Chapter 31: Never Give Up

Chapter 31 - Never Give UpChapter 31

Han had been saving his trump card—the 15th Jungle Art: Lion's Roar—for a moment of desperation. He could only use it once a day, and against most enemies, he hadn't needed it.

But this boss wasn't just strong. It was a monster.

Ifrit, floating mid-air with blazing eyes, towered above him. Han's fists trembled, but not with fear—with resolve.

His fingers curled into claws, teeth sharpening into feral fangs. He threw his head back and unleashed a deafening roar that shook the forest.

The air vibrated. Air trembled. Rocks cracked.

But Ifrit? It just stared, unmoved—watching him with unsettling calmness.

As the roar faded, Han's breath came in gasps. He looked up at his opponent and smirked.

"Now... round two begins."

With a burst of speed, Han shot forward. His Tiger Punch ignited the air. Ifrit responded in kind.

Boom!



Their fists collided, sending shockwaves ripping across the land. But this time—Han wasn't the one pushed back. No. Ifrit was.

It stumbled a few steps, glaring at Han with something new—was it... respect?

"You like that?" Han chuckled cockily, finally regaining the confidence he'd lost during the earlier beatdown.

This flaming bastard had been trashing him for minutes—but now, it was his turn.

Boom! Boom! Bang! Bang!

Their clash resumed with even greater ferocity. Fists like hammers. Feints like blurs. The battlefield became a blur of fire, fists, and fury.

This time—it was a stalemate.

The boost from Lion's Roar had transformed Han: enhanced strength, faster reflexes, higher defense. His pain dulled, replaced by burning adrenaline.

Then, in a flash, Han activated Phantom Form mid-dash, leaping into the sky.

He spun like a phantom—and then, just before impact—vanished.

Ifrit's eyes widened.

Too late.

Several Tiger Punches slammed into its body, sending it flying through the air and crashing into the hot ground.

Han landed, panting but smiling. "Looks like... victory ain't so far now."

But the crater glowed.

Ifrit rose. Its eyes blazed brighter than ever.

"Human..." it spoke with a deep, furious voice, "I've decided. I will no longer hold back. Your impudence ends here."

Han smiled, masking the dread in his heart. "If you're getting serious... then I'll show you what real seriousness looks like!"

He was lying through his teeth. He had nothing left. Only one Restoration Pill remained, and he had no plan of using it.

Ifrit ascended into the sky again, fire gathering around him. Volcanoes erupted in the distance. The very air grew molten.

Flaming circles formed around its body—and in its hands, two flaming scythes appeared, fiercer than before.

Han's expression hardened. "Yeah... you're serious now for sure."

Han summoned eight clones, each wielding twin white blades.

"No holding back."

They soared skyward.

Clash.

Steel met flame. Fists struck flesh. Smoke billowed in waves. The sky lit with the blaze of war.

A few minutes later—Boom!

A figure flew out from the smoke, crashing hard into the ground. Dirt rose. Stone cracked.

Han struggled to rise, steam hissing from his sweat-soaked brow. His HP: 120/300.

"Damn it... this guy's too tough!" he cursed.

The smoke cleared—Ifrit still floated, eyes burning like suns. It raised its twin scythes and lunged.

" Can't you wait just a minute!" Han shouted in panic.

He sprinted, dodging madly, relying on Cheetah Stride and Tiger Dash, blending in and out like a ghost. His teleportation kept him alive—but barely. No matter where he hid, Ifrit always found him.

Few minutes later

Boom!

A massive fireball slammed into his hastily raised Turtle Shield. The impact was brutal, searing, and sent Han flying once again.

This time, when the dust settled—Han was sitting in the crater. Motionless. As if... he'd given up.

Ifrit descended, slowly.

"Have you given up, human?" it asked, voice low. "Have you accepted your fate?"

Han looked up, face solemn, voice quiet. "Yeah... I think this really might be it," he said, sounding defeated, like a thief caught red-handed.

"All right then," Ifrit said coolly, its burning eyes narrowing, "since you've given up, I—Ifrit, Spirit of Flame—will no longer pursue this matter."

Han sighed in relief, the tension finally draining from his body.

Then a flame scythe materialized in Ifrit's hands.

"I'll give you a quick death instead."

Han's eye twitched. What version of 'not pursuing the matter' is this?!

Ifrit stepped forward, the fiery scythe blazing as it came down, aiming to cleave Han's head in two. But instead of despair, Han smiled.

"You've underestimated how good of a liar I am."

He vanished in a flash—the scythe slicing nothing but air—only for Han to reappear at Ifrit's side, hand crashing into its ribs.

"Multiplier: ×2 Strength!"

Veins bulged across Han's arm as he let out a roar, lifting Ifrit's massive form with all his might and slamming it into the ground with a thunderous crash.

But he wasn't done.

Charging forward, Han roared, "Tiger Punch—Multiplier ×2!" His fist ignited with energy as it slammed into the white gem embedded in Ifrit's chest—it's weak point.

The impact created a devastating shockwave that cracked the earth beneath them.

Then—crack—a hairline fracture splintered across the gem. Subtle, but real.

"Still not enough," Han muttered, just before a voice erupted beneath him.

"Inferno Vortex!"



Ifrit unleashed hell.

A blazing pillar of fire consumed the entire field, and Han's screams pierced through the roar of the flames. Though Lion Roar dulled the pain, it couldn't erase it entirely. His body writhed as the flames charred him mercilessly.

Ifrit emerge from the flames looking down eager to see what will become of the human the smoke settles and a troubling sight was there.

Han was barely recognizable. Half of his body had been scorched beyond recognition, charred and burnt so badly that only his shredded clothes clung to his remains. Blood dripped steadily from his nose, lips, and mouth. His chest heaved with each shallow breath, and the pain was written across every inch of his battered form.

With a trembling hand—the only part of him that hadn't been completely consumed by fire—he weakly raised it toward his face. A single white pill materialized in his palm: the last Restoration Pill he had. But just as his fingers reached for it, the pill fell from his grasp, slipping through his scorched fingers and hitting the ground with a faint clink.Han's vision blurred, the agony overwhelming his senses. But he wouldn't give up.

He crawled painfully, his movements sluggish and disjointed. His scorched mouth managed to pick up the pill, and with a grimace, he forced it into his mouth

> Restoration Pill Consumed. HP and Energy Restored.

A flash of white light engulfed him.

When it faded, Han stood once more—body healed, skin fresh, but only wearing half-burned boxers. His eyes glinted with renewed fire.

There would be no more healing. No restoration pill. No second chances.

Ifrit, now seething, let out a guttural roar. Volcanoes nearby erupted in response, and the fiery ring behind him pulsed wildly.

"You miserable little insect!"

Flames erupted as Ifrit charged. Han exhaled.

The Lion Roar boost won't last much longer, he thought grimly. And Rin... Rin has less than an hour left.

This ends now.

Activating every skill he had, Han shot forward like a comet. Ifrit hurled a blazing fist toward him—but Han vanished, reappearing behind his enemy.

But Ifrit wasn't fooled. The flaming ring pulsed—

A searing beam shot out, disintegrating Han on contact.

Only, it wasn't the real Han.

Dozens more surrounded Ifrit—each one a red-eyed clone, pulsing with determination... or madness.

They attacked in unison, seven clones latching onto Ifrit and spinning with blistering speed, crashing him into the ground. The impact shattered the land.

Then—BOOM!

A colossal fire vortex erupted, annihilating everything in its radius. The real Han barely escaped. His clones... weren't so lucky.

Ifrit rose again, panting—subtly, but visibly.

"You brat..." it hissed, summoning twin flame scythes. "I'll end you."

Han chuckled. "Is that all you've got?"

He was just bluffing. Those scythes terrified him—but he stake on Ifrit's pride.

Sure enough, the scythes dispersed.

"I'll kill you with my fists!" Ifrit roared, conjuring enormous flame gauntlets.

"Still scary... but better," Han muttered.

Tiger Punch alone wouldn't cut it anymore.

So he combined everything.

He surged forward, vanished mid-step, then reappeared at Ifrit's side.

"Multiplier: ×3—Tiger Punch!"

The blow connected with brutal force, launching Ifrit like a missile into the ground, forming yet another smoking crater.

But within seconds, the fire spirit rose, roaring in fury. "Erupting Fist!" It charged, fist blazing like a miniature sun.

Han barely got Turtle Shield up before the strike hit. The shield cracked—then shattered—sending him crashing deep into the earth.

Gritting his teeth, Han rose again.

"Multiplier: ×3 — Tiger Punch!" he shouted, surging forward.

Another direct hit. Another crater.

Ifrit, undeterred, charged up. "Flaming Surge!"

The two clashed again—Han smashed into the ground as fire erupted around him.

For several minutes, the battle was a chaotic storm of impacts and fury.

Boom. Boom. Boom. Bang. Bang. Boom. Boom. Bang. Bang. Boom.

Han was finally hurled into a crater—inside another crater.

He tried to stand, but a system prompt flashed before him.

[Lion Roar] effect has ended.

Agony surged through his body like lightning. He dropped to his knees, breath ragged. Lion Roar didn't just dull pain—it suppressed the strain from his multiplier skill. And now it was gone.

The skill was undoubtedly powerful—perhaps even the best—if it weren't for the immense strain it placed on the user after activation.

His body trembled. Blood spilled from his mouth as he coughed. His HP was dangerously low. Energy reserves? Nearly empty. Every nerve screamed in torment.

But he couldn't fall. Not yet.

Gritting his teeth, Han forced himself upright, his legs shaking violently. High above, Ifrit hovered, its flames flickering, frustration in its eyes.

"Why... why won't you fall?!" it growled, visibly strained from the prolonged battle.

Han gave a bitter smile.

"Because I have responsibilities."

His voice was hoarse but resolute.

"I can't die yet. Not until I find my parents. Not until I save my aunt. Not until I secure a future for my siblings. I won't die... until I fulfill every damn responsibility I have."

"Rubbish!" Ifrit roared. "Foolish, pathetic human!"



Flames erupted as Ifrit's fist ignited brighter than ever. "Inferno Rush"

A monstrous fiery punch surged toward Han.

Breathing heavily, Han steadied himself. If I use this, I might die. But if I don't—I'm already dead.

He crouched, one hand poised by his side.

"Fourth Jungle Art: Cheetah Stride!" he roared, vanishing upward.

With explosive speed, he leapt into the sky, positioning his fist.

His lungs burned as he let out a final breath.

Then—

"Multiplier: All Stats ×7 — Tiger Punch!"


Their fists collided.

BOOOOOOOOOOM.

To be continued...if Han survives.