Chapter 33
A half-bird figure plummeted from the sky, aiming to strike a young man.
Boom!
The impact of the attack sent the young man tumbling to the ground.
The half-bird human figure then returned to the air, casting a gaze upon its fallen victim.
Witnessing the young man's disheveled appearance, the figure proudly lifted its beak.
"Hey brat, are you still feeling arrogant now?" the birdman jeered.
Having observed Ray for some time, they had initially believed him to be the person who had eluded them the previous week. Thinking he was a timid and easy target, they underestimated him.
To confirm that Ray was an ordinary youth without a powerful background, they spent a day observing his behavior.
Both the birdman and the dogman were aware of their lack of personal strength and influential connections. They were always cautious in selecting their victims, fearing the strong and preying upon the weak.
Assuming that Ray's strength was one level lower than theirs, the two of them decided to target him.
However, due to the birdman's caution, he chose to ensnare Ray through various schemes. This was because their strength had been artificially enhanced, and they were not as formidable as others at the same level.
After all, they were infamous criminals known as "Sky Brains" and "Stupid Dogs."
Their initial plan seemed to be working, but things took a turn.
They bombarded Ray with countless insults, hoping to intimidate him further.
Yet, Ray was not far from them in terms of strength, and at such a young age, he had already managed to survive independently in the forest. This made the birdman desire to exploit his potential as their asset.
Moreover, if they released Ray now, they might face repercussions in the future due to his immense potential.
Despite their efforts, they still ended up losing.
After all, where would the birdman find lackeys as easily manipulated as the ones he currently had?
Such thoughts brewed within the birdman, fueling his irritation. He was determined to make Ray his slave at any cost.
Following that, he would ensure Ray's demise and force him to sign a slave contract.
With a fierce gleam in his eyes, the birdman gathered his momentum once again and dove downward.
Swing!
Observing this, Ray remained motionless, not even rising from his seat.
Bang!
After a while, Ray countered the birdman's attacks two more times before finally activating his [B rank Air Jump] talent.
Ray, who had remained stationary and made no resistance, suddenly leaped into the air.
Initially, the birdman figure couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"How can humans walk on air?"
The flight had been the source of his confidence, and now that his opponent could also fly, what else was there to be proud of?
Distracted in the final moment, the birdman figure was completely unable to react when Ray's sharp claws reached for his neck.
Splat!
The birdman's neck was severed, and a warm red liquid splattered.
Gradually, Ray's body, previously covered in white and red smoke, began to return to its normal state.
It was evident that Ray's two talent corridors had entered a cooling period. Still, in the air, he carefully prepared to descend. However, upon landing, Ray's body became completely unstable, causing him to suddenly fall to his knees. He felt a wave of dizziness and an unfamiliar pressure in his stomach.
"Weak!" Ray vomited heavily, overwhelmed by the psychological burden of his first kill. He wasn't mentally strong enough to withstand the counterattack.
After a few moments of calming down, Ray unknowingly fell asleep at the spot where he had vomited.
...
After a day of sleep, Ray woke up feeling far from refreshed. Instead, he experienced pain and dizziness, making him extremely uncomfortable. Looking around, he finally remembered the fight from the previous day. Helpless sighs escaped from Ray's lips.
He realized that his opponent might have had a higher power level than him. He didn't want to risk his life, but Ray couldn't be considered a true practitioner yet. However, the other party had pushed him so far that he had to fight desperately.
Ray proceeded to gather his scattered belongings. Once everything was in order, he hurriedly returned to the city.
On his way home, Ray didn't forget to "purchase" hair from his human tools. Although he disliked doing it, the passive ability was very useful. With this ability, he no longer needed to resort to desperate hair theft.
Despite the pain and discomfort in his body, Ray endured it and continued trading with the other side.
...
Upon arriving home, Ray was immediately tackled by his talkative little sister, Haruza.
"Brother, what did you bring me this time?" Haruza asked, her eyes sparkling.
Seeing his little sister's adorable expression, Ray couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and exasperation.
"Don't you know that your brother has several injuries on his body, yet you still recklessly jump onto him? Do you want to hurt your beloved brother?" Ray groaned softly as he presented a bear figurine for his two younger brothers.
Adding some wild fruits and nuts, the two little boys became even more lively.
Once the "tax" had been received by the little boss, Ray carefully ascended the stairs, not wanting his mother to discover his condition.
However, when he was halfway up the stairs, a familiar female voice called out, "Ray, are you home? How is your body this time? Unharmed, right? If not, let Mother give you some treatment."
Ray halted his footsteps upon hearing the voice. "Why are you sneaking around?" Yuvra asked in confusion.
"N-No, it's nothing, Mom..." Ray replied hesitantly.
Observing her son's awkward behavior, Yuvra furrowed her brow. Ray wouldn't be so nervous if nothing had happened. She started paying closer attention to him.
It took less than ten seconds for Yuvra to become anxious and hurriedly approach Ray.
After learning what had occurred, Yuvra began to cry pitifully. "Why do you have to burden yourself like this? Hasn't Mom made you feel comfortable at home? Or has someone been bullying you?"
Ray, upon hearing the question, could only feel bitterness in his heart. He was deeply distressed.
The two young children, seeing their mother's sadness, approached Ray with sullen expressions.
"Brother, are you bullying Mom? How could you do this!" Haruza pouted her lips and exclaimed.
"N-No, Mom is crying not because of me bullying her," Ray hastily denied.
"Then why did Mom cry when you came home?" Haruza grumbled, tears welling up in her eyes.
Annoyed, Haruza didn't hesitate to hit her brother's stomach with all her might.
"Ahhhh!"
Ray, taken aback by the impact, was completely caught off guard.
Yuvra, witnessing this scene, felt a touch of tenderness in her heart, but she also worried about Ray.
"Don't argue now, let's go to the hospital!" Yuvra urged.
Ray could only agree upon hearing this.
Ray was then taken to the hospital, with his two younger siblings giving him irritated glances. Even though Haruza didn't intend to harm him, the look in her eyes frightened Ray.
In response, Ray could only muster a wry smile. "Why am I the one being blamed!" he exclaimed internally.
...
On Monday, Ray didn't go to school. After being taken to the hospital, his body underwent a thorough examination.
It was later discovered that several of Ray's ribs were broken, in addition to various internal injuries and multiple cuts on his skin.
During the brief period of treatment, he continued to receive "wise" teachings from his mother. Not only was Yuvra upset with him for recklessly fighting and sustaining multiple injuries, but she was also frustrated that he tried to hide his wounds.
What if Yuvra hadn't found out and Ray remained silent? Could his condition worsen and lead to complications?
That day, Ray's ears were red and throbbing with numbness.
After a day of treatment, Ray returned home, promising to focus on recovering well. Yuvra could only agree, realizing that she couldn't force her son into a corner. She understood that Ray was mentally unstable. Furthermore, the attic had been prepared for renovation, allowing Ray to spend the next few days at home.
At night, Ray made his way to the attic. The stairs leading to the attic were no longer folding stairs but permanent ones that could be accessed from his room and the adjacent room. Thus, even in his weakened state, it wasn't too difficult for him to ascend.
Looking around, Ray nodded with satisfaction. Although there weren't significant changes, the attic now resembled a study rather than an abandoned storage space.
Ray had also brought in some equipment and his previously evacuated handicrafts.
Content with the setup, Ray activated his storage ring.
Subsequently, two humans with pale skin and cold bodies appeared.
The objects Ray retrieved were the corpses of the two previous adversaries!