Chapter 36 A job well done

Kai took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "I guess I'm alone now. No biggie. I just have to kill that thing, right? That's not a problem, I just have to—"

Before he could finish, a tentacle shot toward him at blinding speed, its sharpened tip aimed straight for his gut.

Kai's eyes widened in pure shock. Shit—!

Instinct took over. He barely managed to duck left, the deadly appendage grazing his side as it zipped past him. A sharp sting flared across his ribs, but he gritted his teeth, suppressing the pain.

"This isn't training… this is real. If I lose, I won't wake up in a hospital bed—I'll die."

Determination flooded his veins. With a forceful stomp, he launched himself forward, his figure blurring as he closed the distance between him and the monster. His legs moved in perfect rhythm, his focus locked onto his target.

The Orc reacted instantly. Another tentacle lashed out, slicing through the air like a spear. Without hesitation, Kai leaped, his body twisting midair as the attack barely missed him.

For a moment, he locked eyes with the creature.

And in that instant, realization hit him like a brick.

I'm in the air… completely defenseless against a long-range fighter.

Before he could react, two more tentacles snapped toward him, their razor-sharp tips ready to skewer him.

Shit—I'm gonna die!

The deadly tendrils were inches away—

Then, suddenly, everything went black.

Kai gasped, his body jerking violently. He was… lying in a hospital bed. His breath was ragged, his muscles tense, his mind still expecting the fatal strike.

"I think I overestimated you a little" Zane's voice cut through the silence.

Kai's wide eyes darted to him, disbelief plastered across his face. "What the hell…? I was about to get stabbed a second ago. How am I here?"

Zane crossed his arms. "The same way you got there."

Kai swallowed, realization dawning on him. "You pulled me out?"

Zane smirked. "I guess you still need a bit more training before you take on something like that. A week should be enough."

"A week? I literally died back there, and you want to send me back in one week?"

Zane's smirk widened. "Then I guess you'd better get stronger."

****

One Week Later

Kai stood in the same street, facing the same monstrous creature. Everything was just as it had been a week ago—the same eerie silence, the same dim moonlight casting shadows over the ruined pavement.

But this time, something was different.

Him.

His stance was firm, his breath steady. His sharp eyes locked onto the beast, a predator assessing its prey. Not a shred of fear remained in his body, and even the creature seemed to sense it—it hesitated, its tentacles twitching with uncertainty.

Kai bent his knees slightly, his muscles coiling like springs. His gaze never wavered. Then—

Boom.

He exploded forward. The wind whipped past him, his hair trailing behind in wild streams. A faint blue hue poured from his eye, streaking across the side of his head.

The beast reacted instantly. Its tentacles shot forward at blinding speed, their sharpened tips cutting through the air like spears.

Kai didn't flinch.

With seamless movement, he sidestepped, a blur trailing behind him. The tentacle stabbed into empty space.

The creature struck again, faster this time.

Kai twisted his body, narrowly evading the attack as he closed the distance between them. Frustrated, the monster unleashed a barrage—five tentacles shooting toward him at once.

Kai had only one option.

He leaped.

Both he and the creature remembered this moment from their last battle. The first time, he had been defenseless, completely exposed midair.

Not this time.

The beast's tentacle lashed toward him like a coiled whip.

Kai didn't panic. He remained calm and calculated.

In an instant, a blur of his figure shot sideways, dodging with unreal precision. His form rematerialized back on the ground in a heartbeat, and he dashed forward without losing momentum.

The creature struck relentlessly—tentacle after tentacle whipping toward him.

Kai sidestepped. Twisted. Turned. Tumbled.

He weaved through every single attack, a phantom in motion, each dodge more effortless than the last.

The distance between them disappeared.

Kai lunged, his fist coiling like a cannonball. Then—

Boom!

His punch buried deep into the creature's gut. The beast's mouth gaped open, its single eye bulging in agony.

Kai didn't stop.

He thrust his arm forward, sending the creature flying. Its body crashed into the ground, tentacles skidding across the pavement before coming to a screeching halt.

Kai didn't let up.

He was already moving, closing the gap again before the beast could recover.

The creature groggily tried to pull itself up, but Kai was already airborne.

From its left, he struck.

His leg shot forward, smashing into the side of its head. The force sent tremors through its body.

He didn't hesitate—his foot pressed deeper into its skull.

Then, with one final devastating kick—

Crack.

The creature's head slammed into the ground with earth-shattering force. The impact burst its skull open, black ichor spraying across the pavement. The ground beneath it fractured from the sheer force.

Kai landed, panting.

He stared at the lifeless body before him.

A moment passed.

Then realization struck.

I did it.

The sound of slow, deliberate claps filled the air.

Kai turned to see Mr. Zane stepping into the empty street, a smirk on his face.

"Bravo, kid… Bravo."

Kai grinned, catching his breath. "I guess you could say that's a job well done."

Zane chuckled. "Let's not get cocky. What you just did? That's the basics. There's more to a mission than killing a monster. But you did well. All that training is paying off."

Kai rubbed the back of his head, shrugging off the compliment.

Zane's smirk deepened as a thought ran through his mind.

"This kid… He's something else. How the hell is he getting stronger so fast?

The seal?

It has to be.

Whatever it is, at this rate, the last seal of Alzarel will be able to defend itself. We just have to keep going."

Kai hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Mr. Zane."

Zane turned his head slightly. "Hmm?"

Kai shifted uncomfortably, his gaze dropping for a second before locking back onto Zane. "I've been meaning to say this, but I kept forgetting…" He took a deep breath. "Thank you. I mean, if it weren't for you, I'd probably be rotting in a prison cell right now." His voice lowered with sincerity. "So, yeah… thanks. And I really look forward to continuing as your student."

Zane studied him for a moment, then smiled. "I look forward to teaching you too, Kai…" His grin widened. "Except I won't."

Kai blinked. "Wait—what?"

"You're getting a new instructor."

A frown crept onto Kai's face. "What do you mean? Who?"

Zane's smirk deepened. "Victor."