The Animagus: From Hunter to Monster

The Wyrm's screech echoed through the cavern, the force of its rage shaking the very foundation of the dungeon. The golden veins of mana pulsing along the walls flickered under the intensity of the battle. The air was thick with heat and dust, the remnants of Buji's relentless assault.

And yet, despite the damage he'd inflicted, the beast still stood.

Buji cracked his neck, rolling his shoulders as he exhaled. His eyes, sharp as blades, locked onto the faint glow beneath the Wyrm's second rib. That was it—the core. The key to everything.

"Alright, big guy," he muttered, twirling the Phantom Fang Blade in his hand. "You've been a good dance partner, but I think it's time we end this waltz."

The Wyrm growled, its massive frame shifting, coiling in preparation for another devastating attack. It had learned. Every failed attempt to strike Buji had refined its strategy, adapting to his unpredictable movement.

But Buji wasn't just fighting with strength. He was playing a mind game.

He knew the Wyrm had begun to track his Phantom Steps. The monster's crimson eyes gleamed with unnatural intelligence, watching his every motion. Its tail flexed, ready to counter him the moment he moved.

"Smart," Buji admitted, nodding. "But not smart enough."

He suddenly rushed forward, his speed blurring him from view.

As expected, the Wyrm lashed out, its massive tail sweeping across the battlefield in a devastating arc. It was aiming for his predicted movement—a mistake.

Buji had faked the Phantom Step.

Instead of using it to dodge, he dropped low at the last second, sliding beneath the incoming tail, the sheer force of the swing passing just inches over his head. The shockwave split open the ground behind him, rocks exploding outward.

But Buji was already in motion.

In one seamless transition, he vaulted upward, flipping through the air and landing directly onto the Wyrm's underbelly.

The moment his feet touched the beast's hide, he struck.

"Phantom Fang—Piercing Rend!"

A sharp hum vibrated through the air as his blade plunged deep into the Wyrm's flesh—right at the core's faint glow.

The monster screeched, a sound so piercing it nearly shattered the cavern walls. Its entire body convulsed, writhing in pain.

Buji grinned. "Found you."

But he wasn't done yet.

With a firm grip on his blade, he twisted it—once, twice, three times—before ripping it downward in a vicious arc, carving open the beast's armored scales like butter.

A burst of blue-gold light erupted from the wound.

There it was.

The core.

A brilliant orb, the size of a human heart, pulsating with raw mana. Unlike the rest of the Wyrm's dark, obsidian-like body, the core was translucent, shimmering like a captured star.

Buji exhaled. "Beautiful."

But he didn't have time to admire it. The Wyrm was still alive.

With a desperate roar, the beast thrashed, its tail whipping forward with deadly speed.

Buji barely had time to react. [Phantom Step!]

At the last moment, he vanished, reappearing a few feet away, his feet barely touching the ground before he launched himself forward again.

The Wyrm wasn't going to let him attack so easily now.

It shifted, trying to cover its wound, but Buji was already on it.

He feinted left—then struck right, his blade flashing like lightning.

The Wyrm roared, blood gushing from the widening wound.

One more.

One final move.

Buji gripped the Phantom Fang Blade with both hands, planting his feet firmly on the beast's side.

Then he inhaled—deep, controlled.

And jumped.

He soared into the air, reaching the cavern ceiling before twisting mid-air. Gravity pulled him downward, his blade aimed straight for the core like a spear.

The moment his sword connected—

BOOM.

A massive explosion of mana and fire erupted from the Wyrm's chest.

The cavern shook violently, the sheer force of the impact sending shockwaves outward. The golden veins of mana flickered wildly, reacting to the unleashed energy.

The hunters watching from a distance stumbled back, shielding their eyes from the brilliance of the blast.

And then—

Silence.

The Wyrm's massive form trembled, its limbs seizing. Its once-terrifying eyes dimmed, flickering like a dying ember.

Then, with a final, shuddering breath—

It collapsed.

The ground rumbled as the beast's colossal body fell, crashing into the molten-streaked battlefield. Dust and debris exploded into the air.

For a few moments, nothing moved.

Then—

Buji stepped forward, emerging from the dissipating dust cloud, the monster's core in his hand.

He stared at it, watching as the light within it slowly faded, the once-powerful life force draining away.

"Phew." He wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead, tossing the core up and catching it. "That was fun."

The remaining hunters just stood there, stunned into silence.

Even Raven, usually so quick to criticize, was speechless. His eyes flickered between the dead Wyrm and the unscathed Buji, his mind struggling to comprehend what just happened.

Mr. Zin finally found his voice.

"...Impossible."

Buji grinned, casually flipping the Phantom Fang Blade before sheathing it.

"Nothing's impossible," he said. "You just gotta be smarter."

Lily, still recovering from the shock, took a step forward, her eyes filled with a mix of admiration and exasperation.

"You—" She stopped, not even sure what to say. "You absolute lunatic."

Buji gave her a wink. "A charming lunatic, though, right?"

She sighed, rubbing her temple.

Raven finally snapped out of his daze, crossing his arms. "You got lucky."

Buji smirked. "Yeah? Tell that to the dead Wyrm."

He tossed the core into the air again, catching it with a lazy grin.

This thing was worth a fortune. Maybe even enough to buy an entire guild.

But more importantly—

He had just soloed a monster that had terrified an entire squad of hunters.

A Lone Wolf's Triumph.

And he had made it look easy.

He turned, glancing at the stunned expressions of his teammates.

Then, with his signature cocky smirk, he threw the core over his shoulder and started walking away.

"Let's go," he said. "I'm starving."

Realizing where the Wyrm's core is, Buji exhaled softly. In his hand, he was twirling the Phantom Fang Blade in between his fingers.

His has found it, finally.

Yes, but locating it wasn't the same as reaching it.

"It won't be easy, I swear" he muttered, with a smirk on his lips.

The Wyrm, as impatient as it was, reared back and struck first.

Its tail swipe fast, condescending with agility that cut into the air.

Buji had not the enough time to react as the gust of wind howled through the cavern, its impact sending sharp debris into diffusion.

He lunged back, activating his Phantom Step immediate, a with a blue he narrowly escaped the crushing force of the tail.

"Damn, that was close—*

But before Buji could balance his footing, the Wyrm lunged forward, twisting its enormous body.

A second attack.

Its jaws snapped open—rows of fanged teeth glistening with venom, steam rising from the gaps. A breath attack incoming.

Buji's instincts screamed. He had seconds to react.

Boom!

A wave of searing white-hot flames erupted from the monster's mouth, consuming everything in its path. The cavern ceiling ignited, golden veins flickering wildly as the mana in the air boiled under the heat. The hunters in the distance threw up barriers, barely shielding themselves from the attack.

But Buji didn't dodge.

He ran into it.

[Lesser Dragon's Will: Active.]

His body instinctively hardened, muscles coiling like steel as he braced himself against the inferno. The world blurred as he pushed forward, weaving through the flames with precision. The heat was unbearable, his vision warping under the pressure. But he kept moving.

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Faster.

Closer.

The Wyrm's attack ceased, its monstrous head swaying as if searching for Buji through the smoke.

And then—

He was above it.

A flicker of silver in the darkness. The Phantom Fang Blade descended, the runes along its edge howling with power.

SLASH!

The Wyrm screeched in agony as Buji's attack connected, slicing through the protective scales near its ribcage. A spurt of dark, molten blood erupted from the wound, sizzling as it hit the air. The creature reared back, writhing violently, its pain echoing through the cavern.

Buji landed smoothly, exhaling sharply as he took in the damage.

Almost.

The wound was there, but not deep enough. He had barely scratched the surface of the Wyrm's defenses.

The monster recovered quickly. Faster than he expected.

And then it attacked again.

WHOOSH!

A wingbeat. A storm of power.

Buji's eyes widened as the Wyrm launched itself forward, its wings unfurling for the first time. Despite its massive size, the creature moved with terrifying speed, its talons extending toward him.

Too fast.

He twisted, attempting to evade—

But he wasn't fast enough.

SLASH!

Pain.

A sharp, searing agony erupted in his side as the Wyrm's talons raked across his torso, sending him hurtling through the air. He crashed into a jagged rock formation, the impact sending cracks spiderwebbing through the stone. Blood dripped from his wounds, staining the ground beneath him.

For the first time in the battle, Buji coughed. His breath came in ragged gasps, his vision momentarily blurring.

Damn it.