“Myriad Spirit Locking Array!”

A gray array flew from Eli’s hand like a stone flower, landed under the giant bears, and swelled until it wrapped them in a cold halo.

Countless silver chains burst from the earth like winter vines, coiling around every limb and joint of the bears.

Each chain, arm-thick and iron-cold, pinned them to the ground; their roars pounded the air like war drums.

Eli stood on a transparent array, floating like a drifting leaf, panting hard, eyes bright with rough satisfaction.

Yet the ache hit first—one arcane secret still couldn’t touch the realm beyond human limits.

“Damn… human! You. think… this can. hold. me?” The bear’s voice was gravel and storm, muscles straining like bent bows.

Eli saw links start to slacken and frowned; the Myriad Spirit Lock mostly sealed mana.

This demon-bear used raw flesh like a mountain, brute force prying the seal apart.

He bit his lip. “Tch. Still too forced. Flaws everywhere. It barely suppresses Battle Aura. And raw strength…”

He steadied his breath, drifted over the bear clutching the ring; a silver ring rose from its chest like a moon, and Eli caught it, then bolted.

Boom.

Battle Aura, bottled too long inside that beast, erupted like wildfire and blew the chains apart. The bear charged, a dark avalanche.

Eli gripped the ring, laughing as he ran. “Stupid bears, see you around—I’m done playing!”

His Wind Riding spell peeled away; his feet hit earth like stones. He primed his Swift Step spell, but someone grabbed him at the waist and sprinted off, quick as a deer.

Eli blinked, sizing up a man dressed one thread short of a beggar.

The man saw Eli staring. He flashed a sleazy grin, voice rough as gravel. “Hey, kid, you okay?”

Eli snapped an uppercut toward his face; the man tilted aside like a reed and dodged, curious. “Hey, what’re you doing?”

“Quit yapping, you damn creep—put me down.” Eli’s face darkened like a stormcloud.

“You couldn’t run anymore. Dropping you is sending you to die, right?” He tilted his head, honestly curious. Eli’s mouth twitched. “Where did you see I couldn’t run?”

“You cast that huge arcane array, then buzzed up there and fell, right?” He still didn’t drop Eli. A pale, elegant arm stretched from his back and scratched his head like a lazy cat.

Eli froze, then blurted, shocked. “You’ve got three arms?!”

He shook his head, embarrassed. “Ahaha, no. It’s my gongfa.”

“Gongfa?” Eli frowned, a crease like a blade.

“Uh… yeah… like a secret manual. Forgot you Western folks don’t know.” More arms bloomed from his back like lotus petals, flashing hand signs at Eli.

Eli narrowed his eyes. Up close, the hands looked translucent, like energy made flesh.

He nodded—and swung another punch.

The man slipped aside and snapped, “What are you doing?!”

“Are you deaf? Put me down!” Eli’s roar hit like thunder.

“You sure you can manage?” Doubt curled like smoke.

“Keep talking and I’ll drop an array and take you with me!” Rage first, logic later; the man’s grip was iron, and Eli couldn’t break it.

His gut clenched—a Master-level Battle Aura, and I still can’t shake him? This sleaze is a boss-tier freak?!

The man set him down. Eli triggered Swift Step. Whoosh—he shot forward like an arrow.

“Whoa, you can run… and pretty fast?!” The man blinked, last three words popping in a sudden female tone. He clamped his breath, huffed twice, then sprang after him like a hound.

“Hey! You—don’t run so fast! Wait for me!”

Eli turned to curse him, then his blood went cold. The bears were close, heads down, tearing the ground like plows as they charged.

He faced forward, legs churning harder, heart drumming like rain on drums.

The man bit down. “Why’s this guy sprinting like that? Can’t he listen?” He glanced back—and swore. “Holy—time to dip, time to dip.”

A red glow wrapped his feet like fire. His speed spiked. “Aaah—red horns, triple speed—aaah!”

Eli watched the man holler and rocket past. He barked a laugh. “Damn, I really ran into a ghost today!”