Hero Hack: Reversing Heroes and Raising Harem-Chapter 138: Angel for the Entrance. Demon for the Exit

Zain walked toward BC-2.

The air smelled like rust and dried blood.

This place was a graveyard for the weak and a perfect hunting ground for him.

He stuffed his hands in his pockets, his eyes scanning the empty road.

"Since I can’t afford a high-tier yet... guess I’ll stack more mid-tier ones."

He smirked to himself.

"My only mid-tier is Angelic Demon Shift. It’s good, but..."

He looked up at the sky.

"...if I get Angel Shift and Demon Shift too, that’ll complete the set."

He stopped for a second, considering.

"And while I’m at it... I already reached AA stats thanks to the third stage of Heavenly Demon Body. Still..."

He clenched his fist and relaxed it again.

"...adding some body-type abilities won’t hurt."

"I remember some of the basic mid-tier abilities from the association."

He pulled up the system screen with a flick of his hand.

"Give me Keen Senses, Tough Body, and Pure Strength."

---

[Hack Initiation: Ability Acquisition]

[Target: Zain]

[Abilities Acquired (Mid Tier)]:

[Tough Body: Enhances physical durability—can endure heavy blows and harsh environments. Weak to internal damage and slightly reduces agility.]

[Pure Strength: Greatly increases physical power, allowing for crushing attacks and lifting massive objects. Body remains vulnerable to damage; overuse causes physical strain.]

[Keen Senses: Sharpened sight, hearing, smell, and touch for superior tracking, awareness, and precision. Can be overwhelmed by extreme sensory input.]

[Angel Shift: Grants a radiant winged form with high-speed mobility, refined control, and precision strikes. Excellent for support and evasion, but lacks raw power.]

[Demon Shift: Transforms into a violent demonic state, boosting strength, speed, and aggression. Hits with overwhelming force, but sacrifices control and drains stamina quickly.]

[Total Cost: 50,000 Hack Points]

[Status: Executing...]

---

A surge pulsed through Zain’s body. His back tightened, muscles flexing.

New instincts flowed into his mind. Sounds became sharper. Colors more defined.

His fingers curled, feeling the boost in raw power.

His skin itched with the new strength coursing beneath.

He let out a slow breath.

"...Alright."

He cracked his neck to one side, then the other.

"Now I’m ready."

He took another step forward.

"Let’s see how loud this Dreadgnarl screams when I rip its jaw off."

His boots thudded against the ground with more weight now. More certainty.

"AA stats. Mid-tier boosts. Wings and claws ready."

He smiled, sharp and full of purpose.

"This won’t be a fight."

He looked out across the destroyed zone of BC-2, then said one last thing to himself—

"This’ll be a warm-up."

Suddenly, a deep roar ripped through the air above him.

He glanced up.

A huge shadow dropped from a cracked rooftop.

"—Tch."

He leapt sideways just as a massive fist slammed into the ground where he stood.

Concrete shattered. Dust flew.

When the dust cleared, Zain stood with a smile.

"So... you’re Dreadgnarl."

The beast rose to its full height. Four meters tall.

Bone plates all over its arms and shoulders.

Its jaw unhinged slightly as it growled, teeth grinding like stone.

Zain rolled his neck.

"Let’s see how strong you are."

He raised one hand, activating a glowing white-gold flare behind him.

"Let’s test my new ability."

Zain quickly activated Angel Shift.

Wings of radiant energy burst from his back.

His body became lighter. Movements sharper.

The beast didn’t wait.

Dreadgnarl charged forward, dragging its spiked fists through the rubble, roaring.

Zain flapped once, rising above it fast.

"You’re loud," he said. "But slow."

He dove down, foot-first, aiming at the beast’s face.

Dreadgnarl raised its arm to block.

The impact cracked one of its bone plates, but it stayed standing.

It roared again, spinning its body and sending a wide punch toward the sky.

Zain backed off, wings fluttering.

"Strong defense," he muttered. "Let’s see your reaction time."

He zipped to the left, then down low, barely touching the ground.

Then launched a palm strike to the beast’s side.

A heavy blow. It staggered.

But then the beast slammed its fists together—

BOOM!

A shockwave burst out.

Zain was forced back midair.

He grinned through the push.

"Nice trick."

Dreadgnarl’s eyes locked on him.

It hunched forward, then let out another roar.

Zain hovered just above it, calm.

"Alright," he said, voice sharper. "Let’s stop playing."

He raised both hands.

"Let’s try Demon Shift next."

He activated Demon Shift.

Light vanished. His wings snapped in and turned black.

Horns burst from his head. Red cracks spread across his arms.

A black-red tail formed behind him, burning at the tip.

Zain grinned wider, eyes glowing red.

"Much better."

Dreadgnarl roared again and slammed its fists into the ground.

The street cracked beneath it.

Then it raised its back and—

BOOM!

A deep Bone Echo Roar blasted outward. The soundwave hit Zain like a punch, shaking his ears and throwing off his balance.

"Tch—!" Zain grunted, flipping in mid-air and landing hard.

He skidded back across the ground, boots tearing through the rubble.

"So that’s one of your tricks. Loud and annoying."

Dreadgnarl charged again, both fists raised.

Zain rushed forward too, fists glowing with red energy.

They clashed.

Zain’s punch slammed into the beast’s chest—bones cracked.

Dreadgnarl responded with a heavy elbow that slammed into Zain’s side.

He gritted his teeth and slid back.

"You hit harder than you look."

Dreadgnarl stomped and activated Sonic Pulse Core.

The ground pulsed with a low vibration. Zain’s footing wobbled.

Cracks burst out in all directions.

The force hit his legs and made him stumble slightly.

Zain caught himself.

"Not bad."

The beast roared again and tried to grab him.

Zain ducked, tail swinging up and slamming into Dreadgnarl’s chin.

The burning tip seared the lower jaw. The beast reeled back.

Zain didn’t stop.

He jumped up and punched straight down onto its shoulder.

Bone cracked.

Dreadgnarl tried to counter with a spinning punch, but Zain ducked.

He then kicked the beast in the ribs, sending it flying back a few meters.

The ground shook from the impact.

Zain stood tall, demon form glowing dark red.

He wiped a bit of dust off his shoulder.

"Still standing, huh?"

Dreadgnarl growled, bone plates shifting as they began to slowly rebuild.

Zain narrowed his eyes.

"You even regenerate?"

He cracked his knuckles.

"Fine. Let’s break them again."

He charged. Faster. Meaner. Ready to tear the beast apart.