Chapter 139: Chapter 139: Shadow Beasts—Leech and Rabid Dog!
This was completely unexpected.
No one had anticipated that the enemy would dare to counterattack so fiercely. For a brief moment, there was complete disarray. When the assailant charged forward, it was already too late.
He appeared before one of the gang leaders.
"Human Bomb!"
The ability activated.
A second later—
BOOM!
A massive explosion erupted, the ground caving under the impact.
Kaizen and the others scattered in all directions, dodging the blast. Unlike the others, who genuinely struggled against the assault, Kaizen was capable of handling it. However, he deliberately feigned weakness, blending into the chaos.
"I recognize him now—that's Kinlf!" one gang member shouted in alarm.
"He's from the Republic of Gocon!"
"His ability is Human Bomb—he turns living bodies into explosives. It's terrifyingly cruel."
"This isn't someone we can handle. Only the Shadow Beasts can take him on!"
Kaizen frowned slightly at the chatter.
"The Republic of Gocon? Kinlf?"
These names were unfamiliar to him. But after a moment's thought, it made sense. His recent clashes with the underworld syndicate had undoubtedly attracted dangerous individuals like Kinlf.
Kinlf, standing amidst the chaos, swept his cold gaze across the scene. He had been lurking in this engineering and military factory for weeks, gathering critical information. He was just about to make his escape when his cover was blown.
"How did they find me?" Kinlf thought, confused. He replayed the events in his mind, searching for mistakes.
"Was I discovered earlier than I realized, and they waited to strike when I was about to leave?"
"Or was it just bad luck that I ran into another group by chance?"
If it were the former, Kinlf could grudgingly accept it as his failure. But if it were the latter, pure misfortune, he found it unbearable.
Kinlf clenched his fists. His hatred for the world's gang syndicates was deeply rooted. These organizations were responsible for the destruction of his homeland, the Republic of Gocon—a once-small but proud nation. Their intervention had left the country in ruins, its people displaced and its culture nearly erased. Survivors like Kinlf had banded together with one purpose: revenge.
"If they truly knew who I was, they wouldn't have sent such weaklings to pursue me," he reasoned bitterly.
"The fact that they did means I was just unlucky."
Kinlf gritted his teeth. The injustice of it all enraged him.
"Why does the world favor monsters like them? Where is the fairness in this?!"
Realizing escape was impossible, Kinlf made a grim decision.
"If I must die, I'll take as many of them with me as I can."
Chaos erupted as Kinlf launched a brutal counterattack. Members of the gang fell one by one, either blown apart by his ability or struck down in the ensuing carnage. Blood and body parts littered the ground, the metallic tang of blood thick in the air.
Kaizen kept his distance, carefully observing the battlefield while avoiding drawing Kinlf's attention. He had no intention of revealing his strength yet. His goal was to infiltrate the syndicate unnoticed, absorbing their unique techniques and secrets. If he exposed himself now, everything he had planned would unravel.
As Kaizen watched, the tide suddenly turned.
A sharp sound pierced the chaos.
SWOOSH!
Two figures appeared, moving with blinding speed.
Kinlf's pupils shrank as they approached.
One was tall and muscular, with a calm but disdainful expression. The other was smaller, wiry, and unnervingly quick. In a flash, the smaller figure darted behind Kinlf and struck.
SLASH!
A deep wound opened on Kinlf's waist.
"Ugh!" Kinlf staggered, turning to face his attacker.
Behind him, the smaller figure spat out a chunk of flesh, grinning. "Tastes terrible," he muttered.
From the sidelines, someone shouted excitedly, "The Shadow Beasts are here! Lord Leech and Lord Rabid Dog!"
Kaizen's eyes narrowed as he examined the two newcomers.
The smaller one, Rabid Dog, had distinctly canine features—sharp, elongated canine teeth, a pointed nose, and claw-like nails resembling paws. His Nen ability was clearly Enhancer-based, designed for raw, animalistic combat.
The taller one, Leech. He stood with a smug confidence, his hands buried casually in his pockets.
Leech sneered at Kinlf. "Kinlf, the pest from the Republic of Gocon… Still alive? Why not stay hidden in the gutter where you belong?"
Kinlf glared but said nothing.
Lizard continued, his tone mocking. "Did you come to Orion thinking you could survive here? Or are you just tired of living?"
Before Kinlf could respond, Wild Dog interrupted, baring his sharp teeth. "You're already done for. My attack poisoned you. In a few moments, you won't even be able to move. Give up while you can."
Kinlf's expression darkened as he felt the poison coursing through his veins.
Meanwhile, the other gang members began to cheer.
"With the Shadow Beasts here, we're saved!"
"Kinlf is finished now!"
Kaizen, however, observed the scene with a strange expression.
"These Shadow Beasts… they're far weaker than I expected. About six times weaker, actually."
He continued to watch silently, his mind already calculating his next move.
------------
+180 chapters on patreon.com/FanficsHub