Chapter 21
Out of all the Jungle Arts, the last one had remained a complete mystery to Han. According to the old elder, it was a skill so rare and obscure that no one truly understood what it did. No records, no users, no outcomes—just whispers of its existence.
But Han was determined. The system had hinted at a reward tied to mastering all the Jungle Arts, and he'd spent weeks trying every method he could think of to unlock the final one. Nothing worked.
Until now.
> New Skill Acquired
Skill: Lion Roar (Rank: A)
Description:
Increases Defense and Attack Power by 40%
All stats increased by 25%
Slight pain suppression for improved combat performance
Duration: 30 minutes
Cooldown: 1 day
Han blinked in surprise.
This was completely different from the other Jungle Arts. It had a duration and cooldown—just like a weapon's active skill. But what shocked him even more came next.
> Hidden Quest Completed
+600 Combat Points (CP)
You have mastered all Jungle Arts.
Title Unlocked: Jungle Noble
Effects:
Senses heightened to terrifying levels
Gradual recovery from minor injuries
Boost to all base stats
Strain from Jungle Arts (excluding Lion Roar) drastically reduced
Han grinned without realizing it.
This was it.
The strain had always been his greatest limitation. He had energy left but couldn't continue battling due to the pressure Jungle Arts placed on his body.
Now, that weakness was gone.
"Let's try it out," Han murmured.
"Navi," he commanded, "Equip the title."
"Equipping now, Hero," Navi responded.
> Ping!
Title equipped: Jungle Noble
The dark goblin scowled. The human, once nearly broken, was standing again—smiling even. Irritated, the goblin prepared to charge.
But then it froze.
Han dropped to all fours. His fingers elongated into sharp white claws. His blue eyes gleamed, pulsing with primal energy.
Han muttered, "Fifteenth Jungle Art…"
His voice deepened.
"Lion Roar."
The sound that erupted wasn't a shout. It was a thunderous roar—wild, ancient, and utterly dominating. The fortress walls trembled. The echo reached even those far outside.
Nathan paused mid-run. "Wait, did the goblin just… roar?"
Clara looked terrified. "Won't that means it's getting more serious "
Nathan turned to her. "Maybe—?"
Clara's eyebrows knit in worry. "Don't die, you psychopath…"
Back inside, the goblin stared at Han, unnerved. He had stopped roaring and now stood, calmly flexing his clawed hands.
"Amazing," Han muttered.
The Lion Roar's effects surged through him. Nearly all the strain from his previous skills was gone. His body felt alive—sharp, efficient, lethal. The combined power of the skill and title made him more dangerous than ever.
The goblin hesitated, confused by the sheer change in aura.
Han crouched low, falling into a familiar stance.
"Time to turn the tide."
The goblin tried to assess him—he was still injured, right? Slower than before?
Wrong.
Han vanished.
He appeared instantly in front of the goblin.
"Bad choice," he whispered.
CRACK!
His fist connected cleanly with the goblin's skull. The force launched the creature backward, blood pouring from its ears, nose, and mouth. It slammed into the far wall and twitched violently.
But Han didn't relax.
"That won't kill it."
The goblin rose, shakily. Red eyes flaring with rage. It hadn't expected this reversal.
The punch Han had delivered wasn't just raw power. He'd layered Tiger Punch into the strike—an advanced Jungle Art known for sheer destruction.
Now, the goblin hesitated. It could feel it—Han wasn't just back to full strength. He was stronger than before.
Still, it wouldn't back down.
It charged, black spikes jutting from its palm as it aimed directly for Han's head.
But Han met it with ease. His newly sharpened senses picked up every motion, every shift in air pressure. With the Analyzer Eye active, Han predicted the goblin's next three moves before they even happened.
The goblin swung again—black spikes shooting from its knuckles.
Han leaned back, barely avoiding them, then grabbed the goblin's arm.
"First Jungle Art—Wolf Clutch."
BOOM!
He slammed the goblin into the ground. The stone floor cracked from the impact. Han took a few steps back, watching the monster groan in pain.
He wasn't in a rush to finish it. Not yet.
He wanted the goblin to feel this.
The goblin growled and slammed its hand on the ground. Spikes erupted, rushing toward Han.
Han simply smiled.
This goblin didn't understand the situation it was in.
"Cheetah Stride."
Before the words left his mouth, he was already in the air.
Both hands locked together.
"Fifth Jungle Art—Gorilla Smash."
He descended like a meteor, fists crashing down.
BOOOOM!
The fortress shook again.
Dust exploded outward as the goblin disappeared under the impact.
Han stepped back, his claws gleaming in the dim light.
"Still alive?" he whispered, eyes scanning the debris.
He wasn't done yet.
The ground began to darken, tendrils of shadowy energy slithering outward like a growing plague. Han narrowed his eyes. It had to be one of the goblin's tricks.
He leapt back, evading the creeping darkness, then sprang up with a powerful kick, claws digging into the ruined rooftop. From his elevated position, he could see everything.
Below, the goblin finally emerged from the crater — its body drenched in thick, purple blood, limbs twitching unnaturally. Despite its injuries, its eyes burned with fury. It refused to die. Not to a human.
With a guttural roar, it glared at Han, then swung its arm. In an instant, dozens of black spikes erupted from the ground, homing in on Han like missiles. He dodged swiftly, slicing through a few with his claws. But more kept coming, faster and more erratic.
Its attacks are getting stronger, Han thought. I have to end this now.
Without hesitation, he activated his clone technique — three more versions of himself materialized around him. Two immediately intercepted the next wave of spikes while the remaining two charged the goblin with blinding speed.
The goblin shrieked, raising both arms. From them, a storm of jagged black spikes fired at the charging clones.
"Eleventh Jungle Art: Turtle Shield!" one Han clone shouted. A swirling wind barrier surged into existence on his arm, shielding them from the deadly barrage.
Then—
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
"Multi Tiger Punch!" Han's real body struck with ferocity, the force of the blow hurling the goblin backward like a cannonball. It crashed into a wall, carving out another crater. When it rose again, its arms were missing—obliterated by the twin strikes—and its chest had collapsed inward.
It was barely clinging to life.
Still, the goblin's hatred burned. It refused to fall at the hands of a human.
Han lowered his stance, ready to relax. But then—his analyzer eye flared.
No... it's channeling the artifact's remaining energy—self-destruction!
His face twisted in alarm.
A sudden burst of dark energy erupted.
The fortress trembled— shattering.
---
Outside the Fortress
Two figures stood near the flickering rift.
"Do you think he made it?" Clara asked quietly, voice tight with worry.
Nathan stared into the portal, expression grim. "I want to believe he did... but I can't say for sure."
Clara's fists clenched. She could feel the shockwaves from here. The sheer force of the explosion told her the battle hadn't ended quietly.
She hated this feeling—being useless. I hate this! she screamed in her heart.
Nathan turned to her. "Don't let his sacrifice be in vain."
Clara swallowed hard and nodded. They stepped through the portal.
---
Back in the Fortress
Han stood amidst ruins. The energy pulsing from the goblin's body was overwhelming.
If this explodes… I won't survive. I have to end it. Now.
Two gleaming white blades formed in his hands.
"Fourth Jungle Art: Cheetah Stride."
He vanished, reappearing instantly before the crumbling goblin. His speed had broken the sound barrier, amplified by Tiger Dash.
With both blades arcing forward, he shouted, "Uppermoon Cut!"
The goblin was split cleanly in two.
But with a final, broken smile, it hissed one word:
"Die."
BOOOOOOM.
---
Outside the Portal
The brown-haired man stared at the violently flickering rift. His face was pale, mind racing. Is this it? Is the portal about to break?
Then, suddenly—
The portal stabilized.
His eyes widened. "Wait… it stabilized? That means… the boss has been defeated. But—by who?"
Nathan was the only B-Ranker, and he'd returned with both arms gone. Several others didn't make it out. It didn't make sense.
Just as the question kept looping in his mind, the portal began to close.
Clara's heart dropped. Her face turned ghostly pale, and her mouth opened as if to scream—but no sound came out. The fear had paralyzed her.
Nathan clenched his fists and shut his eyes. Guilt gnawed at him. He had failed—not just as a leader, but as a protector. That boy… that boy could've become a legend. And now—
Is this how it ends?
Then—suddenly—the portal pulsed.
It flared open once more, a gust of wind sweeping across the field.
And out of the light… a figure stepped out.
Clara's head snapped up, her breath hitching as her eyes welled with tears. The moment she saw the figure stepping out of the portal, her heart swelled with relief.
Thank goodness... it's him, she thought, trembling.
Nathan's lips curved into a soft smile as he caught sight of Han — alive, battered, but standing.
Meanwhile, the brown-haired man stared at Han, utterly bewildered. He couldn't make sense of what he was seeing. This boy... was the one who defeated the portal boss? It didn't add up.
Han took a few slow steps forward, scanning the area with a sharp,calm gaze. "The portal... is cleared," he announced quietly.
Without another word, he walked past the dumbfounded group — the brown-haired man and his friends, who looked like he'd been raised on smoke and disbelief. He made his way to Clara and Nathan, giving them a slight, respectful nod.
Clara smiled, tears still lingering in her eyes. Nathan returned the nod, admiring the boy's quiet strength.
Such a strong-minded young man, Nathan thought.
And then—
THUD.
Han collapsed face-first onto the ground.
Clara and Nathan rushed to his side in alarm. But as soon as Clara knelt down and checked him, her brow twitched in disbelief.
Han wasn't injured.
He was fast asleep — breathing softly, peacefully.
Nathan let out a quiet chuckle at Clara's exasperated expression. "Let him rest," he said gently.
"He deserves it."
To be continued...