Playing his favorite music, Sid cruised along the street in his newly acquired truck, a satisfied grin on his face as he enjoyed the ride.
With the wind in his hair and the music blasting from the speakers, he maintained a steady speed of 75 to 80 miles per hour, lost in the rhythm of the music.
But his contentment quickly turned to shock and anger when he witnessed a horrifying sight. Someone had callously thrown a little girl in front of his truck.
Reacting swiftly, Sid slammed on the brakes and shouted "F**k you... Asshole!" his voice filled with rage as he glared at the man with the prosthetic hand as the vehicle skidded forward.
Sid recognized the man instantly—it was a member of the Bloodhawk Brotherhood.
He had encountered them before during his previous missions, leading to some friction, but he never expected them to retaliate in such a cruel and reckless manner.
His anger intensified, not just because of the man's actions, but also because he noticed someone else had jumped in front of his truck, trying to save the girl.
Although Sid appreciated the stranger's attempt to save the girl, he couldn't help but feel a surge of frustration.
He had done everything in his power to stop the truck, even turning it to one side to minimize the impact.
But suddenly stopping a truck moving at that fast was nearly impossible. The truck screeched and groaned as it struggled to halt its momentum, the tires leaving deep marks on the ground.
However, contrary to the expectations of both Ram and Sid, an energy shield suddenly materialized between Ram and the oncoming truck, protecting Ram and the girl in his arms.
The truck crashed into the energy shield with tremendous force, the impact echoing like a thunderclap.
Dust rose from the collision site, obscuring the view, but the thin energy shield remained steadfast.
Not even a ripple disturbed its surface as it absorbed the full brunt of the impact, standing firm and protecting them both.
Ram blinked in astonishment, trying to comprehend what had just happened.
The unexpected appearance of the energy shield had saved them from what could have been a fatal collision.
He felt the girl's trembling body in his arms and tightened his grip, ensuring she was safe.
Through the dust cloud, Ram caught a glimpse of the person responsible for the shield.
It was a woman in a black hood, her hands outstretched, projecting the barrier that had saved them.
When the dust settled and Ram emerged, holding the unconscious girl in his arms, he found that the woman who had saved him was gone.
He felt a vague sense of familiarity, realizing she might have been the same woman who stood behind him in the line during his registration.
As he processed this, a massive 2.5-meter-tall burly shadow emerged from the smoke, resembling a fierce bear.
With each step, the shadow's form began to shrink until it reached normal human size.
When the figure fully emerged from the smoke, it was Sid.
He had just utilized his talent's ability to transform into the Blood Rage Bear, a rare species of mutant bear with the potential to become a Tier-5 monster.
"Woah," When Ram concentrated his focus on the person emerging from the smoke, an attribute panel materialized before his eyes, detailing the individual's information.
[Name: Siddharth (Sid)]
[ Age: 24/147]
[Race: Human]
[Profession: Martial Artist Tire 2]
[Physique: 17.4]
[Spirit: 6.9]
[Talent: A-092 Beast-Man ( Special Transformation ability, can transform into a humanoid monster)]
[Status: Distorted (3%)]
Ram blinked, processing the details of Sid's attribute panel.
He was impressed by Sid's transformation ability and physique and spirit stats which are stronger than general Tier 2 Martial Artists.
However the "Distorted" status with a 3% indicator piqued his curiosity, but he pushed it aside for the moment, knowing they had more immediate concerns.
Sid leaped out of the just before the crash, his emotions were a whirlwind of relief, anger, and confusion.
"What were you thinking?" he shouted, unable to contain his frustration.
"Jumping in front of a speeding truck is insane! Even if it was me with the strength of a Tier 2 martial artist, I'd still end up in the hospital for days if I got hit!"
Ram, still holding the girl protectively, looked up at Sid, a calm resolve in his eyes.
"I couldn't just stand by and do nothing," he replied, his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through him. "I had to save her."
"Are you both alright?" Sid asked, his anger softened slightly as he saw the determination in the man's gaze, but he still shook his head in exasperation.
"I get it, but there are better ways to handle these situations. You could have gotten yourself killed."
Ram nodded, still holding the girl protectively. "Yes, thanks to you and... her."
He glanced around, hoping to catch another glimpse of the mysterious woman, but she was nowhere to be seen.
Sid's eyes also narrowed as he scanned the surroundings, his senses heightened, and he found that the previous man with the prosthetic hand was missing.
"We need to get out of here. Members of the Bloodhawk Gang won't stop with just this if they find out that the girl is still alive," he said, extending his hand.
"And then we need to figure out what to do about that bastard from the Bloodhawk Brotherhood."
With a nod of agreement, Sid turned his attention to the slightly damaged truck.
Despite the accident, he felt a sense of relief that the vehicle had come out relatively unscathed, thanks to the energy shield that had absorbed most of the impact.
It was a stroke of luck that had saved them from more serious damage.
Together, Ram and Sid carefully loaded the unconscious girl into the truck, making sure she was comfortable before setting off.
As they drove away from the chaotic scene, the tension in the air began to ease slightly. Sid broke the silence, turning towards Ram with a curious expression.
"What's your name, buddy?" he asked, his voice carrying a hint of warmth despite the circumstances.
Ram met Sid's gaze, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I'm Ram," he replied, his tone calm and steady. "And you?"
"Siddharth," Sid responded, a faint smile ghosting across his features. "But you can call me Sid."
Ram nodded, a sense of camaraderie growing between them. "Nice to meet you, Sid," he said, extending his hand in a gesture of friendship.
Sid returned the gesture, clasping Ram's hand firmly.