The so-called "Revenge Trio" had crumbled in mere moments—one gravely injured, another fleeing into the shadows, leaving only Wind standing alone on the battered ship deck.
Cold sweat trickled down Wind's forehead as he stared at Qin Ming, who stood unyielding in front of him.
He had never expected that, in just two worlds, this monster of a man could grow to such an extent.
Although Wind was unwilling to admit it, deep down, he understood one truth: he was no longer Qin Ming's match.
Damn that cursed KOF invitation! he thought bitterly. Damn the negative effects of losing 20% of my stats!
And to make matters worse, his revival had cost him an entire world's worth of growth! If not for these setbacks, with his terrifying talent that doubles all stat gains, he would have crushed Qin Ming effortlessly.
Staring at his current stats—still impressive at 35 points across the board thanks to his equipment—Wind's frustration and anger only grew.
He was accustomed to overwhelming his enemies with raw attributes. But now? He didn't even dare get close.
His teeth clenched, and veins bulged across his forehead. He stood still, paralyzed by indecision, while Qin Ming casually adjusted his grip on his weapon and stepped forward.
But just as Qin Ming moved, an earth-shattering BOOM erupted nearby.
Startled, Qin Ming instinctively turned his head just in time to see a blazing figure bursting through the ship's wooden hull.
Wreathed in roaring flames, a massive fist hurtled towards him like a meteorite.
"Cosmic Phantom!"
(Skill Activated: Cosmic Phantom, Rank A - Ralph's Signature Move)
BOOM!
The devastating punch landed squarely on Qin Ming's face, the sheer force creating a shockwave that sent debris flying and splintered wood across the deck.
Qin Ming's body was flung backward like a ragdoll. He smashed through the ship's railing and plummeted toward the ground below, leaving a flaming trail in his wake.
Cosmic Phantom—Ralph's ultimate move from King of Fighters. Though it wasn't the strongest skill in the franchise, it was undoubtedly one of the most ferocious.
Its sheer destructive power surpassed Qin Ming's Sonic Hand Knife and even overshadowed Wind's True Raging Eight Maidens.
On the deck, Anger, who had been hiding and charging up his skill for a full three seconds, panted heavily as smoke rose from his clenched fist.
The skill had landed. But instead of pursuing his advantage, Anger's instincts screamed at him.
"Don't let him recover!" he roared. "Finish him now!"
Without hesitation, Anger sprinted to the edge of the ship, leaped into the air… and then hastily grabbed the railing, pulling himself back up with wide, terrified eyes.
Wind, who was about to follow, paused and leaned over the edge to see what had spooked Anger so badly.
Below, Qin Ming lay sprawled on the ground amidst debris, having skidded across the dirt for over twenty meters.
But rather than lying defeated, he was on his feet again.
In his grip was an unfortunate pirate, his throat clamped in Qin Ming's teeth as he ruthlessly activated Essence Drain.
The pirate's body shriveled in moments, leaving behind a dry husk that Qin Ming casually discarded.
Blood dripped from Qin Ming's face as he turned his crimson-stained gaze upward toward the ship.
With one hand, he grabbed his dislocated jaw and snapped it back into place with a sickening crack.
The cuts on his back and the burns on his face were already starting to fade.
Wind's expression turned pale. His jaw trembled as he realized the truth—the monster wasn't done yet.
He's still standing… after eating a full-powered Cosmic Phantom?!
Neither Wind nor Anger dared to jump down and finish him off.
Qin Ming locked eyes with them one final time before turning around and walking away.
The Lost Boys followed their leader, retreating into the shadows of the jungle.
On the deck above, Anger massaged his bruised wrist and let out a deep sigh.
"Hey, Captain… about the money… can I, uh, get a refund? Maybe just… not take this job?"
Wind shot him an icy glare.
Anger chuckled nervously. "Kidding! Just kidding! I'm a professional, of course I'll finish the job. No worries, we'll get him next time…"
But deep down, Anger couldn't stop the sinking feeling in his gut.
That punch was supposed to be a guaranteed KO.
If Cosmic Phantom can't put him down… then what can?
Deep in the jungle, Qin Ming leaned heavily against a tree, coughing violently as a stream of blood dripped from his mouth.
That Cosmic Phantom had landed squarely on him, and the damage it caused was not something that could be shrugged off.
Even with Essence Drain and his inhuman constitution, his chest still burned with pain, and his ribs felt like they were on fire.
Hovering nearby, Tinker Bell flitted nervously.
"Peter Pan! Are you okay?!"
Qin Ming forced a smile as he wiped the blood from his lips.
"I'm fine… nothing I can't handle."
With a flick of her tiny hands, Tinker Bell cast Fairy Power (Healing) on him. A warm light enveloped Qin Ming, and the pain in his chest eased considerably.
His eyes widened slightly as he looked at the glowing fairy.
Damn… this little pixie really is versatile.
She could heal, boost stats, and even grant flight. A true all-rounder.
"Peter Pan! We need to rest. You're hurt!"
"Yeah… Let's head back."
Qin Ming turned and glanced back toward the pirate base, his gaze sharp and calculating.
This encounter had been an eye-opener.
The Cosmic Phantom had shown him that his current defense had limits. Flat damage reduction was incredibly effective against multi-hit attacks, but it wasn't enough to stop single-shot heavy hitters.
But next time would be different.
"They've played all their cards now. But me?"
"I've still got tricks up my sleeve."
Qin Ming's mind raced with plans. Tinker Bell flew alongside him, her light casting faint shadows on the ground.
This wasn't over. Not by a long shot.
(End of Chapter)