"Oh, come on… Argh! You should not be a rat but a cockroach instead! Just be knocked down, you damn pest!"
Yeshua was really angry now. He did not wait for Grey to completely stand up as he prepared himself to attack. He pushed himself and dashed towards Grey!
But before Yeshua could reach Grey, the rat suddenly gave in and collapsed on the ground. Yeshua stopped his charge and looked at Grey warily.
(Okay. So, are you really down now? Or maybe, you're just teasing me? Come on, man. I'm not good at surprises!)
Yeshua did not let down his guard and waited for the surprise attack.
But as he waited, Yeshua saw that Grey was shedding his furs. His claws, fangs, and tail behind him were gradually receding to his body. His bulky body was deflating as it turned back into normal. Grey was turning back to his human form.
Grey's ferocious aura was lessening as well. It was obvious that his turning into a feral stopped when he lost consciousness. It was good that he did not completely turn as nothing would be able to save a feral. If he completely transformed into a feral, then he would still remain a feral even after losing consciousness.
Seeing the changes of Grey, Yeshua calmed down and concluded that the battle was done. He controlled his genome sequence to deactivate it. He was already at his limit and it was good that he still had time to turn back into a human. His body glowed with glittering lights like stars as his wolf body struggled to turn back into human form.
Yeshua felt the burden of reigning into his beast this time. It was like there were two people arguing if they would remain a beast or turn back into a human. The savageness influenced him to just accept his heart's desire to destroy and slaughter.
The anger, pain, and despair the two souls experienced in their life resurfaced in his mind. They were being amplified by the savageness and were tempting him to just give in to his madness.
"Argh! Get inside, you damn beast! I won't turn into a monster! I won't give up my life despite all the pain I experienced!"
Yeshua showcased his incomparable will as he maintained his rationality and pulled the beast back inside his body. After a while, a pale handsome visage of a young man replaced the raging werewolf.
"Hah, hah… That was close…"
Yeshua was very weak. He could feel that some injuries in his body were still recovering as he breathed hard. Though these injuries were lesser since his blood rage state healed most of them, he still needed time and medicines to completely recover.
At this time, Grey was also already backed to his human form. His body was riddled with serious injuries and it was obvious that he was also dying. He did not turn into a feral but the wounds he received were enough to put him in a dying state.
Suddenly, Grey moved his body again. This startled Yeshua but he quickly calmed down after seeing Grey was weakly moving.
Grey overturned his body so he would be facing the sky. He was coughing blood as he stared at the mortal sky filled with moons and stars. The madness that filled his eyes before was replaced with the placidness of a dying spirit.
"I told you we're only rats scavenging in this world full of greedy masters. Heh, if we have a choice, we would also want to soar in the sky and be looked upon as kings."
Grey's weak voice was carried by the wind. He was casually speaking like he believed that Yeshua would be able to hear him.
Yeshua just stood there and watched the dying man. He knew that with those injuries Grey would not be able to survive. Their battle was so intense that none of them held back.
Yeshua heard Grey's voice and calmly listened to him.
"You're lucky, boy. I really envy you. You have an Alter Beast that is very fascinating and powerful. Heh, why did I not have such luck as yours?" A mocking smirk escaped Grey's bloody mouth as he continued to look at the boundless sky.
Luck.
When Yeshua heard that word, he could not help but be offended.
Grey only saw the good things about Yeshua but he did not know that Yeshua fought tooth and nail to reach his current strength.
Indeed, Yeshua had the AI and the mysterious shard but without his will to live he would be a monster now.
He suffered the pain that no one would understand unless they experienced it.
He was put in situations that he did not want to. He was forced to fight a battle he did not want to fight. He was pushed to risk everything just for a chance to survive.
But Yeshua persevered!
That was why he was standing now and Grey was down on the ground dying.
Yeshua, at this moment, realized that not only powerful strength was important but also the strong will to brave through obstacles!
Yeshua's resolve to live in this dangerous world was strengthened.
Then, Grey's weak voice turned serious and grave. "That package is really important, boy. When my master learns what happened, he will surely look for you. He is the one who wants the nefarious blood herb. I'm just running errands for him. He is a level 2 Alterer and with your strength, you will surely die!"
Yeshua's face frowned with worry when he heard Grey's words. It seemed that his trouble was not done yet.
(Oh, come on, Death. You're really good at this, ha. Do you really love me so much that you can't help but have series of plans just to meet me and have fun with me? I already said that I'm busy and can't date you! Stop being a stalker and get a life! Not mine though, you bastard!)
As he was feeling worried, Yeshua was also confused so he asked Grey some questions.
"Why are you telling me about it? Isn't it better if I don't know about your master so I'll be unprepared for him?"
"Heh, who knows...? Maybe I just want to frighten you? Haha... Anyway, my master is very strong that is why I can't disobey him. Let's see how you will survive this time, boy..." Grey's voice turned faint and his listless eyes gradually lost their light until they became lifeless.
Grey was already dead but his eyes still stared longingly at the boundless free sky.
"Haa... He's really dead, right?" Yeshua sighed as he looked at the dead Grey. Though he was the one who killed Grey, Yeshua did not feel much about it. He killed a person for the first time but he only felt pity for the lost life.
Yeshua knew that his mind change when he became an Alterer. Aside from all the experiences that shocked and toughened him since he arrived in this world, his mind was also influenced by his bestial instinct.
It was only natural that beasts were not repulsed by blood and death. It was Yeshua's rational self that still felt pity for Grey.
"But this is not over yet. Hmm... Argh! Whatever! Level 2 Alterer? I'll just deal with him when it happens. What I need to do is to strengthen myself. It seems I won't have time to rest. I have to cultivate seriously..."
Then, Yeshua looked at the people from afar.
Though some of them run away due to fear when Grey was turning into a feral, there were still some who stayed because they were either too afraid to leave or too stupid to keep watching like the four generic goons.
Seeing Yeshua looked at them, Uwan, Tuwo, Triye, and Pora almost fainted out of fear. Their boss was dead. Now, it was their turn.
"U-uwan, that familiar boy is looking at us? Why am I afraid of him? Do I know him?"
"Idiot! If you want to live, then follow what I'll do, Tuwo! We will kneel and beg him to spare us! I still want to see my wives and children!"
"It's over! We will die here, Triye! I won't be able to eat anymore!"
"Shut up, Pora! Don't say that! I don't want to leave my dirty cats!"
Then, their face paled from fear when they saw Yeshua signaling them to come close. Though the four did not want to go, they did not have a choice. They walked towards Yeshua while trembling.
Yeshua remembered the four goons. He could not help but be amused as he looked at them. He was going to mock the names of the four men when suddenly the four jumped and bashed their heads on the ground.
Yeshua was startled as he heard the begging cries of the four men. He called the four not because he wanted to deal with them but because of something else. Seeing them begging, he could not help but smile wryly.
"Quiet! Am I really that frightening? Do I look like a monster? Can't you see that my handsomeness can even seal the heaven?"
"It's true. It's true. You're so handsome, so handsome!"
Yeshua this rascal was being smug but the four men indulged him since they did not have a choice. This was the effect of being strong. Yeshua found another reason to pursue strength. He would make everyone call him handsome!
"Okay. I'm leaving now. But there is still something I want you to do. He's your boss, right? Then, you bury his body. He was still an Alterer so he deserves the respect afforded to him."
Alterers were not just cultivators but soldiers who acted as defenders against the onslaught of spirit beasts. That was why they were given the respect that was due to them. This was something that Yeshua's father taught him.
This was also the last respect that Yeshua could give to Grey. Though they were enemies, Yeshua learned a lot from this battle. If not for Grey, he would still be the naive boy who was overconfident by his advantages.
Yeshua would also not realize the importance of strong will for Alterers. Let this be his payment for the lessons Grey taught him in their fight.
The four men were relieved when Yeshua said that he would be leaving and would not deal with them. They followed what Yeshua ordered like it was the normal thing to do. This was only expected as ordinary people learned to respect and fear Alterers.
Looking at the six glowing moons hanging in the dark sky, Yeshua tiredly sighed.
Yeshua left the place and walked home.