[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-adventures-of-hulim":3,"chapter-the-adventures-of-hulim-the-adventures-of-hulim-chapter-168":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Adventures of Hulim",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1882019,2498,"Chapter 168: Advancing Steadily​","the-adventures-of-hulim-chapter-168",168,"\u003Cp>The nearly thousand spectators in the arena stared dumbfounded at the scene below.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Less than three seconds had passed since the match bell rang,​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and only one contestant remained standing on the arena floor. The other had been sent hurtling beyond the boundary line, embedded headfirst in the ground in a ridiculous butt-up pose, motionless.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief, breathless silence, the arena erupted in deafening cheers unlike anything before.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One-hit knockout!\"​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Unstoppable!\"​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Incredible!\"​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"......\"​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amidst the roar of the thousand-strong crowd, Hulim strode out of the arena with an unflappable expression.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for her opponent, he was carried away on a stretcher by the staff.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>......​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hulim! That was insane! You took him out in one blow!\"​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Hulim stepped outside, Miko darted over, brimming with excitement.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s not that dramatic. He was just overly careless. By the way, what are you planning to do next?\"​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first round of the preliminary round had the largest turnout, with matches stacked back-to-back. It would take at least half a day just to wrap up this round. So like Miko, Hulim’s next match wasn’t until the afternoon.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm...... How about we check out other arenas? We might stumble upon some really powerful competitors!\"​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sure, let’s do that. I’m curious to see just how strong the top fighters in this tournament can get.\"​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let’s hit Arena No.8 first—it’s the closest!\"​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, off to No.8 then.\"​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hulim didn’t much care where they went. Running into strong opponents was purely a matter of luck, and it could happen anywhere.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two made their way toward Arena No.8 together.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a hastily rushing staff member suddenly emerged from a corridor.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not noticing the two approaching, he collided straight into Miko.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the crash, instead of apologizing, the staff member didn’t even spare Miko a glance—he just kept walking like nothing had happened.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What’s his problem! He ran into me and didn’t even say sorry!\"​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miko pouted, clearly annoyed.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Hulim watched the staff member’s retreating figure, her eyebrows lifted slightly.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it just her imagination......​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was something about him that gave her a faint, unsettling feeling.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from NovelBin. Please report it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that kind of aura usually only came from certain unsavory types......​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hulim, are you okay?\"​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s nothing......\"​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hulim shook her head.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let’s hurry to Arena No.8. The matches must have started again by now. If we move fast, we might still catch one in full swing.\"​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, right!\"​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two rushed toward Arena No.8, the little incident seemingly slipping their minds.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>......​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile,​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the staff member who’d accidentally collided with Miko arrived at a secluded spot.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After knocking on a door in a coded rhythm, it creaked open a crack—this was a restricted room off-limits to spectators.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once his \"identity\" was confirmed, the person inside opened the door and let him in.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The door snapped shut behind him......​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How did it go?\"​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t worry, Captain—I got the list!\"​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The \"staff member\" pulled a thick stack of documents from his uniform.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This has the names and ID details of every tournament staff member!\"​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Perfect! Well done! With this, we can replace the staff with our own people without raising a single eyebrow!\"​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man addressed as Captain flipped through the documents briefly, then handed them to another man.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Take these to the Vice-Captain. Don’t mess this up!\"​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, Captain!\"​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man grabbed the documents, took his orders, and vanished from the room in a hurry.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After he left, the Captain turned to the others in the room.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stay sharp too. Keep your movements low-key over the next few days. We must fully secure this place as our home turf before we make our move!\"​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes!!!\"​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone in the room responded in unison.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good!\"​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Captain looked at them with a satisfied nod.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now, let the first battle of the Great Demon Mercenary Corps on the world stage begin!\"​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>......​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding——!​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fight——!\"​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the referee’s signal,​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miko moved in a blur. Her figure darted across the arena like a whirlwind, shifting positions so fast she left afterimages.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Dammit! You’re so annoying, darting around like a rat!\"​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her opponent was a Rapid-Fire Archer, a master at pinning down enemies with continuous long-range attacks. He’d won his previous matches by keeping his foes at arm’s length, but now he was stuck.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miko was far too fast to lock onto. Even when he loosed his arrows, they only chased after her ghostly trails.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If that’s how it’s gonna be, I’ll just wait for you to get close......\"​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The archer stopped shooting, nocked an arrow, and drew his bowstring taut, ready to strike. A green whirlwind swirled around the sharp arrowhead—clearly, its power was on a whole different level from before.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under normal circumstances, no one would dare charge in recklessly. After all, the closer you got, the smaller your margin for error, and the easier it was to get hit.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Miko didn’t care one bit. She charged straight at him without hesitation.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you out of your mind? Charging right at me! Eat dirt!\"​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Rapid-Fire Archer released the taut bowstring in an instant.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh——!​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The arrow, glowing with an eerie green light, shot toward Miko with a thunderous crack that split the air.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faced with the oncoming projectile, Miko didn’t dodge or flinch. She clenched the short blades in her hands and slashed forward with all her might.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crossed blades carved two arcs through the air, slamming into the arrowhead head-on.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang——!​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sparks exploded everywhere. The crisp ring of clashing metal echoed throughout the arena. Miko was forced back several steps by the arrow’s immense impact.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What!?! How is that even possible——!!?\"​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Rapid-Fire Archer gaped in utter disbelief.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His full-powered attack had been blocked with such brute simplicity?​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the archer seemed to forget he was still in the middle of a match.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miko flipped the blocked arrow into the air with a flick of her wrist. She spun 180 degrees and unleashed a devastating roundhouse kick.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her foot connected with the arrow, sending it hurtling back toward the archer at breakneck speed.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh no!\"​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the arrow flying straight for him, the archer finally realized his fatal mistake. He had no choice but to dive out of the way to avoid it.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he was powerless against Miko, who was charging right behind the arrow.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could only watch as she closed in. By then, it was already too late to nock another arrow.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miko drove her knee into his chest, sending a searing jolt through his skull and leaving him concussed.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She followed up with the same roundhouse kick, leaving a clear, tiny shoe print on his face. His body went flying like a discarded sandbag before slamming hard outside the arena perimeter.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hitting the ground, the archer rolled his eyes and twitched uncontrollably.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The winner—Miko Kedar!\"​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the referee boomed out the result, the thousand spectators in the arena erupted in enthusiastic cheers.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miko waved to acknowledge the crowd, then strode out of the arena. Her opponent, meanwhile, was carried away on a stretcher by two staff members......\u003C\u002Fp>",1198,"2026-06-10T06:36:37.917Z",1,"novelbin.me","7b42eb0f2adf2eb20555869b87d11ab194517b6d7965e8533400461865716eab","the-adventures-of-hulim-chapter-169","the-adventures-of-hulim-chapter-167",528,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-adventures-of-hulim-cover.jpg"]