Chapter 73 – The Awakening of Jörmungandr
A dense, swirling black smoke surrounded Draven, shifting like a living shadow. The chilling winds of Antarctica howled, carrying flecks of snow and ice as Shiki's eyes narrowed. He remained still, his stance firm, as he attempted to discern what lay within the thick haze. HISSSSSS… A deep, guttural sound rumbled from within, accompanied by a slow, rhythmic movement—a vast entity shifting within the darkness.
Then, the smoke parted.
A colossal serpent, coiled and monstrous, towered into the sky. Jörmungandr's head loomed over Draven like a deity, its piercing crimson eyes glowing with malice. The beast's massive body undulated against the frozen terrain, its dark-scaled skin reflecting the dim light of the Antarctic sun. THOOM! The sheer weight of its presence shook the ground beneath them, sending a tremor across the battlefield.
Shiki tilted his head slightly, his expression unfazed but intrigued. He chuckled.
"Ah… So you've acquired the forbidden snake technique."
Draven stood beneath his summon, his own red lightning flickering around him like tendrils of rage. Jörmungandr was no mere summon—it was an extension of his will. With a mere thought, the great serpent slammed its body onto the battlefield.
BOOOOOOM!
A violent shockwave erupted, cracking the very foundation of Antarctica's icy plains. The world itself seemed to react.
Meanwhile, at the Hunter Meeting Hall…
The tremors shook the elegant dining hall where the world's Hunter Association Presidents sat. The finely crafted wooden tables rattled, cups of warm tea spilling over as an eerie silence filled the air.
Cecelia's sharp gaze shifted toward Marcus. "Check outside. Now."
Mujin, resting his chin on his knuckles, barely flinched at the quake but nodded toward Akebi. "Go."
Boris, seated beside Andrei, muttered, "This energy… I recognize it."
Andrei exhaled sharply, granting permission. "Be careful."
With that, Boris stood and departed with Marcus and Akebi, their footsteps swift as they headed toward the disturbance.
Back at the Battlefield…
Jörmungandr's massive body coiled aggressively, its tail whipping through the air with a deafening crack. Then, without warning, it lunged.
FWOOOOOSH!
Shiki barely reacted, his figure a blur as he sidestepped the devastating strike. The ground where he had once stood shattered into nothingness, deep fissures splitting apart the ice. He reappeared further away, his expression unreadable.
Draven's Jörmungandr wasn't finished. As soon as its attack missed, Draven burst out from the ground beneath Shiki, his Jörmungandr Blade swinging upward in a brutal arc.
SHIIING!
The sword met Shiki's ** hands —**only to shatter into fragments upon impact.
Shiki sighed, unimpressed. "How many times do I have to tell you, Draven? That won't work."
But Draven smirked.
Behind Shiki, Jörmungandr's mouth was already wide open, a brilliant red glow forming at the center of its fangs.
A fully charged, devastating energy blast.
KAAAAA—BOOOOOOOM!!!!
A shockwave tore through the land, the sheer force obliterating the frozen battlefield in a fiery explosion. Draven's figure, once standing before Shiki, fizzled out into nothingness. A clone. The real Draven stood at a distance, his All-Creation Eyes gleaming as he watched the attack land.
As the flames died down, a golden shimmer pulsed through the smoke.
Four glowing, divine entities surrounded Shiki, their fur shimmering like sunlight, their piercing eyes locked onto Draven.
Summoning Technique: The Four Golden Langur Guardians.
Draven's Rage Ignites
Draven's breath hitched as he saw Shiki completely unscathed. His hands clenched into fists, rage boiling beneath his skin.
The four golden langurs emitted sharp, synchronized battle cries, their movements seamless.
WHOOSH!
Before Draven could react, two of the langurs vanished—golden streaks of light cutting through the battlefield. BAM!
Their wooden staffs struck Draven's abdomen with devastating precision.
"GHHHAAA!!!"
Draven's body whipped backward, blood spewing from his mouth due to the strike , he crashed into the ice. THUUUUD!
Jörmungandr shrieked in rage, its massive form lashing out toward the golden beings. But the other two langurs intercepted, and struck but Jormungdar uses its tail
To attack but the monkeys deflecting the attack mid-air with their reinforced staffs but were pushed backwards.
They landed gracefully beside Shiki.
One of the golden langurs grinned and sneered, "I hate snakes."
The other smacked him on the head and muttered, "Shut up."
Jörmungandr coiled tightly around Draven, its aura pulsing, beginning the slow process of healing its master from the injuries he had suffered from the monkeys.
Meanwhile – Antarctica Perimeter
Marcus, Akebi, and Boris were racing toward the explosion site, their breath visible in the frigid air. They could see the fiery devastation from miles away.
But before they could get any closer—
FWOOOOOSH!
A blurred figure appeared before them.
It was Huey.
"Hello, hello! I'm afraid you're restricted from going any further."
His mocking grin made Akebi's blood boil.
A flashback hit her.
The day Huey had effortlessly slammed her against the wall, his laughter echoing in Bartoni's office. The moment he killed the only man who had guided her.
Her fingers tightened around her hand.
"Arise… Sword of Yama."
A chilling wind howled, as a divine blade manifested in her grasp,Huey only chuckled, unfazed.
"Oho~? This should be fun."