Chapter 148: Chapter 148 : The most famous hunter

James clicked his tongue as he stared down at the silver-haired boy lying still on the dirt. With a scoff, he lifted his foot and gave the boy a light kick to the ribs.

Thud.

Then another, this time harder.

Thump.

Then another. Harder. Again. And again.

Thud. Thud. Crack.

Over and over.

Charlotte’s eyes widened in horror. “ALEX!” she screamed.

Ava’s voice cracked. “STOP IT!”

Seraphina tried to raise her hand, her body trembling. “LEAVE HIM… ALONE!”

But none of them could take a step forward. The crushing pressure of three Master-ranked auras—James, Daniel, and Sephira—held them like insects pinned beneath a boulder. Their knees were pressed to the ground. Their limbs trembled. Breathing itself was a struggle.

And James… just kept kicking.

With a final, forceful stomp, he pulled back and muttered, “Tch. Looks like this guy’s already on the verge of death.”

He rolled his shoulder and looked at the limp figure, unimpressed.

Sephira snorted from nearby, arms crossed. “Then leave him. This pocket realm Master Aaron created is already fraying at the seams. Focus on the mission.”

Daniel gave a casual shrug. “Works for me.”

James and Daniel’s gazes slid toward the three girls—Charlotte, Seraphina, and Ava—like predators eyeing fresh prey. Their smiles turned lecherous.

“So, where were we, ladies?” James said, cracking his knuckles.

“Don’t worry,” Daniel added, licking his lips. “We’ll take real good care of you—”

BOOOOM!

The world shattered.

An explosive kick blasted into Daniel’s jaw, sending him flying like a ragdoll. His body crashed through multiple trees, each one snapping like twigs under the sheer force. Debris and dust flew in every direction.

Sephira staggered backward, eyes flaring wide.

When the dust finally cleared… a lone figure stood tall before the girls.

Dark blond hair tousled. Tan coat billowing. A gleaming gauntlet on one hand pulsed with faint violet light. His posture was loose, but his aura buzzed with power.

Charlotte gasped. “That’s…”

Seraphina’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Carter… Brown?”

Ava blinked. “The hunter guy… who Seraphina gave a lift when we were heading toward the academy?”

Sephira snarled, her voice sharp. “Who the hell are you!?”

Carter gave her a half-smile, brushing some dust off his shoulder.

“You’re seriously telling me none of you recognize the Carter Brown? C’mon, I’m kinda famous.”

Daniel picked himself up, seething. Blood ran down his nose. “You bastard… You snuck up on me!”

His aura surged with fury. “I’ll MURDER YOU!”

Carter smirked, but his fingers twitched slightly. ’Go ahead. Try me.’

Inside, however, Carter’s thoughts were a swirling storm of panic.

’Shitshitshitshit—what the hell am I doing!? I’ve got a hot girlfriend, a cozy home, money in the bank, and a career that doesn’t involve fighting lunatics in collapsing dimensions! I should be halfway to safety by now!’

But even as his mind screamed to run… his feet stayed planted.

’Wait… those girls—one’s a princess. And the brown-haired kid’s from House Crestvale. That blue-haired girl… she looked familiar too. Looks like… they’re all nobles, aren’t they?’

He sighed internally. ’Of course they are. Lucky me if I can get their favour—if I leave here alive, that is.’

—

Earlier…

When the teleportation storm scattered everyone into the pocket realm, Carter had landed deep within the forest. Disoriented, but not injured.

Being a Peak Master-ranked Hunter had its perks.

Navigating through wild terrain was easy. He’d done harder.

But when he spotted the massive ship hovering in the sky—followed by waves of high-ranked soldiers pouring out—Carter’s instincts kicked in.

’This isn’t some random invasion. This is a full-blown operation… and someone’s their target.’

He slinked through the shadows, using his cloaking skill and instinct to stay hidden.

Then he saw it.

Ethan Williams. Fighting like a god.

At first, he was winning.

But as soon as the twins came, he started losing.

Carter watched in stunned silence.

’That kid… he’s holding back monsters. Alone.’

Part of him wanted to help.

Most of him didn’t.

’I should just wait it out… Once they’re done, this place will collapse and I’ll be spat back out safe. Simple. Clean.’

But then he saw it—what those other bastards were doing to the remaining group.

Alden… Charlotte… Ava… Draven… Seraphina.

They were cornered. Crushed by aura. On their knees.

And then—he heard what was about to happen to the girls.

Carter’s stomach churned. His fingers clenched.

’What the hell…’

For the first time in years, he felt it.

Shame.

As an adult. As a Hunter.

’These kids… they’re doing everything I should’ve done. Fighting. Protecting each other. Facing monsters without blinking.’

And he’d just hidden.

Coward.

So he moved.

And now—here he stood.

—

James roared in fury, dark energy flaring.

But Carter’s own aura finally burst out in full force—Void Affinity crackling around him in swirling tendrils of violet and black.

Suddenly—the suffocating pressure vanished.

Charlotte gasped for air.

Seraphina nearly collapsed.

Alden looked up, wide-eyed.

Carter didn’t turn to them—his gaze remained locked on the three enemies—but he bellowed over his shoulder.

“RUN! As far as you can! I don’t know if I can win this, but I’ll damn well make sure they don’t get you!”

Alden clenched his fists, trembling.

’Why… why does this guy care…?’

But there was no time for questions.

He nodded. “Got it!”

With effort, Alden pushed himself up, body aching. He scooped Ava into his arms.

Draven crouched beside Alex, lifting his unconscious friend onto his back.

Charlotte and Seraphina moved next, supporting each other.

They turned to Carter, eyes filled with something unspoken.

Respect. Gratefulness. Guilt.

Carter didn’t look back.

“Forget the civilians!” he shouted. “I’ll handle them! JUST GO!”

The group turned. Ran.

Into the forest. Into the shadows.

And behind them—

Carter Brown stood alone before three Master-ranked enemies.

—

Carter stood tall, alone before the three threats.

His coat fluttered in the wind.

Sweat trickled down his temple, but his eyes gleamed with defiance.

’Okay. This is officially the stupidest thing I’ve ever done.’

He let out a breath and clenched his gauntlet-covered fist.

’But damn… why does this feel good?’

A crooked grin stretched across his lips, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

’I wish the media were here to see my heroic debut. Front page: Hunter Carter Brown—The Void that Defied the Abyss. Yeah, that has a nice ring to it.’

He rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck, lifting his gaze to the trio now recovering from the earlier shock.

“So,” he said casually, voice firm, “shall we get started?”

—

Daniel struck first.

A bolt of lightning exploded from his palm, arcing straight for Carter’s chest.

CRACK!

Carter sidestepped with uncanny fluidity—his body vanishing for a fraction of a second before flickering back into place. The lightning slammed into the dirt behind him, shattering the earth.

James followed up immediately, teleporting with a flash of spatial energy behind Carter and swinging a blade infused with space-rending force.

Carter ducked and twisted, catching James’s wrist mid-swing and slamming his elbow into his ribs with a crunch.

BAM!

James reeled back, coughing.

Then came Sephira—her remaining hand alight with molten flame. Her flaming whip lashed out, hissing through the air like a demon’s tongue.

Carter raised his hand.

Void energy surged around him in a swirling pulse.

CLASH!

The whip struck an invisible shield mid-air—crackling, but not breaking through.

“Nice try,” Carter muttered, his eyes glowing faintly purple.

He vanished.

BOOM!

He reappeared mid-air—above them all—and slammed his fist down, releasing a gravitational void blast that knocked the three enemies outward in different directions. Sephira crashed through a rock wall. Daniel skidded across the dirt in a tumble of sparks. James flipped mid-air and landed, gritting his teeth.

Carter landed softly, his boots cracking the ground beneath him.

His breath was already starting to hitch, and his side throbbed from Sephira’s earlier attack.

But he smiled anyway.

’Keep moving. Keep pressure on them. Don’t let them get past you.’

Daniel snarled and lifted his hand again—this time conjuring a spear made entirely of lightning. With a roar, he launched it.

Sephira emerged behind Carter, flames twisting into a ring of fire around them both.

James flanked from the side, warping space as he darted in like a blade on wind.

A deadly triangle.

Carter stood his ground.

The void pulsed from his body.

Time slowed for him—only slightly, but enough.

He leaned left, letting the spear graze his coat and burn his shoulder.

His leg snapped backward, kicking Sephira in the stomach and breaking her flaming barrier.

He pivoted again, caught James’s sword mid-swing, and slammed his head into James’s face.

CRACK!

Blood flew.

’Three against one. Even for me, this is rough.’

He winced as a flaming arrow tore across his thigh.

’But I’m not letting them through. Not a single damn one.’

—

The battle roared on.

Every time one of the enemies tried to break off toward the forest—Carter was there.

Blocking.

Interfering.

Landing brutal counterblows with perfect precision.

A wall of void energy surrounded him—part shield, part weapon. It bent around him like living armor, warping spells, redirecting flames, and resisting even space and lightning-based attacks.

Still, the toll showed.

Carter’s breathing grew heavier.

Blood leaked from a cut on his temple. His left arm trembled slightly.

But he didn’t stop.

He couldn’t stop.

Sephira clicked her tongue, holding her burned side. “Tch. That guy’s surprisingly persistent.”

James spat blood and groaned. “Annoying bastard.”

Daniel narrowed his eyes. “We need to find the kids. This dimension won’t last much longer.”

Then—Sephira’s gaze flicked toward the glowing dome in the distance.

The one sheltering the civilians.

Her lips curled into a sinister smile.

“Let’s distract him.”

Daniel raised an eyebrow. “Huh?”

Sephira whispered just loud enough for the two to hear. “He’s the type. Protecting civilians. If we hit that dome… he’ll react. Use that chance to split.”

James caught on instantly.

“Got it. You and I go after the brats. Daniel stalls him.”

Daniel nodded. “He’s already bleeding. I’ll handle him.”

The plan was set in motion.

Sephira and James shot toward the civilians’ dome in a blur.

Carter’s eyes widened.

’No—!’

He cursed and slammed his foot down.

A circular void sigil lit up beneath him, and with a flash, he conjured a curved shield over the dome—dark purple, translucent, humming with unstable power.

At the same moment—

CRASH!

Daniel struck.

Lightning wrapped around his fists, he crashed into Carter with a savage hook to the ribs.

BOOM!

Carter flew backward, tumbling into a tree. He hit hard, bark cracking behind him.

“Ghh—!”

He barely had time to get up before Daniel was on him again, launching a flurry of electrified punches.

Carter parried, blocked, deflected—but his defense faltered with each strike.

The dome pulsed behind him as Sephira’s fireballs slammed into it from above. James warped closer to the edge of the woods.

Carter hissed in pain, glancing over his shoulder.

’Shit… I can’t hold the shield and fight at the same time!’

Daniel smirked. “Split your focus again, and I’ll break your ribs next.”

Carter’s hands trembled.

The void shield flickered.

His body screamed at him to stop.

But he held.

Sephira and James slipped into the trees—toward the fleeing kids.

Carter’s heart dropped.

’They got past me.’

He tried to push off the ground, but Daniel slammed a lightning-charged boot into his back.

CRACK!

“Agh—!”

Blood sprayed from Carter’s mouth as he hit the dirt again.

Still—he clenched his fists.

His void aura flared, and he pushed back, staggering Daniel with a pulse of gravitational force.

But it was too late.

They were already gone.

’Kids… I’m sorry.’

But even as the pain tore through him—

He got up.

He raised his fists.

“I’m still not done yet.”

Meanwhile Alden and the group found them surrounded again.

——

——–

A/N:

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