Leng Chen clenched his teeth, his eyes locked on the blazing orange-blue flame ahead. The phoenix burned with an ethereal brilliance, its wings beating with a rhythm that sent waves of scorching heat through the air. Its speed was so overwhelming that even its silhouette blurred into streaks of light.
"If you won't take me with you, then I'll chase you on my own!" he muttered under his breath, driving his legs forward with all his might.
Yet no matter how hard he pushed himself, the phoenix's figure grew smaller and smaller, like a meteor vanishing into the mist-shrouded valley.
"Don't think I'll give up just because of this!" Leng Chen panted, his breaths ragged as sweat dripped from his forehead and soaked his collar. His legs felt heavy as if weighed down by lead, his lungs burned with the strain, but the fire in his chest—his unwillingness to yield—continued to blaze.
Suddenly, a deafening roar echoed ahead. The ground trembled faintly, and the air became thick with searing heat. Leng Chen froze for a moment, hesitation flickering in his eyes, but determination quickly replaced it. He raised his gaze toward the fiery glow illuminating the valley, murmuring to himself, "Phoenix… Are you shielding me, or do you just not care about me at all?"
Despite the doubt gnawing at him, he gritted his teeth and dashed deeper into the valley.
The terrain became increasingly rugged. Jagged rocks and steep slopes tested Leng Chen's endurance with every step. Each leap and landing seemed to drain the last ounce of his strength. His legs throbbed with pain, but he pressed on, his eyes fixed on the faint glow of the phoenix in the distance.
"Even if I can only catch up to your shadow, I'll stand by your side," Leng Chen muttered, clenching his fists as he pushed forward.
But then, the ground beneath him cracked open. Without warning, a massive stone hand emerged, grabbing his leg and hurling him backward.
With a twist of his body mid-air, Leng Chen managed to land on his feet, albeit unsteadily. His gaze darted toward the fissure, and from it rose a towering figure—a stone giant, over three meters tall, its entire body seemingly carved from solid rock.
Leng Chen narrowed his eyes, sizing up the creature. A defensive and strength-based type, he thought, fists tightening instinctively.
He lunged forward, his fist slamming into the giant's chest. The impact made the creature stagger slightly but left no visible damage. Leng Chen gritted his teeth and followed up with several more punches, each landing with a dull thud against the unyielding surface.
The giant remained motionless, its gaze cold and indifferent. Then, with a sudden burst of speed, its massive arm swung forward, delivering a punch that struck Leng Chen square in the chest. The force sent him flying through the air, slamming into the rocky wall behind him.
The wall cracked upon impact, leaving a deep crater.
Clutching his chest, Leng Chen gasped for air, disbelief flashing across his face. "How… How is that possible? That punch was so fast—and the force…"
The giant advanced toward him, its heavy footsteps resonating like thunder. It raised its arm for another blow, this time aiming to crush him completely. Leng Chen barely managed to dodge, the fist slamming into the mountain and leaving a crater over ten meters wide.
Staring at the devastation, Leng Chen's heart sank. I can't take another hit like that… But its speed—it's not normal for something this big to move so quickly.
Dodging another swipe, Leng Chen muttered under his breath, "In games, aren't stone monsters supposed to be slow and tanky? Why is this one so fast? It doesn't make sense…"
The giant continued its relentless pursuit. Leng Chen could only evade, unable to counterattack effectively. Frustration boiled within him.
"Just a single stone monster, and I'm completely outmatched. How am I supposed to get through this valley to help the phoenix?" His voice was laced with bitterness as he narrowly avoided another strike.
Once again, the giant's fist connected, sending Leng Chen sprawling to the ground. This time, he struggled to get up, his entire body trembling from exhaustion.
The stone giant loomed over him, its shadow swallowing him whole. Leng Chen looked up, his vision swimming, his legs unable to support him.
The phoenix's voice echoed in his mind: "You're not qualified yet."
"Not… qualified?" he whispered hoarsely. His fingers dug into the dirt as he forced himself to his knees. Memories of past failures surfaced, moments of weakness where he had been powerless.
"Am I really still so useless?" Leng Chen's voice trembled, his fists clenching. "Even here, even now… I'm nothing but a failure?"
His mind spiraled into doubt and despair, but deep within, a faint ember of resolve flickered. A voice, quiet but firm, rose from the depths of his heart:
If you don't give it your all, how will you ever know what you're truly capable of?
Leng Chen's eyes snapped open, burning with renewed determination. He pressed his trembling legs into the ground, forcing himself upright. His body ached, his strength was nearly drained, but his will was unbroken.
"I'm not done yet," he growled, his voice low but resolute. "Even if it's just a stone giant, I won't back down. I'll find a way!"
His fists tightened, his gaze locked on the towering creature before him. He took a deep breath, steadying his mind as he prepared to fight once more.