapons I posses in my arsenal and prepare myself for a good hunt.

Despite being heavily injured, the Archon rises to his feet and starts casting all kinds of magic, from healing domains to ice shields and pyro-mines.

In no time at all, the battlefield between us becomes part of his dominion.

'He is weaker than expected. I can do this!'

If I hadn't caught him with his guard down earlier, my chances of actually winning would have been slim to none. Fortunately, the fact that it took him over 5 seconds to cast a dozen magic spells shows that he has been heavily injured.

Knowing that if I don't take the opportunity, I might fail to kill him, I empower the Dragon Slayer with over half of my mana and charge him.

As I approach, countless spells activate. Ice arrows fly towards me, mines get detonated under my feet and shields block my path, but I'm determined. Covering my whole body in a thick layer of modulated mana, I ignore the spells and go for the kill.

'You are mine!'

Less than five metres away and almost within my spear's reach, the Archon raises his head, allowing the half-charred cloak to fall, revealing a beautiful face covered in countless burning marks that are being rapidly healed.

'Fuck!'

Seeing the pretty girl before me smiling while faced with a charging madman holding a massive spear, I realise that something was wrong, but it's already too late.

At my feet, an extremely complicated matrix activates. In that fraction of a second before the mana powers it up and the moment its effect makes itself known, I give up on the defences completely, pouring all my mana in the spear.

In the next instance, a wall of dark energy shots up from the ground, swallowing my whole body. In this situation, I recall the useless knowledge that Lucy forced upon me and realise that I might actually be screwed right now.

Forbidden Matrix: Grave of Sekehema.

'She thinks she already won, doesn't she?'

Although all my senses have been sealed and I can't even circulate my mana anymore, it doesn't really matter, considering that I have little to no mana left, anyway.

Bracing myself, I say a prayer for the poor little Archon bitch whose pinky I'll add to my collection soon enough. Soon, a red afterglow emerges from my spear, so intense that it even goes through the inky black substance that holds me prisoner.

Knowing that against a caster Archon, such a simple tactic as a suicidal charge would have no effect, I infused all my mana into the Dragon Slaying Spear to the point where the matrixes started melting, resulting in a catastrophic failure.

Then a searing pain assaults my senses, followed by a shock wave which disintegrates the forbidden class matrix. Funnily enough, I survived with fewer injuries than expected because her trap ended up protecting me instead.

Looking around, a massive crater covered in molten lava extends for miles in all directions.

Barely scrapping a few motes of mana, the Tier 5 Rune: Flight gets activated, allowing me to see my masterpiece in its whole splendour from a safe distance.

Despite being tired and injured, I scan the surrounding for the dead body of the Archon. Considering her realm, a bit of lava shouldn't be enough to incinerate her.

'I really want her pinky!'

Noticing an irregularity to the south of my current position, I focus my attention only to go berserk in the next moment.

'Is that a fucking reality crack?'

There, a small fissure in the fabric of the space-time continuum is slowly being mended by the laws of the world. Which means…

'That bitch escaped!'

Does she think she can just make me sacrifice my favourite spear and run away? No way! I won't allow that!

Summoning from my pocket dimension the wyrm's heart, I devour it voraciously.

As the extreme vitality of a sub-dragon's heart flows through my veins, my blonde hair turns crimson. Simultaneously, countless forbidden tattoos appear on my body. In my vision, the world turns monochrome with only a single red dot visible in the distance.

As my heavily injured body is subjected to such a tremendous transformation, my wounds rupture covering me in blood from head to toe.

Despite the pain threatening to break my mind, I just smile.

"No more playing around, bitch! Now, it's time to hunt!"

Taking a last look at the red dot in the distance, I release the bloodthirsty aura that I usually keep locked in my core and charge ahead.