Malik wasn't expecting the sudden outburst from the Infernal Feral King. A monster with a weapon suddenly choosing to ignore it and go for the kill with its bare hand? That alone was enough to send chills down anyone's spine. The palm of the monster was so massive that, with Malik's current speed, he couldn't escape its grasp—and if he got caught, that would be his doom. He couldn't help but imagine that grim scenario as he instantly activated the skill from his Feral Boots.
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His speed exploded. In a blur, he escaped the clutches of the Infernal Feral King and suddenly appeared in front of it, launching another devastating blow that landed squarely on its chest, ripping out another –800 damage before explosively retreating.
'Are those gloves made from rock or what? I can't believe just two attacks took 10% of my HP...' The Infernal Feral King stared at Malik, a flicker of amusement lighting up its hellish eyes.
"Since you managed to take 10% of my HP… I'll add that to my damage output—and show you 30% of my true power!" the monster roared as it lunged forward, Greatsword dancing like fire in its grip.
"Thirty percent...?" Malik muttered, eyes widening. "So he was only using 20% of his strength all this while?"
That sudden revelation struck like a thunderbolt. Without hesitation, he turned and bolted, not daring to test the waters. But the Boss Monster wasn't having it—he swung his Greatsword, unleashing five fiery arcs of light that screamed through the air like judgment from the heavens.
Their speed was hellish. They caught up with Malik in the blink of an eye, forcing him to veer left, pouring more energy into his legs just to survive. The Infernal Feral King snorted coldly and gave chase, brandishing his sword over and over again. Malik found himself on the run, dodging and weaving through the battlefield, the fiery arcs nipping at his heels with every step—each one a stroke of death.
This continued for a full minute until the boost from his Feral Boots faded, plummeting his speed. That one moment of vulnerability was all the arcs needed. One hit him squarely in the chest.
Boom!
He crashed to the ground like a meteor falling from the sky. –600 damage floated above his head.
Only six hundred...? How high is his defense? The Infernal Feral King mused with a grim smile. But he didn't give Malik a breather. In the blink of an eye, his silhouette flashed and he appeared right in front of Malik.
Since the start of the battle, Malik had been relying on his speed. But now that the Boss Monster's speed matched his, all advantage had vanished. In fact, Malik was now at a complete disadvantage. The Infernal Feral King towered over him, sword raised high, as Malik struggled to get up on one knee.
"This is where you die," the monster declared, and the Greatsword came crashing down.
Boom!!
The sound shook the entire battlefield. The earth quaked beneath them as molten fissures tore through the lair.
That was a clean attack... Enough to take his—
The thought froze in the Infernal Feral King's mind.
There, still on his knees, stood Malik—arms crossed, braced against the full might of the Infernal Greatsword. His HP? Still over 70%.
That was a clean strike. Just how the hell did he survive that? What kind of player is this?
The Boss didn't stop to wonder long. He raised the Greatsword again and brought it crashing down, chipping away another 10% of Malik's HP.
Malik's arms went numb from the impact, but he gritted his teeth and endured. Most of the damage was being absorbed by his Feral Shirt, keeping him grounded. Of course, the Boss Monster had no idea.
Another strike. And another. Then another. Blow after blow rained down, burying Malik deep into the ground until even his silhouette was hidden beneath debris and dust. After eight brutal strikes, the Boss had chewed through 40% of Malik's HP. The Level 20 Final Boss stared down in shock—Malik was still there, still kneeling.
"Seems you've exhausted all your strength," the Infernal Feral King sneered. "I'll end this… with one final strike."
He raised his arm high, and the Greatsword pointed straight to the sky. Infernal energy surged into the blade. It began to hum, then howl, fiery flames dancing wildly along its edge. The temperature in the lair skyrocketed.
At this point, Malik's body was completely numb. His limbs refused to move. His breathing grew shallow. It felt like his energy had been sucked dry—and collapse was only seconds away.
'I can't collapse here... Not now... I promised them... I can't die here!' Malik roared in his mind.
Just then, as the hum of the Infernal Greatsword reached its crescendo, a sound echoed in his ears:
Ping!
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When Equipped:
Increased Punch Damage: +30%
Stun Chance: 15% (2 seconds)
Description:
Mastery of fist techniques, unleashing powerful and precise punches that can stun and overwhelm opponents.
...
The cascade of notifications echoed in Malik's ears like the war drums of fate. His eyes flickered with renewed brilliance.
The Infernal Feral King, still charging energy into his sword, noticed the glow in Malik's eyes. A trace of astonishment flashed across its face, but it quickly dismissed it.
No matter. This ends now...
INFERNAL FERAL SLASH!!!
The Boss's voice roared across the lair, shaking the entire cavern. He launched the blazing sword in a straight line toward Malik, still buried in the ground. The attack tore through the air, howling like a demon from the abyss. Cracks split the earth in its wake. If this landed, Malik wouldn't just be defeated—he'd be erased.
Even though Malik had awakened a new mastery... Even though he'd endured the storm... it still wasn't enough to stop this deathblow.
But he wasn't ready to die.
"I refuse to die!!!" Malik roared as the Infernal Feral Slash bore down on him, light and flame swallowing everything.