---
The wind howled through the ruins as Hernandez charged, blood-soaked and roaring with rage.
He threw a brutal punch — fast and heavy.
But Peter tilted his head and deflected it with ease.
His eyes burned with calm fury.
He slid low—
[TON OF TONS – ACTIVATED]
> Skill: Ton of Tons
💥 User's next hit lands with the force of 1 ton. 3 uses per day.
THWACK!
Peter's low kick shattered Hernandez's leg with a thunderous crack. Bone splinters flew. The ground crumbled beneath him.
Hernandez collapsed to one knee, shocked. "What… what the hell?!"
Peter didn't let up.
He twisted forward, preparing a second Ton of Tons—
But this time, Hernandez caught him by the throat.
"You're not the only one with tricks, brat."
With a savage swing, he slammed Peter into the wall, embedding him into the stone.
Dust rained down.
Then—
A dark glow spread over Hernandez's body.
"INFINITE TANKER – AWAKENED"
His muscles doubled in size, his aura swirling like a pressure vortex.
> Skill: Infinite Tanker
🛡️ Can absorb enemy attacks and reflect them back with 2x the force.
He grabbed Peter again.
BOOM. BOOM. CRASH!
Combo after combo. Slamming fists. Elbow strikes. Gut punches. Every blow returned with double the pain.
Peter's body began to fail — coughing blood, ribs cracking.
Until—
He reached into his pocket and crushed a tiny red bean between his fingers.
> Healing Bean Consumed – 2 left
All injuries healed. Stamina restored.
Peter's eyes flared open.
"Surprise."
Before Hernandez could react—
[STUN FIST – BASIC]
WHACK!
A glowing fist struck his temple.
Hernandez froze, eyes wide.
> Stun Fist Success — Target immobile for 5 seconds
Peter exhaled.
"Let's end this."
[TON OF TONS – ACTIVATED]
BOOM!!!
A devastating punch collided with Hernandez's face. His head snapped back, blood flying.
Then Peter jumped into the air and twisted mid-spin.
AXE KICK.
CRAAASH!!!
The strike slammed Hernandez through five levels of concrete and metal. The entire building collapsed, a tower of rubble falling with thunderous finality.
---
From afar, Nick watched the dust rise.
He smiled faintly, a lollipop shifting between his teeth.
"Not bad."
---
Suddenly—
A metallic echo rang out.
And a blur of motion slammed into Peter from the shadows—
CRACK!!
Peter flew across the field like a bullet, slamming into a car and falling unconscious.
A figure stepped forward.
Wearing a half-buttoned shirt, tucked into black tactical pants. One glowing fake eye, and a cybernetic arm that hissed steam.
The man cracked his knuckles and looked at Nick.
"…Finally found you."
Ryan.
Former Head of Japan. The man once feared as the Demon Blade of the East.
His empire had fallen — thanks to Nick — when the Black Saints, the organization controlling all of Asia, had been dismantled.
"You've got some nerve showing your face," Ryan growled. "After everything you destroyed."
Nick stepped forward casually, his smile unchanged.
"Still mad about losing your throne?"
Ryan clenched his fists. "I didn't come here for jokes."
Nick tilted his head.
"Then you came for a beating."
---
Chapter 8 Ends.
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