The sound cracked through the canteen, echoing off the metallic walls. Before anybody could say or do anything, Zach had already moved, his hand a mere inch from Max’s back. The spike protruding from his palm gleamed menacingly as it shot forward, intending to pierce straight through flesh.
Max halted mid-step, his body still as stone.
"You don’t always learn, do you?" Max coolly asked, tilting his head just enough to glimpse the incoming hand and the sharpened spike that threatened him.
"Have it your way then!" Max thundered. He spun around sharply, his fist whipping through the air with ruthless precision.
The collision rang out brutally. The spike pierced into Max’s knuckles, drawing blood instantly, but the damage Max intended was already done.
Zach’s arm twisted backward in an unnatural angle, bones snapping audibly. A breath later, his entire body was hurled with devastating force, flying like a ragdoll until he smashed into the wall. The impact left a deep dent, dust scattering across the canteen floor.
Max stood unmoved, blood dripping from his knuckles, fists clenched tight at his sides. His gaze remained fixed forward, unflinching and cold.
All eyes were locked on him. Jake’s lips parted in astonishment, Jasmine’s brows furrowed in disbelief, and the bullied E-ranked hunter from earlier stared wide-eyed, his heart racing.
’Woah! Who is he? Look at how strong he is!’ the E-ranked hunter thought, barely able to believe what he had witnessed.
’The more time I spend with him, the more I grow fond of him,’ Jake mused with a mischievous grin forming. ’He doesn’t hide. He doesn’t back down. He doesn’t even try to keep low.’
"ARGHHHH!" Zach roared, his voice dripping with rage as he peeled himself off the wall. His teeth ground together furiously, the sound grating.
His mangled arm already began snapping back into place, the unnatural bend correcting itself with the aid of his hybrid regeneration. But though he healed quickly, his pride and temper were far more damaged.
"I will kill you!" Zach thundered, saliva flying with each word. He shot forward...
Max disappeared. In the blink of an eye, he crossed the distance of six meters, reappearing directly in front of the hybrid. The movement was so fast it looked unreal, a blur that even trained eyes struggled to follow.
Jasmine gasped softly, her heart pounding. ’Is he really just a human? No... no human moves like that.’
"No you don’t," Max said flatly, locking eyes with Zach. This time, he decided to unveil something new.
{Predator’s Authority activated}
His eyes flashed a golden yellow, piercing into Zach’s. For a split second, Zach’s own pupils glowed the same unnatural shade before dimming back down. His body tensed—then suddenly slackened, as though his will had been stripped away.
’Of course it worked. I never doubted it,’ Max thought, his lips twitching into the faintest smirk. ’This brat is too weak to resist me. Now, what should I make him do? I’ve got five minutes before he regains his senses. Better make it count.’
He scanned the hall. Every hunter in the canteen was staring now, whispers buzzing but no one daring to intervene. Confusion clouded their faces, some believing Zach was holding back, others suspecting something they couldn’t comprehend.
One of Zach’s friends frowned. ’Why isn’t Zach attacking? He’s right there in front of you. Do something!’
Max leaned forward until his mouth nearly brushed Zach’s ear. His voice lowered to a cold whisper. "Here’s what you’re going to do for me... the moment I’m gone from this place, you’ll follow my orders to the letter."
He straightened, hands sliding casually into his pockets, his demeanor as relaxed as if nothing had happened. Turning his back on Zach, Max strolled out, his footsteps echoing calmly across the canteen floor.
The silence was deafening. Zach didn’t move a muscle. He stood frozen, fists at his side, eyes glazed and body stiff like a puppet under invisible strings.
"What just happened?" Jake whispered under his breath, eyes narrowing.
Max reached the exit, pushed the door open, and slipped outside without once looking back.
For a long moment, the canteen remained frozen.
"Zach? What’s wrong with you? Why aren’t you moving? He’s gone! Do something already!" one of his friends barked in confusion.
And just as the door slammed shut behind Max, the C-ranked hybrid finally stirred. His eyes flickered with returning clarity, rage twisting his expression once more. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ ɴovelfire.net
And to everybody’s surprise and horror, Zach began undressing right there in the middle of the canteen. First his shirt dropped to the floor, then his shoes, followed by his pants, and finally, even his underwear.
Within seconds, he stood completely stark naked in the crowded hall. Silence slammed down on the hunters as their jaws collectively dropped, the earlier rowdy atmosphere now replaced with horrified disbelief.
"Zach! What the fuck are you doing?!" one of his friends shouted in panic, rushing forward to try and shield his comrade’s shame. But his frantic movements did nothing, because Zach seemed utterly oblivious.
Right there, in front of everyone, Zach grabbed his rod and began stroking it shamelessly.
Gasps rippled through the room, hands flying to cover mouths while others simply stared wide-eyed. His hand moved faster, and within moments, his length hardened to its full erection.
’Okay, I wanted to chase after Max, but damn... I can’t help but enjoy this circus,’ Jake thought with a wicked grin. He casually pulled a chair closer, slumped into it, and crossed his arms as if watching a stage play.
"Zach! The Association has a bathroom for that, you lunatic!" his friend yelled, voice cracking with desperation as he tried to wrestle Zach into stopping. But the C-ranked hunter shoved him away violently, sending him stumbling backward.
"Okay, that does it!" Lana’s sharp voice rang out above the chaos. She pushed her chair back with a screech and stormed forward.
By now, every hunter had their phones out, recording the humiliating spectacle from every angle. Pictures, videos—everything was being captured.
The Association allowed hunters to keep their devices for emergencies, but at this moment, the restriction of "limited features" meant nothing. This scene was too wild to miss.
"Snap out of it already!" Lana roared, her palm cracking hard across Zach’s face in a resounding slap that echoed through the canteen.
For a brief moment, the hunter blinked rapidly, dazed, as though clarity had returned. But in the next instant, his hand lunged out, seizing one of Lana’s breasts in a shameless, aggressive grope.
The entire canteen gasped as one, the sound deafening.
Lana froze, her eyes widening, cheeks flushing with fury and embarrassment. The insult burned deep—not just to her, but to every female hunter in the hall. Anger rippled through them like wildfire.
"How dare you?!" Lana bellowed, her fist smashing into Zach’s stomach with the force of a hammer. He doubled over instantly, spit flying from his mouth. But she didn’t stop. A second later, her knee shot upward, crashing mercilessly into his groin.
The sound alone made half the hunters wince. Zach collapsed to his knees, face twisted in unbearable pain as blood and saliva dribbled down his chin. His earlier arrogance had been erased, replaced with sheer humiliation.
"You filthy bastard! You can’t just molest a woman in public!" Lana shouted, fury dripping from every word.
Her words struck a chord. Within seconds, every female hunter in the hall surged forward. They grabbed whatever wasn’t lethal—trays, chairs, boots and descended upon Zach like a storm.
Blows rained down on him in rapid succession, the sound of smacks and bangs filling the canteen as the enraged women gave him a beating he would never forget.
Zach groaned and writhed, but he couldn’t resist. The humiliation of his nakedness only magnified the spectacle.
The CCTV cameras caught everything, and an alert instantly reached a higher-ranked official. Heavy footsteps thundered in, and the officer quickly waded through the chaos, yelling at the women to stop before someone ended up killing him.
Finally, the assault ceased. Lana and the others stood back, their chests heaving with rage, while Zach lay sprawled on the ground, covered in bruises, trembling and whimpering.
It was at that moment that his consciousness seemed to snap back. His dazed eyes darted around, meeting the dozens of furious stares locked onto him.
"Wh... what happened?" he muttered weakly, confusion written all over his face.
The cold air brushed across his bare skin, and only then did he realize the horrifying truth. He looked down.
He was completely naked.
"ARGHHHH!" Zach howled in shame, the roar vibrating through the canteen.
The higher official quickly covered him with a cloak and dragged him out of the hall as whispers and laughter rippled like wildfire behind them.
And at that same moment, Max stood at the door of his room, his lips curling into a devilish grin.
"Beaten without me even raising a finger," he muttered with satisfaction. "How fulfilling."