Desperate Measures
**System Stats:**
- Name: Mo Long
- Race: Human
- Gender: Male
- Level: 1
- Health: 30/100
- Strength: 12
- Agility: 11
- Physique: 14
- Qi: 0
- Spiritual Root: Dual Spiritual Roots (Fire, Earth)
- Skills: None
- Points: 5
---
Mo Long stumbled back from the last battle, his chest heaving with labored breaths. Blood dripped from a deep gash on his side, and his vision blurred momentarily as he tried to steady himself. The fight had been brutal, and though he emerged victorious, it came at a steep cost. His health was critically low—just 30 out of 100—and he had no points left to heal himself.
**System Notification:** "Health: 30/100. Points: 5."
Mo Long grimaced as he quickly assessed his situation. The timer was still ticking down. If he didn't find a way to heal soon, he wouldn't survive to see the end of this deadly competition. The Tower's system had been clear—only the participant with the most points at the end of the three-hour timer would survive, and everyone else would die. With just 5 points, Mo Long couldn't even afford a full heal, which cost 10 points.
---
"Think, Mo Long, think!" he muttered to himself, his eyes darting around the arena. His gaze fell on the long sword of the opponent he had just defeated. The blade was finely crafted, much better than the crude weapons many others had been using.
An idea struck him.
Mo Long called up the Tower's system window and focused on the opponent's weapon. "Tower, can I sell this sword for points?"
The system responded with a prompt almost immediately:
**System Notification:** "Opponent's long sword detected. Value: 3 points. Do you wish to sell?"
---
Mo Long's heart sank a little. Even if he sold the sword, he would only have 8 points—still not enough to fully heal himself. But it was better than nothing, and he might be able to use the remaining points to bolster his stats, giving him an edge in his next battle.
"Yes, sell it," Mo Long commanded.
**System Notification:** "Opponent's long sword sold. Points gained: 3. Current Points: 8."
---
His eyes flicked to the health counter again—30 out of 100. Not nearly enough to survive another fight if it came down to it. With only 8 points, he couldn't heal, but he could strengthen himself, increasing his chances of survival if he was forced into another battle.
Mo Long weighed his options carefully. "Increase Physique by 2 points," he instructed.
**System Notification:** "Physique increased by 2 points. Current Physique: 16. Points remaining: 6."
He felt a surge of power course through his body as his physique improved slightly. It wasn't much, but it was something. With his health so low, every little bit of endurance mattered. Mo Long gripped his sword tighter and scanned the arena for any signs of incoming threats. The arena was filled with the sounds of battle, but for a brief moment, no one was near him.
But he knew that wouldn't last long.
---
Just then, he heard the heavy footsteps of another participant. Mo Long turned to see a hulking figure approaching, wielding a massive axe. The man's eyes locked onto Mo Long, and a cruel smile spread across his face. He was clearly more interested in finishing off a weakened opponent than finding a fair fight.
---
Mo Long cursed under his breath. He had hoped for a little more time to recover, but it seemed fate had other plans. He braced himself, his mind racing as he tried to figure out his next move. With his current stats, he could potentially win, but any mistake could be fatal.
---
The giant man charged at him with a roar, swinging his axe with deadly precision. Mo Long barely managed to dodge, feeling the wind from the blade as it passed dangerously close to his head. He countered with a swift strike, aiming for the man's unguarded side, but the giant was faster than he appeared. He blocked the attack with his forearm, the impact reverberating through Mo Long's bones.
**Health:** 25/100
Mo Long staggered back, his strength waning. He needed to end this quickly, or he wouldn't last much longer. With no other choice, he pushed forward, pouring all his remaining energy into a flurry of strikes. The two warriors clashed in a desperate dance of life and death, each trying to find an opening.
Finally, Mo Long saw his chance. The giant overextended himself with a heavy swing, leaving his neck exposed. Mo Long's sword flashed in the dim light of the arena as he delivered a precise and lethal strike.
---
**System Notification:** "Opponent defeated. Points gained: 5. Current Points: 11."
He had won—barely. But as he stood over his fallen foe, panting heavily, the reality of his situation hit him. His health was dangerously low, and he still had to face more opponents before the timer ran out.
**Health:** 18/100
"Use 10 points to heal," Mo Long ordered, knowing he had no other choice.
**System Notification:** "Healing complete. Health restored to 100/100. Points remaining: 1."
His body mended itself in an instant, and Mo Long felt the familiar rush of vitality. But the relief was short-lived. The next battle loomed, and with only one point remaining, he was nearly back to square one.
Before he could catch his breath, another shadow fell across him. A new opponent had appeared, eyes gleaming with murderous intent. Mo Long tightened his grip on his sword, ready for the next round.
But this time, there would be no margin for error.
The final clash was about to begin, and Mo Long had no more points to spare.
---
**[To be continued...]**