Chapter 18: Showcase of Strength
Meanwhile, Inside the Dungeon, Leo and Akari walk beside each other while Davis and every single hunter just stare.
"Who would've imagined that you would be leading the raid." Akari said.
"I'm shocked myself." Leo said.
"But I'm sure with you leading the raid, we'll definitely be safe."
"...You sure have so much faith in me."
"Well, of course, I know what you're capable of."
Leo lets off a gentle smile.
"How is Leo still alive?" Davis asked.
"And he looks completely different that he's barely recognizable." Ava said.
"What happened back in the Dungeon?" Grey asked.
"It doesn't matter. If the Association sent him to lead the raid then they're sending us straight to our deaths." Adelbert said.
"You're right, What was the Association thinking?" Davis asked.
"You guys know Leo Howard?" One of the Hunters asked.
"Of Course, He's an F-Rank Hunter and he is nicknamed the weakest hunter." Ava said.
"Weakest hunter? Then the Association wouldn't be going crazy about him." The Hunter said.
"What are you talking about?" Davis asked.
"Yeah, He's been the talk and there's a rumor that Guilds are debating who should recruit him."
"That Bastard."
Demonic beasts come out of hiding and approach the Hunters. A Red Status Screen opens before Leo.
{Objective: Defeat 10/100 Enemies}
{Reward: N/A}
"The Demonic Beasts are finally here." One of the Hunters said while shuddering.
Grey and Adelbert step forward and draw out their swords.
"We'll have to band together to take out these Demonic beasts. Since this is a B-Rank Dungeon."
Leo slowly walks towards the Demonic beasts.
"Howard, What are you doing?!" Grey asked.
"Stand down weaklings."
'What is he planning on doing? He's even unable to take care of a Demonic Beast from an F-Rank Dungeon.' Grey asked.
"Inventory, Open. Equip Item Demon Blade Yagura."
{Item Equipped: Demon Blade Yagura (Damage+80)}
Leo equips the Demon Blade Yagura and gets in a stance.
'That Sword, It's the same as the Demonic Beast we fought back at the Seven Year. Don't tell me he...' Grey started thinking to himself.
The Demonic beasts charge in for Leo.
{Speed Cutting Skill Activated}
Leo cuts down all ten demonic beasts in a flash, leaving everyone perplexed. The Hunters begin to cheer.
"Alright!!"
"He defeated them all on his own!!"
"We'll be safe with him leading the raid!!"
Leo draws back his sword into the inventory, and Akari comes jumping on him.
"That was amazing Leo-senpai, Now you see why I have so much faith in you."
"..."
Leo drops to his knees shaking and says, "No way..."
"He just slashed all those Demonic beasts in a flash...and with ease..." Ava said.
The Hunters continue to cheer,
"We got a strong leader!"
"We'll be safe now."
'He's grown so much.' Grey said to himself.
"We can't let our guard down yet. We'll keep moving forward." Leo said.
"Right, Leader." The Hunters responded.
The Hunters keep moving and they keep slaying Demonic beasts along the way and picking up mana crystals.
They later on find themselves climbing upstairs. As they arrive at the top, Leo looks back and sees the Hunters panting hard.
"... We'll take a rest here. Make sure to recover your energy."
The Hunters set up a camp and all of them sit and share meals and drinks. Leo sits on a rock and meditates by himself. As he meditates, Ava approaches him.
"Hey Leo, It's been a long time. You've grown up well." Ava said.
"Who are you? I'm not here to get all friendly with anyone here." Leo said while glaring at Ava.
"Don't be like that, we used to be friends before. Don't you remember?"
"I don't have friends or never had friends. If you don't mind, I don't have the time to spare on you."
Leo gets up and walks away from Ava. Akari runs up to him with her hands behind her back.
"Hey Leo, how about sharing a meal with me? Our leader needs to have energy." Ava asked.
"Sure." Leo said with a smile.
Both Leo and Akari walk away while chuckling amongst themselves.
"Tch, He's gotten cocky. That Damn Bastard." Ava said while glaring at Leo.
As Leo is walking away, Grey stops him by tapping his shoulder.
"Howard, I think you should listen to what we have to say." Grey said.
"Hands off failure, or you'll lose more than just your left arm." Leo said.
{Intimidation Skill Activated}
Fear strikes Grey and he begins to shudder and slowly displaces his hand from Leo's shoulder. Leo dusts his shoulder and walks away with Akari.
'Well, I don't blame him. It makes complete sense as to why he's like this.'
Leo and Akari begin to share a meal. A few minutes later, A Red Status Window appears before Leo.
{Objective: Defeat 40/90 Enemies}
"Everyone! Heads Up!"
A gecko-like Demonic beast comes out of a small hole and spits in the face of one of the Hunters.
"It burns! It burns!"
"Someone hold him down."
Many Hunters hold the man down. More Demonic beasts come out after the gecko-like Demonic beast.
"Adelbert, Let's band together to take down these Demonic beasts."
"Out of my way, failures."
{Item Equipped: Demon Lord's Bow and Arrow}
(Speed Cutting is a skill exclusive to sword use only, then...)
{Lightning Manipulation + Enhanced Hunting Skills Activated}
Leo shoots his lightning-cloaked arrows at various places, and they track down all the Demonic beasts and stab through them in a flash.
"Amazing." Grey said.
"What type of skill was that?" Adelbert asked.
"Looks like there was no need for an Archer." The Archer of the raid said.
(I've been fighting serpent-like Demonic beasts for a while. Don't tell me...)
"Mr. Howard! My Spell isn't working! I can't heal the wound on his face." One of the healers said.
"..."
"Oh, What a shame. And you all thought you were going to be safe with him leading the raid." Davis said.
"..."
"Davis, What do you think you're doing?" Grey asked.
Davis grabs Leo by his shirt and stares him dead in the eyes.
"Him getting hurt is the result of your incompetence! You can't lead a Dungeon! You should've just let Mr. Walker lead the Dungeon since this is Fox Guild's claim!"
"..."
"Just for one mistake and you're attacking him!" Akari shouted.
"She's right, What do you have against Leo Howard?" The Hunters rebelled against Davis.
"Tch, Everyone! This is Leo Howard, an F-Rank Hunter, Don't let him fool you!"
All the Hunters just stare at Davis in silence.
"Hey Idiot, I'll give you three seconds to get your hands off me."
{Intimidation Skill Activated}
Davis flinches and slowly removes his hand from Leo's shirt. Leo walks towards the injured hunter.
"I tried so hard to get rid of you! Why are you still alive?! Stay Dead!"
"You tried to kill him, how cruel." Akari said.
{Wind Manipulation Skill Activated}
Leo creates a wind soldier and it appears before Davis and grabs him by the neck.
"When you die in a Dungeon, there's no proof that a Demonic beast killed you or another hunter."
"Leo, Please don't do anything rash." Akari said.
The Wind Soldier throws Davis at the side and Davis gasps for air.
"Darling."
Ava runs towards Davis.
"Item Switch. Unlimited Health Potion."
{Item Switch: Demon Lord's Bow and Arrow>>>Unlimited Health Potion}
(This will be the first time I'm using this.)
Leo makes the hunter drink the potion and the wound on the hunter's face disappears and his mana is Restored.
The Hunters begin to cheer once again.
"Amazing!"
"Where did he get that potion?"
"Isn't a super recovery potion crazy expensive?"
"We're lucky we're raiding with him."
"The Healers struggled to heal that wound but he healed it with ease. Leo was never capable of such a feat, what could have happened to him?" Ava asked.
"Tch."
"Now we know the Demonic beasts always catch us off guard. We'll move without rest and keep our guard up. Let's go." Leo said.
"Tch, Leo...!"
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