Chapter 9: The Impossible Possibility

【Star-Eclipse Eye · Future Sight: Capable of 100% observation of the 'energy flow' within both self and target, enabling the user to foresee the opponent’s next move a certain time in advance during combat】

Future Sight—this was a foundational ability of Tian Dao’s Star-Eye. Though the name sounded intimidating, in essence, it was nothing more than result extrapolation. The principle was simple: observe the trajectory of an opponent’s stellar energy flow and make a predictive assessment based on that.

However, the Earth Dragon Lizard before him was no ordinary foe. As a Second-Rank Stellar Beast with a baseline Stellar Energy Value of 3,000, fully predicting its every future movement was simply beyond reach.

But Tian Dao didn’t need to predict everything.

He only needed to carve out one precious opening—just one chance to strike.

Pang…

As Tian Dao activated Future Sight, a unique ripple of stellar energy spread outward from his body like concentric waves.

In his vision, the massive form of the Earth Dragon Lizard began to translucently fade.

Countless streams—some thick, some slender—emanated from its core, weaving through its body, intersecting, influencing one another, forming the intricate network that sustained the colossal beast.

Tian Dao stared at the flowing energy pathways. Floods of information surged into his mind, triggering immediate calculations.

Tic-tac…

Even the preliminary extrapolation strained him. The sheer gap in power made the mental load immense. Sweat dripped from his chin, splattering onto the ground.

Then—his eyes flashed.

Got it.

And at that very instant, the Earth Dragon Lizard had already closed the hundred-meter gap, towering over Tian Dao.

In its slit pupils, a flicker of almost human disdain.

It raised one massive claw and casually swiped toward him.

The attack was unremarkable—yet the pressure radiating from it was overwhelming.

No one doubted its lethality.

Just as no one believed Tian Dao had any chance of winning.

Yet, to everyone’s shock, Tian Dao had already moved—before the claw even lifted.

Flash Step.

Tian Dao channeled a torrent of stellar energy into his feet, using the explosive recoil to launch himself forward with inhuman speed. He barely avoided the strike—by a hair’s breadth.

Boom!

The claw struck the arena floor. The reinforced steel plating shrieked like tortured metal, sparks erupting in showers as three deep, jagged grooves gouged into the surface.

The Earth Dragon Lizard blinked—its eyes narrowing slightly.

It hadn’t expected the human to dodge.

But it wasn’t fazed.

It had never taken Tian Dao and his team seriously in the first place.

To it, they were merely toys.

Without pause, it surged forward, relentless.

Each subsequent attack grew more ferocious than the last.

Though Tian Dao could now anticipate the beast’s movements roughly half a second in advance, the staggering disparity in power still left him in constant peril—barely escaping with his life, never able to counterattack effectively.

Watching from the sidelines, the other Stellar Prodigies’ expressions darkened. Some, weaker-minded, began to visibly tremble.

“What kind of joke is this…? Can we really last three minutes against a monster like this?”

Even Tian Dao—whose name was synonymous with the strongest—was being crushed.

So what chance would they have?

The mere thought sent icy dread through their bones.

To step onto that arena against such a creature?

That wasn’t battle.

That was suicide.

“Sister…”

Chen Kong stared at the arena, his voice trembling as he turned to Chen Xing.

Fear was etched into his face. He didn’t believe they could win.

Chen Xing snapped back without hesitation.

“Shut up. Watch.”

Unlike her brother, who was already paralyzed by fear, Chen Xing remained utterly composed—her expression sharper, more focused.

Her crimson eyes locked onto Tian Dao, as if searching for something beneath the surface.

And in the VIP box above, others mirrored her gaze.

They watched Tian Dao, repeatedly cornered, barely escaping the Earth Dragon Lizard’s wrath—only to survive through the power of Future Sight.

“Few can endure this long against a Second-Rank Earth Dragon Lizard. Tian Dao truly lives up to his title.”

“But if I’m not mistaken… he’s not fighting to survive. He’s buying time—for the Sky Mechanism Cat.”

“Otherwise, why hasn’t he used every chance to create distance, let his teammates share the burden, extend the fight?”

“Instead, he’s provoked it. Deliberately.”

“Most likely, he knows the others couldn’t withstand this beast’s attacks.”

“Even a ‘holding back’ Second-Rank Stellar Beast—its casual strike is beyond what half-grown children could endure, isn’t it?”

Lady Gold Finch swirled her champagne glass slowly, her voice calm.

Beside her, the Gryphon Man nodded.

“The greatest strength of the Intelligent Mechanism Class lies in data collection and processing.”

“The Sky Mechanism Cat hasn’t moved since the beginning. She’s been gathering and analyzing every bit of data Tian Dao sends her.”

He paused, then added, “But there’s one thing I still don’t understand…”

“Oh?” Lady Gold Finch tilted her head.

“The core purpose of any data collection in the Intelligent Mechanism Class is to calculate the smallest possibility from countless impossibilities.”

“Without that, cold numbers are meaningless. They can never become victory.”

“So… why are they collecting all this data? What are they chasing? What possible outcome are they striving for?”

“Extending the fight? I doubt it.”

Lady Gold Finch paused, her glass still. The moment stretched.

Then—silence.

She, too, began to sense it.

And from the shadows, Doctor’s silver mask curved into a faint, knowing smile.

They couldn’t guess what Tian Dao was doing—because they didn’t understand him.

They didn’t know the pride hidden beneath his carefree façade.

Delaying time?

No.

Tian Dao would never choose that.

Because to do so would mean surrendering—accepting defeat in his heart before the fight even ended.

That was something he could not allow.

So, if every impossible path was eliminated—no matter how absurd the remaining option seemed—it had to be the truth.

Thus, Doctor concluded:

Tian Dao wasn’t trying to delay.

He was waiting.

Waiting for the perfect moment—the opening.

Everyone believed the Earth Dragon Lizard was unbeatable.

But Tian Dao Siming?

He was going to prove otherwise.

Come on, Tian Dao…

Let me see just how far your limits truly go.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end