Chapter 245 – Between Life and War
The hospital room remained silent after the violent convulsions.
Only the sound of the heart monitor continued—
beep… beep… beep…
But now, it was unstable.
1. The Awakening of Liu Ming
Liu Ming’s body trembled uncontrollably on the cold floor.
His veins bulged violently, glowing faintly with a dark purple hue, as if something unnatural was flowing through his bloodstream.
“Ugh… AAAAAAAH—!!”
His scream was hoarse, broken, barely human.
Cheet crouched nearby, watching with curious eyes, tilting her head slightly.
“Hmm… interesting. Your body is reacting better than I expected.”
She tapped her cheek lightly.
“Most people would’ve exploded by now.”
Liu Ming clawed at the ground, his nails scraping the tiles until they broke.
Inside his body, the demonic magic stone was forcing open something that should never be opened—
a foreign power, incompatible with a human vessel.
2. The Voice Inside
Then—
Everything went quiet.
Liu Ming’s vision turned black.
He found himself standing in a void.
A voice echoed.
“Weak… too weak…”
A massive presence loomed behind him.
Cold. Ancient. Inhuman.
“You seek power… yet you hesitate.”
Liu Ming trembled.
“…I… I just want to live…”
“Then abandon your weakness.”
A surge of pain exploded through his consciousness.
Memories flashed—
Being abandoned
Living in fear
Always standing behind someone else
Always… relying on Ryu Jin
His fists clenched.
“I… don’t want to be useless anymore…”
Silence.
Then—
“Good.”
Something accepted him.
3. Back to Reality
“—HAAAH!!”
Liu Ming’s eyes snapped open.
They were no longer normal.
A faint purple glow lingered within them.
His breathing slowed.
His body… stabilized.
Cheet blinked.
“…Oh?”
She smiled widely.
“That’s new.”
Liu Ming slowly stood up, his movements unnatural, like he was learning how to use his body again.
“…It hurts.”
“Of course it does,” Cheet replied casually. “You’re basically being rebuilt from the inside.”
Liu Ming looked at his own hands.
Power.
For the first time—
he could feel something burning inside him.
Not fear.
Not weakness.
Power.
4. The Choice
“…What did you do to me?” Liu Ming asked.
Cheet shrugged.
“Gave you a chance.”
She leaned closer, eyes gleaming.
“To survive in this unfair world.”
Silence filled the room.
Then Liu Ming spoke quietly—
“…If I become stronger…”
“…will I stop being afraid?”
Cheet paused.
Then laughed.
“No.”
She stood up.
“But you’ll stop being prey.”
5. Meanwhile – The Battlefield Builds
Far away, inside the Gaon Academy tournament field, the atmosphere was completely different.
Dark clouds gathered.
Mana filled the air.
The aftermath of destruction could be felt everywhere.
Adela Ortensia stood calmly, her presence overwhelming the battlefield.
Leon, gripping his weapon tightly, muttered:
“…She’s a monster.”
Then—
A shadow covered the sky.
A massive figure descended.
The Bone Dragon.
On top of it—
Sumire.
Her eyes were no longer hesitant.
No longer weak.
She had made her decision.
6. The Turning Point
Back in the hospital—
Cheet walked toward the door.
“Rest for now,” she said casually. “Your body needs time to adapt.”
She stopped briefly.
“…But don’t take too long.”
“Because the world out there…”
Her smile widened.
“…is already moving.”
The door opened.
Light poured in.
Then—
She disappeared.
7. Liu Ming Alone
The room fell silent again.
Liu Ming stood in the darkness.
His heart beat slowly.
Steadily.
Different.
He looked at the window.
“…Oppa…”
A whisper filled with fear—
but also something new.
Determination.
“I won’t be weak anymore.”
Outside—
The storm was coming.