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The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 61: Recognition
The road leading to the Eastern Peaks was long and brutal.Dust clung to the SUV’s tires as they wound through desolate paths carved into the mountainside. The deeper they went, the rougher the terrain became, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and distant smoke from unseen fires.Joaquin sat in the front passenger seat, his body fully healed thanks to the abilities he had inherited. He just needed rest, and he was back to his usual self. Stronger. Sharper. Ready.His fingers tapped against his thigh, his mind calculating. This place reeked of danger. Even inside the car, he could feel the unspoken threats lurking in the shadows.Rick drove with one hand on the wheel, his other resting lazily on his lap, but his sharp eyes flicked to the rearview mirror every few minutes. On high alert.Miguel, sitting in the back, looked too calm.That unsettled Joaquin.The old man knew exactly what kind of place this was, yet there was no tension in his posture. No flicker of unease.Why wo
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 62: The Master
Joaquin had seen a lot in his life.But nothing—nothing—prepared him for what he had just witnessed.One moment, Master Iroh stood a few feet away, watching them with those ancient, knowing eyes. The next, he was standing right in front of him.Joaquin barely had time to process it.No sound. No shift in the air. No warning.It wasn’t teleportation—he knew what that looked like. This was something else. A movement so fast, so precise, that his brain simply couldn’t register it.His breath hitched. His muscles tensed.What the hell—?Master Iroh merely smiled, his wrinkled face crinkling like old parchment. "You’re new, boy. But I can already sense the power inside you."Joaquin’s jaw tightened. "You—"Miguel chuckled, stepping forward like this was the most natural thing in the world. "Still showing off, old man?"Iroh turned to him, eyes glinting with mischief. "It keeps me young."Miguel smirked. "That, and the tea, I’m guessing."Iroh huffed a quiet laugh and gestured toward a narr
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 63: The Tiger Ranking System
“Are you really sure about this, Young man?” Master Iroh asked again.Joaquin looked at him full of determination. “Yes.”Master Iroh smirked. “If you enter this mansion, there is no turning back anymore.”Joaquin exhaled sharply. He stared at the enormous gate in front of them. He clenched his fist.The Sandoval estate loomed ahead, a fortress of wealth and power built upon generations of control. But Joaquin wasn’t intimidated.He had seen opulence before and walked through halls dripping with luxury. But here, beneath the grandeur, was something rotten.He had seen opulence before and walked through halls drippin
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 64: The Second Skill
Joaquin was dreaming.Or at least, he thought he was.The world around him was hazy, shifting like smoke caught in the wind. He stood in the center of a massive arena—larger than anything he had ever seen—surrounded by roaring spectators whose faces blurred together in a sea of movement.At the heart of the battlefield stood a lone warrior.Joaquin knew him.Not personally, but through blood. Through history.His ancestor.The man stood tall, muscles corded like steel beneath a dark tunic. His stance was effortless yet unshakable, his eyes focused, determine
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 65: The White Tiger Ranking
At first, Joaquin managed to fight the man back. He easily managed to take him down.Joaquin smirked.The man stood up. His expression was too calm.“Is that all you got?” the man asked, smirking.“I can do more,” Joaquin challenged.The man chuckled. Then his face turned serious.Then the man moved unexpectedly, Joaquin was surprised by the sudden blow.His body hit the ground with a sickening thud.Pain exploded through his ribs. His vision blurred. The roar of the crowd faded into a distant hum as if he were sinking beneat
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 66: Another Warning
Joaquin lay on the small bed, arms folded behind his head, staring at the ceiling. His body still ached from the battle, but his mind was restless.The room was simple—bare walls, a wooden chair, and a small desk. Nothing luxurious, just functional. But right now, it was the quiet that mattered.The cheers of the crowd, the adrenaline of the fight—it was all fading, leaving behind exhaustion and a lingering sense of unease.He had won.Joaquin frowned.The knock was firm, deliberate. Not hesitant like a servant, nor impatient like Rick.Slowly, he sat up. "Come in."The door creaked open.
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 67: First Day of Training
The house was quiet.Joaquin sat on the edge of the small wooden bed, the old mattress sinking slightly under his weight. The scent of burning incense still lingered in the air, mixing with the fresh mountain breeze that slipped through the open window. Outside, the distant sound of rustling leaves and chirping crickets filled the silence.Miguel and Rick had already left. Joaquin at Master Iroh’s house for his training. Now, it was just him, Master Iroh, and Maria.With a sigh, Joaquin pulled out his phone. The screen lit up with notifications, but he ignored them all except for one.Jasmine.He pressed the call button and put the phone to his ear.“Joaquin?” Jasmine’s voice came through almost immediately, warm and a little breathless.“Jasmine. I wanted to call you earlier, but things have been... complicated.”Jasmine hummed knowingly. “You’re still not coming home?”Joaquin ran a hand through his hair. “No. Not yet. I need to stay here for a few more days. There’s something I n
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 68: Seeing the Unseen
Joaquin’s breath came in short, ragged bursts.The world around him had changed.At first, he thought it was just his imagination—maybe a trick of the dim candlelight or the exhaustion messing with his head. But the longer he stared, the more undeniable it became.They were everywhere.Faint silhouettes drifted in and out of sight—wisps of figures lingering in the corners of the room, shifting just beyond the flickering candlelight. Some had hollow eyes and dark pits where human expressions should be. Others looked almost normal, their faces frozen in silent despair.The worst part?They were looking at him.Joaquin squeezed his eyes shut and took a shaky breath. This isn’t real. This isn’t real. But when he opened them again, they were still there—watching, waiting.His pulse thundered in his ears. His body felt heavier as if something unseen was pressing down on his shoulders.“What the hell…” he whispered.Master Iroh sat cross-legged in front of him, completely unfazed, his wrinkl
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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
