Kaizen stood at the edge of the dense jungle, staring at the massive figure looming before him. The giant gorilla—easily over five meters tall—pounded its chest, causing the very ground beneath him to tremble. Its fur was dark and thick, its muscles rippling with raw power. Kaizen knew that this was the apex predator of the island. If he wanted to prove himself as the king of this land, this battle would be his ultimate test.
The gorilla roared, baring its sharp teeth, before charging with terrifying speed. Kaizen barely had time to react before a massive fist swung toward him. He leaped backward, but the sheer force of the impact sent a shockwave through the ground, knocking him off balance. He tumbled but quickly rolled to his feet.
(Warning: Hostile Threat Detected. Power Level: High.)
Kaizen wiped the sweat from his brow, heart pounding. "No kidding," he muttered under his breath.
The beast was fast—too fast for something that large. Kaizen needed to be smarter, not just stronger. He activated his Skill Enhancement System.
[Enhance Reflexes +50%]
The world sharpened. His perception of time seemed to slow, allowing him to read the gorilla's movements better. When it charged again, Kaizen sidestepped just in time, feeling the air ripple as the massive fist barely missed his head.
The ground shattered under the impact.
Kaizen lunged forward, spear in hand. He struck at the gorilla's exposed ribs, but the tip barely pierced its thick hide. The beast howled in irritation rather than pain, swiping at him with its enormous hand. Kaizen twisted his body mid-air to avoid the attack, but the wind pressure alone sent him crashing through a tree trunk.
His ribs burned from the impact. This thing was too durable. Normal attacks wouldn't work.
(Recommendation: Target Weak Points.)
Kaizen's mind raced. Its eyes. Its joints. Its throat. He needed to be precise.
The gorilla charged again, but this time, Kaizen didn't run. Instead, he sprinted toward it, closing the distance faster than the beast expected. At the last moment, he slid under its massive arm, stabbing his spear into its exposed armpit—one of the few areas not protected by thick muscle and fur.
The gorilla roared in agony, staggering back.
Kaizen didn't waste the opening. He jumped onto the beast's back, wrapping his legs around its neck. He stabbed down, aiming for its spine, but the gorilla twisted violently, grabbing him mid-air.
Before he could react, it hurled him across the jungle.
Kaizen crashed through branches, finally slamming into the dirt. His vision blurred, pain flooding his body.
(Warning: Injuries Sustained. Endurance Dropping.)
He coughed, spitting out blood. The gorilla pounded its chest again, as if declaring victory. But Kaizen grinned.
"Not bad," he muttered, struggling to his feet. "But I'm not done yet."
[Enhance Strength +50%] [Enhance Endurance +50%]
His body surged with power. The pain dulled, his muscles tightened, and his energy returned twice as strong. He dashed forward, moving faster than ever before.
The gorilla swung at him, but this time, Kaizen saw it clearly. He ducked, launching himself upward like a cannonball, punching straight into the gorilla's jaw.
A crack echoed through the jungle as the beast reeled back.
Kaizen didn't let up. He climbed onto its arm, running up toward its head. As the gorilla tried to grab him, he jumped onto its face, ramming his knife directly into its left eye.
The beast's roar shook the heavens.
(Weak Point Hit: Critical Damage Inflicted.)
The gorilla thrashed wildly, but Kaizen held on. With all his strength, he drove the knife deeper, twisting it until he felt the beast's movements slow.
Then, with one last guttural cry, the giant gorilla collapsed, sending dust and debris flying.
Kaizen leaped off just in time, landing on his feet, chest heaving. He watched as the once-dominant predator lay motionless, its body finally succumbing to the battle.
Silence fell over the jungle.
[New Skill Acquired: King's Instinct - Authority over weaker creatures, enhanced battle intuition.]
Kaizen clenched his fists. He had done it.
He looked around at the jungle, at the creatures that had once hunted him. Now, they stood at a distance, watching him.
A smirk formed on his lips. He had survived, he had conquered, and now, he had proven himself the true king of this island.
"Come at me," he muttered to the wild beasts. "I dare you."
But none of them moved.
They already knew who the new ruler was.