Chapter 20: Fight in the Sewers (1)

Chapter 20: Fight in the Sewers (1) Damian’s footsteps echoed through the sewers. The stone walls, the murky water, every surface made noise—it was impossible to stay hidden. He didn’t pause for a second. His Demon Eye blazed red, tracking the lingering traces of the demon that had kidnapped Samantha. The creature was fast—but not that fast. Either it wasn’t very powerful, or it was toying with Damian, letting him think he stood a chance. A chance to reach Samantha. The sewers were a labyrinth. Twisted. Filthy. Hostile. But Damian pressed forward. Using his Demon Eye, he followed the trail with precision. And he wasn’t just chasing the kidnapper—he was evading the other demons that infested the underground. This place wasn’t safe for anyone. But Damian wasn’t just anyone anymore. He’d grown stronger. And if all he faced were low-tier demons—he was confident he could handle it. Their chase lasted for around ten minutes, and eventually, he found the demon. The demon had stopped in one of the sewer’s rooms. He was just standing there, tying up Samantha to a column. When the demon turned and saw Damian, he was visibly shocked. "What? How did you find me down here?" the demon said, his voice tinted with surprise. Even the skilled hunters had a hard time exploring the sewers, so the demon couldn’t understand how Damian had tracked him so easily. "Let her go," Damian said. "You want me, right?" Demons didn’t usually go through the trouble of tying up their victims. They just ate and got it over with as fast as possible. So, because of that, Damian had a strong guess: the demon wasn’t there for Samantha. It was there for him. "Oh? And why would I let her go? Now I’ve attracted you—and I’ll have a snack after our fight." "Bastard!" Damian said. The situation that unfolded before him was one he disliked. Although the demon wasn’t particularly strong—judging by the mana emanating from its body—it was still quite powerful compared to Damian. He hadn’t fought a strong demon since his increase in attributes and new skills. This fight would be the test. "Last time, you ran from a friend of mine. But this time, you won’t run away. This is your end," the demon said. Damian’s mind raced. The only demon that came to mind was the one who attacked his car. Samantha was still awake, her body tied up and her mouth gagged. She struggled to move and speak, her eyes locked on Damian. Her mind was in chaos. She knew Damian didn’t have mana. He wasn’t a hunter. So then—how did he find her? How was he talking to a demon? Everything she thought she knew about him was wrong. He was a complete stranger now. Damian clenched his fists. A fight was about to start. The demon in question was... bizarre. It had a mask of bones on its face, as if attached by force. Its skin was as dark as charcoal, and its fingers looked like worms, constantly moving. Damian already had his Demon Eye activated, meaning his senses were heightened—perfect for the fight that was about to begin. He also activated his Beast Claw, changing his human nails into beast-like claws capable of tearing through flesh. When the demon saw that, it looked surprised. "What are these abilities?" it said. There were hunters with similar abilities—mostly body-enhancing spells—but those looked normal, based on elemental affinity. Like the girl who had fire gauntlets. But someone transforming into a monster the way Damian was? That was definitely uncommon. That’s why the demon was so surprised. Samantha was watching too, and she felt the same. Damian was a mystery to her now. Without any explanation, Damian dashed toward the demon. His legs could now exert massive force—his propulsion was quick and aggressive. Agility was his highest attribute. He appeared instantly in front of the demon and attacked with his claws. The demon used its tentacles to defend, but Damian’s claws were sharp enough to slice a piece off. There were too many, though. While some blocked the attack, others crept under the demon’s body and struck Damian in the stomach! He was sent flying into the sewer’s stone wall. Despite the blow, Damian was pleased. He looked at the severed tentacles. A dark liquid leaked out—his poison was taking effect. The demon sensed something was wrong. "A poison?" it said, staring at its wounded tentacles, then back at Damian. "I have high resistance to poison, so don’t expect this to end the fight in your favor, bastard." That was the worst type of demon for Damian to encounter. His poison was his best skill—currently, at least—and it didn’t have the desired effect on that demon. Still, he kept his mind focused on the fight. The poison might be less effective, but it was having an impact. Damian moved toward the demon again, rising from the blow he’d just taken. The demon attacked, but this time it was different. It used its tentacles again. Damian was ready. He dodged swiftly, jumping from side to side. But that wasn’t the demon’s main attack—it had something else in mind. Its bone mask—attached to its face—twitched, and bone fragments shot forward, flying straight at Damian. The shards were fast and sharp. If they struck any vital organs, Damian would be in serious trouble. Without thinking, he used a newly acquired ability: Hardened Skin. His skin changed color, turning grayish, like stone. The bone shards struck his chest—but didn’t penetrate. They bounced off and scattered onto the floor. The demon was once again surprised. Damian kept revealing strange, unexpected abilities—each one stranger than the last. Damian was pleased. It was his first time using Hardened Skin, so this was a test—and it passed. Then he noticed the demon wasn’t attacking again. It looked tired after its previous assault. Perfect moment. Damian dashed toward the creature, slashing with both claws. The tentacles tried to block, just like before, but Damian kept cutting them down—any that got in his way, he tore apart. He reached the demon. His claws ripped into its torso, leaving a massive gash—one filled with venomous poison.