Chapter 306: Final Chance

Aiden’s face drained of all color. For a moment he couldn’t even breathe. He turned slowly toward the Knull Lord. Those four red eyes burned with a dark radiance that felt like it could peel his soul apart."Speak up," the Knull Lord said. "Stop wasting my time." His voice carried irritation, pressure, and a cold authority that made Aiden’s spine lock.

Aiden let out a nervous laugh and rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry," he said, then forced himself to deliver the lie he and the others had planned. Well, technically he planned it. They just nodded along.

He laid it out smoothly, weaving every piece together like it was the truth. Even the team stared at him in disbelief. If they didn’t know the real story, they would have believed him without blinking. Aiden even puffed his chest a little when he finished, proud of the tragic masterpiece he had just dropped.

A group of pitiful young humans, swallowed by a dark portal because of a chain of unfortunate events. Lost. Scared. Accidentally stumbling into a secret stronghold. Helpless from start to finish. The story was airtight. Even Aiden was impressed by his own lying skills.

The Knull Lord didn’t speak at first. He stared at them, eyes dimming, brightening, dimming again, like something inside him was shifting. Like he was weighing mercy against slaughter.

Then he spoke.

"Ok," he said calmly. "I’ve decided."

Aiden grinned, already turning to the others. "Nice. Let’s get the hell out of—"

"You will all undergo the most torturous punishment."

Aiden froze mid-step.

The Knull Lord continued, his tone calm, almost gentle, but dripping with cruelty. "You will wish for death long before I grant it. You will burn. You will be shredded. You will be broken piece by piece..." His list of punishments kept going, piling on like waves of poison.

Everyone felt the blood drain from their bodies. Just imagining half of those things was enough to drive a sane person mad.

"After you endure all of that," the Knull Lord finished, "you will be killed."

Aiden’s mouth opened, closed, then opened again. "Wait. What the hell? Why are we being treated like criminals? We’re the victims here." His voice cracked between disbelief and outrage. No way his flawless lie failed that badly. No way the Knull saw through everything.

"Why?" Aiden demanded. "Why give us that kind of judgment?"

The Knull Lord stared at them, silent. His eyes glowed without a hint of emotion. Then he spoke, voice cold and steady.

"I would have liked to say it is because you are lying about your reasons and how you arrived here," he said. "But that would be a lie from me."

The four red eyes flared darker, filled with malice and killing intent.

"You humans irritate us. Your arrogance. Your pride. Whether accidental or intentional, you stand on my territory." He leaned forward slightly, pressure deepening like a storm.

"So you will face the consequences."

After he said that, he waved his hand for the guards to drag the group away. But before they could move, a voice cut through the air, calm and unwavering.

You monsters are all despicable.

The Knull Lord turned, his four red eyes locking on the speaker. It was Han.

Han spoke with the same cold steadiness, not a single tremor in his voice. You talk about humans being vile and arrogant, but you are nothing but defilement wrapped in rotting skin. One day, all of you will be wiped out. I promise you that.

The Knull Lord’s eyes flared, molten rage burning through the sockets. Han’s words had finally struck a nerve. The Knull Lord stood and walked toward them, each step landing like a mountain dropping onto their shoulders. And then he stood right in front of Han, his four blazing eyes staring into Han’s cold blue ones.

Tell me, the Knull Lord said, his voice a low rumble. How exactly do you plan to achieve your little promise after you are dead?

Han stared back at him for a long moment before finally speaking. Because we are going to have a death duel. Me against you. Whoever wins decides the other’s fate.

Silence. The Knull Lord simply looked at him, gaze steady, unreadable. Then something shifted in his tone. A hint of mockery. Or maybe amusement.

And why, human, should I agree to this decision of yours? It sounds foolish.

Han didn’t answer immediately. He let the silence settle before he spoke, voice quiet but sharp. Because you will. If you refuse, that means you are scared to face me. But I don’t think you are. Are you?

The Knull Lord stared at Han for a long, suffocating stretch of time. Then he turned away without a word and walked back toward his throne.

Wait. It didn’t work? Han thought, irritation and disbelief rising like a tide. Why the hell is this monster not like the others?

But then the Knull Lord’s voice rolled across the hall, cold and filled with malice.

Release the white haired one. I will grant his request and personally kill him.

His tone held the weight of a law carved into existence itself.

Han looked back at him with calm eyes, but inside he felt a small rush of relief. His plan worked.

He had run through every possible way to get his group out of this mess, but none were good. None were solid. So he came up with the simplest and craziest answer.

Kill the Knull Lord.

Higher ranked monsters weren’t just strong. They were intelligent. Extremely intelligent. More than humans. And every one of them had that deep rooted superiority. That instinct to crush anything human under their feet.

So Han used that. He used the one thing monsters like this could never swallow.

Pride.

If he could kill the Knull Lord, everything would change. The boss dead, the black portal sealed, the group’s chance of leaving alive skyrocketing.

There was no other path.

Han had already reached his conclusion.

He must kill the portal boss. Here. Now.

Now came the hard part. The real nightmare. Han had challenged the Knull Lord, and now he actually had to kill him in a duel.

Han. Clara’s voice rang through the mind link, quiet but sharp. Are you certain about this. That thing’s power is not something you can contend with. Are you sure you can take him head on. If you can’t, forget this duel and let me think of something else.

Han stayed silent for a while. The group waited, tension coiling in their chests. Then his voice finally came through, steady and cold.

I will kill him. I must. It is the only plausible way.

And that was it. His decision was final.

He stood up. Aiden let out a shaky breath and spoke through the mind link. Guys, I think we should all pray that he stays alive. That is the best prayer we can give him right now.

The group said nothing, but every one of them agreed. Their hearts were already praying for Han as he walked toward the massive stone platform. It was huge, because the Knull King’s palace was built for giants, not humans. Han stepped onto it anyway, tiny compared to the throne looming behind the Knull Lord.

Han stood face to face with the monster. He tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing.

To think you are shorter than me. Han said. His voice carried that subtle edge of mockery. You must be even more inferior than I thought.

The Knull Lord said nothing. Then the air shifted. His cold, melodic, commanding voice rolled out and wrapped around the group like chains.

I will give you the chance to attack me three times with all your strength. If you fail to kill me with those three attacks, then it shall be my turn to kill you.

Han stared at him quietly. Then he smiled.

I agree. But you will not live past the first attack.

The Knull Lord did not reply. He simply stood there, four molten red eyes calm and steady.

Alright then. Come at me.

Han breathed in. Slow. Steady. He knew he had just one strike. One chance. One heartbeat to end this monster. There was no room for hesitation.

He bent slightly. The energy in his body churned, lightning and fire crackling violently around his palm. The power condensed, thicker and heavier, until the air itself warped inward. Space trembled like something massive was trying to break through it.

The attack he was preparing was monstrous. But he still did not believe it would be enough on its own.

Multiplier Strength Speed times four. Han whispered.

Even with armor nullification protecting him, pain ripped through him. His muscles trembled. His blood screamed. But he held on.

Then the attack was fully formed. He vanished using the Fourth Jungle Art, crossing the gap between him and the Knull Lord in a blink. His arm shot forward like a divine cannon.

Fourteenth Jungle Art. Tiger Punch. Flame Lightning Style.

The punch hit the Knull Lord with full, condensed, catastrophic force. A thunderous explosion ripped outward like a collapsing star. The entire palace shook. The group staggered as the shockwave slammed into them, bone rattling and suffocating. Even the dark fortress walls groaned under the impact, trembling from the sheer raw power.

For a moment, no one could see anything. Just swirling smoke and roaring energy tearing through the hall.

Then the blast began to fade. Slowly. Piece by piece.

Han’s silhouette appeared first. His expression was twisted with disbelief.

Then the smoke cleared fully.

The Knull Lord stood there, completely untouched.

And he was holding Han’s fist in his hand, calmly, as if Han had thrown nothing more than a light tap.

All that power. All that force. And it was stopped just like that.

Han stared, disbelief cracking across his face as the Knull released his fist like it was nothing. The monster’s hand dropped back to his side, utterly calm, utterly bored.

"You have already performed one out of the three attacks I granted you," the Knull Lord said. "There are only two left."

Han shot backward, skidding through the air, eyes locked on the creature. He watched him for a long breath, then shrugged like none of this mattered.

"I must admit you are strong. Maybe too strong to take that attack head on without even twitching. But that will not be the same for the next one." His voice was steady, sharp with confidence that came from somewhere deeper than fear.

He rose into the air.

Thunder twisted around his frame, violent and hungry. Flames surged over him until he was swallowed inside a blazing dome of inferno and lightning. The heat shook the air. The pressure cracked the stone beneath his feet. Even the shadows recoiled from him.

"I will finish you with this next attack," Han said.

Meanwhile, outside the palace, the sky itself trembled. Dark clouds churned above the Knull base, folding into each other like an omen. Lightning crawled through them in violent veins, condensing, thickening, gathering as if the heavens were preparing to strike with the wrath of a god.

Han’s gaze cut to his system.

Time felt strange here. Stretched. Slowed. Twisted. And hanging right in front of him was the one skill he needed, the one thing that could flip this entire battle on its head.

His eyes locked onto it. One skill. One chance.

Thunderstorm.

TO BE CONTINUED...

AUTHOR’S NOTE

That’s the Chapter, everyone!

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– Ultra