A commanding voice resonated out of the corridor, laced with excitement. "We have lost the element of surprise. Breach the room and secure the first child, surround the second. Do not kill either of them."

Moments later, a small orb of light shot into the room, no bigger than an ember, and exploded in a dazzling light. The white light slowly receded, reverting the room back to its dark, red colouring and revealing the huntsmen already in position. Rock had his foot planted firmly on the demonic goblin's back, pinning her to the floor as Kelora leant towards the girl, holding a short sword against her neck. "Shhh, be a good girl and don't move."

Meanwhile, surrounding the boy, Vers, Ethemeusa and the short female huntsman stood warily, ensuring that he could not escape.

As Verz was the first to breach the room, she naturally had ended up behind the boy, cutting off any possibility of retreat. Wanting to face the boy, she signalled the others and the trio began to move clockwise.

Almost instantly, they all tensed and took a few steps backwards, increasing the amount of time they had to react, noticing with that every step they took, the boy's posture changed, almost perfectly maximising his options to attack or defend.

As Verz slowly made her way to the front, she felt her heart rate increase. "Velcea, status?"

"Less than half an hour old. Although the boy's strength is extremely weak, my skill is marking him as an SSS ranked threat." The short female pulled down her mantle, two long dark-purple ears bouncing upwards as she pointed over her shoulder. "Looking at his hands and the multiple wounds on his body, he is the one who... let loose on our expired friends here. Vonai is a small kingdom, and their troop's strength is below average, but with these numbers and environmental conditions, even an intermediate Huntsman would have difficulty surviving alone. I advise we leave him; he is far too dangerous."

A smile slowly crept upon the boy’s face as he spoke in an incomprehensible language. “[Strong… fast… skilled. Not like the trash that was here.]” At every word he spoke, almost as if it was a spell, the red glow emanating from his eyes intensified. His reptilian pupils locked onto Verz’s as she moved into his vision, immediately recognising her as the leader.

The moment their eyes met, Verz shuddered internally, both in excitement and fear. It had been a long time since anyone or anything had caused her to feel afraid. The boy's gaze was so powerful that she had to remind herself to keep breathing. He's perfect. Now the only thing left is to make a deal.

Although Verz was renowned for her willful, uncompromising attitude, due to her past, she would never force another to do something against their will.

After a few moments, she regained her composure and analysed the boy in front of her. "Eth, is he what I think he is?"

"Even though it defies logic, I think so," responded the green-eyed woman, her intimidating, reptilian pupils appearing cute and cuddly in comparison to the boys. "If the Scale ever caught wind of his existence, then I wouldn't be surprised if they started a holy crusade to claim him."

"Whats the problem?" shouted Kelora, her back to the group as she ensured the girl was not making any threatening movements. Even though their strengths were comparable to heaven and earth, in Accoria, even the mightiest of beings could be eliminated by the lowliest of creatures. As experts in guerilla warfare and one vs. many confrontations, the Huntsmen were not ones to underestimate an opponent, not matter how young or innocent. "He is just a hybrid demon, bag 'em and tag 'em; I'm starving."

"Trust a demon to be hungry after seeing this," muttered Rock as he scanned his surroundings.

Kelora chuckled. "Meh, you should see the demon capital, makes this look like... Okey, this is pretty... grim but still-"

The other huntsmen had frozen at Kelora's original words, not hearing a sound she had said afterwards.

"Kelora... you sure this is a demon?" Asked Velcea, her voice slightly trembling, not from fear but excitement. Velcea was the brains of the Huntsmen and renowned for her tenacious nature in the pursuit of knowledge. In the presence of something that should not exist, she couldn't resist licking her lips in anticipation.

"Certain. Demons have the ability to sense others," said Kelora in a superior, all-knowing tone. "He is a hybrid, but without a doubt, he is a demon."

"A draconic Demon," whispered Verz, hardly able to believe the being that was standing before her.

"A WHAT?" shouted Ethemeusa.

Moving so fast she didn't even create an after image, Ethemeusa appeared next to the boy, grabbing his shoulders and spinning him around to face her as she looked deep into his eyes.

*BANG*

A bone-chilling hiss resonated from the boy, causing the huntsmen to feel fear gnawing deep withing them. Ethemeusa staggered backwards a couple of dozen feet, her mask shattering revealing a sharp, plain face that had been suspended in shock.

The reptilian races were amongst the oldest in Acoria and were extremely proud of their heritage. Even though Malthasia's climate was not suitable for them, causing a drastic reduction in their population, the Scale Council, the self-proclaimed leaders of the reptilian races, often purged any lineage that had become too diluted or intermingled with other races.

The majority of the reptilians that joined the Huntsmen were opposed to the Scale Council's policies, including Ethemeusa, but that still did not temper her reaction to the merging of one of their greatest bloodlines and their deadliest foes.

"[Strike one.]" Once again, the boy spoke in a language none of them understood.

Keloria looked into Rocks eyes and when he nodded, immediately moved to join the other Huntsmen. The moment she saw the boy, she couldn't help but deeply inhale. "What in the prime evil's name..."

Taking a few moments to comprehend what she was seeing, Keloria stepped forward and crouched down. "This isn't just any old demon; it's like Rock said earlier... a prime variant. The slight discolourations on his skin are actually devil runes, and they can only exist on a first generation demon, one born from the coupling of an angel and devil."

Acting in line with her demon heritage, excitement had blinded Keloria to her mission, and she reached forward to trace her finger along the runes in an attempt to confirm that her eyes were not tricking her. "Devils have been extinct hundreds of years... how can this-"

Just as her hand was about to touch his body, the boy released a deep growl that caused the demoness to flinch and retract her hand.

The boy had used up the majority of his remaining strength defending himself from what he perceived to be the first woman's attack and was using everything he had left to remain standing. If he attacked now, he knew he would fall unconscious and be at the mercy of these strangers but at the same time; he was powerless to defend himself prompting him to resort his most detested tactic, bluffing.

He clearly knew that the people in front of him were completely superior to him regarding speed, strength and ability, but unlike most creatures, who when in the presence of a being that could kill them with a casual swat, would cower in fear, the boy was ecstatic. If I am to die, then let it be against those who are worthy.