2025-04-19 01:00:13Joaquin adjusted the collar of his coat as he stood outside the grand venue, staring up at the towering building before him. The banquet for the fifty remaining contenders of the Blue Tiger Ranking Competition was being held at a luxury estate—one reserved for elite sponsors and facilitators. Nothing about this place felt casual. Every inch screamed prestige, wealth, and quiet pressure.
He wasn’t nervous.
But he wasn’t calm, either.For the past two days, he had trained relentlessly at the Suarez estate—throwing punches, dodging blows, simulating combat over and over again with Rick and Cedrick. He barely slept. Barely ate.
Not because of the competition—
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The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 197: The First Clash
Joaquin woke up early the next day, readying himself for his first match. Stage Two of the competition had officially begun.He was already inside the waiting room, silently preparing as he waited for his turn. From where he sat, he could hear the roar of the crowd echoing from the arena. There were a few matches scheduled before his, which gave him time—but not peace.The arena was vast—an expanse of polished concrete with high ceilings that amplified every sound. Bright lights bathed the place in a sterile glow, casting long shadows that danced with every movement. Rows upon rows of seats circled the central platform, where the fighters for Stage Two were beginning to prove themselv
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 1: The Betrayal
Joaquin pushed open the door to his apartment as the exhaustion clung to him like a second skin. His day at Villareal Medical Hospital had been grueling, and all he wanted was a quiet evening with Mikyla. But before he could call out her name, faint voices filtered through the hallway—coming from the bedroom.He froze. The voices were muffled but unmistakable. A man and a woman, their tone teasing, urgent, and far too familiar. His chest tightened as realization dawned. Heart pounding, he moved closer, the words becoming clearer.“So, you think he’ll figure it out?” the man chuckled.“Joaquin?” Mikyla’s voice replied with a scoff. “He’s clueless. The guy’s too naive to suspect anything.”A cold chill swept through Joaquin’s body.‘What?!’“And the position?” the man asked.“There’s only one permanent slot,” Mikyla said smoothly. “Serena might back him, but your dad has the final say, right? That fool doesn’t stand a chance.”‘How can she do this to me?!’The man was Andrew Alvarez,
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 2: Awakening
Darkness enveloped Joaquin, but the silence was broken by a resonant, ancient voice echoing in his mind.“Descendant,” it said, calm yet commanding. “I am the ancestor of your family, and I have chosen you to inherit my legacy. The abilities I have mastered—medical expertise, martial arts, and more—are now yours. But heed my warning: use these gifts to uphold justice. Stray from the righteous path, and calamity will befall you.”Joaquin tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. He could only listen as the voice continued.“The gold ring you carry is my vessel. It holds the essence of my power. From now on, it is bound to your soul.”Suddenly, the ring appeared in his vision, glowing with an intense golden light. It transformed into the shape of a phoenix, its wings spreading wide before soaring toward him. Joaquin gasped as it pierced his chest, a burst of warmth flooding his body.The voice faded, leaving only silence.When Joaquin opened his eyes, he was on the cold bathroom fl
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 3: Breaking Point
As Joaquin stepped out of Serena’s office, the weight of his humiliation pressed on his chest. He clenched his fists, his mind replaying the scene. Andrew’s smug face, Mikyla’s betrayal, and Serena’s icy judgment all swirled in his thoughts. They had stripped him of everything—his position, his dignity, and even his hope.His steps quickened as he made his way to the elevator, needing space to think. But as the elevator doors opened, fate had other plans.Standing inside were Andrew and Mikyla, their conversation halting as they caught sight of him.“Oh, look who it is,” Andrew sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. “The hospital’s newest orderly. How does it feel, Joaquin, to be demoted to cleaning up after us?”Mikyla smirked, her arms folded, her disdain was evident. “Maybe it suits him. He’s always been good at groveling.”Joaquin said nothing, stepping into the elevator and standing rigidly in the corner.“Quiet today, aren’t we?” Andrew leaned closer, his voice low but sha
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 4: A Chain of Consequences
“Someone call a doctor!” a nurse finally shouted, snapping everyone into action.Joaquin stood at the edge of the chaos, his face impassive but his heart thrumming with satisfaction. He couldn’t explain what had just happened, but deep down, he felt the power within him stirring.The chandelier had fallen perfectly, striking Andrew just as planned. It wasn’t a fatal blow—he had made sure of that.But it was enough to knock the arrogance out of him, if only for a moment.Andrew clutched his bleeding head, his cries of pain reverberating through the lobby. Mikyla knelt beside him, her hands fluttering uselessly as she tried to stem the blood with a piece of fabric torn from her coat.“This... this is your doing!” Andrew spat, glaring up at Joaquin, his voice trembling with both rage and pain.Joaquin tilted his head, his expression unreadable. “Me? I didn’t touch you. Maybe it’s divine retribution. Isn’t that what I warned you about?”“You liar!” Andrew shouted, his words falterin
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 5: A Silent Vow
When Joaquin returned home, the familiar scent of a home-cooked meal greeted him. His elder sister stood by the stove, humming softly as she ladled soup into bowls. For a moment, Joaquin felt a pang of guilt. She worked so hard to keep everything together, yet here he was, weighed down by betrayals and battles he hadn’t even begun to share.“You’re just in time,” she said, her voice warm. “Dinner’s ready!”At the dinner table, Joaquin forced himself to act normal. He focused on eating, avoiding eye contact with his sister.“Is something bothering you?” she asked, her tone gentle but probing.Joaquin hesitated. “No, just tired from work.”She seemed unconvinced but didn’t press further. Instead, she brought up a topic that made Joaquin’s chest tighten.“How’s Mikyla? She hadn’t come to our place for a while.”Joaquin’s grip on his chopsticks tightened, but he managed to keep his voice steady. “She’s been busy with work.”His sister’s expression softened. “That’s understandable. I
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 6: A Scar That Won’t Heal
Joaquin’s breath caught in his chest as the woman leaned forward, her robe shifting just enough to make him glance away. Her confidence radiated like a challenge, and for a fleeting second, he felt the urge to match her energy. But no—he reminded himself—this was his job.“I’m here to check the wound,” he said, his voice steady despite the tension in the room. “Nothing else.”Her eyes narrowed, skepticism clear in her gaze. “Sure you are,” she said, leaning back with a smirk. “Go on then, but keep your hands professional, Joaquin.”Ignoring her sarcasm, he approached the bed, kneeling to inspect the injury on her leg. The stitches were tight, the wound deep. Even though it was healing, it was clear the damage had been severe.“What happened?” he asked, keeping his tone neutral.“Car accident,” she replied flatly. “Driver wasn’t paying attention. Surgery’s scheduled to minimize the scarring, but...” Her voice trailed off, her expression unreadable.Joaquin hesitated, unsure how to re
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 7: The Unbelievable Truth
The room buzzed with tension as Joaquin stood at the foot of the hospital bed, Joaquin was preparing his tools for the treatment. The air was thick with skepticism, and Carlo made no effort to hide his disdain.“This is ridiculous!” Carlo sneered, crossing his arms. “You’re feeding her false hope! There’s no way your little water-and-herbs trick will work!”Andrea leaned back against the pillows, her eyes fixed on Joaquin. “I’ve already told you, Doctor,” she said with a cool smile, “I’ll decide what’s worth trying. If Joaquin says he can help, I’ll let him.”An intern beside Carlo snorted. “A caregiver acting like a doctor? What a joke!”Joaquin glanced at them briefly, unfazed. “You’re welcome to stay and watch. Maybe you’ll learn something.”The boldness of his retort made the interns gape, and even Carlo’s eyebrows twitched in irritation.“Fine,” Carlo said, his tone laced with mockery. “Let’s see this miracle of yours.”Joaquin took a deep breath, steadying himself. He dipp
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Chapter 197: The First Clash
Joaquin woke up early the next day, readying himself for his first match. Stage Two of the competition had officially begun.He was already inside the waiting room, silently preparing as he waited for his turn. From where he sat, he could hear the roar of the crowd echoing from the arena. There were a few matches scheduled before his, which gave him time—but not peace.The arena was vast—an expanse of polished concrete with high ceilings that amplified every sound. Bright lights bathed the place in a sterile glow, casting long shadows that danced with every movement. Rows upon rows of seats circled the central platform, where the fighters for Stage Two were beginning to prove themselv
Chapter 196: The Last 50
Joaquin adjusted the collar of his coat as he stood outside the grand venue, staring up at the towering building before him. The banquet for the fifty remaining contenders of the Blue Tiger Ranking Competition was being held at a luxury estate—one reserved for elite sponsors and facilitators. Nothing about this place felt casual. Every inch screamed prestige, wealth, and quiet pressure.He wasn’t nervous. But he wasn’t calm, either.For the past two days, he had trained relentlessly at the Suarez estate—throwing punches, dodging blows, simulating combat over and over again with Rick and Cedrick. He barely slept. Barely ate. Not because of the competition—
Chapter 195: A Celebration
After the announcement, Joaquin returned to the Suarez estate. He decided to spend the next three days there to prepare for the upcoming stage. He was already thinking of a plan—how to get his ring back.“Well, congratulations to you, Joaquin! I knew you'd make it,” Miguel said, beaming. He sounded like a proud father celebrating his son’s success.He raised his wine glass.Joaquin gave a small smile and toasted with him.As a celebration of his victory, Miguel had prepared a dinner.Rick and Cedrick were also there to join them.Miguel sat at the center of the long dining table. His son sat to his right, while Joaquin sat to his left.
Chapter 194: The Announcement
Joaquin didn’t stay long at the hospital. As soon as he had recovered, he left immediately. An invitation card had arrived for him—sent by the facilitator of the Blue Tiger Ranking Competition. That day, the winners of Stage One would be officially announced.Joaquin didn’t really want to go. But he had something he needed to get back. He had to reclaim his ring. And he was certain Lina would be there.He didn’t bother dressing up. He simply wore the formal suit Rick had lent him. Rick also drove him to the venue.He entered the hall.
Chapter 193: Lost Ring
Joaquin slowly opened his eyes.The hum of the fluorescent lights above was the first thing he became aware of. His vision adjusted gradually to the blinding white ceiling. For a few seconds, he just stared up in confusion. The sterile white walls, the smell of antiseptic, the pristine linens... it all registered in bits and pieces.A hospital?He turned his head cautiously. Beside him were machines softly beeping, their rhythm oddly comforting. A drip was attached to his arm. His head ached—not sharp pain, just a dull, persistent throb, like a faded memory of something violent.
Chapter 192: Ending
Joaquin continued walking, gripping his knife tightly. Even after that battle with the creature, he couldn’t let his guard down.His legs were dragging with every step. It was only then he realized one of them had a deep wound.Sure, it wasn’t his first time facing strange creatures—but never something like that... Half-human, or whatever it was.He had a strong suspicion it was part of the Black Viper Society. Maybe one of their failed experiments. Maybe that’s why it turned out that way.When he turned a corner in the maze, his legs finally gave out. He slumped to the ground and leaned against the wall, breathing deeply.
Chapter 191: Surviving
Joaquin didn’t dare blink.The moment he did, he knew he might miss the creature’s next move.The man—if you could even still call him that—stood there motionless, like a statue with skin far too pale to be human. Behind him, the dark tendrils writhed slowly, like snakes savoring their prey before they struck again. The sickening slither and hiss echoed against the stone walls of the maze, creeping beneath Joaquin’s skin.His heart pounded like war drums inside his chest.The thing’s empty eyes locked onto his.“I don’t want to fight you,” Joaquin said, his voice low but steady. “I just want to pass.”Still no respo
Chapter 190: The Tentacle Man
Joaquin’s breath hitched in his throat. His eyes remained fixed on the grotesque sight before him—a mass of long, writhing black tentacles snaking their way out from behind the man. They curled and stretched like they were alive, reaching toward him with eerie intent.He stumbled back, heart pounding against his chest. “What the hell are you?” he muttered under his breath.The man didn’t respond. He just stood there, still and unmoving, like some kind of twisted statue possessed by a dark force. His face was completely expressionless, void of any humanity. It was as if he wasn’t even really present—like the tentacles were controlling him.Joaquin’s eyes darted to the side. He could still run. He hadn’t gotten too close yet. Maybe if he turned around now, he could
Chapter 189: The Day
Joaquin slowly opened his eyes. It felt like his head was being split in two from the weight of it. When he remembered what had happened to him earlier, he suddenly sat up as if waking from a trance. He was startled to find himself in a completely different place. The last thing he remembered was being inside a car. But now, he was somewhere narrow, surrounded by walls covered in thick greenery. In front of him was a path, like a passageway.“Where am I?” Joaquin stood up and tuned
