The Animagus: From Hunter to Monster-Chapter 70: Optional Quest Received

A soft hum echoed through Buji’s mind as a translucent, blue system screen materialized before him. His breathing slowed, his pulse quickened, and a familiar sense of anticipation coursed through his veins.

It was time.

The system had always been his silent guardian. No one knew about it—not his instructors, not his teammates, not even the strongest hunters in the academy. And that was for the best.

But Kira...

’She lately acts like she found out something, but I’m not going to let her know until she says it first.’

No one is to be trusted, even Kira. Cause, if they ever found out... if they realized the true extent of his power, they wouldn’t see him as a hunter. They’d see him as something else entirely. Preferably as a monster.

Then his mind ran over to his father, but he shoved it off. He wanted to focus on what was facing him at the moment.

His fingers hovered over the panel, bringing the flashing notification to view.

[Solo Quest Completed: Retrieve the Emberheart’s Core!]

A golden glow radiated from the screen as the system processed his achievement.

[Evaluating Performance...]

[Performance Rating: ??

"..."

"..."

S+!]

Buji’s eyes widened in shock. ’After all I went through a lot in there. S+ is even underrated’.

Although, for someone like him, it wasn’t just an excellent rating—it was beyond elite.

Most high hunters who participated in a full-party dungeon raid were lucky to get a B or an A. That was the much he knew from reading books in the library.

For a solo raid? He had expected, at most, a B+, at least for someone like him. But an S+? He hadn’t read of it before, or heard of it.

The system began pouring out notifications one by one.

<Ding!>

<Ding!>

<Ding!>

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.

Three screens popped up at once.

[Due to your exceptional performance, and perfect application of wits during the raid, the following rewards have been granted!]

[Emberheart Infusion!]

Description: A permanent boost to fire resistance and control over fire-based energies. Enhances physical endurance and increases resistance to flame-based attacks by 70%.

[New Skill Unlocked!]

[>>>Infernal Awakening!<<<]

Description: Grants the user the ability to temporarily increase all attributes by 150% for ten minutes. Can only be used once per quest.

[Unique Item Acquired!]

[>>>Phantom Fang Blade!<<<]

Description: A dagger forged in spectral energy, allowing it to phase through defenses and strike directly at an enemy’s core. Can cut through ethereal beings and absorb a portion of the enemy’s vitality upon impact.

[New Stat Features Acquired— Magic, Stamina!]

[Stat Boost...!]

• Strength [+50]

• Agility [+40]

• Stamina [+60]

• Magic [+30]

• Intelligence [+10]

• EXP [+1900]

• CR [+30]

• HP [+1700]

[Hidden Reward Unlocked – ???]

Buji’s breath caught in his throat. The reward this time was nothing else.

The fire resistance alone made him nearly immune to flame-based attacks, something only high-level hunters could achieve after years of training. Well, the system was different in a way.

Infernal Awakening? That was absurdly powerful. 150% boost to all attributes for ten minutes? That was like becoming an entirely different person in battle.

And the Phantom Fang Blade...

His hands trembled as he materialized the weapon. A black, curved dagger shimmered into existence in front of him, its surface pulsating with a ghostly light. He reached out brushing his fingers against the hilt.

The moment his hand closed around it—

A shockwave of energy burst through his body.

It was as if his mind mind flooded with knowledge.

The blade was more than just a weapon. It was alive. It fed on its wielder’s power, growing stronger with every kill. It could cut through ethereal beings, spirits, and even opponents who had protective barriers.

It was perfect for him. Just very perfect. His third blade so far.

As he got rewarded with items, the objects become more intense and useful for him. And more powerful too.

But then, his eyes fell on the last reward.

[Hidden Reward Unlocked – ???]

A single line of text appeared beneath it.

[Hidden Reward: Emberheart’s Will]

[The dungeon has granted you a fragment of its core essence. Your body has begun an irreversible transformation. More details will be revealed upon completion.]

’But, I had claimed the Emberheart’s core while inside that domain. Does it mean it’s essence is on a different level?’

His mind was still in thoughts when a sudden heat surged through his veins. His entire body tensed as raw energy ignited inside him.

He let out a sharp breath as a searing flame-like force coursed through every fiber of his being.

His muscles burned, not with pain, but with power.

His vision blurred. His heartbeat became erratic. A wave of energy pulsed beneath his skin, his senses sharpening beyond anything he had ever felt before.

Then—

<Ding!>

[Emberheart Infusion Activated.]

A fiery glow pulsed from within him, spreading through his body in rhythmic waves.

His lungs expanded, pulling in air that felt too rich. Too pure.

His heartbeat slowed to a steady, powerful rhythm.

His arms felt lighter, but at the same time, stronger.

Then, his stats screen flashed open automatically.

[Stats materalizing!]

"..."

"..."

Name: Buji

Level: 65 → 90

Class: Hunter

Title: [Emberheart’s Successor] (NEW!)

Skills: [Infernal Awakening] (NEW!), [Flame Resistance +70%] (NEW!)

Weapon: [Phantom Fang Blade] (NEW!)

Buji stared at the numbers with trepidation, his hands shaking.

He had just leveled up seven times in a single instant.

No hunter—no one—could ever accomplish something like that.

His body was still changing.

Suddenly, a sharp CRACK echoed through the air.

He gasped, gripping his arms as his bones shifted. His muscles coiled, reshaping themselves. His skin hardened, like it was being reforged in fire.

A red, glowing emblem began to etch itself onto his forearm. It wasn’t painful. It wasn’t a wound. It was... a mark.

A symbol of power.

A sign that he had become something beyond human. Not entirely beyond human, but beyond comparison.

His mind raced.

The system hadn’t just rewarded him—it had transformed him.

He flexed his fingers. His strength was unreal. His body felt lighter. Faster. Stronger.

He took a breath—and for the first time, he could feel the flow of energy in the air around him. It was like the world itself had opened up to him.

And then—

<Ding!>

[Emberheart’s Will Progress: 10%]

Buji’s pulse quickened. 10%?

That meant the transformation wasn’t even finished yet.

There was more to come.

More power. More changes.

He wasn’t done evolving. Or, does that mean he was only given 10% of the Emberheart’s essence? Even at that...

A slow grin spread across his face.

If this was just the beginning...

Then what would happen when it reached 100%?

[System Notification!]

[New Quest Detected—Optional]

[Unlock the Full Power of the Emberheart’s Core]

[Time of Expiry: 06:00:00]

Buji smirked.

He tapped on the notification.

But something distracted him. A knock on the door.

The door slowly pulled open to reveal a young girl, lavishingly beautiful.

It was Kira.

’But, am I just noticing her new level of beauty, or?.

She approached Buji where he lay and sat by his bedside, with her legs crossed and her delicate fingers idly flipping through the pages of a book she brought to her front upon sitting by the bedside.

Her presence alone was enough to send a surge of heat through his body. A kind of heat that will be entirely different from the fire that the system had infused him with.

She was stunning.

The dim light highlighted the sharp contours of her face, her full lips slightly parted in thought. Her neatly ironed and fitted uniform hugged her curves, the fabric stretching just enough to emphasize the body beneath.

Buji swallowed hard, feeling an uncomfortable tension build in his chest.

’That night before my first raid. Fuck, not now!’ He battled with his thoughts.

It wasn’t just admiration.

It was hunger. Hunger for—

He had always thought Kira was just beautiful, but now...not it was different. Somehow, he seemed really to be viewing Kira entirely differently from how he initially took her. Is it because of my enhanced senses?

The way her chest rose and fell with each breath, the faint scent of perfume mixed with her natural scent, the way her tongue flicked out to wet her lips before turning a page.

Everything about her drew him in.

And he hated it.

Or— yes, he hated it. He had done what he didn’t imagine he could do because of the same girl. And now, as it seems, even if he wanted to do it, he was in the hospital. So, it won’t work out.

He clenched his fists beneath the sheets of the bed he lay on, forcing himself to look away.

Then her voice finally broke the silence.

"You’re awake."