My crazy Cultivation Path

CHAPTER 135

Fighting bare-handed, Lusus unleashed a flurry of straight punches and kicks. He even faked sometimes just to switch sides and keep coming.

Despite his “Wild Beast” affinity card, Dirios was struggling hard to withstand Lusus’s blows.

Suddenly appearing from behind, Darlius—saber in hand—tried to slash Lusus across the back.

But right in the middle of trading punches with Dirios, Lusus abruptly grabbed the boy’s wrist, yanked him forward, and smashed a monstrous uppercut that covered Dirios’s entire jaw.

The impact was so violent that, for a split second, Dirios’s eyes rolled pure white.

Lusus spun around and used Dirios’s limp body as a human shield.

Seeing that, Darlius instantly tossed his sword into the air.

Steam burst from his free hand and solidified into a long, thin blade. The steam passed straight through Dirios in its gaseous form, then—mere inches from Lusus’s chest—snapped back into solid steel and carved a deep gash across the giant’s torso.

Chest pierced, Lusus let out an amused laugh.

“Not bad… Keep entertaining me.”

Then he drove a brutal side kick right into the middle of Dirios’s back. Dirios flew forward and crashed into Darlius, dragging them both to the ground.

……

On the ground, Darlius quickly got up and helped Dirios do the same. Blood was pouring nonstop from Dirios’s mouth.

Shit… any harder and he would’ve literally punched straight through my body, Dirios thought, his nerves on fire.

The pain in his head and back was unbearable. He saw double the moment he stopped focusing. Blood kept dripping from his nose.

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Every little movement sent a sharp sting through his spine.

Even so, he stood back up and stepped forward beside Darlius.

Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Degis—now fully awake from the K.O. Lusus had given him earlier—just watching them like it was a damn show.

That pissed Dirios off to no end. While they were fighting for their lives, this asshole was treating it like entertainment.

Dirios opened his mouth to scream at him, but Degis beat him to it, muttering and gesturing discreetly:

“In front of you.”

Dirios whipped his head around… and saw Lusus’s fist coming straight for his face, ready to take his head clean off.

Pure instinct kicked in. He barely managed to deflect Lusus’s arm with his right forearm and tried to slam a palm strike into the giant’s stomach.

But before his palm could connect, Lusus’s leg smashed into the side of his skull and sent him crashing back to the ground.

BAM.

Distorted sounds exploded in his ears. It felt like his brain was bouncing off the inside of his skull.

His vision was completely blurred.

Yet a voice somehow cut through the chaos:

“Pathetic. You have an amazing affinity card and you’re not even using it properly.”

Furious, Dirios spat back:

“What the hell are you talking about? I’ve been using it the whole time! Not my fault I can’t match him in raw strength!”

A sigh echoed in his head.

“Idiot. The card is called ‘Wild Beast,’ not ‘Slight Strength Boost.’ Sure, it gives a little extra power, but that’s all morons like you ever get out of it.”

“Then tell me how to actually use it, damn it!”

“Fine. First question: do you know what a lion looks like?”

“Yeah.”

“Good. Now imagine your arms aren’t human arms anymore. They’re the front legs of an adult male lion—muscles, claws, weight, everything. You have to truly believe it. Once you do, you’ll feel the difference. After that, you can do the same with your legs.”

“…But if your rank is too low, it won’t last long and you’ll be completely useless afterward. At least you’ll have finally used your affinity card for real. And don’t forget: willpower and focus.”

Dirios was skeptical. He wasn’t stupid—he had no idea where this voice was coming from or what it really wanted.

But looking at the state he was in… he had no other choice.

He stayed lying on the ground, projecting the image of a lion over and over in his mind, focusing only on his arms. He even jammed small rocks into his ears so nothing could break his concentration.

……

Ten meters away.

Despite the full rank difference, Darlius was managing to land plenty of cuts on Lusus. With his steam, he dodged the giant’s grabs, solidified at the last second, and sliced flesh.

But he still hadn’t found any answer to Lusus’s terrifying bare hands.