In a fit of rage, Kishi hurled Kaiza away, just as Kaiza had anticipated. Twisting mid-air, he executed a precise stunt, landing on one knee with a hand bracing against the floor. He knew that crashing hard would further deplete his already critical HP.
But he didn't stop there. Just as he prepared to launch another attack, his movements froze as a new set of messages scrolled before him.
[Kishi]
[Aggressiveness increased]
[Five minutes elapsed]
[Summoning another Kishi...]
[Survive the next phase against two fire creatures]
[Aggressiveness increased]
The fight had just taken a dangerous turn.
Not only did the message appear, but Kishi's groaning intensified, growing louder and more menacing. The flames on its back surged wildly, doubling in size as its aggression spiked.
Moments later, another Kishi materialized—a perfect replica of the one Kaiza was already struggling against. As the two creatures locked eyes, they paused briefly, exchanging guttural groans before shifting their burning gaze toward Kaiza. Their terrifying countenance sent a chill through him.
The instant they turned, Kaiza's body unfroze, and the countdown resumed. His heart pounded. He hadn't even managed to conquer the first Kishi, and now another had joined the fray.
"Isn't this a death sentence?" The thought clawed at his mind as he stared at the two fire creatures, both eager to tear him apart.
But he had no time to dwell on fear. Gritting his teeth, Kaiza surged forward, tightening his grip on his weapon with unwavering determination. He knew exactly what he had to do—and what he needed to avoid.
A single hit from these creatures could severely deplete his already fragile health, so dodging was his top priority. But he had also noticed something crucial—the creatures weren't entirely covered in their hardened shell. He didn't yet know where their weak spots were, but if he could get close enough, he'd figure it out.
And once he did, he'd strike.
Planning in his mind was easy, but execution was another story—one that carried the weight of life and death. Despite the fear clawing at him, Kaiza refused to become food for these merciless beasts. No, they would give him whatever power or experience they had to offer.
"Activate Dash!" he muttered in his mind, ready to burst forward.
Nothing happened.
His body remained unchanged—no surge of energy, no rush of speed. A sinking feeling settled in as he recalled the moment in the hospital when he had tried to use Dash and met the same result.
"What is going on?" he murmured, his grip tightening around his weapon.
[Can't activate Dash]
[Dash exhausted]
His eyes flickered to the screen, where a countdown timer had appeared. That's when he realized the truth—Dash had a limit. He could only use it a set number of times within a certain period, and now he had to wait for it to recharge.
Time he didn't have.
The timer read three minutes. That was all Kaiza needed. A theory formed in his mind—if he could survive without Dash for the next three minutes, he could use that time to locate the creatures' weak spots. Then, with the two minutes left after Dash reactivated, he could strike with precision and achieve his goal.
"I have to survive." He tightened his grip on his weapon, determination hardening his resolve.
Then, a memory surfaced—two abilities came with the green bloodline he had picked up alongside his weapon. He had only used one so far. Maybe the other could tip the battle in his favor.
Without hesitation, Kaiza activated the second ability.
The instant he did, a fiery chain lashed out. The new Kishi struck him before he could react.
The impact should have sent him flying—flipping uncontrollably, crashing into a pillar, or slamming against the walls. But instead…
Kaiza only staggered back a few meters, his feet digging into the ground as he withstood the hit unconsciously. His footing steadied almost instantly.
Then it hit him.
He had activated Super Strength.
His power now matched the Kishi's.
"It worked!" Kaiza stood stunned for a moment, feeling the raw power surging through his veins. The overwhelming strength filled him with confidence, fueling his determination for the battle ahead.
A smirk curved his lips.
"Let's do this."
Without hesitation, he lunged forward, charging towards the two fiery beats. As expected. The Kishis were more than prepared, lashing out with their flaming chains.
But Kaiza was faster.
He fudged with precision, weaving through their attacks with an efficiency that surprised even himself. Then, instead of merely avoiding the chains. He used them, stepping onto the whips mid-air, balancing on the brief moments they struck the ground before the creatures recoiled them. He ran along their weapons, using momentum to elevate himself, gaining the upper hand.
Minutes passed in. This deadly dance. Though his movements remained sharp, exhaustion started creeping in. But the kishi's only grew more aggressive.
A sudden shift in their stance caught his attention. They had dropped the attack. Instead, they circled him, their movements slow and calculated, their low groan barely above a whisper.
Kaiza's grip on his weapon tightened.
They're planning something. This thought swept through Kaiza's mind.
Their glowing eyes locked onto him, their predatory gaze unyielding. Kaiza's mind raced; he couldn't afford to let them take control of the fight.
I have to strike first, choosing his target. He lunged at one of the Kishi's , aiming to take it down before they could act. Unbeknownst to him, he had chosen the already injured Kishi. Victory seemed close until pain exploded through his back.
A burning force struck him from behind.
This time. It wasn't a regular chain attack.
The second Kishi had hit him with the sharpest, fire-red apex of its flaming chain.
[Super strength Deactivated]
Unluckily, just before the strike landed. Kaiza's super strength timer hit zero. He had no time to react, no time to activate it again. Besides, he didn't know he was going to be attacked.
"Ahhh!"
A sharp, agonizing scream tore from his throat as the burning Alex of the chain pierced into his back. The searing pain spread like wildfire, threatening to consume his mind entirely. His body convulsed, his senses dulled by the sheer intensity of it.
And then
[HP - 2]
His health plummeted. The piercing strike had torn through his skin, pushing him to the brink.
Kaiza hung suspended in the air, his body paralyzed by pain. Seconds stretched into eternity. The creatures didn't strike again, almost as if savouring his suffering.
Then, from the corner of his eye, movement. The second Kishi lashed out, its flaming chain rushing straight for him.
This is it. This is death.
But just then
His eyes flickered to the countdown.
[Dash available]
A surge of hope ignited within him. He could activate the dash again. But if he didn't act fast, it wouldn't matter. He'd be ripped apart.
Kaiza forced his mind to focus. Think. Move. Survive.
Suspended mid-air, he had no footing, no leverage. But the incoming chain...
That was his answer.
Use the enemy's strength against them.
The plan formed in an instant.
As the chain came toward him, Kaiza twisted his body, dodging at the last possible second. In that same moment, he stepped into the chain.
Like before, he used it as a foothold, but this time, there was more stake.
With flawless precision, he activated Dash.
A burst of speed surged through him. His body blurred, and with a perfectly timed maneuver, he broke free from the chain piercing his back.
The pain didn't disappear, it still clawed at him, merciless and unbearable. But he couldn't stop now.
Kaiza landed and ran fast.
Faster than ever before.
His movement was a blur, an unstoppable force, streaking across the battlefield at unmatchable speed.
Unbeknownst to Kaiza, something unexpected happened.
The chain he dodged didn't just miss its mark, it veered wildly off course. The sudden shift in weight caused it to swing unpredictably., and before either creature could react, the apex of the flaming chain struck the second Kishi.
GROAN!
A deafening roar shook the space as the Kishi trembled in pain, its body shuddering violently before collapsing into its side.
Kaiza landed successfully, but he didn't stop.
This was the opportunity he had been waiting for.
Without hesitation, he activated the dash once more. Closing the gap between himself and the fallen Kishi in mere seconds. His movements were fluid, his actions instinctive.
Strike fast. Strike hard.
Using his dagger. He climbed onto the kishi's back. His blade sank into the creature's soft, vulnerable skin, right where the chain was connected.
Weaken it before the final blow.
He didn't stop there.
With ruthless precision., he lived to the neck.
Slash. Tears. Rip.
The blade cut deep, splitting it open.
Dark, black blood gushed out pouring in endless streams. The once mighty creature convulsed, its groan fading into choked, guttural sounds.
Kaiza backed away quickly. Not just because he wanted distance, but because he knew the second Kishi was still there. Watching. Moaning. Growing more enraged.
But Kaiza had no time to think. His knees buckled.
Pain, raw unbearable, soul crushing pain clawed at his back, spreading through his entire body like fire. It was torture.
Enduring it was impossible.
His vision blurred. His breath hitched. And then...
He screamed.
Meanwhile, the second Kishi wallowed in grief and rage. It kicked its curbing skin as if mourning its fallen counterpart. But Kaiza knew this moment wouldn't last.
And it didn't.
The kishi's eyes snapped toward him.
Terror. Fury. Vengeance.
It wasn't coming to question why Kaiza had killed its second. I wasn't going to hesitate. It was out for blood.
A low, guttural groan rumbled from deep within the beast. Kaiza felt it before he saw it.
Danger.
His instincts screamed, and he tried to straighten himself, but the pain from his back clawed him down again.
His grip tightened around his dagger , if it was a fight the Kishi wanted. It would get one.. the battle began.
[Aggressiveness increased]
The system interface blared but something was different.
Time Kishi's didn't attack with its usual flaming chains. Jt didn't charge at him with brute force
Busted, it breathed.
And from its breath fireballs.
"What!?!"
Kaiza's eyes widened as the creature exhaled a massive ball of fire straight at him. Then another , and another.
His body reacted before his mind could catch up, dodging, weaving, barely escaping each blast.
But he wasn't fast enough
Each breath released a new fire ball, and with its heightened aggression, the kishi's breathing was rapid, relentless, unforgiving.
Kaiza knew he could use the dash, but he held back.
He knew he would be needing it later. Right now, his goal wasn't to kill. It was to survive.
But time was working against him. His health was draining. And it wasn't just the numbers dropping, it was his strength, his endurance, his very will.
He had five strength points left. Enough to keep going.but if the fight dragged on much longer... Would that still be true?
Kaiza's back still throbbed with pain, but it wasn't as severe as he had expected. The burning sensation came more from the searing heat of the fire-reddened apex rather than a deep wound.
Still, with every dodge, his strength drained further. He knew he couldn't keep this up forever.
I need cover.
Kaiza pivoted, sprinting toward the nearest pillar. He pressed his back against the cool surface, trying to make himself invisible.
But the Kishi found him again.
He dashed to another pillar. Then another. Running in circles. His mind worked fast—his goal was to close the distance, to find an opening to strike.
Then, something changed.
The fireballs stopped.
The battlefield fell into an unnatural silence.
Kaiza slowed, his breaths heavy. Something felt wrong.
The Kishi stood still, its chest heaving, its body trembling as if trying to contain its own fury. Its breath slowed, its stance shifted.
Then—it stepped back.
Kaiza's eyes narrowed. What?
It wasn't looking at him anymore.
It was retreating.
Moving away from him, as if drawn to something else.
Then it hit him—the timer had just hit one minute left.
"What is going on now?"
His gaze followed the retreating beast, but soon it disappeared from sight.
And then another realization struck him.
The crystal ball.
His hunt wasn't over yet.
He hadn't achieved his goal.
His heart pounded as he turned to the fallen Kishi. Its massive, lifeless body lay before him.
Kaiza stood there, staring.
No clue what to do next.
"Where is the crystal ball?"
The question echoed in his mind.
And then—
Something activated.
[scanning...]
[Crystal Ball detected]
[Location - lower belly]
The system pinpointed the exact spot on the kishi's body, a faint marker appearing on Kaiza's interface.
Without hesitation, he plunged his dagger into the beast's thick hide.
The cutting wasn't easy. The tough, leathery flesh resisted the blade, forcing Kaiza to saw through it for several seconds.
Black blood gushed out aggressively. Spilling over his hands, soaking the ground beneath him.
Then something shifted. From the opening , a round object slid out, coated in dark, glistening blood.
Kaiza stepped back, breathing hard, his gaze kicked in the sphere.
It wasn't what he had imagined. He expected a small stone like fragment.
But this?
This was a massive ball. Had he found the right thing?
[Crystal ball discovered]
[Hunt goal achieved]
The confirmation flashed across his interface.
Kaiza straightened. Wiping sweat from his brows, his heartbeat slowly steadying.
But now, what next?
He had the crystal ball
But was this truly the end?
However, his mind had completely shifted—one thing now held his focus.
The Kishi behind him.
A deep, guttural groan rumbled through the air.
Kaiza turned, still clutching the crystal ball.
His gaze landed on the Kishi, its eyes locked onto the blood pooling on the floor.
Then—a shift.
The once faintly burning flames on its back flared violently, doubling in intensity.
"What?" Kaiza muttered, trying to grasp what was happening.
Then—the Kishi's gaze snapped to the crystal ball in his hand.
That was all it took.
ARGHHHH!!!
With a roar, the creature reared back—
And then—
A massive fireball erupted from its mouth, rushing straight for him.
Kaiza's eyes widened.
Before he could react—
BOOM!
The fireball collided.
A deafening explosion shook the space.
Smoke and dust clouded the aftermath.
As it cleared away, the only thing visible—
Kaiza.
Lying in a pool of blood.
And the crystal ball?
Gone.
[HP - 0]
[Survival Failed]