Chapter 91 - An Unfair 1v1: Drake vs Bai Huolong

The vast plain stretched endlessly, a tranquil expanse dotted with sparse vegetation. The gentle breeze stirred the tall grass, whispering across the landscape. Birds chirped in the distance, and the scene radiated an almost unnerving calm. Nothing about this place seemed remarkable. The sun hung high, casting warm rays across the land, untouched by chaos or conflict.

But peace shattered in an instant.

A blinding flash of light erupted in the center of the plain, casting long shadows and silencing the surrounding wildlife. The brightness was overwhelming, almost searing, before it dissipated as quickly as it had come. In its wake, two figures materialized: Drake and Bai Huolong.

The boy’s tall, toned frame tensed immediately as he leaped backward, putting distance between them. His blonde hair gleamed in the sunlight, and his piercing eyes locked onto the unnatural figure before him. Bai Huolong stood rigid, his pale, emotionless face framed by the talisman affixed to his forehead. His arms were extended stiffly in front of him, and his movements carried the eerie, mechanical precision of a Jiang Shi.

Drake straightened, brushing dirt off his jacket and muttering under his breath. His lips curled into a faint smile, but his eyes were sharp and calculating.

"Man, I would’ve liked to face you again when you were alive. Not like this."

He began, his voice light yet laced with an undercurrent of tension. His gaze swept over the Don’s rigid form, and for a moment, a flicker of regret crossed his face.

"But let’s be real. Even then, I probably wouldn’t have stood a chance, huh?"

There was no response, of course. Bai Huolong remained silent, his lifeless eyes fixed on Drake.

Drake tilted his head, his smile widening, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

"Guess that’s my cue. Bye!"

With that, he spun on his heel and bolted, his feet hitting the ground in a burst of speed. The undead Don’s head tilted slightly as if processing the sudden movement. Then, with a single powerful step, he surged forward, his unnatural speed far surpassing that of a normal human. The chase had begun.

Drake darted across the plain, weaving between patches of tall grass and rocky outcroppings. His mind raced as he formulated a plan. Five minutes, he just needed to last five minutes… He could feel Bai Huolong’s oppressive presence closing in behind him, each thunderous step sending vibrations through the ground.

He glanced over his shoulder just in time to see the Don’s clawed hand swipe through the air. Drake barely ducked in time, feeling the wind from the strike graze the back of his neck. The sheer force of the missed attack sent a nearby tree trunk splintering into shards.

"Yeah, no thanks!"

Drake muttered, pushing his legs harder. His Ki flared to life, enhancing his muscles as he vaulted over a boulder and used his momentum to kick off a smaller rock, sending him higher into the air. He gave himself a brief moment of weightlessness, using his [Single Step] ability to push off an invisible platform midair, propelling him further ahead.

Bai Huolong didn’t falter. His inhuman agility allowed him to leap after Drake, landing with a ground-shaking thud and continuing the chase. The Jiang Shi’s movements were relentless, and his attacks were precise and unyielding.

Drake gritted his teeth as another swipe came dangerously close. He spun around, throwing a Ki-enhanced punch at Bai Huolong’s arm. The impact sent a shockwave rippling outward, but his enemy didn’t even flinch. Instead, the Jiang Shi’s other hand came swinging in a counterattack.

The blow connected with Drake’s side, and pain exploded through his ribs. He staggered, barely managing to keep his footing as he clutched his side. He hissed, feeling the bruise already forming beneath his shirt. He didn’t have time to dwell on it—Bai Huolong was coming at him again.

Drake’s movements were sharp and instinctual, more like an animal’s than a fighter trained in formal martial arts. Every step he took seemed calculated not for elegance, but for survival. He wasn’t a warrior honed by discipline and years of training—he was a scrapper, someone who had learned to fight in the chaos of desperation and instinct. It wasn’t pretty, but it worked… Most of the time at least.

Spotting a jagged rock on the ground, he darted toward it mid-stride, scooping it up with fluid efficiency. Without pausing, he spun on his heel and hurled it with all his strength at Bai Huolong’s face. The rock cut through the air with a whistle, but the Jiang Shi’s reaction was immediate. The undead raised a stiff arm, the rock shattering into harmless fragments against his forearm. He didn’t flinch, his movements disturbingly precise, almost detached, as if the attack were an irrelevant inconvenience.

Drake was already in motion again, closing the distance to drive a powerful knee toward Bai Huolong’s side. The strike landed with a dull thud, his Ki-enhanced strength focusing the impact on a single point. But the Don didn’t even sway. Drake gritted his teeth as his leg rebounded off Bai Huolong’s unyielding frame.

Pivoting, he threw himself backward, narrowly avoiding a swipe from the Jiang Shi’s claw-like fingers. The force of the missed strike cleaved through a tree trunk behind him again, sending it toppling with a thunderous crash. Drake’s chest heaved as he scrambled to regain his footing, the destructive power of Bai Huolong’s attacks pressing down on him like a storm cloud.

The Jiang Shi’s relentless advance gave Drake no time to think. He leaped sideways, grabbing a fallen branch from the shattered tree and using it like an impromptu staff. Spinning the makeshift weapon in his hands, he lashed out, aiming a strike at Bai Huolong’s temple. The branch connected, splintering on impact, but the Jiang Shi’s head barely moved. Instead, the Don’s hand shot forward, clawing at the blond with terrifying speed.

Drake threw himself to the ground, rolling out of reach as the air above him whistled from the near-miss. Dirt clung to his hands and clothes as he sprang back up, his muscles burning from the constant strain. His breaths came in sharp gasps, but his mind remained focused. Keep moving. Don’t let him pin you down.

Bai Huolong closed the gap in an instant once again, his hand a blur as it lashed out in a calculated strike. Drake twisted, just barely avoiding the claws that would’ve torn through his torso. Instead of retreating, he stepped into the Don’s range, landing a rapid series of punches to the undead fighter’s midsection. Each blow was imbued with his Ki, amplifying the force, but it felt like punching a steel wall. The recoil jarred his arms, but Drake didn’t stop. He ducked low, pivoting on his back foot to deliver a spinning kick aimed at Bai Huolong’s knee.

The kick landed with a satisfying crack, but Bai Huolong’s posture didn’t falter. Drake’s momentum carried him forward, and he followed up with another punch aimed at the Jiang Shi’s head. Bai Huolong intercepted the blow mid-air, his hand clamping around the boy’s fist with crushing strength. Pain flared in Drake’s knuckles as he wrenched himself free, stumbling back before the Don could counter.

His enemy was too strong, too damn fast… Drake’s mind raced as he darted away, his feet pounding against the uneven ground. Bai Huolong was on him again in a flash, his clawed hand arcing downward in a brutal slash. Drake rolled to the side, feeling the wind of the attack pass inches from his back. The ground where he’d stood moments ago erupted into a spray of dirt and rock, the force of the strike leaving a shallow crater behind.

Using the momentum from his roll, Drake sprang to his feet and launched himself toward a fallen log. He bounded off it like a springboard, flipping through the air to gain some distance. His eyes darted around, scanning the environment for anything he could use to his advantage. The plain offered little cover, but Drake’s instincts picked out a narrow ravine in the distance. It wasn’t much, but it was something.

However, before he could make a break for it, Bai Huolong was there again, moving with an unnatural speed that defied reason. The Jiang Shi’s arm swept out in a wide arc, and Drake barely managed to duck under it. Dropping to one knee, he drove his palm into the ground, channeling his Ki to create a burst of force that sent dirt and debris flying upward in a makeshift smokescreen, a trick he had learned during his training just a few days ago.

The cloud of dust gave him a split second of cover, and Drake didn’t waste it. He dashed to the side, skirting around Bai Huolong to put some distance between them. His lungs burned, his muscles screamed for relief, but he pushed forward. Five minutes. Just hold on for five minutes.

Bai Huolong emerged from the dust cloud, his movements smooth and unhurried, yet impossibly fast. Drake barely had time to react before another blow came hurtling toward him. He twisted his body, the claws grazing his side and ripping through his jacket. The pain was sharp, but Drake gritted his teeth and kept moving, using the momentum of his dodge to deliver a sweeping kick to Bai Huolong’s side. It was a desperate move, and once again, it barely phased the Jiang Shi.

Drake landed lightly on his feet, his body coiled like a spring. Sweat dripped from his brow, mixing with the dirt on his face. He could feel his stamina waning, every movement taking more effort than the last. But he didn’t stop. He couldn’t. Every second he stayed alive was a victory, a step closer to whatever slim chance of escape remained.

The battlefield—once a serene, untouched plain—was now a scarred wasteland of chaos and destruction. Splintered trees lay scattered like broken bones, the earth was gouged with deep trenches, and jagged craters marred the terrain where each clash had left its mark. Dust hung thick in the air, mingling with the acrid scent of scorched Ki energy and freshly torn soil. Drake staggered, his vision momentarily blurring as the grueling pace of the fight began to wear him down. Blood trickled from a cut above his brow, and his breathing was ragged, but his resolve remained unshaken. He wasn’t going to die here. Not today.

Before he could regroup, Bai Huolong’s figure loomed like a grim specter, unyielding and emotionless. With a sudden and precise motion, the Jiang Shi shifted his stance, his movements fluid yet calculated. Drake instinctively tensed as the air around Bai Huolong seemed to vibrate with raw power.

Then it happened. The Don’s foot slammed into the ground with devastating force, sending shockwaves rippling outward in concentric circles. The earth beneath them fractured like brittle plates of glass, massive slabs of soil and stone jutting upward as if unseen hands had wrenched apart the very land. Drake stumbled, struggling to maintain his footing as the upheaval suddenly blocked his escape routes. The terrain had become a treacherous maze, a deadly trap that left him vulnerable.

Bai Huolong surged forward, his body a blur of speed and precision. Drake barely managed to brace himself as the Jiang Shi closed the distance in an instant, launching a relentless flurry of strikes. Each blow carried the weight of inhuman strength, the sound of fists colliding with flesh and air reverberating like thunderclaps. Drake ducked and weaved, his instincts and versatility were the only things keeping him alive in the face of such overwhelming power.

A vicious uppercut grazed his ribs, sending him skidding backward and forcing a pained grunt from his lips. Bai Huolong was relentless, pressing the attack with an almost mechanical efficiency. Drake retaliated, his body moving on sheer instinct as he channeled Ki into his limbs. His punches and kicks came fast and brutal, aiming for joints, weak points, anything that might slow the Jiang Shi down.

A perfectly timed roundhouse kick struck Bai Huolong’s side with enough force to shatter a normal man’s ribs. The impact sent a shockwave rippling outward, but the undead Don barely flinched. His movements were uninterrupted, his focus unshaken. He countered with a sweeping strike that caught Drake across the torso, sending him crashing into one of the jagged slabs of earth.

Drake groaned, the jagged edge tearing into his shoulder as he forced himself to stand. Blood seeped from fresh wounds, staining his torn shirt and the broken ground beneath him. He wiped a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, a pained smile tugging at his lips.

“If you were the Bai Huolong I remembered…”

He said, his voice rough.

“I’d be dead already.”

Bai Huolong gave no response, his lifeless gaze fixed on Drake as he advanced. There was no hesitation in his movements, no hint of emotion—only the cold, unrelenting purpose of a being bound by the talisman on his forehead.

Drake’s thoughts raced as he dodged another crushing blow, his mind working desperately to find an opening. He knew he couldn’t win this fight—not in a fair confrontation. His opponent’s strength, speed, and endurance far outmatched his own. But he didn’t need to win. He just needed a chance.

Using the shattered terrain to his advantage, Drake feinted to the left, drawing Bai Huolong into a brief clash. Their limbs collided in a brutal exchange of blows, Drake’s fists and feet a blur as he poured every ounce of his strength and Ki into the fight. But the effort came at a cost—his body screamed in protest, and each successful strike from Bai Huolong left him reeling.

But finally, he saw it—a small gap in the Don’s movements, a fleeting opportunity created by the uneven ground beneath their feet. Drake lunged, not to attack but to escape. With a surge of Ki-enhanced strength, he vaulted over a jagged slab of earth, landing on the other side and breaking into a sprint.

Bai Huolong turned, his expression unchanged, his lifeless eyes locking onto Drake once more. The fractured terrain slowed his pursuit just enough to give Drake a slim head start. The blond gritted his teeth and pushed forward, his movements frantic yet calculated. He leaped over craters, zigzagged through the jagged slabs of upturned earth, and used the scattered debris to obscure Bai Huolong’s line of sight. His breath came in shallow gasps, his body battered and bloodied, yet he pressed on.

His mind churned as he ran, the searing pain from his wounds strangely muted. He glanced down at his side, where an open wound seeped crimson, but the agony he expected wasn’t there. It wasn’t normal—none of this was.

“Why am I not feeling this?”

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He wondered, his thoughts racing as he vaulted over another jagged stone.

“I should be on the ground, passed out or dead”

The answer eluded him, but a thought crossed his mind—a chilling, almost absurd possibility. Could it be his race? His mysterious rank D designation had always puzzled him, but now, amidst the chaos, something felt different. He wasn’t just surviving; he was enduring beyond what should have been possible.

Maybe it was also the effect of his title, ‘Outstanding Rookie’. He could feel it, like a switch flipping the moment he began fighting Bai Huolong. The title's power seemed to awaken something deep within, pushing his race rank to C momentarily, amplifying his resilience and strength.

But how much of him was still human? The question lingered like a shadow in his mind. His body moved, fought, and adapted in ways that defied his understanding, and the lack of pain—the unnatural calm in his battered form—only deepened the mystery.

However, Drake barely had time to dwell on the thought when a rush of air warned him of Bai Huolong’s presence. The Jiang Shi was there again, closing the distance with terrifying speed despite the uneven terrain. Drake pivoted sharply, trying to dodge the incoming strike, but the Don’s precision was relentless.

A fist struck Drake’s side, sending him tumbling to the ground. The impact jolted his injured body, and he hissed as a new wound tore across his arm, blood staining the dirt beneath him. He staggered to his feet, the world spinning for a brief moment.

Five minutes, he reminded himself, steadying his breathing. He wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but it felt like an eternity. As Bai Huolong advanced again, Drake’s gaze flickered to the ruined ground around them. His mind raced, replaying the fight and analyzing his opponent's move. His eyes narrowed.

“What if I try it?”

Desperation fueled his actions. As Bai Huolong lunged, Drake planted his feet firmly and channeled his Ki downward, mimicking the stomp he had seen earlier. He slammed his foot into the earth with all the force he could muster.

The ground shattered. Plates of earth splintered and rose, jagged shards erupting around him in a chaotic burst. Drake’s eyes widened in shock as he felt the power ripple through the ground. It had worked.

“What? … Was it always that easy?”

The thought barely registered before he saw Bai Huolong react. The Jiang Shi rushed, deflecting the debris that flew toward him. Rocks and slabs of earth ricocheted away, but in the chaos, one small pebble slipped through.

The pebble grazed Bai Huolong’s talisman.

It was brief—so fleeting that most would have missed it—but Drake saw the disturbance. Bai Huolong faltered, his movements hesitating for the barest fraction of a second. The talisman shimmered, the lines of its inscription flickering faintly, as though disturbed by the contact.

Drake’s breath caught. He wasn’t sure what he’d seen, but he knew it was significant. Bai Huolong resumed his relentless pursuit almost immediately, but the blond’s sharp eyes had caught the momentary vulnerability.

“That’s it!”

He thought, his heart pounding. He didn’t have time to process the implications. As Bai Huolong closed the distance again, Drake turned and darted into the chaos of the shattered terrain. The newly destroyed battlefield worked to his advantage, providing cover and obstacles that slowed the Jiang Shi.

Drake’s body screamed with every step even tho he didn’t feel that much pain, his wounds leaving a crimson trail behind him, but he didn’t stop. He couldn’t afford to. His breathing was ragged, his vision blurred, but the rush of adrenaline, sheer stubbornness, and new body kept his legs moving.

Each time Bai Huolong closed the gap, Drake turned to meet him, aiming every attack at the talisman on his face. It wasn’t a clean strategy—it was reckless, desperate—but it forced Bai Huolong into a rare defensive stance. The Jiang Shi’s hands moved with precision, blocking and deflecting Drake’s strikes to protect the talisman. The shift in Bai Huolong’s demeanor was subtle but undeniable.

Drake gritted his teeth, pressing harder, but his efforts came at a cost. Bai Huolong retaliated, unleashing a swift, brutal technique. The undead warrior’s arm moved in a blur, and the ground beneath Drake seemed to ripple. Before he could react, the force struck him like a battering ram, a concussive wave that shattered the air and drove him backward.

He hit the ground hard, his body skidding against the torn earth. Blood poured from a deep gash along his side, and his breath came in shallow gasps. For a moment, the world spun, the edges of his vision darkening.

And yet, Drake rose. His legs trembled, his hand clutching his bleeding side, but his lips curled into a faint, almost delirious smile.

“I really don’t know what’s happening with my body...”

He muttered, half to himself, half to Bai Huolong. His voice was hoarse but carried a strange, almost amused tone.

Bai Huolong’s gaze remained cold and unwavering, and he advanced again, his movements as relentless as ever.

Drake stood his ground this time, waiting for the opening. Bai Huolong attacked, his hands a blur as they unleashed a barrage of strikes. Drake matched the pace, every block and counterattack pushing his battered body further, but he didn’t relent. His mind worked furiously, piecing together the technique the Don had used against him.

The moment came in an instant—a subtle flicker in Bai Huolong’s otherwise flawless rhythm. Drake’s sharp eyes caught it, and he made his move. His body was in agony, each wound oozing blood and his muscles trembling from exertion, but the pain was still muted, distant.

He shifted his weight, Ki surging through his veins as he recalled the technique Bai Huolong had used earlier—the devastating punch that had torn through him with such ease. Drake clenched his fist, channeling everything he had into mimicking the strike. He didn’t just move his arm; he grounded himself, syncing his stance, weight, and Ki in perfect harmony.

The Don retaliated immediately, and when their fists collided, it was as if the world held its breath.

A thunderous shockwave erupted from the clash, rippling outward with enough force to shatter the already fractured terrain. Debris flew in all directions, jagged rocks and chunks of earth hurled into the air. The impact shook the ground, leaving cracks spiderwebbing beneath their feet and flattening the surrounding area in a violent upheaval.

Drake staggered, his body screaming in protest from the sheer force of the clash. His fist throbbed from the impact, and his knees buckled slightly, but he remained upright. His breath came in ragged gasps, his heart pounding like a drum, yet he felt no searing pain.

Opposite him, Bai Huolong emerged from the explosion of force, his form steady, unyielding. Dust and debris clung to his figure, but his stance was as strong as ever, his expression unchanged. The clash had left him unfazed, his undead nature rendering him impervious to the strain that would have shattered a living opponent.

Drake barely had time to react as Bai Huolong surged forward, his strikes faster and more relentless than before. Each blow came with precision and devastating power, forcing Drake to dodge and block with every ounce of his dwindling energy.

The boy’s counterattacks found their mark—his fists and elbows slamming into Bai Huolong’s torso and limbs—but the undead warrior didn’t flinch. The damage was there, evident in the subtle dents in his armor and the faint cracks spreading through his form, but Bai Huolong showed no sign of weakness or hesitation.

The two clashed in a flurry of motion, their fists colliding repeatedly. Each impact sent tremors through the ground, their movements leaving trails of destruction in their wake. Drake’s body moved on instinct, his Ki guiding his actions as he adapted to Bai Huolong’s unrelenting offense.

But no matter how many strikes he landed, the Don was always a step ahead. Blood dripped from Drake’s wounds, his breathing ragged as his body threatened to give out. But he pushed on.

His attacks became more focused, his movements sharper, and his mind honed in on the talisman. He was creating his opening.

Finally, the moment came. With every fiber of his being screaming for reprieve, Drake summoned the last reserves of his strength and activated [Single Step]. His body became a blur, vanishing from the ground as he darted upward, narrowly evading Bai Huolong’s crushing strike. The air roared around him as he soared above the battlefield, the distance between them measured in the desperate thrum of his heartbeat.

High in the air, the blond’s gaze locked onto Bai Huolong below. The undead warrior’s form was unwavering, his gaze lifting to follow Drake’s trajectory with a cold, calculating stillness. Drake inhaled sharply, pushing the mounting fatigue aside. He would make this count.

Channeling every ounce of Ki into [Great Weight Control], Drake felt the density of his body shift, his weight amplifying exponentially. His body, though battered, carried the force of a meteor now, figuratively speaking, and he turned that force into a deadly descent. Gravity and Ki merged as Drake angled himself like a missile, his feet aimed squarely at Bai Huolong.

The moment his attack connected, the earth itself seemed to erupt.

Drake’s stomp hit his objective with the full, devastating power of his augmented weight, and the ground beneath them shattered like fragile glass. A deafening *boom* split the air, a shockwave rippling outward with cataclysmic force. The surrounding terrain caved inward, forming a vast crater that swallowed everything within its reach. Jagged shards of rock and debris shot into the air, obscuring the battlefield in a maelstrom of dust and stone.

For an instant, Drake thought he had done it. The sheer force of his attack had created a scene of devastation so absolute that even Bai Huolong could not remain unscathed—or so he hoped.

The dust settled slowly, the chaotic whirlwind transforming into an eerie stillness.

Then, from within the heart of the destruction, the Jiang Shi’s body emerged.

His form was imposing, unbroken, and as relentless as ever. Dust and dirt clung to his armor, faint cracks visible where Drake’s attack had struck true. But the undead warrior stood tall, the faint damage seemingly inconsequential. His talisman, though slightly disturbed, remained intact, glowing faintly with sinister energy.

Before Drake could react, Bai Huolong moved.

In an instant, his hand shot forward, his speed defying logic as his cold, unyielding fingers closed around the boy’s throat. The grip was vice-like, the pressure immense, as if the weight of the entire battlefield was pressing against Drake’s windpipe.

The blond’s vision blurred, the world narrowing to the unfeeling gaze of Bai Huolong. Dust and debris swirled around them, a chaotic backdrop to the suffocating silence between the two fighters.

Drake’s lips curled into a faint, bloody smile, defiance glinting in his eyes even as his breath became shallow. Bai Huolong’s strength was overwhelming, his undead nature making him an unrelenting force. Yet even as his mind screamed in agony, Drake's spirit refused to break.

Choking against the crushing grip around his throat, he managed a weak, pained chuckle. Blood trickled from the corner of his lips, his voice hoarse but laced with defiance.

“You’re... something else.”

Bai Huolong’s unfeeling gaze bore into him, the talisman on his face glowing faintly, its power pulsating like a heart that refused to die. But as the Don tightened his grip, Drake’s right hand moved slowly, almost imperceptibly, inching upward with a deliberate purpose.

The air around him shimmered, crackling faintly as Drake summoned the weapon that he had kept hidden all this time. In an instant, [Thaddeus’s Railgun Revolver] materialized in his grip, its intricate steampunk design gleaming through the dust and grime. Gears whirred to life, emitting a low hum as arcs of energy danced along the barrel, building to a crescendo of raw, destructive power.

Bai Huolong’s head tilted slightly, his undead instincts sensing danger too late.

Drake’s eyes narrowed, his grin bloodied but triumphant. And with a sharp pull of the trigger, the revolver roared to life.

“Here’s the thing about me, I’m not a martial artist.”

He rasped almost immediately. The shot burst forth with a deafening sound, a concentrated railgun bolt of raw energy and kinetic force tearing through the air. Drake was mere centimeters from Bai Huolong, and the damage was instantaneous. The glow was blinding, illuminating the battlefield in a searing flash as it streaked across the minuscule distance to its target with pinpoint precision. The sound split the air like thunder, and the force of the recoil nearly tore the weapon from Drake’s weakened grip.

The bolt struck Bai Huolong’s talisman dead center.

The paper ignited instantly, the glowing glyphs disintegrating into ash as the energy coursed through it. The force didn’t stop there. The bolt pierced through Bai Huolong’s head, sending cracks spiderwebbing across his skull as the undead warrior’s head snapped back violently. The impact unleashed a shockwave that rippled outward, stirring up the remaining dust and debris into a chaotic storm.

Bai Huolong’s grip faltered, his iron-like fingers releasing Drake’s throat as the once-unyielding figure staggered. Drake dropped to the ground with a heavy thud, coughing and gasping as air flooded his lungs. The revolver in his hand still hummed faintly, a testament to the destructive power it had unleashed.

Clutching his throat with one hand, Drake let out a strained chuckle, his voice rough and laced with exhaustion.

“It was a pretty dishonorable way to go, huh?”

He rasped, his tone carrying a bitter edge.

“Guess I still don’t get all that martial artist ‘honor’ stuff. So… sorry.”

He coughed hard, the sound tearing through the silence, then allowed himself a weary, humorless laugh. Victory or not, he was utterly drained. His legs gave out beneath him, and he slumped to the ground, sitting amid the chaos of shattered earth and swirling dust.

The battlefield was eerily quiet now, save for his ragged breathing. Drake’s gaze drifted to the lifeless body of Bai Huolong, lying in a heap where it had fallen. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, his muscles relaxed slightly.

“Could it be?”

He muttered under his breath, leaning back on his hands, the revolver still loosely clutched in one. His battered body screamed for rest, but a faint flicker of hope stirred within him. Maybe, just maybe, he’d won.

But the hope was short-lived.

Directly in front of him, a strange sight pulled his attention—a tiny, humanoid-shaped fragment of paper, glowing faintly with blue symbols, floated ominously above Bai Huolong’s body. Drake’s eyes widened as he tried to move, but his body betrayed him, too battered and exhausted to react in time.

The fragment descended, attaching itself to Bai Huolong’s chest. For a heartbeat, nothing happened. Then, an overwhelming surge of Ki erupted from the undead warrior’s body, blasting outward with enough force to shake the already shattered ground. The pressure was suffocating, and Drake shielded his face with his arm as the shockwave tore through the air.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me.”

He muttered, his voice barely audible over the deafening roar of energy.

The swirling dust thickened, a chaotic storm of debris masking the battlefield in an ominous shroud. The pressure in the air grew suffocating as the glowing fragment on Bai Huolong’s chest pulsed with an unnatural light. The ground beneath his body trembled, tiny fissures spiderwebbing outward from where he lay.

Drake squinted through the haze, his heart pounding as he watched Bai Huolong’s lifeless form begin to shift. The body, which had moments ago been still, started to rise unnaturally, as if lifted by invisible strings. Ki poured from him in torrents, an overwhelming flood of power that pressed down on everything around it, turning the air electric.

Bai Huolong’s charred talisman was gone, but his body moved with renewed purpose, his limbs jerking before steadying, his stance reforming as if guided by a malevolent will. His head tilted upward, the empty sockets where his eyes should have been now glowing with an eerie blue light that radiated raw, destructive energy. The symbols on the floating fragment expanded and spread across his body like a web, each mark pulsating with an otherworldly rhythm.

Drake could only stare, rooted to the spot by both exhaustion and sheer disbelief, as Bai Huolong fully straightened, standing tall amid the swirling storm of Ki. The undead warrior’s aura now blazed with a terrifying intensity, the ground beneath his feet cracking further as the force of his power carved deep grooves into the earth.

A low, guttural sound emanated from Bai Huolong, more an echo of malice than a voice. The overwhelming presence of his Ki sent shivers through Drake’s battered frame as the air seemed to bow to the resurrected warrior. His silhouette stood framed by the swirling storm of energy, each step forward cracking the ground beneath him.

Bai Huolong’s glowing eyes locked onto Drake, his gaze burning with unnatural intensity. Suddenly, his voice cut through the chaos, cold and commanding.

“You…”

Drake froze, speechless, as the sheer weight of Bai Huolong’s presence and words bore down on him.