Transcendent Dawn

Drip! Drip!

Rod, wearing a black trench coat, was moving through an old mansion.

The sound of dripping water echoed in his ears.

Upon entering a bedroom, he saw a large pool of blood on the desk.

Disgusting blood splattered across the edge of the table, the floor, and the walls, yet there was no corpse in sight.

“Demon!”

He murmured quietly and closed his eyes.

When he opened them again, the color of his pupils had dramatically changed, becoming as dark as ink, like an unfathomable darkness!

Demon Hunting Eye!

This was a unique ability of a third-level [Demon Hunting Expert].

Demon professionals who tread the path of [Fallen], are excellent at hiding, and [Demon Hunters] happen to be their natural enemy!

With the Demon Hunting Eye, he could see through most low-level demon professionals and demonized creatures’ disguises and even trace their tracks left inside the void!

At this moment, in Rod’s eyes, pitch-black footprints emerged on the floor, branding deep traces like an iron stamp.

Not only that, there were fine threads of blackness stirring inside the void, carrying the characteristic nauseating smell of demon creatures!

“Got you!”

A smirk appeared at the corner of his mouth as he turned into a gust of wind, leaping out from the window, following the trail left by the demonized being.

Soon after, he entered a dense forest.

The sky was dark, surrounded by misty fog, the darkness looming over the forest.

Rod drew out his demon hunting dagger with his right hand, and his left hand held a thick caliber, an eerily designed Bloody Wheel.

In the darkness, his vision seemed unaffected, becoming even more outstanding as he avoided some hidden traps.

Hur!

Just then, a shadow flashed past in the fog at extreme speed.

Rod swerved and immediately saw two crimson patches.

Without any hesitation, he darted after them.

If Su Lu were here, he would have known that even after learning from his master, this man was still as reckless as always!

As he ran, Rod gulped down a bottle of the dark green potion.

Instantly, he let out a roar as his speed increased.

Bang! Bang!

The entire forest only echoed with the sound of his pursuit, every step falling heavily like a hammer on one’s heart.

“Demonized being!”

Eventually, he intercepted the shadow.

The figure was of a blonde long-legged woman, the corner of her mouth seemed stained with a bit of blood. Her beautiful face was void of any expression, only her pupils were crimson.

“Demon Hunter?”

Looking at Rod, she let out a low growl as her body underwent a bizarre transformation.

Her originally fair and delicate skin instantly turned black as ink and was covered with a layer of keratin. On the top of her head, there popped two curved horns similar to those of a goat.

During the transformation, her aura explosively increased, comparable to a third-level occupational person!

“[Horned Demon]?”

Rod saw her appearance and chuckled, “I need your horns and the wings of a [Winged Demon]… They are the materials for my advancement!”

Both, the second-level [Demon Hunter] and [Fallen], start as a [Pact Demonist] but their paths diverge dramatically.

[Fallen] descend into the abyss, their bodies relentlessly transforming into a ‘non-human’ state, which can be considered an incomplete form of a demon creature.

Their third-level transformation is into a [Horned Demon], a kind of demonized creature that grows black horns and has a preference for assaulting humans!

The fourth tier is the [Winged Demon], at this juncture their ‘devil form’ has sprouted black flesh wings, having the ability to fly.

Only by advancing to the fifth tier, finalising their legendary transformation, can they truly be recognised to be an abyssal creature.

The previous transformation forms are considered ‘incomplete’, ‘deficient’!

Of course, starting from [The Fallen], the demon professionals have the ability to conceal themselves. Usually, they can hide their demonic creature form, it’s difficult for them to be identified as their breath becomes the same as normal people.

The only exception is the [Demon Hunter]!

Additionally, in the advancement on the [Demon Hunter] path, the body materials of the demonic creature are indispensable. Therefore, when both sides face off, a fight to the death is expected.

“Traitor, go to hell!”

After transformation, the [Horned Demon] roars and charges at Rod.

Her hand has turned into claw, each nail incredibly sharp, capable of cutting steel!

Ding!

Rod swings his demon hunting dagger, its edge colliding with the sharp claws, emitting a clear sound.

Hiss!

A thin stream of white smoke appears on the [Horned Demon]’s claw, as if her strong bones had started corroding!

“Idiot! You’re trying to slash your disgusting claws against my demon hunting dagger soaked in Holy Water for three days and three nights?”

Rod shouts loudly, slashing the dagger and cutting off one of the [Horned Demon]’s claws that fell onto the ground.

At the same time, his left hand quickly aims, pointing his intimidating gun at the [Horned Demon]’s head.

Suddenly, the [Horned Demon]’s mouth opens wide, letting out a high-pitched shriek.

“Ah!”

An intense soundwave explodes out, carrying the force of an air cannon, much like a toned-down Banshee Wail!

Rod feels as if his head has been hammered, he turns somewhat dizzy, and a lot of strength is gone from his hands.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, the [Horned Demon] rapidly charges forward, pinning Rod to the ground. With its intimidating mouth wide open, it seems to want to bite off his neck!

“Holy Strike!”

Just then, a burst of light emerges, exploding onto the [Horned Demon]’s face.

“Ah!”

Half of its face starts to melt, it emits a shrill and agonising scream.

“Go to Hell!”

Rod seizes this opportunity to break free, points the revolver at the [Horned Demon]’s forehead, and pulls the trigger.

Bang!

The demon’s skin hardened from keratinous, which can withstand small firearms, is instantly penetrated, next is the bone, brain matter…

The [Horned Demon]’s half skull explodes, falling to the ground. For a moment, it didn’t die completely, struggling to say from its mouth: “Abyssal traitor, the demons will curse you…”

“If it comes before me…”

Rod takes a few deep breaths, then crouches down, looking at the [Horned Demon]. He raises his hand, swings his knife, and cuts off its black, goat-like horn.

Immediately after, he stands up, looking towards the dense forest on one side.

There, an old demon hunter dressed in a hunter’s clothing, with a large number of weapons and potion bottles hanging from his waist, and wearing a round hat.

“Teacher… you shouldn’t have intervened, I had the confidence to finally defeat them!”

Rod says in a deep voice.

“But you might have gotten seriously injured and needed a long rest…”

The old demon hunter smiled slightly on his aging face, pulling visible wrinkles: “After you complete this hunting mission, the accumulated merits are enough to exchange for the ‘Wings of the Winged Demon’. Do you have the confidence to advance to [Demon Hunting Master]?”

For the progression of demon hunters, firstly, the ‘demonic power’ or ‘abyssal power’ inside a hunter must reach a certain concentration, then they have to go through a painful test of will!

Even a hint of hesitation could lead to their fall, even if they do not fail!