Although it was a plain, the terrain around the lake was undulating. The tiger could appear anywhere—perched atop the giant rock like before, hiding in the bushes, or leisurely lying by the water.
So, training required varying not just direction and distance, but height as well.
Valentina understood this perfectly. Seeing Chuck's tricky target placement, she didn't object; her fighting spirit only soared higher.
Choosing a difficult position for the opponent was a crucial part of the contest.
Calming herself and adjusting the angle, Valentina fired the first bolt. The contest began.
Five shots. One hit the board, two landed within the target zone. 60% hit rate, 4 points. A respectable performance.
But Valentina was clearly dissatisfied, shaking her head and sighing as she angrily took the board from Chuck.
Standing behind the ballista, Chuck didn't look at the distant board Valentina set up on the beach.
During last night's practice, he hadn't used his full ability. Not to hide it, but because the poor light limited its effectiveness.
But now was different.
Focusing his mind, a cool sensation gathered from the depths of his brain into his eyes. He slowly raised his eyelids.
Blue Potion Exclusive Evolution — Perception Mastery: Activate!
The LV.2 evolution instantly boosted his vision by another 20% the moment he focused.
Like putting on glasses for the first time after years of myopia, the world became clearer. His already superhuman vision evolved further. Every detail was branded onto his retina and visual cortex.
It wasn't just enhanced sight, but comprehensive processing of visual info—distance, height, color sensitivity, dynamic vision.
Locking onto the distant board, the muscle memory from the all-nighter fused with his evolved vision, becoming instinct.
The "Feel".
No need for mental calculations. Just a glance, and Chuck "felt" the exact angle and direction needed to hit the target.
The bolt left the string. Chuck's turn.
Five shots. None hit the board, but all five hit the target zone.
Chuck's final score: 5 points.
"Suka Blyat!"
The polite greeting Chuck first taught Valentina outside the jungle was now shouted in frustration as she slapped her thigh.
She wasn't cursing Chuck, but herself.
Just one point away from beating him for the first time. How could she not feel regret?
That authentic Russian "Suka Blyat" had the perfect tongue roll.
"I lost."
Valentina returned to Chuck, head down, dejected. This time, she didn't talk back, simply admitting defeat.
"You did very well."
Chuck smiled, rubbing her messy silver hair.
With the blue potion's mental stat boost plus Perception Mastery, his comprehensive vision was triple a normal human's. Yet he only narrowly beat Valentina by one point, and she even hit the board once.
"Hmph, I don't need your comfort."
Valentina rolled her eyes, swatted his hand away, and crossed her arms, a blush appearing on her snowy cheeks.
"A bet is a bet. I'll handle the rendezvous, and you can do whatever you want with me later. My body has been played with by you anyway."
"Good girl."
Chuck nodded with satisfaction. But seeing her lingering regret, he stroked his chin and smiled.
"But you didn't completely lose. If the rule was hitting the board, you would have won."
"Oh? Is that so? Now that you mention it..."
Valentina's dejection vanished. Her eyes lit up. After a thought, she nodded in agreement, pumping her fist excitedly.
"Although you shot more, I shot more accurately!"
"Uh..."
Sounded awkward, but technically correct.
"How about this."
Chuck spread his hands.
"I won on frequency, you won on accuracy. So we both won and lost. No need to set a time for the bet. Next time we have sex, I can let you take the lead once, then I'll finish. How about that?"
"Really?!"
Valentina's shoulders trembled with excitement.
"Lead... you mean I can be on top?"
"If you wish. But don't do anything weird, or I'll resist. You know you can't beat me."
Chuck smiled, bent down to lift the hundred-kilogram ballista, and turned back.
Though dominant and chauvinistic, Chuck was flexible. Changing the playstyle occasionally added spice.
"You keep your word!"
Valentina ran up immediately, unable to hide her anticipation. She helped Chuck carry the ballista back to the platform.
Seeing her expression, Chuck smiled helplessly.
"But first, we have to survive this afternoon."
"..."
Chuck's words were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing Valentina's excitement instantly. But instead of fear, her face returned to its determined calm.
After a moment, she spoke.
"No matter what, I won't let you die."
...
Five consecutive hits on the target zone. Chuck's ballista accuracy was at least 90%.
So yes, this time, everything was truly ready.
As usual, despite the impending battle, Chuck didn't announce it grandly. The other women were still unaware.
Returning home, they ate lunch and rested to peak condition. Before leaving, Chuck checked on Jiang Qi one last time.
Compared to weeks ago, Jiang Qi was a different person. Her rosy face was bloodless, her liveliness gone. She was bedridden twenty-three hours a day.
Her limbs were intact, muscles not atrophied, but the worsening illness had drained her basic stamina to near collapse.
Yet she kept her promise to Chuck, holding on with all her might, even for one more day.
But today, Chuck would free her from the five-year torture of this hopeless illness.
"Brother..."
Seeing Chuck, a gentle smile appeared on Jiang Qi's face, looking poignant against her pallor.
Since her birthday was two months after Chuck's, she used to call him that during their college romance. After opening up, she picked it up again.
"How do you feel?"
Chuck sat by the bed, stroking her face, his thumb rubbing her soft yet oddly cold skin.
"Okay, just a bit tired, hehe..."
Jiang Qi forced her usual bright smile, trying to sit up, but Chuck gently pressed her shoulder down.
"You've worked hard these past days. You're really strong."
Chuck looked at her slightly stunned eyes and kissed her lips gently.
"But I need you to hold on a little longer. Just a little longer. Don't give up, and don't think too much."
Chuck suddenly thought of something. Looking at his dying ex-girlfriend, he whispered tenderly and nostalgically.
"Remember the Home Inn across from the train station?"
Jiang Qi froze, then her bright eyes reddened. She pouted and nodded slightly.
"...How could I forget."
It was their frequent haunt during the peak of their passion. Peak season or off-season, weekend or weekday, they left traces of passion in those rooms, fucking until they forgot to eat, practically addicted.
"I remember you loved holding my feet in your hands back then, pressing them... over my head like this."
Jiang Qi extended her small hand from under the blanket, interlacing her fingers above her head.
"It was so shameful, but really deep, and felt so good..."
A faint blush appeared on her pale face.
Chuck knew the pose.
It was a variation of his favorite mating press—interlacing fingers with the woman's toes, pressing them over her head, feeling the exquisite double tremors from inside her body and her toes.
Though he used it most with Julia now, Jiang Qi was the one who started his preference.
"I want to do that with Brother... one more time."
Jiang Qi lowered her arm, fingers gently holding Chuck's wrist. Her trembling pupils were full of attachment and desire.
She had longed for him for years. Just one more time like back then, and she could die without regrets.
"Of course. But not now."
Chuck nodded gently but removed her hand, stroking her soft cheek again.
"Because I have to go out."
"...Go out?"
"Mmh."
Chuck nodded, speaking with utmost seriousness.
"So you must wait for me to come back. Then, we'll do it until dawn, just like before."
...
Although he didn't tell them, as he and Valentina prepared to leave, the women inexplicably put down their work and came to the door.
Seeing the worry on Julia and Janet's faces, and the admiration in Julia and Kaede's eyes, Chuck smiled helplessly.
Having been with him so long, seeing his urgency and Jiang Qi's condition, they guessed something despite his secrecy.
"Hubby, no matter what, we'll wait for you at home."
Yitong stepped forward like a true wife, adjusting his collar, looking at him with gentle, loving eyes.
A golden figure then rushed into his arms. Julia hugged him tightly. Looking up, her blue eyes held unwavering trust.
"Darling, there's nothing in this world you can't do. I'll wait for my big hero to return."
Releasing the blonde mare, Chuck looked at his harem. Besides nervousness, there was anticipation and excitement.
After days of effort, putting aside even sex, the final moment arrived. Kill the boss, bring back the potion, cure Jiang Qi, and relax.
Then, no matter what, he would fuck these stunning beauties for a day and a night.
...
"Wait, where's the ballista?"
"Don't panic. I moved it already."
"Huh? When?"
"Don't worry about it."
Half an hour later, walking in the redwood forest, Chuck and Valentina chatted calmly. Though nervous, this was routine for them.
Chuck kept his cheat vague. Explaining the ballista was in his "crotch space" was too troublesome, so he bullshitted as usual.
Crossing the tropical jungle, they reached the plains outskirts, the leopard's former territory.
Chuck looked back. The path he cleared three days ago was still visible. His emotional outburst in the rain seemed like wasted effort now.
"I'll head over first. Remember the signal."
Valentina, traveling light with only two paddles and a javelin, greeted Chuck and headed toward the cave shallows.
It was her initial landing spot, so she knew the area well.
Watching her leave, Chuck looked toward the distant lake.
After the rain, the sky was clear. The herds by the lake were leisurely.
They didn't know a massive change was coming.
The ruler of this territory was about to change from the terrifying tiger to an even more terrifying two-legged beast.