A cold light flashed, and dust erupted towards the skies. Captain Demonic Dragon frowned and he scanned his gaze around him.
An attack using his entire strength was something that couldn't possibly be avoided in such a short range.
But at the time of impact, he didn't feel any feedback of hitting flesh.
"Brat, just how did you do that?"
Captain Demonic Dragon mumbled in the air. But he received nothing in response.
"There's no use in hiding. Once you surface from your hiding spot, I can easily track you down..." He sneered and taunted Dan who hid behind a tattered tent.
Dan's visage looked flushed and his eyes shone in a mixture of emotions such as fear, excitement, and ballsiness.
Staring at the huge dot in his mini-map. Dan mumbled, "His Secret Art should've also ended by now judging from his reduced size. But it looks like he consumed a stimulant pill so his strength is still increased by at least thirty percent..."
Glancing at the direction of the Formation Barrier, Dan clicked his tongue and whispered, "System, calculate my chances of winning against that monster..."
[System Function Initiating; 50%]
[System Function Completed!]
[Results: The host has a fifty percent chance of victory!]
[Suggestion: Don't be such a wuss, just risk it and if you succeed, you can have some bragging rights.]
Dan chuckled upon seeing the end of the system notification sentence. Lifting his head towards the skies. Dan thought,
"I wonder what went in the heads of those novel protagonists when faced with such a dilemma?" Shaking his head, he chortled, "Well, they have tons of plot armor and I don't have one. Why should I compare myself to them?"
"Though I said that, this world is quite similar with those worlds. And according to my knowledge, only those who are more ruthless than their enemies get to live and see the daybreak..." Resolve flashed in his mind and he hardened his heart.
His remaining Spiritual Qi was at mere five percent and when he compared his stats with Captain Demonic Dragon, his laugh turned bitter.
[Name: Dan Gabriel Longinus; Age: 16; Status: ??????????]
[Stats: Str: 18, Int: 33, Dex: 35, Agi: 37, Sta: 14]
[For Reference, one stat point equals an average human's stat.]
[Cultivation: Middle Stage of the Spirit Tempering Realm]
[System Evaluation: Mamahuhu.]
In comparison, Captain Demonic Dragon's stats were.
[Name: Rodney Wintone; Age: 48; Status: Leader of the Demonic Dragon Group]
[Stats: Str: 33, Int: 25, Dex: 42, Agi: 32, Sta: 22]
[For Reference, one stat point equals an average human's stat.]
[Cultivation: Peak Stage of the Spirit Tempering Realm]
[System Evaluation: Quite dangerous, but still winnable if you're not a wuss.]
"Is this what the system meant by a fifty percent chance of winning? Though he is weakened just his raw strength alone is enough to crush me into pieces..." Dan bitterly chuckled, but since he has decided, he couldn't go back and so, he went through his actions.
Dan didn't even use his Modern Weaponry since without infusing his Spiritual Qi, he didn't think that it could even penetrate the skin of cultivators.
Taking two Gerber Mark II dagger with him. Dan observed his opponent.
"His aura is extremely dense and brutal in nature. Obviously, close combat quarters is his specialty, and in this fight, it is inevitable..."
Battles between experts were mostly decided by who possessed stronger techniques that the other. With Captain Demonic Dragon's experience in life and his pillaging lifestyle, he obviously had the advantage over Dan.
But unfortunately, Dan had the cheat called a System.
But of course, Dan loved his life and he still didn't want to die. Opening the System Menu. He used up a Save Slot.
[Save: 8; Load: 10]
Moving away from the tent, Captain Demonic Dragon's ears twitched and a vicious smile broke on his face when he saw the former's figure at the distance. With a stomp of his foot, he dashed and raised his fist in a downward punch.
The air itself whistled and warning alarms inside Dan's mind echoed out, giving him warnings about the imminent danger. Captain Demonic Dragon saw that the former looked calm and didn't have the intention to dodge.
But what is the reason? His cultivation is a stage lower than mine and the fluctuations of his Spiritual Qi indicates that he's a dying candle, is he looking to die?
When he thought of this. His punch arrived, but to his surprise. He didn't feel any substantial feedback from his attack.
"He dodged?" Captain Demonic Dragon mumbled under his breath. But as soon as he finished, a sharp pain surged on his arms and when he realized it, a three inches gash could be seen on his forearm.
"When did you?" His expression twisted into utmost anger as he questioned.
About thirty meters away, a young figure could be seen with beaded sweats riddled on his forehead. One of his daggers was bloodsoaked and he couldn't help but shiver when he thought about the danger that he just encountered.
At the critical moment, the System gave him precise instructions including movement, the angle of attack and appropriate footwork that he could utilize against his enemy's attack.
Though the instructions were hard. Under extreme pressure, Dan managed to accomplish the task with precision and not only he evaded, but he also did a counter-attack.
"Bastard!"
Captain Demonic Dragon rushed towards his direction and a fierce close combat battle ensued.
Sparks flew as fists and daggers collided in mid-air.
In each collision, both parties would suffer insignificant injuries.
"This can't go on!"
Dan knew that if this battle continued, his enemy will eventually outlast him.
Crossing both of his daggers, Dan received a punch and took advantage of the force to retreat backward.
But Captain Demonic Dragon predicted this and leaped towards the place where Dan would land.
"Damn it!"
Dan was still in mid-air and it was impossible for him to dodge his enemy's attack.
His mind madly spun, formulating his next course of actions against his enemy's attack that would definitely prove fatal if it struck him.
"If this doesn't work then I'm fucking screwed..."
Dan gritted his teeth before activating a skill, Assassin's Focus and sent it towards Captain Demonic Dragon's figure.
An ominous jet-black energy assaulted the latter and temporarily restrained his movements. But unfortunately, it only lasted for about one second and when the suppression ended, Dan was still in mid-air and couldn't do anything as Captain Demonic Dragon's fist neared his figure.
The scenery itself distorted and a strange phenomenon occurred. Everything from leaves, dust and the scattered rocks returned to their previous state as Dan found himself standing behind a bedraggled tent with a system notification before him.
[Save: 8; Load: 9;]
Gulping a mouthful of saliva. His pale expression and hastened heartbeat was the evidence of the horror that he just experienced. To escape from that certain death situation, Dan had no other choice but to burn a load slot.
However, just because he lost earlier doesn't mean that he didn't earn anything in their exchange.
Just before Dan went out to battle. He ordered the System to record everything that it could about Captain Demonic Dragon, especially his habits in combat.
With this advantage in mind, Dan's chances of defeating his enemy increased. Of which he confirmed with the System.
[Results: The host has a sixty percent chance of victory!]
[Suggestion: Don't be such a wuss, just risk it and if you succeed, you can have some bragging rights.]
Dismissing the system notifications that almost filled his vision. Dan exposed himself and when Captain Demonic Dragon saw the former's figure. The two immediately clashed against each other.
Five moves!
Ten moves!
Fifteen moves!
A hundred moves!
Captain Demonic Dragon's expression darkened when he realized that he couldn't get the upper hand. At first, Dan's movements looked amateurish as if he was adjusting to something.
But when their battle arrived at the fiftieth moves. Dan's actions suddenly matched his rhythm and the bastard even managed to deflect most of his lethal and sneaky attacks.
It was as if Dan had extreme familiarity with his way of combat.
Captain Demonic Dragon stabbed with his sword and Dan casually turned his head to the side. But as soon as the latter did that. The former scoffed, "What a fool, does he not know about soft swords?"
The tip of the former's sword bent like a snake and pounced at Dan's nape. Since the attack was on Dan's blindspot. It would be impossible for him to dodge and it would certainly kill him.
Peng!
Dan lifted his right hand and blocked the sneak attack using his dagger. Crouching down, he rolled on the ground before flicking his left dagger towards Captain Demonic Dragon's direction.
"Hmmph!" The latter snorted and easily deflected the incoming dagger as Dan retrieved his weapons and retreated.
Far at the distance, Dan revealed a wry smile. The data that he had about Captain Demonic Dragon only included his habits in fist-fighting. That was the reason why he had a hard time defending against the former's attacks at the early stages of the battle.
But now, with sufficient data. Dan could contend against him and even deal some damage.
"It's not enough..."
Dan shook his head, though his knowledge about his enemy was huge. That doesn't mean that he could easily use it towards his advantage. After all, his enemy wasn't stupid and could possibly detect that he was taking advantage of his habits in dealing with him.
If Captain Demonic Dragon changed his pattern of movements in mid-battle. It would spell tragedy for Dan who heavily relied on the System's Simulation capabilities.
"Kid, you've been pretty annoying and I already have my share of fun. Now it is time for you to pay for what you did towards my subordinates..." Captain Demonic Dragon lifted a vicious smile. His figure suddenly disappeared from Dan's sight.
"This movement technique again!?" Dan's alert levels skyrocketed, and his eyes widened in shock when he saw the former reappearing behind his body with his fist, flying for the back of his head.
"Am I going to fail once again?"
Time itself slowed down and Dan couldn't help but bitterly chuckle. Without the support of Modern Weaponry infused with his Spiritual Qi. Dan realized that he was nothing. He didn't know much when it comes to Fighting Techniques and the sole advantage that he only had was the System.
If he didn't have the System?
He was just nothing but mere ant...
"The System Evaluations about me is starting to feel sensible..." His eyes flashed in a cold light of hardened resolve. Dismissing all system interface. Dan turned off the System's Supportive Functions and decided to clash against his enemy with his own capabilities.
Utilizing three percent of his remaining Spiritual Qi, Dan stomped on the ground and sped towards the distance, barely evading the punch in a hair's breadth.
Captain Demonic Dragon became stunned. The bastard's reaction speed was actually higher than himself.
Lifting his head, he stared at Dan's figure and found that the latter's eyes looked infinitely cold, with a trace of ruthlessness and killing intent, he stared right into Captain Demonic Dragon's eyes.
A coldness that could freeze everything under the heavens seeped out from Dan's body. Captain Demonic Dragon's figure couldn't help but tremble in fear and astonishment.
"You bastard! What are you acting like that for? Are you trying to scare someone like me?!" He sent a wave of Spiritual Qi. His attack struck Dan's figure, creating a wound the size of a palm on his abdomen.
Captain Demonic Dragon's confusion intensified. He didn't expect that Dan wouldn't evade his attacks. From their earlier exchanges, he knew how cautious and afraid of death the youngster was and his sudden change in attitude and the eerie air around him made the former, stagger backward for fear of the unknown.
Nevertheless, he continued his barrage of attacks, sending waves after waves of Spiritual Qi, Since Dan couldn't evade such attacks with his current condition, Dan accepted them all as his figure transformed into a blood-soaked Asura that didn't want anything other than to kill.
At this moment, Dan's figure didn't look like a naive and innocent youngster. Wielding both of his daggers, he slowly closed into his enemy. Bringing with him the air of certain death.