"Hahaha!"
A cold, guttural laughter broke the silence that had lingered in the air for far too long. It was deep, taunting, and thick with mockery as the owner of the voice stared down at Malik with utter disdain brimming in his glowing eyes.
"A Level 4 player getting cocky in my presence? It seems you don't understand the immensity between Heaven and Earth," the crude voice rang out again—undeniably from the monster standing before Malik, the Mini Boss of the second floor who had just tried to bathe in his teammates' blood.
"Although you managed to take the full brunt of my attack, I don't believe you can do that again." The Feral Crawler spoke, releasing energy into its claws as eerie green lines began to surface, crawling across the surface like venomous veins.
"He... he did take the full brunt of the last attack..." Taiwo stammered. She had overheard the ranting of the Feral Crawler and couldn't help but tremble, retreating instinctively alongside the rest of the team.
"Not only that—he maintained 90% of his HP," Tipa's eyes shimmered with sharpness as they fixated on their Team Leader's back. 'Just how high are his defenses?'
The seven hadn't seen what exactly happened. Death had already flashed before their eyes, and by the time they snapped back to reality, Malik was standing in front of them, still very much alive. Big Nurse on the other hand was also busy trying to heal others that he didn't even notice when Malik left his side.
"Leave the rest to me," Malik's voice rang with calm authority. The words were actually repeating in the ear of the Level 10 Berserker.
The words caused Kenny's cheeks to flush red. How could someone be this imposing? While the rest of the team shivered under the Mini Boss's pressure, Kenny found herself inexplicably thrilled—excited to see what Malik would do next.
PINCER SWIPE!
Ten green energy lines erupted from the Feral Crawler's claws, slicing the air like demonic whips—five layered adjacent to each other, forming an 'X' as they barreled toward Malik.
He didn't move.
He didn't even flinch.
He stood rooted to the ground as the attack engulfed him, reducing everything within a 50-meter radius to rubble as dust and debris exploded skyward.
"Team Leader!"
"Brother Isiaka!"
"Man like Malik!"
Panic echoed from the team. He was just a Level 4 player. If that attack could decimate the ground like this, how could someone at his level possibly survive?
"Hahaha! I said it—you're nothing but trash!"
The Feral Crawler laughed viciously as it turned its attention toward Malik's teammates. Dread gripped them. It was about to finish the rest of them off.
It took a step—no, it covered a yard in one stride.
Then a second.
Then a third.
But just as it planted the fourth footstep, a chilling sensation crept up its back. 'What's this feeling of doom?'
By the time it twisted its neck—
BOOM!
A fist smashed into its face like a warhammer, sending it flying through the air like a broken kite. It tumbled across the ground, bounced, and then crashed violently a few yards away.
-700!
"10% of its HP… with just one punch?" Kenny's eyes widened. Malik had emerged straight out of the earth like a vengeful spirit and struck before the Feral Crawler could react. It had turned too late, and the punch connected—critically.
The others weren't even looking at the boss monster. Their eyes were on their team leader.
Malik.
Who still had 75% of his HP remaining.
He had taken the full brunt of the second Pincer Swipe and lost only 15%.
What they didn't know, however, was that Malik had actually lost 18%. He'd simply regained 3% after successfully landing a blow.
"You don't divert your attention in the middle of a fight," Malik said flatly, his voice low and composed.
The Feral Crawler's entire body tensed with rage.
Two hits. Full brunt. And he's still standing.
'What kinda armor is this bastard wearing?! I input more energy into that attack, it ought to had kill him.' the monster cursed inwardly.
The Crawler raised its claws, green energy coursing violently through its body. Its eyes darkened—glowing like twin abyssal lanterns—his silhouettes flashed and as Malik tightened his fist,its suddenly disappeared.
"He disappeared…" Angel Michael gasped.
"He vanished," another murmured.
Panic rippled through the team. Their perception couldn't lock onto the monster.
But Malik stood calmly. "Playing tricks huh?" A smirk appeared on his face as he released his enhanced senses, sending his perception into his surrounding.
Boss monsters weren't like their smaller counterparts. They had access to a wider range of skills. And though the Feral Crawler was only a Mini Boss, it seemed to wield skills far above its station.
Stealth.
One of the most terrifying abilities in the game.
A skill that let monsters erase their presence entirely for a limited duration—an absolute nightmare for players.
Because how do you defeat something you can't see?
"I see… so this is why nobody's cleared the second floor yet. It's because of this skill—Stealth," Malik said aloud, his voice cutting through the silence.
The Feral Crawler's eyes widened from its hidden vantage point.
How…? How can he know!?
The monster had erased every trace of itself and waited for the perfect opportunity—to kill Malik in a single attack.
So what if he guessed? He still couldn't see him.
It pounced from Malik's flank, claws raised, aiming to crush him into paste—
CRACK!
The claws slammed together with a thunderous boom, carving deep fissures into the stone floor.
But something was off.
Something was very wrong.
There was nothing between its claws.
Malik had dodged it.
The Feral Crawler's eyes snapped upward—and saw Malik descending from the sky like divine judgment.
CRASH!
A leg smashed into the monster's head, sending it sprawling backward with a thunderous impact.
-500!
Ping!
<
"Although your skill is heaven-defying," Malik said, standing over the boss monster, "it has a fatal flaw—you'll always be noticed the moment you attack. Such tricks are useless against someone with great perception."
Malik had relied on his enhanced senses—pushed to their limit. The Feral Crawler's speed had been no joke; Malik was even forced to activate his boots' skill, boosting his agility by 30% for 1 minute.
But that minute was all he need...
He folded his fists slowly. His stance tightened. His gaze sharpened into a glare that felt like the edge of a blade pressing against the monster's soul.
The Feral Crawler trembled.
"Why do I feel like I'm already dead?"