Alex tried to muster his strength to rise, but a wave of intense pain swiftly brought him back down, provoking a resounding grunt as his body crumpled back onto the cold, hard ground. The pain was unyielding.
Despite the searing agony, he attempted once more to get on his feet. He knew full well that if a Qi beast managed to infiltrate his vicinity, he'd be in grave peril. Even a low-stage lesser Qi beast would pose a considerable threat.
However, he was determined not to succumb easily. His goal wasn't to retaliate, but to seek refuge, to hide.
But his attempts were futile. The best he could accomplish, after numerous grueling attempts, was to get onto his knees.
