Just when he thought his luck couldn't surprise him anymore, It flipped and Rewrote his entire perception of fate.
"Ahhhhhhhhhh!"
Tarkan didn't even realize when the sound of frustration burst out of his mouth.
--
[Tir: 00:00:00] (Level 2)
> Reverse – Reverse ti without restriction, as long as you have enough ti.
Revert – Reverse ti on a single target, no restriction, as long as you have enough ti.
Physique: Eternal Monarch (partial)
[Feral: 24 | Awakened: 2 | Crowned: 0]
Talent: Eyes of Comprehension (SSS RANK) – The eyes of all understanding
(Croak Boost Active)
Wrath of Thunder (A-Rank) – Control over thunder. Its true power depends on the user's imagination.
--
He checked his tir again. Still at zero. Just a few more minutes and it would finally tick up by one minute.
But even then, it could only delay the inevitable.
All around him, Zumbra gathered in layers, bundles on bundles, just staring at him. Their stingers glinted nacingly in the dim light.
He'd already poured everything into that last suicidal attack just to kill one of them.
Every drop of his energy was drained by that attack.
And even if he had been at his peak, even if his body was in top form, he knew he couldn't make it out of this place alive.
The only reason he managed to kill an Awakened Zumbra was thanks to sheer recklessness and the Blade from Cassian, which was so sharp it cut through the beast like it was paper.
But now?
he had not a single drop of hope to get out of this ordeal alive.
Yet, despite all that, the Zumbra didn't charge.
They just hovered there, Buzzing. Wings trembling,Eyes locked on him.
Tarkan held the sword tight. His gaze flicked around the area, spinning slowly, preparing for any form of attack.
Still, they didn't move.
They were just static in the air, like a deadly cloud.
Suddenly.
The Zumbra parted, forming a path.
Through the opening floated a zumbra if he could even call it that because it was much more different, majestic and graceful.
He couldn't describe it.
Should he call it the most beautiful Zumbra he had seen? It looked more like royalty than a beast. Its presence alone demanded silence.
And in that mont, it hit him.
The detailed info about the zumbra from the comprehensive guide.
Zumbra swarms were led by a Crowned-tier creature.
Even one was an unspeakable nightmare. Even if Tarkan had been fully healed, wielding the sa sword, fighting two Awakened Zumbra would've been nearly impossible.
But now?
He was surrounded by hundreds of them.
Add in a Crowned-tier Zumbra?
No miracle could save him now. None.
He gripped the swords tighter.
Gritting his teeth, fury rising.
The Queen seed to be evaluating him. He stood there pale, his blood soaking the already filthy rags that were once new clothes. His entire body haggard, filthy, broken.
His hands and mouth were still sared with the orange shit of the dead Zumbra he'd taken down.
SCREEEEEECH!
A piercing cry from the Crowned tier creature filled the air.
And that was all it took.
The stand off shattered.
The Zumbra sward him all at once.
Tarkan raised his sword, picked a direction, and charged.
Even though he knew his death was certain, he had to bring down as many as he could with him.
Maybe it was adrenaline, Maybe it was madness or maybe he just refused to kneel before death. Either way, he roared as he ran into the swarm.
But before he could even land a blow on one, six stingers stabbed into him from different angles.
They struck like lightning, then imdiately withdrew.
Then another six hit from different angles, one of them piercing his heart.
Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.
The blade slipped from his hands.
At that mont his thoughts couldn't help, but wander towards Slim.
What would happen to him if he died?
That thought burned him more than the pain.
He hadn't explored half the things he wanted to, Hadn't tasted life, Hadn't achieved a single thing he could be proud of, Just scraping around like a rat, running, Always running.
And now he'd die here, in the first dinsion.
A starting zone that wasn't even considered a step toward ascension.
It burned.
It burned so badly.
But his anger was useless. It was already too late.
More stingers stabbed him again. This ti, they didn't pull back.
Tarkan hung there, stabbed, limp and bleeding, hovering like a at on hooks.
Regret, Anger, Sha.
A useless life.
That was the last thing he felt.
That was all that was left of him.
His eyes dimd, and slowly.. they shut.
BUZZZZT!
SCREEEEECHHHHH!
Suddenly, the Zumbra that had their stinger pierced into him airborne began screaming.
They tried pulling away in panic, but couldn't.
Their heads burst open, green blood spraying everywhere.
The liquid twisted through the air like it had a will of its own, rushing toward Tarkan's body. It wrapped around him, Crawling into his wounds.
One by one, the Zumbra fell from the sky.
And so did Tarkan.
But before his body could hit the ground, His eyes snapped open.
A heartbeat later, BOOM!
His body slamd into the earth, shaking the land, Dust exploding outward.
When it cleared, a wide crater lay carved into the ground, three ters across.
And In the center stood Tarkan.
Straight-backed.
Tall, Unmoving.
His tattered clothes barely clung to him. Holes and blood covered every inch. His expression was cold, expressionless, like a machine.
But the intent in his gaze was terrifying.
His once bright blue eyes had transford, now deep, jet-blood red.
Like the eyes of sothing ancient. Sothing.. no longer human.
That mont, he took a single step.
To any observer, he vanished.
But he didn't teleport. He was just too fast.
He reappeared mid-air before a Zumbra.
With his bare hands, he grabbed its stinger.
Screeeeech! Screeeeech!
The creature scread. Then its head burst on its own, green blood gushed out, streaming once again into Tarkan's body healing it at a visible rate.
Another Zumbra followed the sa fate.
Both dropped to the earth.
Dead.
The two Zumbra he caught were dead before his feet even landed.
He dropped their lifeless forms without emotion.
Then slowly raised his head.
And t the gaze of the Zumbra Queen.
And in that frozen mont, all he felt wasn't fear or hatred.
All he could feel coursing through his veins was.
Unbreakable, Pure, absolute, incomprehensible pride, so deep, even pride itself would kneel before it.
And beneath it, an imnse bloodlust to slaughter and destroy every breathing thing along his path.
...
..
.
A huge shoutout to Novelister, one of the real MVPs of this story! 🙌
Not only did he gift 6 golden tickets and 3 power stones, but he's been consistently showing love, dropping comnts, staying active, and supporting this novel every step of the way.
That kind of loyalty and energy ans more than words can express.
I was planning to start entering Privilege today (which will take 2–3 days to fully prep and qualify for this feature), but out of courtesy to Novelister's amazing support, I'm pushing that to tomorrow so I can focus on giving back today.
I may not have a throne or castle to give, but know this, you're a cornerstone of this world and a big part of what keeps this story alive. 👑
Thank you, Novelister! You seriously rock. 🚀❤️
P.S. This isn't to boost word count, I just needed the world to know how aweso this guy is. 😂
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