Imaginitation system

The street was eerily quiet, save for the low growls of the tiger monster. Its glowing yellow eyes burned with menace as it stalked closer to Lu Fang. He stood firm, gripping the rusted pipe tightly.

Behind him, Li Mei and Li Lan huddled against the wall, their small faces pale with fear. He had to protect them, no matter what.

"Hey!" he shouted, slamming the pipe against the ground. "Come for me, you overgrown furball!"

The tiger's growl deepened, its massive frame shifting as it turned its attention fully to him.

Lu Fang didn't hesitate. He charged forward, swinging the pipe with all his strength. The metal struck the beast's side with a sharp clang, but it barely reacted.

"Damn it," Lu Fang muttered, stepping back.

The tiger growled louder, its claws scraping the pavement. It lunged, and Lu Fang barely managed to dodge, rolling to the side as the monster's claws tore through the air where he had stood.

Scrambling to his feet, Lu Fang swung the pipe again, this time hitting its leg. The beast staggered slightly, and for a moment, hope flickered in his chest.

But then he saw it.

Above the tiger's head, a faint golden crown shimmered.

His stomach dropped. "A boss monster…"

Boss monsters weren't like normal E-rank creatures. They were stronger, faster, and deadlier—ten times harder to defeat.

The tiger's growl deepened, and the air around it began to ripple. Lu Fang's eyes widened as he felt the pressure in the air change.

"No…" he whispered.

The tiger opened its mouth, and a notification flashed in front of him.

[Skill Activated: D-Rank Roar]

The sound that followed was deafening. The roar wasn't just noise—it was a weapon. A powerful shockwave erupted from the tiger, slamming into Lu Fang with the force of a wrecking ball.

He flew backward, crashing into a metal pole. Pain shot through his body as he crumpled to the ground. His vision blurred, and his ears rang.

"A skill…" he muttered weakly. "It has a skill…"

His arms trembled as he tried to push himself up, but his strength was gone. Every muscle screamed in protest.

"Lu Fang!"

The faint sound of his name pulled him back. He blinked, his gaze landing on Li Mei and Li Lan.

The twins stood a few feet away, their faces pale but determined.

"Run…" Lu Fang croaked, his voice barely audible. "Get out of here…"

But the girls didn't move.

Li Mei bent down and picked up a loose brick. Li Lan grabbed a shard of glass.

"No…" Lu Fang whispered, his heart sinking.

The tiger turned toward them, its glowing eyes narrowing.

Li Mei stepped forward, holding the brick like a weapon. "Stay back!" she shouted, her voice trembling but fierce.

Li Lan stood beside her, clutching the shard of glass tightly. "We won't let you hurt him!"

Lu Fang's chest tightened. He wanted to scream at them to run, to get as far away as possible, but his body wouldn't move.

The tiger growled again, raising its massive paw.

"No…" Lu Fang whispered one last time, his strength fading.

As his vision darkened, the last thing he saw was the crown above the tiger's head and the defiant faces of the girls standing in its path.

His final thought was a desperate plea.

Please… let them survive.