Morningstar was left speechless by his cousin's naive character.
_I thought a 20-year-old dude like him would be wise._
Without even replying, Morningstar ignores Jayden and starts moving towards the bus station.
"This modafucker! Acting all tough and ignoring me!"
"Hey! Morningstar wait up! I'm coming with you. As your cousin, I'm obligated to protect you!" Jayden let out as he beckoned to his friends to follow them.
How can a proud and over-pampered guy like Jayden openly say he wants Morningstar to protect him?
Besides he was among those who made life hell for him.
"Suit yourself." Was all Morningstar said.
Just then, one of those thugs who were trying to group everyone together dashed towards Morningstar and blocked his part.
"Hey my name is Jack, we need to group up to survive. I know you're strong but we are in a different world now and must stay together." Jack let out in a single breath.
"..."
But seeing Morningstar's unresponsive face he began doubting his action. Thinking back to how crazily Morningstar fought back then and the runes he amassed. The man knew he might not be able to defeat Morningstar and force him to submit. So without any choice, he could only move out of Morningstar's part and watch him and the four people following him walk into the underground bus terminal.
"Boss, why didn't you allow us to beat him up? Surely a youngster like him will be submissive after receiving a cut or two?" One of the men following Jack asked to which Jack shook his head in disapproval.
"We have a lot of people here whom we need to control. Adding an unruly kid to it will make our work tough. Let's leave them for now. Just for now..." He said as he couldn't help but look at the busty girl among them following Morningstar with lust.
****
_I kind of regret following this bastard here._
Jayden thought as he couldn't help but take a sneaky peek at Li Xi. The most beautiful girl in the group was busy staring at Morningstar.
Jayden has always been the main character wherever he goes so being the side character in such a scene wasn't good to him.
"So where are you heading to Morningstar?" Jayden asked, trying to strike up a conversation.
"... To take a Bus."
"Bus? I doubt that." Li Xi replied with a faint smile as she looked at the half-destroyed stairs meant for heading into the underground terminal.
"Morningstar? Are you taking me somewhere to kill me?!" Jayden suddenly questioned with a furious expression which left Morningstar speechless.
Like hell did he ask this moron to follow him? Morningstar couldn't be bothered to reply to his stupid cousin.
"Is it really alright for us to follow your cousin?" The other girl couldn't help but ask Jayden in a whisper.
But since the entire place was so quiet, Morningstar was able to hear her. With a mocking smirk, he replied.
"I clearly didn't remember asking anyone to follow me, neither did I remember chaining and dragging you with me. So leave if you want to or stop talking before you awaken those beasts in here."
With those words, he ignored them and kept moving towards the terminal. Meanwhile, the group all have bitter smiles on their faces, especially Li Xi. Who was she kidding?
It's better to be with Morningstar than those hungry-looking hyaenas who could devour her any time.
"We have no choice but to follow you for now Morningsta..."
*Stab!*
Suddenly Morningstar who was moving stabbed his spear with all his strength into the ground.
*Kyaaaaaaar!*
"Unfortunately, you guys have woken them up!"
Black bloods suddenly splutter and Jayden who was so close to Morningstar was scared out of his wit.
"What the fuck is this?!"
"I don't know either..." Morningstar reply. It wasn't that he didn't know but he didn't want them to know of his strange circumstances.
The truth is the thing he just killed is a poisonous earthworm.
A single bite from it can paralyse those weak humans even him too.
"If you ain't that confident in following me, turn back. But if you are but have no strength you can walk on those unbroken granite. Some of the exposed floors dwell one of these worms, stab your knives with force into it and kill it, just make sure you don't get bitten."
"What will happen if we get bitten" Li Xi asked with fear in her voice.
"I don't know, but I have a feeling you won't like seeing your tender skin getting eaten." His words sent a shiver down Li Xi's spine.
"How did you know all this?" Jayden couldn't help but feel suspicious.
"Oh! I got a rune which passed answers to me related to them. Now stop talking and fight."
Jayden grits his teeth and moves cautiously towards one of the exposed soil.
*Kyaaaaaaar*
Morningstar couldn't help but sigh at how ruthlessly they stabbed the floor. Surprisingly the four of them were very useful.
Morningstar wasn't expecting much from them but they proved him wrong.
Without thinking further Morningstar who was also his first time didn't dare make a mistake because he knew that would spell his doom.
After an hour of carefully killing the poisonous earthworms, Morningstar began to pick up the runes he had gotten from his kills. Suddenly, his cousin came charging towards him, his face contorted in arrogance. "Little brat," he said, "Hand over those runes. You're not capable of handling them. Only I am."
"..."
Morningstar's face remained impassive, but inside, he was feeling amused and annoyed at the same time. His cousin's arrogance knew no bounds, and now he was trying to take his own spoils of war too.
It was clear that his cousin wanted the runes for himself, and that he was willing to say or do anything to get them. Morningstar decided to remain calm, for now. He'd let his cousin make the first move. If he was foolish enough to try and take the runes by force, he'd be in for a surprise.
_I think I will have to teach you, Jayden, that this is not the family's house anymore. Rather, we are in a world where might make right. And I am prepared to prove it to you._ Morningstar thought as he smiled a cold, hard smile. This time, he was prepared not to let Jayden get the upper hand. He was done playing nice and getting bullied.
"You want the runes?" Morningstar asked as he picked it up, "Do you have what it takes to collect it from me? Can you collect it? Come, take it."
Jayden couldn't help but take a step back out of fright. But as soon as he realises it, he is blinded by shame.
_How can I retreat before this bastard, especially in her presence? Won't she see me as a weak man? Besides, I know he can't do anything to me or he will get beaten to pup by Dad._
If Morningstar was to hear Jayden's thought he would have shook his head in disappointment.
After all even a blind man can tell that things have changed and going back to their past life is impossible but here is someone who was still blinded by his fame from the past and thinks his words hold power.
Well, he is bound to learn or die.
Just when Jayden was about to move and collect the runes, Li Xi suddenly grabbed his hand.
"I don't think it's a good idea to start a fight between you two. Besides, we still need his help, and I got a rune. From what it's written it says it can help regenerate minor wounds and even increase defences. Take it."
"But... Li Xi, this... This is yours. How can I take it?"
Although that was what Jayden said, his hand subconsciously reached out for the rune as greed appeared on his face.
While his attention was on the rune he didn't know Li Xi was looking at him with disgust.
_Tsk, what a pretentious character. You're simply a hypocrite unlike your cousin here._
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but take a peek at Morningstar who was busy looking at the floor with a caution expression.
It was like Morningstar has experienced wildlife and knows the 'dos and don'ts' of living in the wild.
Suddenly Morningstar started moving forward.
"Where are you going?" Jace, the other boy who had been quiet throughout the journey couldn't help but ask.
"Like I say, to take a Bus."
"..."
****
Meanwhile, Jayden who already took the rune instantly absorbed it. Right at that moment his skin suddenly brightened up with a faint golden color before returning to normal and at the same time the few bruises he sustained while fighting all healed up including his fatigue.
Although the others couldn't tell the change that has taken place in Jayden's body, But Jayden knows.
With a thought, his hologram containing his information pops out.
[Jayden Abyssal]
Strength: 10.5
Speed: 9
Stamina: 8.5
Perception: 5
Skills: Harden and regenerative rune and can double the users' stats for 10 seconds.
Jayden couldn't help but reveal a mocking smirk.
_Dumb little bastard. Seems I've gotten something much better than you. I'm sure I've or will catch up with you sooner or later. Just wait and you will soon be serving me._
At the same time, Morningstar was busy checking his:
[Morningstar Amon]
Strength: 15.5
Speed: 9.5
Stamina: 12.5
Perception: 11
_Sigh, it's hard getting runes. The stronger I get, the lesser the effects of small runes show themselves._
With such a regrettable expression, he decides to move forward but just then his cousin Jayden blocks his part with an arrogant look and says.
"Morningstar, hand over that spear and stay in the back. From now henceforth I will be the one protecting you guys since I'm the only one with a skill."
"... Do you want to die that much?"
(≧▽≦)