Chapter 111: Mana Dominance

What was the difference between a Rank-A Hunter and Hunters of a lower Rank?

The difference was so massive it felt almost unreasonable. It was like comparing a large field to a mountain range.

Both were large, but a mountain range was far more vast and massive. They were also so tall that they sometimes seemed almost limitless when viewed by the naked eye alone.

That was exactly the difference between a Rank-A Hunter and Rank-B Hunters and below.

Because unlike Rank-B Hunters and lower, they seemed bound by something, unable to freely control their Mana. Meanwhile, once someone reached Rank-A, their mastery over Mana became far broader and more unrestricted.

Like being able to manipulate their own Rank to appear lower. That was one of the things they were capable of doing.

Except for current Rank-A Hunters, lower-ranked Hunters and those from the great families could only vaguely grasp and understand that difference.

To truly understand it, they needed to become Rank-A Hunters themselves first.

Then, among other things, there was one Mana technique Rank-A Hunters always used to demonstrate their dominance.

Something that didn’t physically harm anyone, but was capable of suppressing a person’s mind, dragging them down into a state overwhelmed by fear.

That was Mana Suppression.

And that was exactly what Killac was doing right now.

His Mana exploded outward, shattering the surrounding atmosphere with a terrifying pressure. The room grew heavy and grim as each representative from the great families lowered their heads, breaking into cold sweat, struggling to breathe.

Each of them fought just to draw a breath. Feeling a pure terror as though a mountain had collapsed onto their shoulders, forcing their backs to bend low.

Lurker himself reacted the same way.

Suppression, or what could be called Mana Dominance, was something his father had often used when training him.

Compared to before, Lurker might have dropped his face straight onto the table in front of him. But now he managed to endure it, even though his breathing felt strained and his face was covered in cold sweat.

He clenched his fist, trying to hold on, even fighting against that heavy pressure, and lifted his head.

"....!"

That’s when Lurker could barely contain his heart pounding hard out of pure anticipation.

Standing across from his own father was Julian, simply standing there, emotionless. His face showed no sign of fear whatsoever, no terror, no labored breathing, no cold sweat.

He simply stood there, as though the air being shattered around him was just ordinary air, completely unchanged.

’Just as expected...!’

Without realizing it, Lurker’s lips curved into a smile amid that difficulty. He smiled with his teeth showing, ignoring the sound of his own breathing and his tight chest.

At the same time, other figures from the great families were equally trying to pay attention.

Their faces filled with pure astonishment.

***

’Turns out he really is a monster...!’

Carlos clutched his own chest, cold sweat pouring down his face as he glanced at Julian standing indifferently behind him.

He was the heir to the Mivelo family, and he’d always trained himself to make the right decisions even in the most difficult situations.

And now, what he’d previously considered merely a small stumbling block had now tripped him up, making him realize that no matter which way he stepped, that small stone was bound to trip him again.

Why was that?

Because he’d made the wrong judgment.

And now, as Carlos looked at and reassessed that small stone, he realized it wasn’t a small stone at all, but a massive boulder that had shown him his path had become a dead end.

’This isn’t over yet.’

Fortunately, all the wrongdoing the Mivelo family had committed toward Julian so far had only been done by Cessel.

’As long as I can resolve this issue and get a chance to apologize to this monster... the Mivelo family should be fine.’

But it wouldn’t be that simple, especially given the matter related to Kina.

Carlos might struggle, but he didn’t see this situation as unsolvable.

He was certain he could handle it, because he was Carlos Mivelo.

***

’Interesting.’

The smile on Killac’s face widened into something filled with pure, genuine excitement.

He’d heard about it, and had tried to find out everything related to Julian Clair.

And every piece of information he’d found felt like something that had him hooked.

It was like doom scrolling on social media.

Because whatever was connected to the man in front of him, all of it carried a delightful story and background worth following.

And what’s more...

’Aveela’s backing him...? Do they have some kind of relationship or something?’

Killac didn’t meet the woman very often, but he always knew that among the current seven Rank-A Hunters, she was clearly the wisest and strongest of them all, even now.

Aveela also wasn’t a woman interested in social relationships. Rather than trying to talk or engage in something like socializing, she would always prefer to spend her time training or heading into invaded territory.

And now, that same woman was showing that she still had an interest in social connections?

And it just happened to be with a man who appeared from who knows where?

Just being able to withstand the pressure of Killac’s Mana alone was already remarkable. In fact, wasn’t this genuinely extraordinary?

Because Killac had once measured his Mana Dominance against Aveela before, and the result was that both of them at least broke into a sweat from the mental pressure and terrifying terror.

But...

What about this one?

An expression so flat, without a single crack, that it made Killac start doubting himself.

Had he lost his edge, or something?

There was no way that was true, right?

"....."

Right, that couldn’t be it.

So, purely out of curiosity, Killac’s smile widened into something filled with madness, while his Mana Dominance exploded even further into a terrifying amount.

The surrounding air shifted heavily, and several people from the great families began coughing, clutching their chests in pain and fear.

But Killac paid no attention at all, simply staring at the face of the man in front of him.

’Come on! Show me! There’s no way you’re not showing any reaction to all this!’

He expected it.

Anything, even the smallest change in expression would be enough to satisfy Killac. But one second, two seconds, five seconds, ten seconds.

Twenty seconds passed without a single change.

The man simply looked at him in silence, and after all that, only tilted his head, puzzled.

"What exactly are you doing?"