Chapter 151: Level up

"Fuuu..." Kai exhaled a long breath as he ignored the throbbing pain for the time being. The cat really hits like a truck.

He glanced at the beast, which had already turned towards him again.

"Too easy to read my intentions" Kai exhaled slowly.

’If mana doesn’t work against it, then I’ll simply have to rely on something else.’

He first launched himself to the left and hid behind a boulder.

Then he began to loosen his shoulders and lowered his centre of gravity. His breathing changed once again, becoming slow and rhythmic.

Rather than allowing his muscles to tense in anticipation of the beast’s attack, he let his entire body relax.

The creature stopped a few metres away.

Its yellow eyes scanned the surroundings before its nostrils flared. It could no longer pinpoint Kai’s exact position, but it knew he was somewhere nearby.

"GRAAAH!"

The beast suddenly sprang towards the boulder, its enormous claws tearing through the stone.

And then...

Kai moved.

He emerged from the cloud of dust with a single step, slipping beneath the creature’s extended forelimb. His right palm struck the beast’s elbow joint while his left hand caught its wrist.

Eightfold Flow: Redirecting Current.

Rather than resisting the tremendous force behind the attack, Kai guided it elsewhere. His hips rotated, his feet pivoted, and the beast’s own momentum carried its massive body slightly off balance.

For an instant, the enormous creature stumbled.

That was all Kai needed.

His elbow drove into the exposed joint, followed by a sharp palm strike against its ribs.

BOOM!

The impact reverberated through the cavern.

The beast staggered sideways, its claws scraping against the ground as it struggled to regain its balance.

Kai landed gracefully, barely making a sound.

"All that sass just for muscles and mass. You ain’t gonna win this with brute force."

The beast snarled.

Its tail suddenly whipped towards him.

Kai tilted his head, allowing the steel-hard appendage to pass inches from his face. He stepped forward rather than retreating, closing the distance before the creature could complete its next movement.

His palm settled against its abdomen.

Eightfold Flow: Internal Resonance.

THUD!

There was no spectacular explosion, nor did the strike produce an overwhelming shockwave. Instead, a concentrated force travelled through the beast’s thick hide, penetrating its muscular exterior and disrupting its balance from within.

The creature’s eyes widened.

Its massive body lurched backwards, and a strangled growl escaped its throat.

Kai withdrew his hand.

’Good. The technique works for real as well.’ having the technique engraved in his mind and working it out in reality was two different things. And he enjoyed every bit of it.

He had no intention of trading blows with a creature that possessed such monstrous physical strength. That would be foolish, especially when his opponent was several times heavier than him.

His martial arts weren’t designed to compete with an opponent’s strength.

They were designed to make that strength irrelevant.

"GRAAAH!"

The beast’s patience finally snapped.

It lowered its body and charged, its claws gouging deep trenches into the cavern floor. This time, it didn’t bother trying to bite him. Its enormous shoulder was aimed directly at Kai, intending to crush him beneath its weight.

Kai didn’t retreat.

He took one step forward.

At the very last moment, his body shifted sideways, allowing the beast to pass him by a narrow margin. His hand brushed against its shoulder as he turned with its movement.

Eightfold Flow: Heaven’s Turning Wheel.

His feet traced a smooth arc across the ground. His waist rotated, his shoulder followed, and his palm connected with the base of the creature’s neck.

The technique was deceptively simple.

Kai wasn’t trying to stop the charge. He was changing its direction.

The beast’s own momentum was redirected through its body, causing its front legs to lift off the ground. Its enormous frame tilted sideways before crashing against the cavern floor.

BOOOOOOM!

Dust erupted everywhere.

Kai stood at the centre of the disturbance, his clothes fluttering in the aftermath.

"One."

He calmly raised a finger.

The beast struggled to rise, its claws digging into the ground. Its breathing had become noticeably heavier, and the earlier confidence in its movements was gone.

However, it wasn’t defeated.

Its yellow eyes suddenly flashed.

A strange ripple spread through its body, and the surrounding mana seemed to distort for an instant.

Kai’s expression changed.

’It’s going to use that ability again.’

The beast sprang towards him.

This time, Kai didn’t bother hiding.

He stepped directly into its attack, his right foot sliding forward as his entire body coiled like a spring. The creature opened its jaws, intending to tear through him in one bite.

Kai’s fist disappeared beneath its chin.

Eightfold Flow: Dragon’s Ascent.

BOOOOOOM!

The punch connected with the underside of its jaw.

The sheer force lifted the beast’s enormous head, followed by its front legs. Its entire body was thrown backwards, crashing into the cavern wall with a deafening impact.

Several cracks spread across the stone.

For a moment, silence returned to the dungeon.

Kai lowered his fist and exhaled.

’Much better.’

He glanced at his knuckles before looking towards the beast.

His martial arts weren’t dependent on mana manipulation. They relied on precise movements, controlled breathing, proper alignment, and the ability to transfer force through his entire body.

Against an opponent that could nullify magical attacks, that distinction was invaluable.

The beast slowly dragged itself away from the wall.

Kai’s lips curved upwards.

"Alright enough now." He summoned the Fiery Birch and launched a decisive arrow straight into the skull of the beast.

And this time, it couldn’t resist the attack.

Resulting,

[+500 EXP]

[Ding! Host has leveled up!]

Kai grinned. Nice.

He has finally broken through and now, he could use the Growth Pill.

However, since he was tired and was getting late as well, he chose to use the pill later.

First, he stepped out of the dungeon where he found a familiar man waiting for him.

"Oh, it’s already over?"

Mark asked with a surprised look.

Kai nodded before pointing back at the dungeon. "You got half an hour. Take whatever is useful."

Mark nodded before he started directing the team of retrievers he brought along.

Kai exhaled a sigh and checked the time.

Four thirty.

Only three hours left before the celebration.

’Why do I feel so nervous about it?’