Did You Pray Today?

As I recalled more about Blood Mandala, the wider my smile got. Blood Mandala was an extremely ruthless woman whose hate for men knew no bounds.

She ruled the entire city from the shadows for several years until the disaster struck Echovale city. After making her appearance known, she ruled it like a tyrant, killing whoever opposed her and fighting against Reavers until the very end.

Despite being young, Blood Mandala was really powerful because of her S-class talent, whose power no one could oppose.

"Yeah, she was a powerful figure from my past, but this time I would take her out of this place and turn her into my subordinate for my fight against those bastards."

At first, Alan wasn't keen on forming groups, but after giving it much thought and meeting a younger, innocent version of Blood Mandala while bringing 'that' back from the forest, he changed his mind.

In the future, when he gets powerful and needs to face the entire species of Reavers, even he isn't confident about it. Reavers are powerful beings, and to face them alone, no matter how powerful one is, would just lead to demise. Hence, Alan changed his mind and decided to recruit strong talents from the future he knows for his purpose.

Yeah, like every other protagonist who goes on spouting nonsense about being a loner but changes his mind after a few chapters just to clickbait the loner protagonist enthusiasts, Alan was the same.

Reaching out, Alan held onto something before bringing it out and looking at it: a green-colored spherical seed-shaped object that glowed faintly in the dark with a green hue.

Looking at the object in his palm, a smile grew on Alan's face, which was covered with a mask. This was the reason for Alan to enter the forest, the solution for Alan's malnourished body.

As Alan thought, Ivy, the girl, exited the restroom, making Alan clench his fist in an attempt to hide the object.

"Brother?"

The girl innocently said as she made her way towards Alan, who reached out his hand to grab her while they made their way out of the place. But how can anything be so easy for a protagonist?

"FOUND HER! I FOUND THAT BITCH!!"

As Alan and Ivy were about to leave the area, loud shouts echoed through the place, and several heavy footsteps of people approaching were heard.

"There's that bitch!"

"Fucking bitch made us search through the whole slum.. Nigga, I will be the one who fucks her first."

One by one, people ran towards Alan, encircling him as they shouted. Wearing cheap clothes and displaying their tattooed bodies, each of them held onto cheap weapons as the ten men encircled the duo, looking at the girl with eyes full of lust.

"We got the bitch, but who is that little twerp?"

One of the men said while eyeing Alan, who was dressed in all black with a mask hiding his face.

Looking at the people encircling them, Ivy began to shiver with fear, gripping her hand tightly and holding onto Alan while hiding behind him.

"Hey fucker, leave the bitch here and fuck off."

One of the men holding a rod said as he moved sideways, allowing another man to step beside him. The new man who entered shadowed the region with his massive size.

Being shirtless and adorned with gold jewelry, the man showed off his large tattoos on his burly body full of muscles that hid his scars.

"Ah shit, now the boss has come. I can't be the first one now."

The entry of the scarred-faced man with darker skin tone made the men cheer as they looked at the duo stuck between them.

The regressor, who was now silently observing the scene unfold, watched the entry of the new man without changing any expression. His heart still beat steadily as he was in no panic at all.

Looking down at the little girl hiding behind his back like a scared kitten, the boy's heart was filled with pity. Still holding the girl's hand tightly, Alan crouched down, looking at the girl who had her eyes closed while slowly taking his hands back from her clutches.

The girl felt the hand retreating and quickly clutched it with more force, opening her tear-filled eyes and looking at Alan with pleading eyes.

"Brother.. please don't leave me."

The girl said as the tears streamed down her face, pleading with Alan.

"..."

Alan just looked at the girl while slowly retreating his hands. He looked into her beautiful brown eyes, which were filled with tears, while gently wiping them away.

"Don't worry. This brother won't leave you alone here."

"Just be patient and wait here. I will deal with them within a few minutes."

Alan said softly while slowly getting up and turning back to look at the goons who were watching them.

"Hahaha, this twerp said he will deal with us."

"What will he trade his ass for the bitch or what? Hahaha."

Paying no mind to the provocation of the goons, Alan slowly started walking towards the leader.

"The bastard thinks he is some kind of hero or something. Tsk. Hey you all! The one who cuts this fucker will get to have their turn first with the girl."

The leader, who was observing the duo, clicked his tongue and suddenly announced, causing the group to tighten their grip on their weapons and lunge at the regressor.

Within a moment, one of the goons arrived in front of Alan, swinging a metal bar down at him, attempting to smash his head.

With a simple sidestep, Alan swiftly evaded the blow while turning his body. He straightened out his hands.

"Sword Arm."

As the words left Alan's mouth, his mana surged through his body, reaching his hands. A strange blue-colored glow covered the regressor's arm as strange runic symbols began to appear on it.

Alan did a swift slashing motion with his hands, attacking the goon who had attacked him on the chest, sending him flying with a deep cut that spewed blood.

"Hey fuckers..."

With a wild smile on his face, Alan looked at the surprised faces of the goons with an arm glowing with a blue aura, slightly covered in blood.

"..Did you pray today?"