BOOOOM!

    Suddenly, the sky tore open with a deafening roar. White lightning streaked down, targeting Quill like an executioner''s blade.

    One bolt struck his shoulder, and his scream echoed across the barren field.

    But the lightning didn''t stop. Bolt after bolt rained down, hammering his body, forcing him to his knees.

    Each strike burned away his flesh, only for it to be reforged stronger, tougher, and etched with glowing runes of power.

    The ground trembled violently under the sheer force of the energy. Stones cracked, and fissures spread outward, releasing waves of heat and static.

    When some of the white lightning veered off course, it began converging on Reign''s body, since he was nearby.

    But before it could reach him, his own dark red lightning shot out, devouring the white lightning like it was a snack, showing it who the real boss was.

    Quill''s body continued to vibrate as the transformation tore through him. His muscles bulged and reshaped, his skin blackening as if it were being forged in a furnace.

    The rune on his chest began to pulse, syncing with the strikes of lightning.

    Each bolt seemed to resonate with the ancient mark, feeding it power and twisting the transformation further from the system''s intended design.@@@@

    The rune''s glow spread across his body, tracing lines of glowing script along his arms, chest, and legs.

    The lightning from the sky intensified, striking him faster and faster. Each bolt destroyed a piece of his old self, only to rebuild it anew.

    His old flesh was gone, replaced by an obsidian-like armor that shimmered with runic light. His fingers clawed into the earth as the final surge of power hit, a torrent of energy that erupted outward, forcing Reign to leap back to avoid the shockwave.

    Then, silence.

    When the dust settled, a figure emerged, cloaked in a menacing aura. Its armor gleamed in stark black and white, with jagged, lightning-like patterns etched into every plate.

    Each edge of the spiked pauldrons, gauntlets, and leg guards seemed alive, crackling with electric sparks that danced and leaped across the surface.

    The movements were sharp and calculated, aiming to leave no room for escape.

    Yet Reign responded calmly, his weapon moving in perfect rhythm to counter every strike.

    Bright white and dark light erupted with every clash of their weapons, the sheer speed of their slashes creating bursts of energy with each impact.

    Both fighters moved so fast that their weapons seemed to vanish and reappear in flashes, their duel pushing the limits of speed.

    In the end, Quill was sent flying once more, crashing hard against the ground.

    The gap in speed between them continued to grow as Reign pushed himself further, refining his movements and making his energy output more efficient with each passing moment.

    Unlike Quill, he possessed the system that had perfected every aspect of his body, making his actions not just faster but far more precise.

    No matter how much power or technique the hunter unleashed, it was clear—there was no way Quill could outpace him.

    "That''s enough," Reign commanded.

    Quill stopped immediately.

    "Now that the test is finished, how about we go and hunt more devils?" Reign suggested. He wanted to see how the hunter would act after its transformation.

    "I''m still filled with power, so I think that''s a good idea," Quill replied, its voice resonating unnaturally, as if layered with a metallic vibration.

    "That''s a good response," Reign remarked, nodding slightly. His gaze shifted to Quill''s crackling, armored form. "But are you okay with your current body? I mean, you don''t exactly look human at all. "

    Quill tilted its head slightly, the electric sparks along its armor flaring for a moment. "It doesn''t matter, as long as I have the power to protect humanity... and... Thank you for giving me a chance to grow stronger."

    For some reason, Quill felt as if he owed everything to Reign. He didn''t question the strong sense of loyalty that filled him; in his mind, it was simply natural.

    Reign nodded in satisfaction. He would run more tests and observe Quill before moving on to transforming Wick. If necessary, he would turn more hunters into his slaves to strengthen his army.

    It was true that he was having an easy time dealing with the devils, but that was only because the real players hadn''t made a move yet. It wouldn''t hurt to have multiple plans in place, just in case of an emergency.