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The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 44: Journey to the Snow Mountain
Jasmine stood before the massive wrought-iron gates, her heart pounding in her chest. Thirty-five years. Thirty-five long years since she had last set foot here since she had walked away and vowed never to return. And yet, here she was.The mansion beyond the gate loomed in the dim morning light, its towering silhouette just as imposing as she remembered. Time had not softened its grandeur—if anything, it had grown more formidable, standing like an unshaken titan against the passing years. The air was thick with the scent of old earth and blooming jasmine, and for a brief moment, the familiarity of it all nearly made her turn back.But she couldn’t.Not when Joaquin was in danger.Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the heavy gates, the iron groaning under the weight of time and neglect. The gravel crunched beneath her boots as she made her way up the long, winding path toward the main house. Her hands trembled slightly, but she clenched them into fists, willing herself to stay
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 45: The Monk
The grand temple loomed before them, its towering pillars etched with ancient symbols that whispered secrets of a time long past. Snow clung to its tiled roof, glistening under the dim glow of lanterns hanging along the stone pathway. The monks who had saved them now led Joaquin and Cedrick toward the entrance, their footsteps nearly silent despite the thick layer of frost.Joaquin exhaled, watching his breath swirl in the cold air. The journey had been brutal, his body aching from the battle on the mountain. But he had no time to rest—not when the Dragon King’s life hung in the balance.Cedrick glanced around, his fingers twitching near his weapons, still wary despite their escort. “Damn, this place looks straight out of a legend.”Joaquin remained silent. It wasn’t just the temple that felt ancient. It was the energy here—thick with history and power. He could feel it in his bones.The heavy wooden doors creaked open, revealing a vast hall bathed in golden candlelight. Incense curle
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 46: Acupuncture
Joaquin sat cross-legged on the wooden floor of the temple chamber, his muscles aching from the earlier fight, his breath still uneven. Across from him, Shinran Jack remained motionless, his expression unreadable. The flickering candlelight cast long shadows on the walls, the scent of burning incense thick in the air.“Tell me,” Shinran finally said, his voice calm but firm. “What exactly is the Dragon King’s condition?”Joaquin clenched his jaw, gathering his thoughts.“He’s dying,” he said, his voice rough with exhaustion. “The snake venom poisons him. It runs through his veins, and no one—not even the best healers—knows how to counter it. I’ve managed to buy him some time with bloodletting, but just yesterday, the symptoms worsened again. It’s accelerating.”Shinran remained silent for a moment, his fingers tapping lightly against his knee. His deep, thoughtful gaze settled on Joaquin.“Describe the symptoms.”Joaquin exhaled sharply.“At first, it seemed like a normal poisoning—f
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 47: Successful
Joaquin and Cedrick returned to Suarez’s manor under the veil of night, their footsteps muffled against the stone pathways leading to the grand entrance. The weight of exhaustion hung over them, but urgency kept them upright. They had no time to waste.The moment they stepped inside, Rick was already there, waiting, his arms crossed over his chest. His sharp eyes darted between them, reading their expressions.“Well?” Rick asked, voice clipped. “What’s the situation?”Joaquin let out a breath, running a hand through his sweat-dampened hair. For the first time in a long while, he had something close to good news.“We found a way to help him,” Joaquin said, a small, triumphant smile tugging at his lips. “Shinran taught me acupuncture techniques that can slow the poison’s effects.”Rick’s tense posture barely eased. “Slow it? Not cure it?”Joaquin’s jaw tightened. “Not yet. But it’ll buy us time until we figure out how to remove the curse completely.”Rick exhaled sharply, nodding once
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 48: Danger coming
Joaquin pushed open the door to his home, rolling his shoulders to ease the tension that had settled in his muscles after the long journey. The place was quiet—too quiet.Then he saw Jasmine.She stood near the window, arms crossed, staring outside as if lost in thought. The dim lantern light beside her cast a soft glow on her face, accentuating the dark circles beneath her eyes.Joaquin frowned. Something felt… off.At the sound of the door closing behind him, she turned and immediately forced a smile.“You’re back.”Joaquin raised a brow. “So are you.”Jasmine hesitated for a fraction of a second before nodding. “Yeah. My errand’s done.”He studied her carefully. There was something in her voice, something guarded.Joaquin walked over to the couch, set his bag down, and sank into the chair with a sigh. “What happened?”Jasmine blinked, and for a brief moment, he saw it—the flicker of uncertainty in her gaze. But just as quickly, she masked it with another small, forced smile.“It wa
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 49: Leave of Absence
Joaquin arrived at the hospital early the next morning, his steps heavy with exhaustion.He barely got any sleep last night. His mind had been restless, haunted by everything that had happened.Jasmine’s strange behavior still nagged at him, a constant itch he couldn’t scratch. And then there was Miguel—his condition was getting worse, and time was running out.As Joaquin entered the hospital, a sharp, venom-laced voice cut through the hallway.“Well, well, well. Look who’s still acting all high and mighty.”Joaquin sighed, already knowing who it was before he even turned around.Mikyla stood a few steps away, arms crossed over her chest, a smug
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 50: Meeting the Boss
The gala was exactly what Joaquin expected—grand, extravagant, and full of people who cared more about appearances than anything else.Towering chandeliers bathed the ballroom in a golden glow, and the polished marble floor reflected the light like a mirror. Waiters moved effortlessly between guests, carrying trays of champagne and hors d’oeuvres, while a classical quartet played in the background, setting the mood for the evening.Joaquin exhaled as he adjusted the stiff collar of his suit.It was his first time attending an event like this. If it weren’t for Andrea practically dragging him here, he wouldn’t have come at all.Andrea, on the other hand, fit in effortlessly.Dressed in a sleek, off-the-
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 51: The Slap
"But I hope you won’t poison him too."The words slithered out of Marion’s mouth like venom, coated in amusement but laced with something far more insidious.A hush fell between the three of them, tension crackling in the air like a brewing storm.Joaquin wasn’t stupid—he could hear the taunt, the insinuation, the arrogance dripping from every syllable. But what unsettled him more was the way Andrea stood frozen beside him, her nails digging into his arm as if she was holding herself back from doing something reckless.Then, to his surprise, Andrea smirked.“Why would I?” she said coolly. “You are not him.”Marion’s expression
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Chapter 198: Shadows and Sparks
After his earlier match, Joaquin chose to stay in the room for a while longer, waiting for the call to his next battle.Outside, the muffled cheers of the crowd echoed through the concrete walls—constant, rhythmic waves of energy that reminded him: the war was far from over.He shut his eyes for a moment and let the ambient noise fade into the background.Then came a soft knock.A young attendant peeked in, eyes wide with a mixture of excitement and nerves. “Mr. Lopez, the next round’s schedule has been posted. Your match is in two hours.”Joaquin gave a small nod, offering a faint but polite smile. “Thank you.”As the door clicked shut, he stoo
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
