The weapon began descending toward Lucas.
He reacted instantly.
[Time Manipulation]
[Temporal Sight]
The world slowed.
The weapon stopped feeling like a blur.
Lucas could see every movement.
The boss’s shoulder.
Its wrist.
The angle of the weapon.
The position of its feet.
Everything became clear.
Lucas stepped to the side.
The weapon passed beside him and struck the stone floor.
Lucas immediately moved behind the boss.
[Strength Enhancement]
[Impact Break]
His fist struck the creature’s back.
The attack landed.
The boss staggered forward.
Lucas didn’t stop.
He attacked again.
Another Impact Break.
The C-Rank boss turned.
Lucas saw the movement before it happened.
He ducked beneath the counterattack.
Five seconds were almost gone.
Lucas moved away.
[Temporal Sight]
[Duration: 1 second]
He looked at the boss one final time.
There.
A small opening beneath its armor.
Then—
[Temporal Sight Ended]
Time returned to normal.
Lucas landed several feet away.
His breathing was heavy.
[Temporal Sight]
[Cooldown: 60 seconds]
Lucas stared at the boss.
“So that’s the limit.”
Five seconds.
Then a full minute before he could use it again.
The boss turned toward him.
Its eyes locked onto Lucas.
Then it charged.
Lucas activated Speed Enhancement.
He moved to the side.
The boss’s weapon missed.
Lucas countered.
Impact Break.
His fist struck its ribs.
The boss barely moved.
Lucas immediately stepped backward.
The creature swung again.
Lucas ducked.
The weapon passed above his head.
He moved forward.
Strength Enhancement.
Impact Break.
His fist struck the boss’s stomach.
The creature was pushed backward.
Lucas looked at his hand.
“That actually moved it.”
The boss roared.
The pressure inside the room increased.
Lucas’s expression became serious.
The boss was getting faster.
He activated Break Limit.
Power surged through his body.
His heartbeat accelerated.
His muscles tightened.
The strain was immediate.
Lucas ignored it.
He charged.
The boss charged too.
They collided.
Lucas ducked beneath the first strike.
He stepped inside.
Impact Break.
The boss blocked with its arm.
The force still pushed it backward.
Lucas attacked again.
The boss countered.
Lucas raised his arm.
The weapon struck.
Pain shot through his body.
He was pushed backward.
Lucas gritted his teeth.
His arm was numb.
The boss didn’t give him time to recover.
It attacked again.
Lucas moved.
Another strike.
He dodged.
Another.
He blocked.
The impact forced him backward.
Lucas’s feet slid across the stone floor.
He couldn’t keep blocking.
Lucas activated Speed Enhancement.
He moved around the boss.
Impact Break.
His fist struck the back of its knee.
The boss dropped slightly.
Lucas attacked its neck.
The boss raised its arm.
It blocked.
Lucas changed direction.
He struck its side.
The armor cracked.
The boss turned.
Lucas was already gone.
He moved behind it.
Impact Break.
Another crack appeared.
Lucas continued attacking.
He didn’t let the boss recover.
Strike.
Dodge.
Counter.
Move.
Strike.
Every attack was calculated.
Every movement had a purpose.
He wasn’t trying to overpower the boss.
He was slowly breaking it down.
The boss suddenly disappeared.
Lucas’s eyes widened.
“Again?”
He turned.
The boss was already behind him.
Lucas jumped forward.
The weapon passed through the space where he had been standing.
Lucas landed.
The boss attacked again.
Lucas ducked.
The weapon swept across the chamber.
Lucas ran toward the creature.
Impact Break.
His fist struck its chest.
The boss finally stumbled.
Lucas saw a crack in its armor.
He smiled.
“There.”
He rushed forward.
The boss raised its weapon.
Lucas activated Strength Enhancement.
He struck the damaged area.
The armor broke.
The boss roared.
Lucas stepped backward.
His breathing became heavier.
Break Limit was still active.
His body was starting to reach its limit.
[Temporal Sight]
[Cooldown: 34 seconds]
Lucas looked at the notification.
Thirty-four seconds.
Too long.
He couldn’t wait.
The boss attacked.
Lucas dodged.
Another attack.
He blocked.
Another.
He moved away.
The boss’s speed was increasing.
Lucas couldn’t keep fighting defensively.
He needed to create another opening.
He rushed forward.
Impact Break.
The boss blocked.
Lucas immediately changed direction.
Speed Enhancement.
He moved behind it.
Impact Break.
The attack struck the damaged armor.
The boss turned.
Lucas ducked.
He struck its leg.
The boss stumbled.
Lucas attacked its chest.
The boss blocked.
Lucas attacked again.
The creature caught his fist.
Lucas’s eyes widened.
The boss pulled him closer.
Lucas tried to escape.
The boss struck him with its free hand.
Lucas flew across the chamber.
He crashed against the ground.
Pain spread through his body.
He rolled and immediately stood.
Blood ran from his mouth.
The boss charged.
Lucas wiped the blood away.
“You’re strong.”
The boss raised its weapon.
“But so am I.”
He activated Speed Enhancement.
The boss attacked.
Lucas moved.
Impact Break.
He struck the creature’s arm.
The weapon fell slightly.
Lucas attacked its chest.
The armor cracked.
The boss roared.
Lucas stepped back.
[Temporal Sight]
[Cooldown: 9 seconds]
Lucas stared at the notification.
He waited.
The boss charged.
Lucas fought without it.
He dodged.
Attacked.
Retreated.
Countered.
Eight seconds.
Seven.
Six.
The boss swung.
Lucas ducked.
Five.
The boss attacked again.
Lucas stepped backward.
Four.
He struck its leg.
Three.
The boss stumbled.
Two.
Lucas raised his fist.
One.
[Temporal Sight]
[Cooldown: 0]
[Ability Ready]
Lucas smiled.
“Now.”
The boss charged.
Lucas activated Time Manipulation.
[Temporal Sight]
The world slowed.
Everything became silent.
The boss was almost motionless.
Lucas moved.
He stepped around the creature.
He saw the cracks in its armor.
He saw its exposed chest.
He saw the position of its core.
Lucas’s eyes widened.
“So that’s where it is.”
The core was protected behind layers of armor.
But there was a weak point.
A tiny opening beneath the left side of the chest.
Lucas moved into position.
Four seconds.
He activated Strength Enhancement.
Three seconds.
He gathered energy into his fist.
Two seconds.
Impact Break.
The energy concentrated into one point.
One second.
Lucas pulled his fist backward.
He had one chance.
Time returned to normal.
The boss’s weapon continued its attack.
Lucas stepped forward instead of backward.
He slipped underneath the weapon.
His fist drove directly toward the opening.
Impact Break.
The attack struck the boss’s core.
The C-Rank monster was pushed backward.
Lucas landed several feet away.
The boss remained standing.
Lucas stared at it.
The armor around its chest was shattered.
But the core was still intact.
The boss slowly raised its head.
Lucas clenched his fists.
“Not enough.”
The boss roared.
It charged faster than before.
Lucas activated Strength Enhancement.
Speed Enhancement.
Break Limit.
The boss raised its weapon.
Lucas charged forward.
Neither of them backed down.
The C-Rank boss swung.
Lucas stepped inside the attack.
Impact Break gathered around his fist.
He aimed directly at the exposed core.
The boss’s weapon was already coming toward him.
Lucas pushed forward anyway.
He had one chance.
And this time—
He wasn’t going to fail.