The Poisonous Fang Approaches
The Rising Storm
Jiang Chen stood at the edge of the battle arena, his expression cold and unreadable. The crowd had barely settled from his previous victory, yet anticipation for the next match was already growing. His name had been placed against Wang He, a formidable opponent ranked among the top 30 in the academy.
Across the battlefield, Wang He exuded confidence, his arms crossed as he studied Jiang Chen. He was a tall, lean youth with sharp features and an aura of arrogance. His beast, a Silver-Eyed Viper, coiled beside him, its metallic silver scales gleaming under the arena lights. Its eyes shone with an unnatural luster, a sign of its venomous nature and heightened perception.
> "I've been watching you, Jiang Chen," Wang He spoke, his voice calm but edged with superiority.
"You've surprised quite a few people, but it ends here. My Silver-Eyed Viper has taken down Commander-tier opponents before. Your Skull Ghost Ape won't be an exception."
Jiang Chen remained silent, unfazed by his opponent's words.
Ghost, standing beside him, was equally indifferent. The undead ape's skeletal face remained expressionless, yet its empty eyes seemed to flicker with an unseen presence.
The referee stepped forward, raising his hand.
> "Combatants ready?"
Neither spoke.
> "Battle—BEGIN!"
---
The Venomous Assault
Wang He wasted no time. The moment the battle started, he barked out his first command.
> "Silver-Eyed Viper! Venomous Fang Dash!"
The viper blurred forward at incredible speed, its sleek body twisting through the air. It moved like a shadow, its fangs glistening with corrosive venom that could melt through flesh in seconds.
The audience barely had time to react.
> "So fast!"
"Jiang Chen's in trouble! If that viper lands a bite, it's over!"
But Jiang Chen's response was swift.
> "Ghost. Dodge."
Ghost vanished.
A flicker of black mist was all that remained as the Skull Ghost Ape disappeared from sight, narrowly avoiding the viper's lunge. In an instant, it reappeared several meters away, crouching low, its abyssal claws gleaming in the dim light.
Wang He's eyes narrowed.
> "Hmph. Fast reflexes. But dodging won't win you this fight."
He extended his hand.
> "Viper! Toxic Mist Field!"
The Silver-Eyed Viper reared its head and spewed forth a thick green mist, instantly blanketing the battlefield. The air turned dense and poisonous, the mist corroding the stone tiles beneath them.
The crowd gasped.
> "That's the viper's domain skill!"
"Jiang Chen is trapped—he won't last long in that poison!"
Within the mist, visibility dropped to nearly zero.
But then, something strange happened.
The toxic cloud swirled violently around Ghost, yet the undead ape remained completely unaffected.
---
Ghost's Awakening
Jiang Chen's system window flashed before his eyes.
---
New Ability Acquired:
[Necrotic Shroud] – A passive aura that nullifies poison, disease, and life-draining effects. When activated, it weakens living opponents within range, corroding their life force.
---
Wang He's confident smirk vanished.
> "Impossible!"
Jiang Chen's voice was cold and steady.
> "Your poison is useless."
Ghost took a single step forward, and a wave of black mist erupted from its body, dispersing the poisonous mist entirely. The once-lethal domain crumbled in mere moments, as if devoured by a force even more sinister than the poison itself.
The audience fell silent.
> "W-What just happened?"
"The poison mist—It's gone!"
"No, look closer! Ghost is… absorbing the poison?"
Indeed, the poisonous residue in the air was being devoured by Ghost's presence, leaving behind only an eerie stillness.
---
The Predator Hunts
Wang He took an instinctive step backward.
> "Silver-Eyed Viper! Venom Strike!"
Desperation edged his voice as the viper lunged once more, its fangs poised to sink into Ghost's flesh.
But before it could even reach, Jiang Chen uttered a single command.
> "Ghost. Abyssal Severance."
A blur of black lightning shot through the air.
Before anyone could react, Ghost had already moved.
It materialized above the viper in midair, its claws wreathed in abyssal energy, descending like the blade of an executioner.
The moment its claws tore through the viper's body, an explosion of dark energy erupted, sending shockwaves rippling through the battlefield.
> "HIS VIPER—!"
The Silver-Eyed Viper let out a horrific shriek, its body convulsing as abyssal energy corroded its very essence. The deadly snake, once a proud predator, collapsed limp and motionless.
Silence.
Then—
> "Winner—Jiang Chen!"
The referee's voice rang out, but few in the audience could even process it.
---
The Aftermath
Wang He's face was pale, his mind struggling to accept what had just happened. His viper had been defeated in a single move—its poison nullified, its body overwhelmed by a power beyond his comprehension.
Jiang Chen, however, simply turned and walked away.
Ghost followed, its skeletal features emotionless, yet its presence seemed heavier than before. It had grown stronger once again.
The murmurs in the stands grew louder.
> "He's not just strong. He's terrifying."
"What kind of evolution did that Skull Ghost Ape undergo?"
"He just crushed another ranked student! How far will he go?"
But not everyone was simply watching.
The Strongest Take Notice
In the special viewing stands, Bai Ye—Rank #2—gazed at Jiang Chen with narrowed eyes.
> "That undead beast… it's unlike anything I've ever seen."
Beside him, Xu Rong chuckled.
> "He's growing into a real threat. This tournament just got interesting."
Further away, the cloaked figure from before stood in the shadows, watching Jiang Chen's retreating form.
A low chuckle echoed.
> "It's time to act."
And deep within the academy, in a hidden chamber, a secret meeting was taking place.
> "That Skull Ghost Ape… We need it. We can't wait any longer."
"Then we strike before he gets any stronger."
In the darkness, a plot to steal Ghost was set in motion.