A sudden system notification popped up in Dave's vision, breaking his focus for a moment.
System Notification: "Host, from now on, you will gain experience from killing superhumans or any entities that provide strength through battles."
A surge of energy rippled through Dave as he absorbed this information. This was what he needed—a clear path to grow stronger. And with every superhuman he encountered, he could now push his limits further. He felt the intensity of his power rising as the system continued.
System Notification: "Rank up: SS+."
The feeling of advancing through the ranks was exhilarating. His body hummed with new strength as he tightened his fists, feeling the surge of power course through his veins. He had come a long way, and now, he was ready to face the next challenge: Zoran.
Zoran stood before him, an imposing figure with a sinister smile curling across his lips. He was the highest-ranked superhuman in the country and had long ruled with fear, unmatched by any foe. His power was an enigma, whispered about in hushed tones but never fully understood.
"So," Zoran said, his voice a low growl, "you've come all this way to die, Dave. How amusing."
Dave didn't respond. His gaze locked on Zoran, assessing his every movement. He could feel the immense pressure emanating from the man. This was not going to be easy. Zoran's rank alone meant he was far beyond the other superhumans Dave had faced.
Without warning, Zoran moved. His body seemed to blur as he crossed the distance between them in an instant, aiming a powerful strike at Dave's chest. Dave barely managed to dodge, feeling the air ripple as the fist grazed past him. Zoran's speed was incredible.
Dave retaliated with a swift kick, but Zoran caught it effortlessly, throwing him backward with terrifying strength. Dave skidded across the ground, regaining his balance as quickly as he could. This fight would take everything he had.
Zoran's laughter echoed through the battlefield. "Is that all you've got? Pathetic. I expected more from the one everyone's been talking about."
Suddenly, Zoran raised his hand, and a torrent of black energy erupted from his palm, spiraling toward Dave. It was like a void, consuming everything in its path. Dave summoned all his strength, dodging and weaving through the deadly energy blasts. His heart raced as he realized just how dangerous Zoran's abilities were.
"You're fast," Zoran admitted, "but not fast enough." In a blink, Zoran was behind him, striking at his back. Dave reacted in time, teleporting a short distance away, but the force of Zoran's attack still sent a shockwave that made Dave stumble.
Dave clenched his fists. He needed to turn the tide of the battle. Focusing his mind, he activated his matter control ability. The air around him began to hum as he shaped the very elements, forging barriers and weapons from the surrounding debris. He launched them at Zoran, but the man swatted them aside as if they were mere flies.
With a snarl, Zoran summoned a black scythe—an extension of the void energy he controlled. He swung it at Dave, each slice tearing through the space itself, leaving gashes in the fabric of reality. Dave dodged and countered with his own abilities, manipulating the environment to create a storm of sharp, metallic shards that flew at Zoran from every direction.
Zoran's scythe cut through the shards with ease, but Dave wasn't done. He closed the distance between them in a flash, landing a powerful punch to Zoran's gut. The force of the blow reverberated through Zoran's body, sending him crashing into the ground. Dave followed up with a series of rapid attacks, each one hitting harder than the last.
Zoran staggered to his feet, blood dripping from his mouth. His expression twisted into one of rage. "You... you think you can defeat me?!" he roared.
In response, Zoran unleashed his full power. The ground beneath them cracked and splintered as his black energy swirled violently, enveloping him in a terrifying aura. Dave could feel the weight of Zoran's true strength bearing down on him. But he refused to back down.
Dave summoned everything he had, tapping into the well of new power he had gained from the recent rank up. His body surged with energy as he charged Zoran head-on, their final clash shaking the very earth.
The battle was intense. Each strike from Zoran threatened to tear Dave apart, but Dave's willpower and determination kept him going. He fought with everything he had, using his abilities in ways he hadn't before, pushing his powers to their absolute limit.
With a final roar, Dave gathered all his strength and delivered a devastating punch directly to Zoran's chest. The impact shattered Zoran's energy shield, and the scythe dissolved in his hands as the black void energy faded. Zoran's body crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
Dave stood over him, panting heavily. Zoran was dead. The battle was over.
But Dave knew this was just the beginning. More battles, more superhumans, and even greater threats awaited him. For now, though, Zoran's reign of terror had come to an end.
The path to ultimate power was still long, but Dave was getting closer, one battle at a time.