The tiger leaped once more, and Clover didn't jump to the other trees to dodge it. Instead, he leaned his back to the tree's trunk and dodged the tiger's claw by a millimeter. The sharp air produced from the claw cut his hair that stood out on his forehead.
As the tiger was in mid-air, still waiting for gravity to take effect, Clover's empty hand suddenly grabbed the flying knife from the left side abdomen of the tiger. As the flying knife instantly came out of its body, Clover didn't stop his movements there, as the distance from the knife point to the abdomen was only a millimeter. He murmured something under his breath.
"Quick Change!"
The flying knives on his hands suddenly disappeared and were replaced with a dagger filled with cracks, much faster than the blink of an eye. 0.03 seconds! It only took 0.03 seconds for the abrupt change to happen.
Time seemed to stop at that moment, as Clover's hand clutching the dagger propelled forward, replacing the previous position of the flying knife from the left side abdomen of the tiger.
The tiger snarled in agony, although the flying knives before didn't deal much damage to his mind, but pierced by the abdomen a second time. He could feel the excruciating pain in it. Furthermore, the dagger broke into fragments, causing it to spread inside his body. It only supports the pain he was tormenting.
Thud
The tiger landed on the ground and didn't leap to Clover once more, its attention pulled by the tormenting pain from the abdomen it received. But, having the intellectualize of a child, it uses its paw to scratch the place where it was throbbing with pain.
It only worsened the wound, since the Claw was so sharp that caused its abdomen was sliced like a fabric. Having learned its lesson, the tiger licked the wound, and an organ was discernable inside it.
Clover saw the situation and took an advantage of it. If not now, then when? Using his trump card, he exclaimed in the loud voice.
"Deadly five fatal strikes!"
He leaped upward as his loud voice floated through the forest. The tiger didn't manage to hear it, since its attention was wholly focused on its wound. Reaching the highest height of his jumps could be reached, five sharp objects flew from him toward the tiger.
His technique may have a flaw, but from the analysis of Clover from the five minutes of the tiger's leaping towards him, the physical contact from the first engagement, and the stab he did earlier with his dagger. He managed to form a thorough understanding of the tiger, like a program that classified the internal and external of the tiger inside his head.
This was how he managed to activate the strongest technique he have. He had a skill, which he used earlier–Quick change–which he learned from the constant slight trick's hand to change the flying knives and dagger. For the past month, he tried to find his flaw and perfects it.
He would try to change quickly from Close-Combat to a ranger. He needed to be fast, faster than ever. Now, the flowers bloom from the continuous watering and have patience with time. He could change his flying knives to a dagger in his hand in less than a second.
It was the biggest achievement he accomplished in his life. From his determination, he received a skill and a mastery of it. That's why his comprehension continued to increase more, as he only took more than five minutes to understand the tiger's body thoroughly.
Although it was easy, since obviously the tiger's flaw was its eyes, and the stomach part, even so, it was standing on all fours, unlike humans. So he needed to adjust for that, since if he used the technique, it used much strain on his body, and so it was like something controlling him to activate the technique and utilize it unconsciously.
Now that, from the constant training on his mind after a month of surviving in this jungle. He could finally use it with his mind fully conscious and could use the technique precisely, like he was fully in control of his body.
It was a fascinating feeling, his every cell, every part of the body: bones, muscles, senses, and everything cooperated fully with his mind. The technique he activated was like the improved version of before. Although he didn't manage to use his deadly strike on the mutated lion before, he was certain it was futile.
But now, he was assured that his deadly strikes improved and enough for the Tiger to die from it. If it didn't, then he would be a fool and his experience from his past month was useless. Since, if the tiger managed to survive, then he would be dead.
He didn't have to hesitate, either. The tiger was distracted and injured. If he would not take the chance now, then when?
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
The tiger heard something flying towards him. It was only natural to have a sound effect if something moved swiftly, and it was only perceivable when it was only half a hundred meters from him. Turning his head, the sight of a pair of sharp objects greeted him directed towards its eyes.
He cried out loud in pain. Both of its eyes were blind, and three more sharp objects were flung toward the vital parts of its body. He continued wailing in pain, as his four limbs wiggled uncontrollably upwards. The tiger lay on the ground in miserable condition.
Clover, seeing this, couldn't help but smile like he was in the ninth cloud. He was currently kneeling, exhausted from using every energy he had in his body to use it on his strongest trump card, the five-flying throw knife secret technique = deadly five fatal strikes.
He had only one weapon in his hands, which was also cracked, and fractures could be seen like a snake merging into the dagger. His long hair, which was grown over the past month, fluttered from the mischievous wind, causing some leaves of trees to wiggle like it was playing with the wind.
Dawn came, and the light was about to turn dark. The battle was about to reach its conclusion, yet as if there was still a final play that was about to happen.
A young man with messy jet-black long hair, a disheveled face, and a reek of sweat. He was bare-naked with only leaves hiding his private parts, kneeling hundreds of meters away from a yellow-striped tiger in wretched condition.
It was still shaking aggressively, trying to comfort the pain. Its mind was still the child, and it thinks that he could still survive in that condition. But not long after, it stopped and suddenly sat up on all fours. It opened its hollow red eyes with knives penetrated towards it, and an organ could be seen lying waggling outside of its abdomen.
It didn't matter to him anymore, and relied on its bestial instinct to find the human. Blind and although his eyes were open and its narrowly thin pair of eyes were stabbed by Clover's flying knives, it didn't shiver from pain.
And as if it was showing that he could see Clover, even though he was blind. Staring in the direction of Clover, it knows that Clover was beyond exhausted from the rhythm of his breathing. Taking this chance, he leaped and stopped before Clover.
It was assessing what was the physically weak human could defeat him. Although he considers it unfair, different species have different styles. He knows that he had his advantage, and others had their own disadvantage. Being cunning was maybe one of the traits of a human.
Sniff Sniff
This smell. Remember it. Stronger than him. He kills me. Aside from Crow, I fear. This man is the king of the Jungle!
The tiger made a declaration out of its thoughts. If only he could voice out his thoughts, it would really sound domineering but sadly, with its miserable condition with knives stabbing into his body, it was nothing like a pitiful act of a dying beast.
Right! His journey is not yet ended. He. Counter. Stronger. Me. Or Crow. I leave. A memorable. So he will not forget.
The yellow-striped tiger didn't want to be forgotten by someone who he acknowledged. He knew that this man would encounter more obstacles and come out on top. If he would not, then he better be prepared for the afterlife.
He raises his right paw, and even though that simple move was so torturous, like a sting piercing his mind, but for the sake of its decision, he continued.
Seeing this, Clover broke out into a cold sweat and closed his eyes, preparing for his death. It was no use for regrets for something inevitable to happen. All he could do now was accept the reality and maybe better be cautious and stop being so reckless in the next life.
Swoosh! Splash!
The Claw swiped through Clover's upper torso, creating three eye-catching diagonal lines colored with crimson blood. Well, the flesh was sliced after all, and it was natural for the blood spurted out of its wounds.
Thud
The tiger collapsed from using all his energy with that one move. Although he didn't see his work piece of art, it still satisfied him that his plan sailed smoothly. With this, he could now rest in peace.
Clover perceives that something before him fell to the ground, and aside from the slight ache in his body, he felt nothing or heard that a God of death came to bring him to the underworld.
He opened his eyes and was stunned by the sight that greeted him. He glanced towards his body and noticed three claw marks left behind from the tiger's attack.
It was bleeding with blood, obviously, but all internal body parts were safe. It was like the intention of the tiger only wanted to leave a mark on Clover's body. The Claw's three marks were huge since they covered his whole upper torso diagonally. From the left side shoulder, running through his right waist.
It was like a piece of art, honestly. He couldn't help but admire it deeply. Looking at the beast lying on all fours before him, his expression filled with complicated emotions.