> Area: Trial Gap – Floating Arena, Advanced Resonance Phase
Boss: Kal-Ran, the Cyber-Mystic Echo – Phase 2 Activated
The ground vibrated like a war drum.
Kal-Ran didn't speak. He was rebuilding. Silently. An orange light circulated along his joints, like burning veins.
Additional segments burst from his back—two cybernetic arms laden with curved blades, crafted from an unknown material.
> "Fusion Mode Activated: Murim-Tech Protocol [Asura Ω]"
Z3RO immediately repositioned himself, analyzing the circuitry's light patterns.
> "His blades are polarized. We can't block them head-on.
We destabilize him first, then strike the base."
Hakaijin nodded. This time, he didn't need any convincing.
Just... coordination.
⚙️ Active Tactic:
Double Mobile Front
Z3RO: Distraction & disruption via modular drones + weak electromagnetic field
Hakaijin: Targeted strike with increased accuracy via shared HUD
Kal-Ran dashed forward.
A dance of four blades, swift as a storm.
Z3RO launched a slow pulse bomb.
> BOOM
Area slowed down — 1.8s attack window.
Hakaijin swooped down like a predator, using a dash-air walk (Murim bonus) to appear behind the boss, his saber charged with pure will.
> Hit: -182 HP
Internal Damage: Right rear blade disabled
But Kal-Ran suddenly spun around, his fist charged with energy, and struck Z3RO head-on.
> -340 HP
Armor Overload – Stabilization System Temporarily Disabled
Z3RO rolled on the ground.
He was bleeding. Not physically. But his internal modules crackled in his interface.
> "I won't last long if I stay in tank mode..."
Hakaijin placed a foot in front.
> "I'm going to tank this time."
Z3RO looked at him, surprised.
> "Are you serious?"
> "Shut up. I don't want him to get into you again.
Are you playing the smart guy? Then think, while I hold the line."
New strategy:
Hakaijin becomes the Wall. Z3RO becomes the Machine.
One front—one strike.
A brutal dance.
Kal-Ran began to lose stability.
Fragments of data shattered with each blow.
> -219 HP
-314 HP
-109 HP
But the arena was also starting to react.
The platforms became unstable.
Chunks of floor were disappearing, forcing the two to move constantly.
Z3RO slid to a column and activated his rare skill:
> Skill: Tactical Overclock
Effect: Double processing speeds — Analysis bonus +200% for 12 seconds
He saw a pattern.
A sequence in Kal-Ran's attacks.
A moment of total opening, every 9 strikes.
> "STOP! COUNT EIGHT STRIKES AND SLASH WITH NINE!"
Hakaijin took it. Hit 1. Hit 2. Hit 3.
He stood, sword held low, panting. Strike 4. Strike 5. Strike 6. Strike 7. Strike 8…
— "YAAHHHHH!"
> Strike 9: Front Slash — Murim Finishing Move: Karma Breaker
The saber sliced through the air.
The blade connected.
Kal-Ran froze.
> [Critical Boss — Core Module 72% Damaged]
[Final Phase Imminent…]
The two looked at each other, standing there, sweating, out of breath.
But they were still standing.
And Kal-Ran… was… trembling.
✦ End of Chapter 14 — The wall held. The machine guided it.
Next: Chapter 15 — Systemic Fracture