Chapter 61 - Arterial Circulation Realm
"Huh. He didn't die."
Kyrogh's gaze flickered as he stared at Malik, who was still standing amidst the trees, his aura fluctuating wildly and his HP barely clinging to 10%.
"That attack was supposed to overkill him… and even if he somehow survived, he should be in an extremely weakened state… What's this feeling I'm getting just by looking at him?"
Kyrogh couldn't help but question himself, not taking his eyes off Malik for even a second. Suddenly, laughter rang out from within the trees as Malik slowly raised his head to meet the Truceholder's gaze.
"You must be surprised I'm still alive. But you see… I'm not your everyday player. I'm an existence even the system had to adapt to. You think you've won just because you've surrounded me? Why do you think I didn't outright destroy these trees? Do you really think I don't have tricks that could decimate all of them? Hahaha!"
"Although you corroded the trees with your energy, it didn't stop me from absorbing their spiritual essence. And now, thanks to you, my energy pool has been boosted tremendously. I really owe you one."
Malik spoke with a smirk as he folded his fists. Instantly, the roots coiled around him dropped lifelessly to the ground, completely drained of energy.
"Impossible..." Kyrogh hissed as he channeled his energy into the trees again. He couldn't believe it—while he had been pouring energy in, Malik had been absorbing it all along.
But what Malik had come to understand was simple: under his Physique, the impossible was merely a suggestion.
"It's time to put you to rest."
Malik raised both hands to the sky.
"Rending Claw Strike!"
Massive black lines of light—each the size of a building—erupted from his arms and slashed through the trees, annihilating them in one sweeping arc.
Spiritual energy surged and permeated the air, flooding into Malik's body as his HP began to recover at an alarming rate.
Unlike ordinary Cultivators, Malik had achieved breakthroughs by absorbing monster cores, which did little for his spiritual energy. But now—now he could feel it: a tremendous, almost volcanic force leaking from within, as if something ancient and powerful was taking form deep inside.
"Interesting... you're truly an interesting one. Let's keep playing, then," Kyrogh muttered, pointing his hammer to the sky, then toward Malik.
A green streak of energy surged toward Malik—
—but with a mere swipe of his right hand, the energy shattered.
"That trick won't work on me."
Malik leapt into the air, both hands raised high.
"Rending Claw Strike!"
Black lines of energy blanketed the battlefield. It was as if darkness itself had descended. The Truceholder shielded himself with his warhammer, but the attack smashed into him, sending him flying backward. Multiple damage notifications popped above his head—each over 1,000.
Malik didn't waste a heartbeat. He unleashed swipe after devastating swipe, relentlessly chopping down Kyrogh's HP while his own returned to full.
"He's getting stronger…"
That was the only thought screaming in Kyrogh's mind as his warhammer was blasted from his grip and his body crashed into a mountain—his HP now down to 70%.
"This..."
Rage flickered in Kyrogh's eyes as Malik rushed in like a reaper cloaked in shadows. Kyrogh let out a thunderous roar, his body growing a full meter taller. The air around Malik thickened like a tightening noose, freezing his movement in place.
"What the heck? I can't move!"
Rooted to the spot, Malik could only watch as Kyrogh soared into the air, his fist crashing into Malik's chest and launching him skyward. Before Malik could recover, Kyrogh's other hand gripped his leg, slamming him into the side of the mountain.
"DIE!"
Kyrogh coiled his entire body into a ball and plummeted toward Malik, smashing into the mountain like a meteor. Just those two strikes cost Malik 30% of his HP.
Without hesitation, Malik activated the passive ability of the Feral Boots, blurring away with explosive speed. The Truceholder crashed into the mountain alone, shattering it further with web-like cracks spreading in all directions.
"My chance..."
Malik spun and charged back with every ounce of energy he could muster, coalescing it all into his fist.
"Iron Fist!"
The punch landed squarely on Kyrogh's skull, carving away 10% of his HP in one hit—but Malik wasn't done.
He spun with a burst of force.
"Iron Fang Kick!"
Explosive damage floated above Kyrogh's head:
-5000
-7000
-8000
The mountain quaked. Malik leapt again, his fists transforming into clawed shapes.
<
<
<
"INFERNAL RENDING STRIKE!"
Malik roared as ten black lines of flaming energy materialized above him. Each was over three meters thick and radiating hellfire as they tore through the air toward Kyrogh, burning and annihilating everything in their path.
The spiritual energy burst was immense. Kyrogh's HP plummeted, barely hovering above 40%.
But then—
As the boost from the Feral Boots ended and Malik charged in to end it, a sudden shadow loomed overhead.
Boom!
The warhammer crashed into Malik, smashing him into the earth. He lost 20% HP instantly, his legs buried into the reinforced ground.
"Shit… I forgot about the hammer!"
Malik groaned, struggling to rise. But the ground was infused with green energy—an unbreakable cage.
"To think this is what he's been planning all along..."
A half-smile formed on Malik's face—a smile not born of joy, but of realization.
"You let one small win get to your head. Adventurers… you're all the same," Kyrogh sneered, laughing as he retrieved his warhammer. His form grew again—now towering at twelve meters, with a hammer to match.
"I want to see how long you'll last."
Malik struggled. He clawed at the ground, trying to pull free. But it was futile.
Kyrogh raised his warhammer high—
—and slammed it down.
Bang!
A searing bang echoed in Malik's skull. He screamed as 40% of his HP vanished in an instant.
"Iron Mountain Stance!"
Again, the hammer fell.
-5000
-5000
-5000
Over and over, the damage racked up. Malik's defensive skill absorbed half the damage—but it had only one second left.
"Your trick is over!"
Kyrogh twirled the hammer and brought it down with brutal finality.
BOOM!
The force shattered the reinforced ground. Malik was flung into the air, crashing down several meters away—his HP falling to a sliver.
999 HP. Barely 5% left.
"Surprisingly, you survived nine strikes… Now for the tenth."
Kyrogh pointed his hammer skyward, never taking his eyes off Malik, whose aura was now as fragile as a flickering candle. He couldn't even twitch a finger.
"Is this how I'll die? Lose all my levels…?"
"No… I'm unwilling…"
Malik's whisper reached Kyrogh's ears, drawing a mocking laugh.
"Unfortunately, you met the wrong opponent," Kyrogh growled, raising the hammer to deliver the final blow.
But then—
Malik's body began to tremble.
He started to rise—floating into the air.
<
<
<
<
<
"This bastard..."
Kyrogh almost broke down as he watched Malik's HP rapidly return to full, his aura spiraling like a storm god unchained. And all of this… was happening in mere seconds.