Chapter 9: Fury of the Thunder God’s Fist

Outer Ruins Zone – Corrosion Swamp

Purple miasma spewed from ground fissures, its corrosive tendrils hissing against Lin Ye's tactical suit. As he trampled through mutated reeds, a Tier-1 Razorjaw Crocodile lunged from the sludge—its bone-crushing jaws capable of shredding armored vehicles, far surpassing the threat of Shadowstrike Cats.

CRACKLE!

The Nine Heavens Thunder Prison activated autonomously. Violent arcs of purple lightning exploded between the beast's dagger-like teeth. Lin Ye pivoted mid-air, landing astride the crocodile's spine. His thunder-wreathed fist punched through scale armor. Before the charred carcass hit the muck, his interface flashed: [Tier-1 Razorjaw Crocodile eliminated. Points +10]. The System's monotone voice followed: 『Esper Points +6』.

"This periphery zone's a waste of time." Without hesitation, Lin Ye plunged deeper into the toxic swamp, racing toward the ruins' core.

——

On Mystic Star, beasts shared the Esper ranking system—Tier-1 to Tier-9. However, Espers often overpowered higher-tier beasts through synergized enhancements: innate abilities, augmented weaponry, combat exosuits, and esoteric martial techniques. Exceptional fighters could even slay beasts two tiers above their own.

Creatures like Shadowstrike Cats and Razorjaw Crocodiles were baseline Tier-1 threats, easily handled by average exam candidates—let alone Lin Ye in his current state.

Though Lin Ye hadn't actively hunted beasts during his sprint, over forty Tier-1 creatures now lay dead behind him—all foolish enough to attack first. Each clash sharpened his comprehension. "Real combat truly accelerates martial progression," he mused, bloodied fists crackling faintly. "But will it evolve my Thunder Fist?" 

Scaling a collapsed wall via mutated vines, his tactical visor filtered pale-purple radiation particles. Three Steelhide Boars charged from behind splintered trunks, tusks glinting in the gloom. Lin Ye deliberately restrained the Nine Heavens Thunder Prison, dimming the violet lightning around his fists to faint flickers.

"Perfect for refining the Tenth Stance."

He pivoted to evade the lead boar's charge, driving his right fist at a lethal angle into its flank. The Thunder Fist's concussive force liquefied its organs instantly. As the remaining two beasts shattered concrete pillars to flank him, Lin Ye dropped into a slide—dual uppercuts erupting mid-motion.

CRACK! CRACK!

His tactical wristband vibrated alongside the symphony of shattered skulls: [3 Tier-1 Steelhide Boars eliminated. Points +30]. The Celestial Vault System's chime followed: 『Esper Points +18』.

"Still insufficient." Flicking brain matter from his gauntlets, Lin Ye studied the grotesque vines ahead. Crushed under his boot, a fluorescent mushroom released neurotoxic spores—triggering five Venomspike Arachnids to descend from ceiling webs.

Emerald venom hissed against stone as Lin Ye weaved through silk traps. Their compound eyes tracked strike trajectories, bladed legs slicing air like monomolecular edges. Deliberately exposing his throat, he lured the lead arachnid into a killing lunge—then twisted the Tenth Stance mid-execution.

"Thunder Surge·Stacking Waves!"

Nine overlapping fist phantoms compressed air into vacuum projectiles. The foremost arachnid vaporized, shockwaves catapulting others into walls. Lin Ye pursued like a violet hurricane, thunderforce detonating the final arachnid's venom sac. Wristband updates flashed: [5 Tier-1 Venomspike Arachnids eliminated. Points +60].

The Celestial Vault System's gilded sigils erupted in brilliance:

『Martial Arts: Fist Techniques upgraded to Intermediate』

『Combat Technique: Thunder Fist upgraded to Intermediate』

『New Technique Unlocked: Thunder Fist Eleventh Stance — Thunder Surge·Piercing Sun』

『Esper Points +36』

Lin Ye's heart surged with triumph. Finally—intermediate-tier mastery. The Eleventh Stance's principles crystallized in his mind. With a thought, the Celestial Vault System's holographic interface materialized:

『Name: Lin Ye』

『Rank: Awakened』

『Esper Ability: Nine Heavens Thunder Prison (S-Class)』

『Physique: 198 Vitality（+）』

『Energy: 182 Hz（+）』

『Esper Points: 243』

『Martial Arts: Fist Techniques (Intermediate+)』

『Combat Technique: Thunder Fist (Intermediate+)』

"So both Martial Arts and Combat Techniques evolve through combat," Lin Ye murmured, stroking his chin—a trademark gesture when strategizing. "Then I'll keep hoarding Esper Points for stats."

True to form, he allocated 200 points to Physique. His body shuddered as meridians flooded with raw power. Muscle fibers sang like tuned bowstrings under violet lightning's tempering. The Celestial Vault System updated:

『Physique: 238 Vitality（+）』

『Esper Points: 43』

"Same as last time—200 Esper Points for 40 Vitality." Lin Ye resolved to pour all points into Physique until the exchange rate worsened. 5:1 was too good to waste.

"Time to hunt worthy prey." He turned toward the core zone when crystalline shattering echoed southeast. His brow furrowed. "Squad Leader Yang's Frost Dominion." Without pause, he rocketed toward the commotion.

——

Yang Xueman's Frostplate Armor spiderwebbed with cracks. Her squad's defensive line crumbled under three adult Ironhide Rhinos. The leading beast's blood-tinged horn marked it as an Ironhide Rhino King—its power dwarfing its two subordinates.

"Fall back!" Yang lashed ice chains around the Rhino King, only for them to snap like twigs. "Yang Rui! Armor-piercing rounds!"

The sniper fumbled Spirit-Energy Rounds into his rifle. "Won't…penetrate…"

Ironhide Rhinos were mid-tier Tier-1 beasts, but the Rhino King rivaled high-tier Tier-1s. Yang's squad lacked firepower to breach its defenses.

The Ironhide Rhino King unleashed an eardrum-shattering roar, hooves cratering the ground with shockwaves. Despair gripped the squad—until a violet thunderbolt descended like divine judgment.

"Thunder Surge·Piercing Sun!"

Lin Ye materialized within a storm of lightning, the newly mastered Eleventh Stance of Thunder Fist spiraling around his right fist. The Rhino King's vaunted scales parted like butter, thunderforce detonating its organs. The titanic carcass collapsed.

[Tier-1 Ironhide Rhino King eliminated. Points +100. Esper Points +60]

The remaining rhinos trembled under lingering thunderous pressure, fleeing only to have their spines shattered by Lin Ye's pursuit.

[2 Tier-1 Ironhide Rhinos eliminated. Points +60. Esper Points +36]

"You…of all people…" Yang Xueman's fractured Frost Visor reflected the battle-god youth. Medic Qin Xue gasped on her knees. Yang Rui outright shouted: "Lin Ye! Are you really just an E-Class Esper?!"