The Damned Demon

*BOOOOOM!*

A thunderous explosion ripped through the air, the ground shuddering underfoot as a dark purple blast tore through the thick barriers, shattering the Junction Tower into a million pieces.

The rebound shockwaves blasted outward from the destroyed barriers, knocking down those who were unfortunate enough to be nearby.

Cecilia, amidst the screaming and scrambling crowd, was quick to respond despite her shock and dismay.

Her instincts as a seasoned Hunter kicked in, and she gathered all her strength to erect a powerful barrier to shield the remaining bystanders from the poison lingering in the air and suppress it to a harmless range.

However, just as she was focusing her energy, she felt a surge of dark aura behind her, and something very small and sharp stabbed into her skin. The attack was too swift, and by the time she raised her guard, it was too late.

Turning frantically, she found no assailant—only the chaos of people fleeing in panic, as if she just imagined getting attacked though she knew it wasn't the case.

As her gaze tried to pierce through the pandemonium, she spotted a few of her Hunters in pursuit of a fleeing figure, a dark yellow streak of lightning trailing behind them. Despite her desire to join the chase, suspecting they were after the bomber, her vision suddenly began to blur.

"Ugh...what is..."

Struggling to move, Cecilia managed only a few steps before collapsing, unconscious, as multiple guards rushed to her aid, their calls fading into the distance as darkness claimed her.

Meanwhile, Grace, having swiftly exited the chaos, was already morphing back into her true form. Her disguise fell away, revealing vermillion hair, almond-shaped brown eyes, and a tight red jacket accentuating her voluptuous curves paired with pants. At the same time, a red mask concealed her upper face. She pulled the red hood over her head, ready to ascend into the sky.

*ZZZ-KRAK!*

Just as she shot a few feet up, a loud crackling of thunder echoed, and she turned to see a dark yellow lightning streak ripping through the shocked Hunters, leaving a gruesome trail of blood behind. "Thundering Reaper?" Grace murmured in surprise, recognizing the one responsible for this gruesome sight.

The streak came to a halt, revealing a feminine figure in a full-body metallic suit adorned with rotating dark yellow small discs at her hips. Her dark yellow eyes glowed menacingly through the sleek helmet as she looked up at this cult member or infamously known as the Huntress, the leader of the Coven of the Damned.

The Blue-eyed monster guessed it right. But now she had to catch this woman alive and bring her to him.

Grace realized this was a golden opportunity to finally catch this demonic speedster now that she finally revealed herself like this, "Why don't you try to catch me, girl?" Grace taunted with a smirk, shooting up further into the sky.

Anna narrowed her eyes as she saw the Huntress shooting into the skies. Dark yellow lightning crackled around her body and without hesitation, she surged forward, speeding across the ground in an electrifying chase, determined to catch the Huntress.

-

The Kerguelen Islands loomed desolate and windswept under the gray, foreboding sky—a stark landscape of rugged terrain far removed from any human settlements, making it an ideal battleground for a confrontation meant to avoid collateral damage. Grace chose this remote location deliberately, aiming to not let any harm come to innocents as she prepared to face down the notorious Thundering Reaper.

As Grace hovered above the craggy coastline, the tranquility was abruptly shattered by the violent arrival of a dark yellow streak of lightning before it morphed into a figure wearing a full-black metallic suit.

The air crackled with electric energy, and the ground trembled with the rumbling sound of thunder that echoed after her arrival.

Grace subtly frowned, realizing that this demoness of the Unseen race had a considerable advantage when it came to speed. For her to be this fast, it wasn't simply because she had the elemental power of lightning.

Not everyone with the lightning element powering their bloodline would inherit the speed aspect of lightning. She must have the Mystic Pathway, specializing in Force Bending, to tap into the raw and true nature of lightning, specifically its speed.

"You are fast... But are you fast enough to reap my life?" Grace called out, her voice echoing over the lonely expanse as she stared down at her.

Anna's response was a narrowed, dangerous gaze as her form blurred into a rapid circular motion. She became a dark yellow streak, circling Grace at breakneck speed, whipping up the island's dust and soil into a chaotic whirlwind. The ground where Grace hovered was now encircled by a furious storm of lightning.

Without warning, Anna ceased her dizzying run; the streaks of lightning she had generated converged into multiple concentrated bolts, shooting toward Grace from every direction.

Dark vermilion lines etched across Grace's face as she hastily erected a barrier moments ago—a dark vermilion sphere that shimmered with protective energy. Yet, when the bolts came shooting toward her, the onslaught was overwhelming. *BOOM!*

The barrage of Anna's lightning bolts shattered the barrier, the resulting shockwaves slamming Grace down to the rugged ground below.

Crashing but not defeated, Grace quickly rolled to her feet, manifesting a pointy maroon staff in her hand. Her breathing was heavy, her determination steely as she steadied herself for the next move.

But Anna was already there, standing ominously close. Her metallic hand, crackling with dark yellow lightning, hovered dangerously near Grace's neck, struggling to move an inch closer.

"You are a sneaky girl, aren't you?" Grace managed to say, her voice strained under the looming threat. The pointy crystal at the top of her staff glowed with a deep red vermilion light, creating a barrier of willforce that blocked Anna's hand from touching her neck.

"Give up before you force me to cripple you," Anna said, her voice deadly cold and devoid of emotion, making Grace realize this demoness was planning to capture her alive just like she was trying to do the same to her.

"Don't get too cocky, girl. I have heard this threat a thousand times. Yah!" Grace pushed the Thundering Reaper backward with a sudden burst of her willforce and dark vermillion flames, making Anna skid back a couple feet.

The ground beneath them was already scorched and disturbed as if a war had taken place even if they had barely started.

Grace, tapping into her Willforce again, extended her staff, the crystal dancing with dark vermilion flames. The air around her shimmered with heat as she manipulated the fire, weaving it into a complex lattice of blazing projectiles aimed directly at the Thundering Reaper, "Let's see how fast you can run from this," Grace taunted, her voice dripping with provocation as she unleashed a torrent of fiery missiles.

Anna's eyes focused as she reacted instantly. Her silhouette blurred, a visual echo trailing behind as she utilized her incredible speed to dodge the onslaught.

Dark yellow lightning crackled around her, enhancing her movements with bursts of speed that made her appear as nothing more than a series of afterimages to the untrained eye.

Not to be outdone, Grace shifted tactics, her mind sharpening as she drew upon her willforce yet again.

With a sweeping gesture of her staff, she manipulated the earth around Anna, attempting to trap her in a sudden upheaval of rock and soil, "Caught you," Grace smirked, thinking she had anticipated the Thundering Reaper's path.

But as a trained speedster, Anna knew how people would try to take her down and was prepared for such tricks.

Channeling her lightning power, she electrified the ground, disintegrating the rocky trap with high-voltage shocks that sent stones and debris flying in all directions, "You are going to regret this," Anna retorted coldly, her voice barely rising above the rumble of thunder that accompanied her powers.

The duel escalated as Grace tapped deeper into the dark demonic power flowing through her battered veins, enveloping the area in a dense shadow that sought to disorient and blind her adversary. This sudden darkness was more than just an absence of light; it was oppressive, a weight against the senses that sought to smother Anna's lightning with its suffocating tendrils.

Anna, however, was not easily hindered. Her own affinity for darkness allowed her to navigate through the murk with an eerie precision. Her eyes, glowing a stark, dark yellow, pierced through the gloom, locating the Huntress' position with unerring accuracy. With a burst of speed, she closed the distance between them, her form a streak of lightning that cut through the dark.

As Anna emerged from the shadow, she unleashed a concentrated bolt of lightning directly at the Huntress. The bolt struck with explosive force, overwhelming Grace's barrier and throwing her back. Grace stumbled, her feet scorching the ground as she skidded to a halt. Her jacket was singed, and a trickle of blood escaped the corner of her mouth.

Grace wiped the blood away with the back of her hand, her expression a mix of surprise and grudging respect, "Not bad... for a young demon," she said, the sarcasm in her voice tinged with pain.

She could sense the vitality of this demoness' aura, and it didn't feel like this demoness was even 30 years old. She must be quite a genius to be this skilled and strong at such a young age.

She took some hits from her on purpose to gauge her strength and abilities, and now she had some idea. It was not like she had faced an Unseen before, though she still felt this demoness was holding back nor had she seen her use any Mindforce abilities yet.

Anna stood still, her posture relaxed but ready, her eyes focused and sharp, "You are already dying. There is no point in being desperate. You can't win against me. Surrender now. I won't say it again," she offered, her voice as cold and implacable as the winds that swept across the islands.

From their brief exchange, Anna already deduced that this Huntress was a woman of great will and a retired Hunter who later got converted into a soulservant for Hellbringer.

Considering she also had the power of Willforce, it would be very hard to bring her back alive since death was usually the only way to defeat people like her. Trying to cripple her without killing her was just harder, and so she wished this woman would just surrender and make it easier for both of them.

Grace could see through the Thundering Reaper's intentions, "Well, isn't that cute? Last I checked, death wasn't on the agenda today. You should worry less about my well-being and focus on not losing to someone who's 'already dying.' Playtime is over," She said as more dark vermillion veins began to run over her face.

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