Against Two Baddies

Chapter 32

The sound of crisp applause continued as the two oddballs from the previous week approached Ray. Seeing their expressions, Ray flinched in shock and wore a terrified look on his face.

"Hahahah, scared, little mouse?" asked the figure who was clapping his hands with a proud expression. This figure was a dog-like man who had a habit of sniffing the air.

Meanwhile, the other figure remained silent, observing the camp area with narrowed eyes, lost in thought. After scanning the surroundings, he shifted his gaze toward Ray.

"How long have you been wandering around this place?" the silent figure asked, showing a slight sense of admiration toward the young boy in front of him. Despite his age, he hadn't gotten himself into any dangerous situations.

From this, it was clear that Ray was both a genius and a hard worker.

Hearing the question, Ray maintained his fearful expression and remained silent, not uttering a word.

The dog man figure grew annoyed with Ray's behavior and scolded him disdainfully. "Hey, are you mute? Or is your brain just stupid? Why aren't you answering?"

"Ah, yes, yes, I'll answer. I've been here for four weeks," Ray replied awkwardly.

Upon hearing this, the silent figure fell into contemplation, silently pondering the information.

The dog man figure turned his attention away from Ray and looked at his companion, seemingly waiting for something.

In this way, the three individuals fell into silence, each with their thoughts and emotions.

After a while, the silent figure snapped out of his reverie and approached Ray, with the curious dog man following closely behind.

When they reached Ray's location, the silent figure began examining the dead bear with the bloody hole in its eye socket. His behavior was an insult to Ray, showing no signs of wariness as if Ray posed no threat at all.

The silent figure was impressed as he observed the bear in front of him. There were no external injuries on the bear's body, only a few scrapes and deep wounds.

The longer the silent figure was observed, the more impressed he became.

Afterward, the silent figure whispered something to the dog man, who listened attentively and squinted his eyes, looking at Ray with excitement.

Subsequently, the dog man figure approached Ray and delivered a vicious kick to his stomach.

Bang!

"Hehehehe, young man, do you know that this area is our territory? Since you've been hunting in our territory, you need to compensate us for the losses you've caused," the dog man stated with a smirk.

Anyone who heard this would scoff because everyone knew that there was no ownership of areas like suburban forests.

Ray, still in pain, paid little attention to the words of the dog man.

Observing Ray's apparent "disobedience," the dog man grabbed Ray's hair, tilting his face upwards.

"Hey, idiot, did you hear me loud and clear?!"

"L-lis-ten... A-alright, I'll make it up..." Ray responded with difficulty.

Hearing Ray's agreement, the dog man smiled proudly, raising his nose in the air. He then lightly slammed Ray's head while sneering.

"Hehehe, good, kid. Didn't you notice the honey strangely left on the road, followed by an angry bear charging towards you, and finally our sudden arrival? Isn't it all so coincidental? Luckily, you were thinking just now... Otherwise..."

The figure abruptly stopped speaking and made a menacing gesture, mimicking the act of cutting his throat with his finger.

Given the explanation provided by the other side, it would be foolish for Ray to remain completely clueless about everything.

"A-aah, okay," Ray stammered.

Ray removed two storage rings from his finger and handed them to the dog man. The dog figure accepted them with satisfaction, indicating that the "compensation" had been received.

With the compensation settled, Ray timidly inquired about his release. "Th-that's it, master. Can I go now?"

As the question left Ray's lips, the dog man's face displayed a warm smile. "Of course..."

Ray almost let out a sigh of relief before the dog man abruptly cut him off. "No!" he mockingly shouted.

Bang!

Ray was kicked with a powerful soccer kick, causing him to be sent flying several feet backward. After being kicked so harshly, Ray looked at the dog man with disbelief. His face wore a pitiful expression as if he had been wronged.

Witnessing this pitiful sight, the dog man smiled playfully and posed a rhetorical question. "Do you think we're second-rate criminals who leave loose ends?"

Ray, upon hearing this nonsense, grew frustrated. Then the dog man spoke again. "At least you have a choice. Do you want to die in great pain or die quickly? Or you can sign a slave contract with your soul," the previously silent figure suddenly interjected a few words.

Hearing the absurdity of the two thugs in front of him, Ray sighed once again. However, this time, the sigh that escaped his lips wasn't the same murky breath as before. It carried a sense of helplessness and a tinge of regret.

"Huft... Why are you forcing me?" Ray muttered, displaying a certain look.

Witnessing Ray's expression, the dog man grew furious. How could this foolish youth still display arrogance? Where did his confidence come from?

Driven by anger, the dog man approached Ray with forceful momentum, intending to teach him a lesson he would never forget.

However, Ray, who had just sighed, suddenly changed temperament. Previously, he had been breathing heavily, as if in panic and gasping for air. Yet now, his breath became calm, resembling that of an old well.

Sensing something amiss, the silent figure narrowed his eyes as he observed Ray, growing wary of the sudden transformation in the young man before him.

The dog man stood right in front of Ray, preparing to deliver another kick and continue his assault on the kid.

At the moment the dog man's leg lifted, a ferocious gleam flashed in the corners of Ray's eyes.

Feeling uneasy, the silent figure exclaimed, "Don't!"

Tub!

Shrek!

In an instant, the dog man's head was severed.

Witnessing this inexplicable occurrence, the silent figure was stunned and found it difficult to believe his eyes. Despite having a keen vision, he was unable to follow Ray's body movements.

Before the dog man could deliver a forceful kick, Ray swiftly grabbed his neck and tore it apart with both hands.

In that instant of the tearing attack, the silent figure caught sight of three auras emanating from each of Ray's hands, resembling the claws of a wild beast tearing through his companion's body.

Tub!

The sound of a falling object broke the silent figure out of his reverie.

"Why did you kill that imbecilic dog?!" the silent figure angrily questioned.

"Stupid dog?" Ray was confused.

After a moment, Ray continued speaking. "That name suits him!" Ray calmly stated without any hint of guilt.

Hearing Ray's response, the other party grew even angrier and questioned him further. "Why did you kill him?"

Upon hearing this, Ray felt that the other party's brain had short-circuited. "Are you stupid? Didn't he want to kill me first? Unfortunately, he was as dumb as you and died before he could even lay a scratch on my clothes," Ray mockingly replied.

"You!" The silent figure's words were choked as he pointed at Ray with a grim expression and bloodshot eyes.

"What about me?" Ray playfully asked.

Ray found it a bit peculiar in his heart. He hadn't expected that this person, who appeared smart and quiet, would have such irrational thinking. How could these two be criminals? Upon reflection, Ray concluded that they were amateur criminals.

If the silent figure could hear Ray's thoughts, he might become so furious that he'd cough up blood.

Full of hatred towards Ray, the quiet figure suddenly assumed a stance, extending both hands forward.

Observing this, Ray didn't want to be outdone and also crossed his arms forward, displaying a three-clawed dragon pose.

Boom!

A loud crashing sound echoed.

The silent figure's attack landed on Ray forcefully.

However, to his dismay, he couldn't move Ray's body even an inch. The quiet man stood there in astonishment, feeling as if he had struck a steel fortress.

In disbelief, the silent figure examined Ray closely. As he looked at Ray, his pupils contracted.

Although Ray's face appeared normal and devoid of any specific emotion, an unusual amount of red and white steam emitted from his body, caused unease within the quiet man.

Through his eyes, the quiet figure perceived the flow of gaseous energy that fueled the tremendous power emanating from the young man.

Even though he had observed from a distance before, he now realized that he had severely underestimated the young man standing before him.

With newfound understanding, the silent man launched an attack on Ray, his fingers forming three sharp claws.

The two clashed their claws against each other for a brief moment. The eagle claws and dragon claws clashed evenly, with no apparent difference in strength.

"Argh, unlucky!" the silent figure grumbled. His annoyance was evident because every time he attacked, the other party would parry his claws and unexpectedly counterattack.

Feeling frustrated, the silent figure leaped back before finally soaring into the air.

"Cry!"

The majestic sound of a bird's cry reverberated as energy from the surroundings began to converge toward the silent figure.

After a while, the silent figure transformed into a half-eagle being.

His appearance changed, with beautiful pure white wings sprouting from his back, his legs and arms turning into yellow talons, and bulging muscles altering his physique.

Upon completing the transformation, the silent figure took flight, looking down at Ray from above.

"Silly child, do you dare to be arrogant now?" the figure taunted before sharply diving towards the spot where Ray stood.

Swing!