CHAPTER 46: SAVING

Among the fleeing tamers was a blonde with ocean-blue eyes, exuding the temperament of a classic American beauty. Her name was Lucy.

Ahh!

She yelped as her foot caught on a root protruding from the ground, tripping violently. She fell face-first into the dirt, the world spinning around her as dizziness washed over her.

Just then—

Grrruaaaaaahhhhhhh!

A guttural roar, primal and ear-splitting, reverberated through the forest. It shook the very leaves overhead and sent nearby birds scattering in fright. The RuneBear’s roar was so fearsome it seemed to make the ground quiver, its sheer bass vibrating in her chest like the pounding of a war drum.

Lucy’s heart nearly jumped out of her ribcage as she scrambled desperately, trying to rise, but sharp pain flared in her ankle the instant she put weight on it.

Her foot had twisted when it was caught in the root. Now, it was strained, swollen.

In this state, she couldn’t even walk properly, much less run. It felt like she had been reduced to the state of a cripple. She could only stumble forward like an injured rabbit, her speed so slow the RuneBear got closer and closer to eating her alive with the passing of every second.

"Help!" she screamed, feeling the presence of the RuneBear behind her, her voice shrill with terror.

Her cry didn’t fall on deaf ears.

Surprisingly, her teammates all halted mid-sprint. Despite the mortal danger clawing at their heels, they turned back for her, rushing to her side. With grim determination, they grabbed her arms, dragging her away while she limped, refusing to abandon her even though their lives were now on the line.

Their heroic act had brought them closer to death. The RuneBear’s massive form thundered after them, closing the gap existing between them with frightening speed.

Watching them risk their lives for her, Ray felt something stir inside him.

"They are worth saving," he muttered, his decision was not born from impulse, it was made out of sound judgment sharpened by his worldview.

To understand his reasoning, one must grasp two vital truths.

Firstly, it had only been a hundred years since the Dark Age ended. Even in this so-called Beast Tamer Era, aka the New Age, the threat of annihilation still loomed over humanity. Internal competition was made intentionally cruel, designed to sharpen the emerging blades of humanity through blood and fire. The only way to break this deadlock was through the birth of an ultimate being, one powerful enough to reclaim the territories stolen by invaders and crown humanity as masters of Earth once more. Resources, therefore, were hoarded and handed only to those who proved themselves deserving. As a result, Mortals suffered, while beast tamers thrived, and even among tamers, those who stagnated were cast aside and heavily taxed. Over 50% of their annual income was taken in taxes by the crown.

Secondly, in the Dark Age, survival demanded ruthlessness. In that time, blind courage and kindness were nothing but liabilities that led to countless deaths. The only virtues that mattered in the Dark Age were mercilessness, cruelty, and the will to kill without hesitation. The strongest survivors of that brutal era became the very foundation of the Leon Kingdom. Their mentality was etched into its rules and laws and passed down to their descendants. Furthermore, their legends inspired entire generations to follow in their footsteps. This all came together to shape a society that favored the strong and resourceful, while crushing the weak and the useless under its weight. In such a society, it was easy to find a villainous scumbag, but seeking out an honest man was as hard as finding a needle in a haystack!

People who don’t even blink before saving a person were exactly such charlatans.

The human race were in urgent need of them to get back on the right track!

"I wouldn’t blink an eye if scum were butchered like pigs right before me. But I can’t just sit still while people with their humanity still intact are about to be slaughtered, and by the enemies of humanity at that," Ray thought, his resolve crystallizing.

He dropped from the tree with practiced ease, landing silently close to the fleeing group.

When they caught sight of him, their eyes widened.

"Hurry up and run away!" they cried in unison. "We’re being chased by a RuneBear! Its claws are so sharp they can rip through stone like mud, and its defenses are unbreakable for any Iron Rank. Don’t draw its attention!"

Ray blinked in surprise. They actually warned me?

If it had been anyone else in a life-and-death chase they would have pushed him toward the danger, using him as bait to secure their escape.

Ruthless men would even sacrifice their kin to survive. Yet these strangers, who owed him nothing, worried more about his safety than their own. It was a pleasure of its own to experience such a thing.

Ray’s lips curved into a rare genuine smile.

"I wasn’t mistaken. You are all good people worth saving."

Without hesitation, he stepped past them, moving straight toward the hulking RuneBear.

"What are you doing, you fool?" shouted Mabo, the group’s leader. He was a stocky man with braided hair and the hardened features of a Mongol warrior. He might be from Mongolia that have long ceased to exist, but who knows? His usually stern face twisted with desperation. "The RuneBear is a physical-type demonic beast that specializes in raw strength. Engaging it in close combat is suicide for tamers below Gold Rank. Come back! There’s still a chance to escape!"

Mabo was not the kind to curse, but his fear for Ray’s life made him spit words he normally wouldn’t. Even as he spoke, he didn’t stop running and dragging Lucy away with his team.

Hearing what the RuneBear was capable of, Ray remained calm, his voice steady as a blade of tempered steel. "Calm down. Just wait and watch."

Mabo’s hand twitched as he considered retracing his steps to drag Ray away by force, but it was already too late.

The RuneBear was already upon him.

Its bloodshot eyes locked onto Ray’s figure. With a thunderous roar, its claws the size of tree trunks fell on him.

Ray threw out a punch in response.

What happened next caused countless jaws to drop.