Chapter 5
As if the movement had been ingrained in his body and had become muscle memory, Alex's hand immediately blocked the incoming baseball bat.
Pang!
The sound of iron reverberated in the air. It wasn't enough to stop there; the two other large men were also immediately struck with baseball bats.
One of the attackers swung a bat toward Alex's right ribs. Without thinking, Alex instinctively lifted his leg in a Muay Thai-like movement to protect his ribs.
Pang!
Despite hearing the loud impact of the powerful blow, Alex didn't have time to worry about his right leg. Another attack was already aimed at his left ribs.
Alex firmly supported his body with the crutches before delivering a kick to the man who was aiming for his left ribs. His right leg, still raised in front of him, connected with precision.
Bang!
The man who had last swung the bat was thrown several feet back, unable to hit his intended target due to Alex's swift kick.
Upon witnessing this, the three large men looked at Alex with wary eyes.
"Tch! It seems the title of 'warlord' in the special army is not just empty words!" said one of the larger men in a mocking tone.
Hearing this, Alex recalled. Yes, the original owner of this unfortunate body was a special soldier in the army who dealt with issues such as drug fights, counter-terrorism, and border wars.
The body's original owner was quite renowned for their cunning abilities and expertise in close combat, earning them the nickname "King of War."
"Hehehe, but what good is being a war king if you're crippled and disabled!" mocked one of the men.
Alex's retort was abruptly interrupted by the colossal figure he had just kicked.
Momentarily dazed, Alex became an easy target for the three men. They ruthlessly beat Alex back and forth.
Despite enduring the relentless assault, Alex managed to retaliate and leave his autograph on each of the attackers whenever an opportunity arose.
After a grueling fight, Alex eventually succumbed to exhaustion and collapsed on the floor. The three men, visibly embarrassed by their encounter with Alex, decided to leave him behind, their egos bruised.
As the trio got into their car, they couldn't help but complain about the ordeal they had just faced.
"Ugh, what a demanding task! My entire body aches," one of them groaned.
"Yeah, I never imagined the war king would be so formidable. Despite his disabilities and frail condition, he still possesses incredible strength. Imagine if he were in good health," another chimed in.
Hearing this, the three individuals exchanged knowing glances, aware of the potential consequences if Alex were to regain his former vitality. They fell silent, contemplating the implications.
They continued driving steadily in one direction. However, a foul smell began to infiltrate the car, causing one of them to wrinkle their nose in disgust.
"Ugh! What is this putrid stench?" they exclaimed.
The other two, catching wind of the unpleasant odor, also grimaced uncontrollably.
"Damn it, what is this disgusting black liquid?" one of them remarked, now realizing that their clothes had been tainted by the strange substance.
Unbeknownst to them, their black attire had concealed the fact that they were covered in an unsightly black liquid.
Unable to bear the foul smell any longer, the trio unanimously agreed to roll down the car windows, desperate to escape the noxious fumes threatening their senses.
…
Alex, who had previously fainted from the excruciating pain, lost consciousness once again. After some time, his eyelashes fluttered, and he gradually regained consciousness.
"Ahhh! My body feels completely crushed!" Alex complained, dissatisfied with his condition.
Despite his lack of energy, Alex, who had transformed, decided to order food delivery online. Once the food arrived, he took a break from his cleaning duties and sat down to eat, replenishing his energy before continuing with the tidying up.
It took Alex a considerable amount of time to clean up the mess in his house. After enduring the discomfort of his altered perspective and the unfamiliar tattoos adorning his body, he finally made his way to the bathroom for a shower.
While washing himself, Alex couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy. The difference between his current point of view and the perspective of his earthly body was quite disorienting. The presence of the various tattoos on his body added to his sense of unfamiliarity.
After a while, Alex emerged from the shower, feeling refreshed. With a clearer mind, he began to ponder the reasons behind the attack by the three men. It was evident that they had been instructed to target him, likely to gain access to his fruit farm.
Yes, Alex owned a fruit farm, but it wasn't something to be proud of. The farm served as a front for money laundering and the misappropriation of subsidized funds from the government, as well as bank loans. He had been framed to take over this failing fruit farm. Fortunately, he didn't rely on the income from the farm, which provided him with some relief.
"Huft, now I have a million-dollar debt!" Alex sighed. The bank loan registered against the farm amounted to 1.8 million dollars, while the actual value of the assets was not even more than 1.2 million dollars. The individuals involved in the scheme were skilled in their deceptive practices.
It was believed that the farm was in dire straits, unable to produce any marketable fruit. However, Alex felt a glimmer of hope. With the knowledge he possessed, he believed he could transform this seemingly futile endeavor into a lucrative venture.
"Time to turn this barren mountain into a mountain of gold!" Alex thought, determined to utilize his expertise to revitalize the farm and overcome the challenges that lay ahead.
…
"Phew... Take a deep breath," Alex said, sitting in the lotus position, covered in sweat yet brimming with vitality. It had been a week since he crossed into this new world, and his previously weary body had regained its strength after a few days of recovery.
During his recovery, Alex delved deeper into this world by scouring the internet for information. He sought to familiarize himself with crucial knowledge that might prove useful in his journey.
Thanks to the rejuvenating effects of the Dew of Life, Alex no longer experienced pain. The elixir had purged most of the impurities from his body, leaving him feeling cleansed and revitalized.
Alex reveled in his newfound body, relishing the fact that it no longer carried the heavy burden it once did. His physique had transformed beyond athleticism, becoming toned as if he were a bodybuilder solely focused on bulking, despite that not being his intention.
With his once-limping legs now sturdy and dependable, Alex made the heartfelt decision to return to the hometown of the body's original owner. He packed his belongings and hailed a taxi, not burdening himself with excessive luggage as he had only taken what was necessary during his stay with others.
Before his departure, Alex had informed his landlord to avoid any misunderstandings. At the airport, he went through the necessary procedures before finally boarding the plane.
As the aircraft soared through the sky, Alex couldn't help but feel a tinge of melancholy, a bitter smile on his lips. He gazed out the window as if experiencing a sense of déjà vu.
After an hour of flight, the plane touched down, and Alex hailed another taxi to reach the hometown of the body's original owner. Through the window, he caught sight of several flowers in full bloom, a testament to the arrival of May in this subtropical region.
This parallel world bore a striking resemblance to Earth, yet held subtle differences and unique adaptations. As Alex traveled, he found himself constantly recalling memories from Earth and fragments from the mind of the body's original owner.
Once again, those memories stirred within Alex, causing his mood to shift unexpectedly.
After driving for a while, Alex finally arrived at Cloud Mountain Village, a small village within the city of Sweetwall. The village got its name from the numerous towering mountains surrounding it.
As Alex looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar village, he felt uncertain about how to proceed. The previous owner of his body had essentially abandoned his family, never returning home even after joining the army. This made Alex hesitant to go back, especially since he wasn't familiar with his wife's house.
While walking, Alex came across an elderly man and politely approached him.
"Excuse me, sir, do you happen to know where Lily's house is?" Alex inquired.
The old man gave Alex a brief once-over before responding with a question of his own.
"Which Lily are you referring to?"
"Liliana Grace, the daughter-in-law of Robert Greenfield," Alex clarified.
"Ohhh, that Lily. Well then, you can..." the old man began, providing directions for Alex to follow.
Following the old man's directions, Alex searched for a while until he finally laid eyes on a dilapidated house that seemed on the verge of collapse.
Confident that it was his own house, Alex approached the door to get a closer look. As he stood there, he heard a girl's voice.
"Who are you? Are you a bad person?" the girl asked, her tone filled with caution.
Startled by the question, Alex turned his head and saw a thin, malnourished girl with frail-looking skin, slanted eyes, and blackish-yellow hair.
"Uh–" Alex began, intending to answer, but before he could, a more mature female voice chimed in.
"Lilith, hurry home and take a shower!" the voice called out.
With that, a disheveled woman emerged from the house, accompanying her words. As she came closer, she appeared slightly taken aback by the presence of a stranger with her child. But upon closer inspection, her expression turned to one of shock, as if she had seen a ghost.
"Ahh, Russell, is that you?" the woman asked, her voice trembling.
Unbeknownst to Alex, tears started welling up in the corners of the woman's eyes after uttering those words.
Caught off guard by the woman's emotional response, Alex felt a wave of panic wash over him. Before he could gather his thoughts on what to do, the young girl who had been silent suddenly burst into tears as well, intensifying Alex's headache.
As Alex attempted to find the right words to console them, an older woman's voice rang out.
"What's wrong, Lilly? Who is bothering you? Tell Mother!"
…