Malik walked up to the Infernal Feral King.
In this moment—where death wasn't just possible but probable—Malik remained unshaken. Calm. Collected. Even though the Infernal King's aura was monstrously stronger than his own… Even though the Boss was five levels above him, and its defenses were 1.5 times higher than his entire stat build, Malik's presence radiated an eerie calmness. A stillness that gnawed at the senses. That same unsettling aura caused the Infernal Feral King to instinctively yank its colossal Infernal Greatsword from the ground.
"Human. Who are you?" the Infernal Feral King asked, pointing its greatsword at Malik. The tip hovered just inches from his face, the sizzling heat pouring from the weapon gnawing at his skin—scorching pain surged across his entire body.
And yet, Malik didn't flinch.
The fact that the boss's sword now loomed inches from his face meant one thing—he had stepped into the kill-zone of a Level 20 Special Elite Boss. That alone would send most players scrambling for the exit.
"Do I need to introduce myself to you?" Malik asked, voice steady, shocking the Boss Monster into silence.
"Impudent!" the boss growled, flames lacing its breath. "A mere Level 4 human, daring to speak to me with such arrogance? If not for the strange quality of your aura, I wouldn't have wasted breath exchanging words!"
"But you're right about one thing," The Infernal Feral King added. "I don't need to know the name of a dead man."
"You talk too much for a monster."
<
"Huh?" the Infernal Feral King's expression shifted. Malik vanished into thin air like a wisp of black smoke. The boss raised its sword, sweeping his perception outward in every direction—but he saw nothing. Not even a flicker.
'Did he run? Was all that bold talk just a bluff?'
'No. Those eyes… Those weren't the eyes of someone capable of fear.'
'This must be a skill of his. I better brace myself.'
The Infernal Feral King withdrew his perception, centering it around his body. And just then, a pressure hit him from the left.
Instinct took over.
He swung.
CLANG!!
His greatsword clashed with a black-gloved fist mid-air. Red sparks exploded like shrapnel, briefly revealing Malik as he re-emerged from the void. Before the boss could follow up, Malik vanished once more, darting to another angle, and this time, struck at the blind spot behind its waist.
But the Infernal Feral King wasn't just strong—it had god-tier perception. Despite Malik's speed, every attack he unleashed was deflected with uncanny precision. The monstrous blade danced with each blow, repelling Malik without letting a single strand of HP drop.
Meanwhile, Malik's own health bar kept bleeding. Tick by tick.
After the twentieth failed strike, the Stealth duration expired. Malik appeared again—panting, his body slightly trembling. The skill lasted only one minute… and had a five-minute cooldown.
"A heaven-defying skill you have," the boss mused. "Only if it wasn't cursed with such a visible flaw."
A sigh escaped Malik's lips.
"Yeah. Being revealed the moment I attack kinda ruins the stealth." He cracked his knuckles. "If only I could land hits while invisible, this would be a different battle entirely."
He looked up at the Boss towering over him, noting how the beast's HP hadn't dropped by even a sliver. Meanwhile, his own had drained by 5% in just a minute of clashing.
"Hmph."
The Infernal Feral King snorted. He slashed toward Malik, releasing a burning fiery arc that shot forth like a red comet—blazing so fast, it blurred into invisibility.
But Malik wasn't an ordinary human.
He was a Cultivator—a Third Step Refinement Realm powerhouse, bearing the Primordial Chaos Physique.
That speed?
He saw it clearly.
With a swift motion, Malik dodged the arc by a hair's breadth and charged forward.
'Just as expected…' the Infernal Feral King thought.
This time, he brandished his greatsword thrice.
Whirl! Whirl! Whirl!
Three fiery arcs launched at once—blazing through the air like scythes of hell. Malik jumped into the air, narrowly evading the first. As he fell, he ducked under the second, which passed just above his head. The third one? He twisted mid-air and twirled, barely spinning past the lethal edge.
If he'd been any other player, he would've been sliced clean in two.
'He dodged that too…' The boss's eyes narrowed.
He thrust his greatsword at Malik's shoulder, trying to split him open diagonally. But Malik's eyes flickered with ferocity.
<
He gathered all his energy into his legs—BOOM!
Like a bullet, he dashed sideways, dodging the attack by mere inches before launching himself into the air and slamming a fist straight into the boss's stomach.
BANG!!!
The impact echoed like a thunderclap across the dungeon. A damage number popped—
-750!
The Infernal Feral King stumbled a step backward.
Malik landed and retreated quickly, regaining distance. Both their HPs now sat at 95%, but something changed—Malik had activated his Fist Disciple Passive Skill.
And that allowed him to drain spiritual energy with each successful strike.
A warm surge of energy rushed into him.
His HP shot back to 100%.
A light smirk danced across his lips as he locked eyes with the boss.
"I got worried for nothing. This is going to be easy after all."
'His demeanor changed the moment he landed a blow…' the Infernal Feral King thought, eyes narrowing. 'He went from caution to confidence. Dangerous.'
"I'll shatter that confidence of yours."
With a roar, the boss charged. His speed—once again—exceeded human sight.
Even Malik couldn't see him until he activated Enhanced Senses, extending his perception like a sonar net.
A flash of danger pulsed from the left.
Malik dropped instantly—hugging the ground as the Infernal Greatsword sliced through the air horizontally, missing him by inches.
But Malik didn't waste the moment. He rolled forward, slipping between the boss's spread legs and launched a sharp kick at the back of his calf.
-300!
Another damage figure appeared.
The Infernal Feral King spun, lashing out with his free hand—trying to grab Malik and crush him like an insect.
'Is this monster crazy?!' Malik thought, eyes wide as the shadow of that massive palm fell over him like doom.