Chapter 144: Awkwardness

Chapter 44: Awkwardness

El gripped the metal butter knife and thrust it straight toward the Mightyena in front of him.

The roaring blood pumping through his veins flushed his young face crimson, and he couldn't help but close his eyes.

"Bang!"

Right beside his ears, the sound of howling wind, the clashing of objects, and the crisp sound of something shattering like a split watermelon rang out abruptly.

By this time, however, El could no longer care about such things. There was only a single thought left in his mind:

"Kill the Mightyena in front of me."

El gripped the butter knife tightly, summoning all his strength for a fierce forward thrust.

Whoosh—

The sharp blade sliced through the air, producing a faint tearing sound.

El only felt emptiness; he hadn't met the slightest resistance.

"I missed?"

A profound wave of despair flooded his heart. Keeping his eyes tightly closed, he braced himself for the impending arrival of death.

"Drip."

A wet sensation, like raindrops yet somewhat viscous, splattered across his face.

"What is this?"

El couldn't help but open his eyes.

Dazed, blank—

His emerald pupils suddenly trembled.

The Mightyena in front of him had vanished.

In its place was a mangled, headless body, tumbling powerlessly through the air.

Hot blood gushed from the severed neck like a spring.

"Thud."

Lu Yun landed heavily on the ground, having executed a slight leap mid-air.

As gravel and stones fractured, his heels dug firmly into the earth to dissipate the powerful forward momentum.

His peripheral vision swept past the somewhat stunned little boy standing nearby, and he let out a slight breath of relief.

"I made it in time."

The moment Lu Yun heard human cries, he had bolted in the direction of the sound.

The scene that met his eyes was a fragile young boy charging directly toward three fierce-looking Mightyena.

In an instant, Lu Yun made the most rational judgment.

These Mightyena were likely some of the culprits behind the carnage in the town, and the little boy was a survivor among the townspeople.

Although Lu Yun had been born into an evil organization in both of his lives and had plenty of blood on his hands, deep down, he still considered himself quite benevolent... probably...

In short, Lu Yun didn't want to see the little boy ahead walk into the tiger's mouth and die right before his eyes.

Therefore, he decided to save the child and, incidentally, see if he could glean any information about this world and his current location.

The outcome turned out all right.

At the very last second, just before the Mightyena could kill the boy, Lu Yun blew its head off.

Except...

Lu Yun tilted his head, glancing sideways at El, who remained frozen in place.

"Is he an idiot?"

At that moment, the remaining two Mightyena finally reacted.

Baring their fangs and roaring, they charged toward Lu Yun.

They were going to tear the creature that had killed their packmate into tiny pieces!

Within Lu Yun's sparkling, crimson pupils, a dazzling red light flickered and died.

He shook the residual blood from his right fist, a slight, scornful smile curving his lips.

"Boom!"

The next second, his pitch-black silhouette, reminiscent of the night, vanished from the spot.

The terrifying explosive force left spiderweb-like cracks and a small crater in the solid stone-tiled ground;

The stagnant air was rent apart by the immense power, letting out a pained lament.

A reddish-brown, glass-like Fighting-type aura erupted from Lu Yun's lower legs,

Coiling and enveloping them,

Radiating explosive, overwhelming strength from his tightly coiled muscles.

Materializing beside the second Mightyena in a flash, Lu Yun raised his right leg and kicked straight toward its soft abdomen.

Enhanced by the Pauldrons of Terrakion, the formidable strength, combined with the crushing effect of type-advantage,

Maximized the destructive power of Lu Yun's kick.

"Crack!"

The crisp sound of snapping ribs echoed through the air,

And the thick black fur was shredded into dust by the razor-like gale.

The tough hide, along with the thick layer of fat and muscle beneath it, was torn wide open as blood spattered everywhere.

Boom—

The sheer force bent the Mightyena's body into the shape of a bow, sending it flying sideways faster than its own charge.

With bursting mud and gravel and flying dust, the hurled body of the Mightyena crashed right through the wall of a nearby house, tumbling into the living room beyond.

Pained whimpers echoed from inside, gradually growing faint and weak.

This poor Mightyena was not long for this world.

"Zzt!"

Brilliant golden electricity flashed by Lu Yun's side, and violent sparks burst through the air.

There, the final remaining Mightyena had already charged its signature move, lunging fiercely at Lu Yun with jaws agape.

"Thunder Fang!"

The golden-bright electric light reflected in Lu Yun's crimson pupils, appearing somewhat dazzling.

For a split second, a look of bewilderment crept into Lu Yun's eyes,

As a memory from his past life as a Mareep surfaced in his mind.

Lu Yun remembered that back then, the electricity he released was just as brilliant and dazzling...

A whimsical smile formed on his face.

The next moment, the confusion in his eyes vanished, replaced by a ferocious, violent intent.

"Even a stray dog like you dares to throw lightning in front of me?!"

"Ridiculous!"

Bending his knees and wrapping them in a layer of Fighting-type aura, Lu Yun thrust upward fiercely.

Boom—

His iron-hard kneecap slammed squarely into the Mightyena's fragile lower jaw.

The colossal, terrifying force forced its wide-open maw shut in an instant.

The electricity crackling around its teeth collided and exploded inside its mouth,

A flash of light darted from its nostrils, and wisps of pitch-black, acrid smoke billowed from the corners of its lips, rising into the air.

Whimpering, the body that had been hurting straight toward Lu Yun stopped dead in mid-air.

Seizing the opportunity, Lu Yun curled the five fingers of his right hand, reached up from below,

And clamped a death grip around the Mightyena's neck, lifting it straight up into the air.

With his fingertips wreathed in the brownish-red aura of the Fighting type, the energy coiled down the Mightyena's neck toward its body like a venomous snake, leaving behind a scorching trail of heat.

Watching the Mightyena kick its limbs wildly and struggle desperately in his grasp,

Influenced perhaps by the Ghost-type energy within him,

A trace of cruelty flashed across Lu Yun's sparkling pupils.

Bending his elbow, the muscles in his arm bulged abruptly,

And aiming for the solid ground beneath his feet, he violently slammed the Mightyena down by the neck.

Bang—

A deafening crash!

The whimpering ceased abruptly. Crimson blood spilled from the Mightyena's teeth and lips, dripping onto the back of Lu Yun's hand.

The shadow of death shrouded its pupils.

Life, extinguished!

Releasing his grip, Lu Yun let out a soft breath.

He turned his head to look at El, who was still sitting slumped on the ground in a daze,

And grinned, flashing what he considered to be a very benevolent smile.

Yet El, who moments ago had defied death to try and perish alongside the Mightyena,

Upon seeing Lu Yun's smile, felt as though he were looking straight at a demon from the netherworld.

His eyes rolled back, and he promptly fainted.

The air seemed to freeze, and the smile stiffened on Lu Yun's face...

An awkward atmosphere permeated the clearing.