Rose's eyes widened in horror as she bolted from her seat, rushing toward her fallen teammate. But before she could reach her, the referee and medical team intervened, surrounding the unconscious fighter to check her condition.Max remained seated, his piercing gaze locked onto Adrian's player, but he made no move to intervene. He could sense that Rose's teammate, while battered and unconscious, had no life-threatening injuries. A few broken ribs and fractures were serious, but not fatal. He exhaled slowly, his eyes still sharp, observing the scene unfold. Adrian's player strutted arrogantly on the mat, her smug expression unwavering. "Let's not waste time," she mocked, her voice dripping with disdain. "Bring in the next one already." From the sidelines, Waren began to move. His presence was heavy, and a chilling air seemed to follow him. He stepped onto the mat with slow, deliberate strides, his gaze locked onto the woman. A dark aura surrounded him, and his calm demeanor was lac

Max's smile deepened, but his eyes held a sharp glint. "It's showtime," he muttered, rising from his seat.The mutated woman let out another monstrous roar, her blackened eyes gleaming with malevolence as she crouched low and lunged toward Waren like a beast unleashed. Her grotesque form, enhanced by bulging, pulsating black veins, seemed unnaturally fast. The sheer force of her charge caused cracks to spider across the mat beneath her feet.Waren stood his ground initially, his calm demeanor unwavering, but his sharp eyes carefully tracked the woman's movement. At the last second, he sidestepped her attack with precision and countered with a sharp roundhouse kick to her ribs. The impact echoed through the gym, but the woman barely flinched, her body twisting unnaturally as she retaliated with a powerful backhand that Waren narrowly dodged.Before Waren could reset his stance, the male "zombie" surged forward from behind, attacking with feral aggression. His movements were chaotic but

She stared wide-eyed at Max, who still hadn't moved an inch, the same calm smile etched on his face. Suddenly, she felt her body swelling uncontrollably, a terrifying pressure building within her. Before she could even react, she exploded into a black mist, the violent detonation sending an eerie shiver through the room. Seconds later, the man followed suit, his body similarly ballooning before erupting into the same dark vapor.A collective gasp escaped the remaining crowd as thick, oily black liquid splattered everywhere. Lily, Rose, and Waren, unable to avoid it, were drenched in the grotesque substance. Waren, still regaining his strength, staggered as he wiped the liquid from his face, while Lily shrieked in disgust."Ew! What is this?!" she exclaimed, shaking her arms frantically.Zoren, caught off guard, cursed under his breath as he tried to wipe the mist from his face and clothes. Max, on the other hand, stood untouched, his invisible barrier shimmering faintly before disappe

Adrian let out a loud laugh, his voice echoing through the arena. "Fine, I'll give you a chance! Come at me!"Max tilted his head, feigning confusion. "Are you sure about that?"Adrian sneered, his irritation mounting. "I said attack already!"Max raised an eyebrow and asked again, "Are you absolutely sure?"Adrian clicked his tongue in frustration, growing impatient. "Yes, damn it, attack me already!"Max leaned forward slightly, his lips curling into a mischievous grin. "Don't regret it later."Adrian scoffed. "Regret? Me?—" He cut himself off mid-sentence, his words swallowed by a sudden shock. "Huh?!" he exclaimed, eyes wide with disbelief.In an instant, Max vanished from Adrian's sight. A split second later, a devastating pain erupted in Adrian's stomach, his expression twisting in agony. His body was launched several meters backward, hurtling through the air. But before he could even process what was happening, Max reappeared mid-air, following him like a shadow.Adrian barely

In a luxurious villa nestled within an affluent neighborhood in Olongapo City, the grand residence of the esteemed Altamirano family, an elderly man with snow-white hair, seemingly in his 80s, lay in a lavishly adorned room. Surrounding him were symbols of wealth—expensive decor, antique furniture, and gilded picture frames that showcased generations of the Altamirano lineage.By his bedside sat a stern-looking man with a well-groomed mustache, Arnold Altamirano, the eldest son of the family and Rose's father. His strong personality emanated in the way he sat, his hands clasped tightly as if willing his father's life to remain intact. His brows were furrowed, a reflection of the inner storm he refused to let surface.The elderly man stirred weakly and turned his head slightly toward Arnold. His voice was faint but carried the authority of someone who had lived a commanding life. "Arnold... has Rose come home yet?"Arnold straightened, his voice steady but laced with an unspoken plea.