Shingin's body was on the brink of collapse. Blood from his wounds had soaked his clothes, and his exhausted frame could barely sustain the evasive maneuvers and counterattacks. Yet, the watchers surrounding him showed no sign of relent. Instead, their relentless onslaught intensified, each strike imbued with devastating power. The suffocating pressure from all directions made every step a monumental effort.
"There's no way out of this..." Shingin muttered under his breath, panting heavily as he faced his cold-eyed enemies closing in from all sides. A glimmer of despair surfaced in his heart. Although the wind energy from his alien soul mutation had granted him a brief respite, his body had long since reached its limit.
"Give up; you won't make it out alive," Watcher 21 sneered coldly, his eyes devoid of mercy, radiating only icy killing intent. He and Watcher 20 advanced together, their heavy attacks forcing Shingin to retreat step by step.
Watcher 20's fists were like giant hammers, each strike carrying a destructive force that could crush anything in its path. His target was clear: Shingin's chest. As the air pressure bore down, Shingin felt as if he was suffocating. His pupils contracted sharply, sensing the sheer power in the approaching blow that seemed capable of obliterating him entirely.
Gritting his teeth, Shingin struggled. The wind energy surged once more, and with a violent twist of his body, he narrowly avoided the blow. But in his dodge, his right arm was caught by the venomous serpent wielded by Watcher 25, and the venom swiftly coursed through his veins.
"Damn it...!" Shingin growled in pain as the serpent's venom rendered his arm nearly numb. Trapped in the serpent's constricting coils, he struggled to free himself.
Watcher 20 seized the opportunity, his lips curling into a sly grin as he advanced rapidly, his fists pounding in a relentless barrage aimed at Shingin's chest. Shingin, already sluggish from the venom, could only stumble backward in a desperate attempt to evade.
"I can't hold out much longer..." Shingin's mind conjured images of his mother and Shizuha. The unyielding anxiety and agony in his heart quickened his pulse. With every ounce of strength, he tried to summon the remaining wind energy within him, but the worsening injuries left him feeling as though everything was shattering around him.
Suddenly, a chilling aura surged from behind him. Watcher 25's venomous serpent lunged once more. Shingin clenched his teeth and kicked off the ground with his remaining strength, leaping sideways with the wind's aid. Yet, his battered body was far from agile, and his movements were anything but perfect.
"Can you dodge this time?" Watcher 25's eyes glinted coldly as he flicked the serpent in his hand, sending venomous droplets shooting toward Shingin's face like arrows.
Shingin, unable to evade, took the venom head-on. Blood and venom mingled, stinging his skin like fire. His breathing grew ragged, his vision blurred, yet the thought of his family burned brightly in his heart. He clung to his determination, forcing his body to stay upright.
"I can't die..." Shingin's resolve remained firm. Though his body refused to obey and the ceaseless attacks drained him, the responsibility he bore and the promise he made to his mother and Shizuha kept his spirit alive.
At that moment, Shingin felt a powerful current forming within him. The wind energy seemed to gather anew, surging from deep inside, bringing a sliver of hope. His eyes glimmered with resolute determination.
"If this doesn't break the stalemate..." Shingin thought, bracing himself. Suddenly, a massive burst of energy erupted from within, unleashing a storm of wind that swept across the battlefield. Propelled by the wind's power, he shot into the air.
"Running away?" Watcher 20 smirked, his gaze locking onto Shingin's rapidly ascending figure. Without hesitation, he followed. Watcher 21 was close behind, their pursuit intent on bringing him down.
But Shingin hadn't given up. His alien soul's mutation activated once more, the wind energy coursing through him like a tempest, pushing his body to its absolute limits. In midair, Shingin quickly adjusted his stance, preparing to counterattack against the enemies below.
However, his stamina was nearly depleted. The mounting injuries drained his strength, making every retaliatory strike feel weaker. Watchers 20 and 21's pursuit only grew fiercer as Shingin's condition deteriorated further.
"Hurry... just a little more..." Shingin muttered through gritted teeth. The wind energy within him dwindled rapidly, and even his consciousness began to blur. Teetering on the edge of collapse, he clung desperately to the fleeting remnants of his strength, searching for an opening.
He knew, all too clearly, that if this continued, his life would reach its inevitable end. Each approach of the enemy felt like an invisible, crushing hand slowly driving him toward destruction.
"I cannot die!!" Shingin roared inwardly, yet his voice barely reached his lips. On the precipice of life and death, every ounce of willpower within him screamed in defiance against the looming darkness.