The arena held its breath.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
Jin Muyeon stood barely upright.
Blood ran down his arm.
His vision flickered.
[HP: 18%]
[Critical Condition]
Across from him—
Rank 8 rolled his shoulders slowly.
Completely calm.
Completely ready.
"…You've pushed me this far," he said.
A faint smile appeared.
"But this ends now."
His aura exploded.
Not like before.
Stronger.
Heavier.
More violent.
The ground beneath him shattered.
Muyeon felt it instantly.
This wasn't something he could match directly.
[System Warning]
[Fatal Outcome Probability: HIGH]
Muyeon exhaled slowly.
"…Then I just won't fight directly."
His eyes sharpened.
[Villain Adaptation: Active]
[Combat Instinct: Active]
[Killing Intent Detection: Active]
Everything around him slowed.
Rank 8 moved.
Faster than ever.
A blur.
A killing strike.
Muyeon didn't try to block.
Didn't try to match it.
He stepped—
Just slightly.
The strike missed by inches.
The crowd gasped.
Rank 8's eyes widened.
"…Again?"
Muyeon didn't answer.
He moved again.
Not faster.
Not stronger.
Better.
Another strike came.
Muyeon slipped past it.
Then another.
He flowed around them.
Like water.
Each movement minimal.
Each step perfect.
"…You're reading me," Rank 8 muttered.
Muyeon smiled faintly.
"…I'm learning you."
[Villain Adaptation Lv.3 → Lv.4]
Everything clicked.
Now—
He didn't just see attacks.
He saw intent.
Rank 8 attacked again.
Muyeon moved before it even happened.
Perfect dodge.
Then—
He stepped in.
A single strike.
BAM!
Rank 8 staggered back.
The arena exploded in shock.
"He's turning it around!"
"No way…!"
Muyeon stood still.
Breathing heavy.
His body was breaking.
But his control—
Perfect.
Rank 8 wiped blood from his lip.
Then smiled.
"…You've crossed the line."
He stepped forward again.
"This ends now."
His entire body tensed.
Energy gathered into one point.
Muyeon felt it instantly.
Danger.
Real danger.
[System Alert]
[Incoming Finishing Move]
Muyeon's eyes narrowed.
He had one chance.
Just one.
Rank 8 moved.
Everything disappeared.
Speed beyond perception.
The final strike.
Muyeon didn't try to follow it.
Didn't try to see it.
He trusted everything he learned.
He moved—
Before the attack even landed.
A step.
A twist.
The strike missed.
Barely.
And in that moment—
Muyeon countered.
All his strength.
All his focus.
All his instinct.
One strike.
BOOM.
The impact echoed through the entire arena.
Silence.
Rank 8 stood still.
Then—
His body shook.
He took one step back.
Then another.
And dropped to one knee.
The arena exploded.
"…He won?!"
"Impossible!"
Muyeon stood there.
Barely.
His body gave out.
He dropped to one knee as well.
Breathing heavy.
Vision fading.
[HP: 5%]
[Critical Condition: Collapse Imminent]
Rank 8 looked up at him.
Then laughed softly.
"…You're a monster."
Muyeon smirked faintly.
"…Took you long enough."
A pause.
Then Rank 8 raised his hand.
"I concede."
Silence.
Then chaos.
[Victory Achieved]
[Rank Updated: 8]
[Villain Points +150]
Muyeon's name rose again.
Rank 8 — Jin Muyeon
Above—
Elder Seo smiled faintly.
"…He's not normal."
Instructor Han narrowed his eyes.
"…He's evolving too fast."
Muyeon slowly stood again.
Even with his body collapsing—
He stood.
His eyes moved up the rankings.
Higher.
Higher.
"…Not enough."
[System Notification]
[Major Breakthrough Achieved]
Skill Evolution Available
New Trait Unlock Pending
System Evolution: 68%
Muyeon smiled.
"…Let's keep going."