Chapter 009: The Poacher Hunter

If extraordinary individuals are one in a million among humanity, then a "supernova" is the one in a million among the extraordinary—an unparalleled existence.

Although those with extraordinary abilities are rare, given the sheer population of the Flame Nation, their numbers, however small, are not negligible. Yet, among all the known "supernova individuals" in the Flame Nation, there are only eight. If this kid is allowed to grow…

The ax-wielder’s expression flickered between greed and savagery, twisting through a gamut of emotions before he seemed to reach some conclusion. At last, he forced an ugly smile onto his face.

"Hey! You, the rookie!"

"I only want to know about the 'anomaly.' Why are you so determined to resist?"

He softened his tone, putting on a facade of amiability. "Just tell me what you saw at the 'anomaly,' and I’ll let you go. How about that?"

"I don’t know anything about anomalies or whatever you’re talking about!" Bai Yuxi gritted his teeth, clutching with all his strength at the combat boot pressing down on his chest.

Struggling desperately to break free, he sneered at the ax-wielder’s feigned persuasion. "And even if I told you, would you believe me?"

"Heh? Are you as stubborn as a mule or what?"

"Can’t tell good intentions from bad? Do you need a beating to loosen your tongue?"

The ax-wielder sighed. "Alright, I guess if you were so quick to talk, I wouldn’t believe you anyway."

"But, I have to admit, you’re pretty bold for a rookie. Smart, too."

"Not many newcomers can stay so calm after encountering a supernormal event."

"You know to keep your mouth shut, afraid you’ll be silenced if you talk, right? But have you thought about what happens if you don’t?"

He looked at Bai Yuxi under his boot with interest. "You’re intriguing. Interested in working with me? With my protection, you’ll never get the short end of the stick in this world."

Pinned beneath the man’s boot, Bai Yuxi could barely breathe, his face swollen and purple—but he spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva with unyielding defiance.

"Good, you’ve got guts!"

The ax-wielder glanced at the spittle on his leg. His patience was gone; the forced smile vanished, replaced by a vicious grin.

"Fine. If you’re so tough, then don’t say a word, even if I beat you to death!"

With that, he swung his fist, raining down blows in a furious, venting barrage.

He had at first considered recruiting this rare "supernova individual" for his own purposes—perhaps relying on his rapidly developing talent to build a supernormal faction loyal only to him. But seeing such stubborn defiance from a mere rookie, he realized this one would never be easy to control. Without an absolutely reliable way to restrain him, even if he subdued him by force, letting this kid live would only breed disaster in the future.

"Do you know why I’m beating you?"

"You know Tyson, right? The guy who bit ears!"

"It’s said that in his prime, Tyson’s punch was almost on par with a Level Two Transcendent—strong enough to kill a bull with a single blow!"

"But I’m a Level Five Transcendent. My punching power is about three times his. So, do you know why you’re still alive after all these punches?"

The ax-wielder, while mercilessly pummeling the defenseless Bai Yuxi, suddenly began to ramble about seemingly unrelated matters.

"It’s because… bam!"

"People like us, after awakening… bam!"

"Develop a certain energy in our bodies—something called 'multidimensional, hyperactive bioenergy'… bam!"

With each sentence, he hammered Bai Yuxi’s face, striking so hard that the ground beneath his head caved in, blood spurting like a fountain.

"This 'hyperenergy'… bam!"

"When our lives are threatened… bam!"

"Automatically forms a protective layer to shield our bodies… bam!"

"Unfortunately, when a supernormal being dies… bam!"

"This 'hyperenergy' loses the control of consciousness and erupts, dispersing violently into the surrounding space… bam!"

The ax-wielder, more than a little unhinged, kept up the beatings while reciting knowledge no ordinary person could comprehend.

"And even worse… bam!"

"This dispersed 'hyperenergy'… bam!"

"Can be absorbed by other beings who possess their own 'hyperenergy'… bam!"

"Which is why, in our world, a special type of supernormal individual has emerged—energy hunters!"

With blood dripping from his fist, the ax-wielder looked down from above at the battered Bai Yuxi, now unrecognizable.

"What’s wrong?"

"Don’t get it?"

"Good—you’re not supposed to!"

"To be honest, I don’t really get it either."

"Everything I just told you, I memorized from the 'Multidimensional Supernet' just to sound impressive!"

"But at least now, you’ll die with a little understanding… Did you really think not telling me about the anomaly would save your life?"

He licked the blood at the corner of his mouth, his gaze greedy as a wolf. "Compared to the hyperenergy in a supernova like you, intel about the anomaly is worthless."

"I’m not one of those professionals who hunt newcomers for their energy, but being able to harvest the hyperenergy of a supernova—well, I’d consider myself lucky, what a windfall!"

He laughed wickedly. "Who knows, maybe I’ll even absorb your 'source matter' and evolve into a supernova myself."

With a heavy stomp to Bai Yuxi’s abdomen, he forced his upper body to arch upward, blood spraying in a crimson mist.

"Angry? Scared? Furious? Terrified? Full of hate?"

The ax-wielder chuckled. "I’ve heard from energy-hunting pals that the stronger the prey’s emotions before death, the better the effect!"

"Besides, you should be grateful it’s me you ran into!"

"If it had been the professionals, they’d torture you for weeks, squeezing out the last drop of your hyperenergy."

Before Bai Yuxi’s body could collapse, he stomped again, pinning him down. "They’d never let you die so quickly!"

After a round of torment, the blue membrane covering Bai Yuxi—what the ax-wielder called a "hyperenergy shield"—grew steadily thinner, finally shattering into a cloud of fading light.

"So it’s finally broken?"

He flexed his arms, clicking his tongue in admiration. "Supernovas really are incredible—just awakened and already such a thick shield!"