Li Wei stood before me, his gaze filled with disdain as he leveled a taunting challenge. "Words alone will not suffice; demonstrate your true capabilities, ------------."
Hearing my name uttered by him struck a chord deep within me. For a fleeting moment, I faltered, the sound of it pulling me back to a version of myself I had long since buried. But I refused to let him have the upper hand. Taking a deep breath, I steadied my resolve and locked eyes with him. "My name is no longer ------------," I declared with unwavering conviction. "I shall henceforth be known as Tian Wuji!"
A flicker of amusement crossed Li Wei's face, his smirk widening as he replied, "In that case, Tian Wuji, I hereby declare that today marks your last day on this planet!"
His proclamation drew an involuntary laugh from me, one that echoed through the vast space around us. I knew something he didn't: my physical prowess now far exceeded his, and the gap between us was insurmountable. "Cease your chatter and engage me in combat," I commanded, my voice sharp and cutting like a blade.
Li Wei moved instantly, teleporting behind me in an attempt to catch me off guard. But his arrogance blinded him to my reflexes. Without hesitation, I countered his attack, driving my elbow into his face with bone-shattering force. The impact sent him reeling, but I wasn't finished. Using the momentum, I spun into a flawless tornado kick, my foot connecting with his torso and propelling him into a nearby wall.
The sound of his body crashing into the unforgiving concrete reverberated like a thunderclap. Li Wei slumped to the ground, blood trickling from his mouth. He was severely injured, but his eyes still burned with determination—and something else.
Desperation.
Before I could press the advantage, he reached into his coat and pulled out a small, ominous vial filled with a glowing, green liquid. My breath caught in my throat as I recognized the substance.
"No! NO! NO!" I shouted, my voice tinged with horror.
The serum in his hand was no ordinary concoction. It was a highly experimental vaccine, designed to push the human body beyond its natural limits. I had read about it in classified files during my infiltration missions. Once administered, it could drastically enhance physical attributes, but at a terrible cost.
Li Wei ignored my protests, his face twisted into a savage grin as he plunged the syringe into his arm. Almost instantly, his body convulsed violently, the serum working its dark magic. His veins bulged grotesquely beneath his skin, and his muscles expanded with alarming speed. His once-human form began to warp, transforming into something monstrous—a hulking figure of raw, terrifying power.
His transformation complete, Li Wei let out a guttural roar that shook the very ground beneath us. The sight of him, now a towering behemoth, would have broken the spirit of any ordinary opponent. But I was far from ordinary.
Despite the looming threat, I couldn't ignore the opportunity this presented. Defeating him in this form would undoubtedly yield greater rewards from the system. The thought alone was enough to steel my resolve. But I couldn't charge recklessly into battle—not against an adversary of his newfound strength. I needed a plan.
Without hesitation, I turned and sprinted away, putting as much distance as possible between us. Li Wei's roars of fury followed me as I wove through the labyrinth of the building's corridors, my mind racing to devise a strategy. Finally, I reached a safe distance and came to a halt in an empty chamber.
"System Open," I commanded, my voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through me.
The familiar holographic interface materialized before me, its luminescent panels glowing faintly in the dim light. I navigated to the shop menu, scanning the list of items for something—anything—that could give me an edge in this fight.
My eyes fell on a sword, a sleek and unassuming weapon. Its description, however, caught my attention immediately: "A blade that can slash through anything when imbued with mana." It wasn't the most extravagant weapon in the shop, but it was the only one within my in-system currency limit.
"This will have to do," I muttered under my breath. Without hesitation, I finalized the purchase. The system's confirmation chimed, and the sword materialized in my hands.
The weapon was surprisingly light, its blade gleaming with an otherworldly sheen. I could feel its potential, dormant yet powerful, waiting to be awakened by my mana. It was a treasure, a tool of precision and destruction.
Gripping the sword tightly, I turned back toward the direction of the confrontation. Li Wei was still out there, his monstrous form a dire threat to anyone who crossed his path. But now, armed with this blade and my determination, I felt confident that I could bring him down.
The battle wasn't over. It was only beginning.