Chapter 80 - Final Preparations Part 2
A sudden flash of brilliant light engulfed the area. As it dissipated, the group—Kazue, Katya, Gregor, Sebastian, Chloe, and Park Zhen—stood in the middle of a vast clearing. The surroundings felt almost surreal, as if they had been plucked out of another world. Tall trees framed the edges of the clearing, their dense canopies allowing only fragmented rays of sunlight to filter through. However, the forest’s embrace was not all-encompassing; large swaths of open land stretched out in irregular patches, as if nature had hesitated to reclaim this place entirely.
Nearby stood the ruins of a once-majestic temple. The structure had long since succumbed to time and elements, leaving behind little more than shattered stone and overgrown vines. The only intact remnant was a massive black disc, standing upright at the temple's center. The disc was imposing, its surface smooth and obsidian-like, yet etched with intricate symbols that seemed to writhe and pulse faintly with an unearthly energy. The group instinctively felt its presence, a silent guardian of the forgotten site.
The environment was alive with natural sounds. Birds called out from the treetops, small animals scurried in the underbrush, and the faint rustle of leaves added to the ambiance. In stark contrast to the eerie disc, the area felt oddly peaceful, as though untouched by human hands for generations. The ground beneath their feet, however, was uneven and deceptively treacherous. With their first tentative steps, they discovered that certain patches were sodden and marsh-like, their boots sinking slightly into the muck.
Kazue wrinkled her nose as she glanced at the mud clinging to her shoes.
"This place is... something else."
She muttered, her tone betraying both fascination and distaste. Katya, who had been silently observing the disc, added.
“It doesn’t look like much at first, but there’s something off about it.”
Before anyone could speculate further, Park Zhen stepped forward, his voice cutting through their observations like a blade.
“This is where we’ll face Sung Ja-In.”
He began, his tone steady and authoritative. The group turned to him, their attention captured by the weight of his words. Kazue tilted her head.
“Why here? What’s so special about this place?”
Park Zhen gestured to the surroundings, his hand sweeping across the ruins and the dense forest beyond.
“This location offers you the greatest tactical advantage against Sung Ja-In. To understand why, you need to understand who he is and how he fights.”
The group remained silent, their focus unwavering. Park Zhen’s expression grew more serious as he continued.
“Don. Sung Ja-In is a fighter of unparalleled physical prowess. Before Lord Varek’s betrayal, he was considered the most skilled practitioner of Ki manipulation in all of Murim. His technique is unique and revolutionary. He concentrates nearly all his Ki into a single meridian.”
Katya raised an eyebrow, her voice cutting through the silence.
“Wouldn’t that make him vulnerable? If something happened to that meridian...”
Park Zhen nodded notably surprised, though his gaze remained intense.
“Huh… Exactly. It’s both his greatest strength and his most significant weakness. By focusing his Ki in this way, he achieves levels of power and precision that are unmatched. However, if that meridian is damaged, his ability to manipulate Ki would be severely diminished.”
He added, his tone sharpening. Kazue, ever curious, raised her hand slightly before speaking.
“So… what’s the plan, then? Are we supposed to try to hurt that meridian somehow?”
Park Zhen’s lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smile.
“No. Damaging that meridian is beyond your capabilities. That part of the fight isn’t your concern. I will handle it myself.”
There was a collective intake of breath among the group as they processed his words.
“The advantage we have is the element of surprise. Neither Lord Varek nor Sung Ja-In will suspect my betrayal until it’s too late. When the time comes, I’ll strike Sung directly, crippling him and his meridian. The version of him you’ll face here will be a weakened one.”
Despite his reassurance, his next words sent a chill through the group.
“But don’t mistake this for an easy battle. Even weakened, Sung Ja-In is far more dangerous than anything you’ve faced before. You must not, under any circumstances, give him time to recover. If he manages to repair his meridian, none of you will leave this place alive.”
The group stood in their place, exchanging worried glances. Park Zhen, as steady and composed as ever, moved forward to address them. His gaze swept across the team, lingering momentarily on each member. He didn’t need to speak to command their attention—his presence alone demanded it.
"Listen carefully, even without Sung Ja-In’s meridian fully operational. This will only limit his ability to utilize his most powerful Ki techniques. I repeat, do not make the mistake of underestimating him. Even without his peak abilities, he would still be capable of using Ki at close range to enhance his body—both offensively and defensively.".
Park Zhen continued, his tone growing more resolute.
“This means you’ll need to rely on everything you know about combating a martial artist. His physical prowess alone is enough to overwhelm most opponents. But that isn’t all. Like Bai Huolong and Abbess Xinhui, Sung Ja-In possesses skills from other worlds—gifts granted by Lord Varek.”
Kazue and Chloe exchanged a nervous glance as Park Zhen began.
“I will list every skill I know Sung Ja-In possesses, be aware, however, that he might have one or two additional skills I am unaware of. He may have chosen to keep them a secret or received them recently from Lord Varek. Regardless, you must remain vigilant. Now, listen carefully to what I am about to say.”
He began to pace slowly, his boots making soft thuds against the wooden floor.
“The first skill you must be wary of turns his body into steel, quite literally, when activated, his skin changes color, taking on a metallic hue. The more hits he takes in this state, the harder his body becomes. This is both a warning and an opportunity. If you see his skin change, stop attacking immediately. This technique immobilizes him, so as long as he doesn’t take further damage, the skill will deactivate after a few seconds. Once it ends, he will need time to use it again.”
Kazue frowned, her voice breaking the tense silence.
“So, we just… wait it out?”
“Yes, patience is key. If you don’t stop attacking, you will only make him stronger. and would end up fighting a walking fortress.”
Park Zhen replied without hesitation. He let the weight of his words settle before continuing.
“The second skill is far more dangerous. Sung Ja-In can teleport short distances, he can even chain these teleportations, moving five times in quick succession. After the fifth jump, the skill goes into a cooldown for one minute. During this time, he is far more vulnerable. However, keeping track of these jumps will be crucial.”
His gaze shifted to Chloe, who stiffened under his scrutiny.
“This will be your responsibility, you have the sharpest eyes among them. Count every jump he makes and track the cooldown time. Without this information, you will lose your advantage.”
He told her firmly. Chloe nodded, determination flickering in her expression.
“Understood!”
She said quietly, though the weight of the task was not lost on her. Park Zhen paused, his gaze sweeping the room again.
“For centuries, Sung has relied heavily on this teleportation skill. It has become a crutch for him. The last time I saw him fight, I noticed his footwork had deteriorated. He is no longer as agile on his feet. If you manage to disable his teleportation, the swampy terrain will become a significant disadvantage for him.”
Kazue interrupted again, still processing this information, and raised an avid hand.
“How do we disable his teleportation skill?”
Park Zhen’s expression hardened.
“You will understand when I explain his third and most dangerous ability—a passive counterattack skill. It only activates after Sung has taken a certain amount of damage. When triggered, if someone charges an attack at him from beyond a few feet, he will automatically teleport directly in front of them. He doesn’t need to think about it; the skill activates on its own even if his skill is on cooldown.”
Kazue felt a chill run down her spine.
“And then what happens?”
Park Zhen’s voice turned colder.
“When Sung teleports, he uses that moment to grab his opponent. He often employs his signature technique, the ‘Heavenly Crusher Grip’. With this technique, he channels Ki into his palms, enhancing his grip strength to terrifying levels. Even the toughest enchanted metals can be crushed as if they were paper. If he grabs you, consider that limb lost.”
A tense silence filled the room as the gravity of his words sank in. Kazue’s voice broke the stillness.
“Then… how do we fight that?”
Park Zhen’s gaze settled on her, his eyes sharp and unyielding.
“By exploiting the one weakness in this counterattack skill. He once told me it had a weird condition, if, during the activation of his counter, the enemy manages to land a counterattack of their own, it disrupts his ability… Basically, if Sung’s counterattack is interrupted, the disruption causes a cascade failure in his abilities. His teleportation skill and his passive counterattack will both be sealed. Not for seconds or minutes—but indefinitely. They will cease to function until he can fully recover, which, in this terrain and under these conditions, will take more time than he will have.”
Curiously, Katya and Gregor exchanged a glance, their expressions sharpening with realization as they quickly grasped the point Park Zhen was driving at. Their understanding seemed instinctive, almost as if they had been privy to this idea all along. Meanwhile, Kazue and Chloe looked at each other in confusion, their furrowed brows and slight tilts of their heads betraying their lack of comprehension.
Kazue, always one to voice her thoughts, turned toward Park Zhen with a questioning look.
“What do you mean about the weakness in Sung’s skill? I don’t get it. How are we supposed to pull that off?”
She asked, her voice tinged with frustration. Gregor stepped forward, his stern demeanor unmistakable as he began to explain.
“It’s not just about knowing his weakness.”
He said, his tone calm but firm, the kind of voice that demanded attention.
“We need specific conditions to exploit it. If we’re too obvious, Sung Ja-In will realize that we’ve figured out his skills. That’s why we can’t go in blind or reckless.”
Chloe frowned slightly, glancing between Gregor and the others.
“So, what are you suggesting?”
She asked, her voice quieter but laced with curiosity. Gregor gestured toward the group, his sharp eyes locking onto each of them in turn.
“We have to act as if we’re simply adapting to what we see in the heat of the fight. Make it look like we’ve deduced the limitations of his teleportation ability during battle. We already know it has a limit of five jumps. That’s our leverage. But instead of revealing that outright, we need to let him think we’ve only just discovered it as we fight. We make him believe that his skill caught us off guard and that we’re scrambling to respond. That way, he’ll let his guard down.”
Kazue tilted her head, still not fully understanding.
“But how does that help us bait him?”
Gregor sighed but continued, his voice patient.
“Because someone as skilled as Sung will likely wait for the perfect moment to counterattack. If we make him think we’re just aware of his cooldown period, he’ll assume we don’t expect his technique to activate when it shouldn’t because of his passive. That’s when we strike—when he thinks we’re at our weakest.”
A brief silence followed as the weight of Gregor’s strategy settled over the group. Park Zhen broke it with a raised eyebrow and a slight smirk.
“Hmm. That might actually work, Sung Ja-In is a warrior with an immense sense of pride. He’s arrogant, which makes him easier to deceive. If he believes his favorite technique is hardly understood, he’ll underestimate you.”
He said, his voice carrying a note of approval. Sebastian nodded slowly, already piecing together the plan in his mind.
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“But even with that arrogance, we’re still dealing with someone who’s a Don under Lord Varek, a man with over 500 years of battle experience, martial mastery, and a level of skill we can’t fully comprehend. This plan hinges on perfect execution.”
He said, his voice low and serious. Park Zhen’s gaze swept over the group, his expression hardening.
“Precisely. Even with his weaknesses, Sung Ja-In is no pushover. You’ll need to train and refine your coordination. The rest of the day will be spent preparing for the fight and getting familiar with the terrain”
With that, the group dispersed to assign sections of the swamp for their training. They mapped out areas with natural hazards—quicksand, murky waters, and uneven terrain—that could be used to their advantage. Sebastian proposed leading Sung toward specific zones where his mobility would be hindered, while Katya suggested practicing countermeasures for his teleportation. Gregor took charge of organizing mock battles, emphasizing timing and precision in every maneuver.
As the discussions progressed, Kazue’s attention wandered to the enormous black disk near the ruins. Its smooth surface glinted dully in the dim light, exuding an aura of mystery that tugged at her curiosity. She approached it slowly, her eyes narrowing in thought before she turned to Park Zhen.
“What is this?”
She asked, gesturing toward the disk. Park Zhen glanced at it, his expression momentarily unreadable. He crossed his arms and let out a thoughtful hum before answering.
“This place used to be the headquarters of the Void’s Embrace Cult… During the Immortal Emperor’s reign, it was the only sect dedicated to practitioners of Void Ki. Lord Varek, back when he was still known as Mo Yanhui, was its leader for a time.”
The man said. Kazue’s eyebrows shot up.
“Wait, really? Then why is it in ruins?”
Park Zhen’s voice grew quieter, tinged with a hint of regret.
“After the Emperor’s death and Yanhui’s transformation into Lord Varek, he destroyed this place himself. He slaughtered every cult member. Why he did it, I’ve never been able to understand.”
The girl frowned, her curiosity deepening.
“That’s an interesting story, but I was asking about the disk itself. What is it?”
Park Zhen cleared his throat, looking slightly embarrassed.
“Ah, the disk. I don’t know what it was originally called, but it’s completely infused with Void Ki. If you touch it, it absorbs all your Ki, making it impossible to use while you’re in contact with it. It’s also immovable by conventional means. The thing is massive and incredibly durable—it’s been here for centuries, untouched.”
Kazue stared at the disk, her mind racing. For a moment, she was silent, and then her face lit up with a sudden spark of realization. Her eyes widened, and a grin spread across her face as if she had just uncovered the greatest secret in the world.
“I’ve got it!”
She exclaimed, her voice breaking through the quiet.
“Sebastian!”
The urgency in her tone made everyone stop what they were doing and look her way. She waved her arms excitedly, calling out louder.
“Sebastian! I’ve got an idea! It’s perfect! And it’s something I saw in one of my favorite series!”
Sebastian raised an eyebrow, his cautious gaze fixed on her, full of skepticism. Kazue’s grin only grew wider as she gestured toward the black disk.
“Trust me, you’re going to love this!”
–––––
Meanwhile, Shu, Adam, and Emir stood in the dim, oppressive dungeon, the atmosphere heavy with tension. The Abyssal Tiger, an enormous creature bound by thick chains, loomed ominously nearby. Its glowing eyes tracked their every movement, and its sporadic swipes at the air were a constant reminder of its lethal nature. Despite its restraints, its mere presence was enough to keep the three of them on edge.
Emir, seated on the cold stone floor, focused intensely on the peculiar cube in his hands. Sweat beaded on his forehead, a testament to his concentration and the weight of responsibility placed upon him. Meanwhile, Adam stood nearby, his sharp gaze alternating between Emir and the tiger. His ‘Cursed Eyes’, capable of perceiving hidden information, could offer no insight into the creature itself—a frustrating limitation of his ability.
Adam broke the tense silence with a question, his voice low and cautious.
“Shu, what exactly is this thing? I can’t read it at all. How did you even get something like this?”
Shu, standing with his arms crossed and his brow furrowed, glanced briefly at Adam before his gaze returned to the tiger.
“It’s not something we ‘got,’ exactly”
He began, his tone measured.
“Master Park Zhen told me it’s more like… a failed experiment. Lord Varek tried to control powerful creatures like this one. You see, in the old days of Murim, martial artists of great renown could sometimes form contracts with beasts of immense power. Those were different times, long before I was born.”
“Contracts?”
Adam asked, intrigued despite the situation.
“Yes. Mutual agreements, usually. But creatures like this… they’re something else entirely. Varek tried to bend them to his will. All of those experiments failed, and the results were unpredictable. This tiger is one of the last remnants of those failures. Master saved it and brought it here to study how Varek’s influence affected living beings.”
Adam nodded slowly, his mind racing with possibilities. He glanced again at the Abyssal Tiger, whose tail lashed back and forth in a display of restrained ferocity.
“And what about now? Why is it here, and what’s it still capable of?”
Before Shu could respond, the tiger’s movements shifted. It began pacing from side to side, its powerful muscles rippling beneath its black fur. Its gaze swept over them, cold and calculating, as if assessing its prey. The sight sent a chill down Emir’s spine, but the boy clenched his teeth and remained focused on the cube. His determination was palpable, but his trembling hands betrayed his fear.
Suddenly, a sharp metallic *clack* echoed through the chamber. Adam’s head snapped toward the source of the sound, his heart dropping. His eyes widened in horror as he saw the thick chains binding the tiger fall to the floor. They landed with a heavy thud, leaving the beast completely unrestrained.
“What?!”
Shu exclaimed, his normally composed demeanor breaking. His eyes were wide with alarm, and his hands instinctively moved toward the weapon at his side.
The tiger wasted no time. With an ear-splitting roar, it launched itself forward, its massive body moving with terrifying speed. Adam’s mind raced, but he immediately noticed the target of its attack—Emir. The boy was still seated, frozen in place, his wide eyes reflecting the tiger’s approach. He couldn’t react, couldn’t move, couldn’t even scream.
Adam’s instincts took over. In a single desperate motion, he threw himself in front of Emir and activated his shield. The air shimmered as a large, rectangular barrier materialized, its center adorned with the intricate carving of a golden dragon’s head. The shield’s [Cogwheel Bastion] skill was activated in urgency.
The shield expanded, plates unfolding like a mechanical puzzle to cover more ground. It was an impressive sight, but Adam knew it wasn’t enough. The Abyssal Tiger’s sheer size and momentum dwarfed the shield’s protection.
As the beast closed in, steam hissed from the shield’s edges. The turbines embedded within the shield roared to life, expelling vapor as they powered up. Adam gritted his teeth, using the momentum generated by the steam to propel himself forward. His shield met the tiger’s open jaws in a deafening clash of metal against teeth. The impact sent a shockwave through Adam’s arms, nearly overwhelming him with the force of the collision.
“Come on, damn it!”
Adam growled through gritted teeth, every muscle in his body straining against the tiger’s immense power. His blood roared in his ears, and the faint metallic tang of desperation filled his mouth. Drawing on every ounce of strength he could muster, Adam pushed back. The effects of the Abbess’s blood coursed through his veins, amplifying his physical abilities. Combined with his passive skill, [Superhuman Strength], it was just enough to hold the tiger at bay.
For a moment, the two forces stood locked in a deadly stalemate. The tiger snarled, its hot breath washing over Adam as it snapped at the shield, while Adam’s feet dug into the ground, refusing to give an inch. Behind him, Shu began to finally move, his expression a mix of fear and determination.
“Emir, move! Get out of here now!”
Adam shouted, his voice hoarse. The boy snapped out of his paralysis, scrambling backward as the realization of what had just happened dawned on him. Tears threatened to well up in his eyes, but he quickly wiped them away, knowing there was no time for weakness.
The tiger roared again, and Adam felt his arms begin to falter. The sheer weight of the beast was relentless, but he refused to let go. In the back of his mind, he cursed their situation and vowed that, no matter what, they would survive this encounter.
“Aaaaaah!”
Finally, mustering all the strength he could, and with the help of a violent punch from Shu to the side of the creature, Adam could finally overpower it with a loud scream.
The enormous tiger was thrown back several meters, its massive body crashing against the stone floor of the dungeon with a loud thud. Adam watched, wide-eyed, as the beast slid and struggled to regain its footing. For a brief moment, he felt a rush of relief. He had acted instinctively, and the result was nothing short of remarkable. The shield, his quick thinking, and the strength provided by his skills had worked together in a way he hadn’t anticipated. His chest heaved with the aftershock of the action, his mind buzzing with questions.
Was that experience? Was it just luck? Or was there something more at play here?
His heart raced as he stared at the tiger, now pushing itself up with terrifying speed. The beast seemed unharmed, its eyes still glowing with an insatiable rage. Adam barely had time to process his thoughts before the animal rose back to its feet, its fur bristling with fury. For a moment, the dungeon was silent, save for the heavy breathing of the group, until the boy broke the tension.
“Shu, what should we do now?”
Adam asked, his voice steady despite the panic gnawing at him. Shu’s expression remained grim, his sharp gaze never leaving the tiger.
"We have no choice but to defeat it, if we don’t, it will chase us relentlessly. Hopefully, Emir’s energy absorption can weaken it enough for us to chain it again."
He replied, his tone resolute. Shu turned to Emir, his voice firm as he commanded.
"Focus. Don’t lose concentration."
The kid’s eyes, wide with anxiety, flickered toward the cuboid object in front of him. He hesitated for a moment, his gaze wandering to the beast, but then he forced himself to look back at his task, his hands trembling slightly. He was doing his best to block out the overwhelming fear.
Meanwhile, the tiger, having fully recovered, let out a growl that shook the very walls of the dungeon. It turned its attention back to Adam and Shu, its enormous paws flexing as it prepared to strike. The air around it crackled with an electric charge, and with a speed that Adam could barely track, it lunged towards them.
The fight began in earnest.
Shu, with his martial prowess and mastery of Ki, sprang into action. He moved with incredible speed, his body flowing like water as he unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks. His legs twisted through the air with precision, and his fists hit with the force of a battering ram. The tiger retaliated with brutal swipes of its massive claws, each swipe leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Shu darted and weaved, his Ki enhancing his strength, allowing him to parry and dodge most of the blows. But despite his skill, the tiger was relentless.
Adam, meanwhile, wasn’t idle. He summoned his Spectronomicon, the ghostly skull that floated eerily around him, laughing chillingly as it circled his body. He could feel its dark power surge within him, amplifying his abilities. With a sharp movement, he summoned the massive arm of a Devil-Type from his own body, the arm appearing like a dark shadow of immense strength. But even with the extra limbs and the power at his disposal, the tiger was too fast even though it was gigantic. It darted around him, its claws slashing the air in all directions, its speed almost unnatural.
Adam’s eyes flickered with concentration. He used his [Spectral Mist Step] to evade several of the tiger’s attacks, shifting his form into mist just in time to avoid a devastating blow.
[ Skill: Spectral Mist Step - Level 2 ] ⌠Additional Information⌡ ⌠Upon activation, the user’s body dissolves into a dense, swirling mist, rendering them impervious to any physical attack for a brief period. During this time, they can move freely within the mist form, passing through obstacles and evading strikes with ease.⌡
His superhuman strength allowed him to strike back, using his [Physical Manipulation] to enhance his body’s size and strength, creating jagged, sharp limbs that he used to block and attack. Each time the tiger’s claws met his transformed body, a shower of sparks erupted, the sound of metal against metal ringing through the air.
[ Skill: Physical Manipulation - Level 1 ] ⌠Additional Information⌡ ⌠Unique skill granted by the ‘Overmind's Parasite’. It allows the user to mutate their body in response to various scenarios. The parasite grants control over the user’s physical form, enabling rapid, adaptive transformations to enhance strength, speed, or endurance, depending on the needs of the moment. The user can grow extra limbs for increased mobility, harden their skin to resist attacks, or even stretch their body for greater reach.⌡
Despite his best efforts, Adam could feel the pressure mounting. The tiger was far more formidable than he had anticipated, and every time it got back on its feet after being knocked down, it came back with even more ferocity. Shu and Adam were both struggling to land a decisive blow, and the tiger’s attacks were beginning to take their toll.
With a powerful roar, the tiger suddenly unleashed a barrage of electrical claws, its [Electroclaw Frenzy] tearing through the air. The crackling waves of electricity filled the room, slicing through the stone walls and creating a dangerous web of energy. Adam barely had time to react as the waves surged toward him, some of them grazing his body as he desperately tried to reach Emir.
"Emir!"
Adam shouted, his heart racing as he watched the boy, who was still focused on the cube, unaware of the impending danger. The electrical waves were closing in on the kid, who was completely vulnerable. Adam pushed himself forward, moving with all the speed his body could muster. But before he could reach the boy, the electrical currents struck him. Despite his mist form, the electricity caused his body to seize up, a shocking jolt of pain coursing through him. His movements slowed, and a debilitating paralysis overtook him.
The air around them was thick with tension. The electricity crackled through the air, each wave bringing the deadly possibility of harming Emir. Adam’s body froze in place, but his eyes remained locked on the boy, who was still sitting oblivious to the danger.
And then, to Adam’s shock, the unexpected happened. The air shifted, and Emir was lifted off the ground. In an instant, he was pulled into the arms of none other than Nikolai, who moved with terrifying speed through the chaos of the electrical storm.
Nikolai’s face was tight with fear, his eyes wide as he dodged the deadly currents by mere inches. The air around him shimmered with the speed-enhancing suit he wore.
"Get down!"
Nikolai shouted to Emir, his voice strained as he dodged another wave of electricity.
"Don’t you dare lose focus now!"
As the guy dashed through the battlefield, barely missing the slicing waves, Adam could only watch in stunned silence. The situation had escalated quickly, and now the group had a new player in the mix.
Shu, who had also been trying to keep his distance from the electrical attack, shouted.
“What are you doing here!?”
Nikolai didn’t stop to answer immediately. Instead, he kept running, dodging the deadly claws that the tiger lashed out with as it made another attempt to capture Emir.
"Xian told me that Park Zhen told her to send me here after half an hour!"
He panted, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
"I got lost, though! They gave me directions, but I—ahh!"
He barely dodged a particularly vicious swipe from the tiger.
"I told the kid not to get distracted, but… what even is this situation?!"
The tiger roared in frustration, its eyes locked onto Nikolai. It lunged forward once more, but the guy’s suit propelled him faster, his body becoming a blur as he sprinted, carrying Emir away from the danger.
Shu didn’t hesitate. He darted forward with a battle cry, using a martial technique that combined swift footwork with a powerful strike. He spun in mid-air and executed a fierce kick, his foot connecting squarely with the tiger’s side. The force of the blow was enough to send the tiger crashing back, its body skidding across the floor before coming to a halt several meters away.
Adam, still recovering from the paralysis, gritted his teeth. His body was sore, his mind focused on the task at hand. He could feel his pulse pounding in his ears. This was no longer just about survival—it was about figuring out what Park Zhen’s real plan was. Adam wasn’t sure yet, but he had a sinking feeling that the release of this tiger wasn’t an accident. It was a test—a brutal, unforgiving test of their abilities.
But there was no time for doubts now. The tiger was regaining its bearings, its vicious growls echoing through the dungeon. Adam steeled himself, preparing for what was to come. Whatever Park Zhen had planned, he was going to make sure it wasn’t going to be easy for anyone.
“I'm going to punch that bastard in the face when I see him again…”