CHAPTER 34: DON’T BUY THIS CHAPTER YET!

I was telling the truth. There were only seven thugs inside, and their strength was nothing remarkable, probably just like the ones I’d fought by the city gate. Had they stayed on the same floor, it would have taken me even less time to get rid of them.

And during that moment, I truly realized just how monstrous I’d become.

A thug I’d once needed to be careful around, the kind I would have feared in my old life, was now no different than an ant I could simply trample.

’If this is the power I get from just possessing a B-Rank physique, I can’t even imagine what I’d be like at S-Rank. Would I be a demigod-like? Hah. Looks like my childhood dream of becoming as strong as Goku was just around the corner after all...’

’I couldn’t be mistaken... the description fits him perfectly. That’s definitely Peter. And that pigeon, it has to be one of his controlled pets.’

Without wasting another second, I took a deep breath and steeled myself for what was about to come.

I tilted my head slightly and swallowed the pill I’d been holding in my cheek.

The pill had been tasteless and odorless while resting in my cheek all this time. But the moment it slid down my throat, everything changed.

It dissolved instantly, before it even reached my stomach.

A sharp, burning scent flooded my nostrils, and my throat ignited with pain. It felt like I had swallowed fire.

Almost immediately after, a searing pain ripped through my entire body.

It felt like every inch of my muscles was being torn apart and rebuilt, stronger, thicker, more flexible, only to be torn apart again. Over and over. Dozens, maybe hundreds of times... all within seconds.

Inside me, it felt like my organs were on fire. My heart, lungs, liver, blood vessels, everything, was cooking in some infernal heat. I could feel them twisting and reshaping, adapting to the new power flooding through me.

The pain was so intense, I wanted to scream, but the moment I opened my mouth, no sound came out.

It looks like even my vocal cords had been scorched.

Just as I wondered whether I’d survive this, whether my body could even take it, when my consciousness started to fade, drowning in waves of unbearable pain, I experienced a strange sensation.

It was like a storm passing through my bones, washing away the pain in a single violent gust.

Words couldn’t describe how thrilled I was. Considering the strength and power I always longed for, now in the palm of my hand.

I soon continued in a nonchalant tone, "I know I said I’d give you a minute to think it over, but I’m afraid I’m gonna take back that. I don’t really have time to wait. So here’s the deal; tell me where your boss is right now, or I’ll start breaking the rest of your fingers."

"What?" Peter’s eyes widened in horror.

Even now, he was still silently enduring the pain of his broken right hand. Tears welled in his eyes at the thought of his left hand being next. He couldn’t afford to lose any more fingers, not when it hurt as hell!

Yet, he knew that if he spilled information about his boss, there’d be no place left for him in the gang. He’d have to change his identity and disappear, move far away, because once they found out, his body would be floating in the river for everyone to see.

But on the other hand, if he kept his mouth shut, the devil standing in front of him looked like he was ready to start the torture to force the answer out of his mouth.

"Please... spare my life!"

Peter suddenly dropped to his knees, pleading.

"Why are you kneeling? Get up and tell me where your boss is." I demanded coldly, wearing my scariest expression. Now that Peter clearly feared me, I figured it was better to keep up the cold act rather than slip back into my usual self.

When he didn’t budge, my eyebrows knitted together in irritation.

"Are you trying to annoy me?" I said grimly.

Peter flinched like a whipped dog. Slowly, he lifted his head, speaking through clenched teeth, "I-I just need to tell you where my boss is... right?"

I stared at him for a second, then let out a chuckle.

"I changed my mind. Get up. You’re taking me to him now. And don’t even try thinking about doing anything stupid. One lie, one trick, and you’ll end up like your men inside. Or worse."

"Y-you killed my men?" Peter was in shock. In his mind, he began counting time. How long was he even in the house? Ten seconds? Twenty? And all of my men... wiped out? How the hell is he this strong? Does coming back from the dead usually give you such overwhelming power like that? What the hell is even he, right now? An undead? Or a human?

So many questions bombarded his mind that he felt his head might explode.

"Guess," I shrugged.

That alone was enough to get Peter racing back to his feet. He shot up from the ground, wiping sweat from his brow and no longer daring to drag things out.

"If I take you to my boss... you’ll spare me, right?" he asked carefully.

"Yes,"

He exhaled like he’d been holding his breath for a decade. "This way," he said, gesturing hurriedly.

I was about to follow when a thought made me pause.

"Wait a minute,"

"Y-yes?" Peter turned stiffly, looking like a frightened lamb about to be slaughtered.

"First, tell me where he’s staying."

He nodded quickly. "He usually stays at the Carnivore Bar on Mowa Street. I was supposed to report back there after retrieving the map from your place."

"A map?" I repeated, puzzledly.

Peter nodded again, his tone noticeably more respectful now. "Yes, a map. That’s why my lord, uh, Alduin Sadis, targeted you. He believes you stole something important from him."

I didn’t comment on the sudden shift in his attitude. Instead, I focused on what he’d just said.

Strength: F

Agility: F

Intelligence: D

Stamina: F

Charisma: F

’Fuck! He’s trasher than I thought!’

"Did I just get freaked out for nothing?"

[Additional Information:

Target experienced genetic collapse due to consuming a potion, resulting in severe physical deformation. The Potion, however, granted him a supernatural ability that allows him to communicate and tame animals.]

’Genetic collapse? A potion? Is that why all his stats, except Intelligence, are stuck at F-Rank? His body got wrecked in exchange for a strange ability... and that D-Rank in Intelligence... maybe it’s related to his animal-controlling ability?’

’Hmm... Even if I hadn’t taken the pill, I probably could’ve beaten him. My base physique stats are a rank higher. Damn, I started to regret using it so early...’

’Hold on... I’m really getting ahead of myself, aren’t I? Just because his stats are low doesn’t mean he’s weak, or that he’ll automatically lose to me. When it comes to real combat experience, Peter’s probably dozens of times better than mine. Even if I combine my 25 years’ worth of experience back on Earth with the original Aiden’s memories, my actual street-fighting experience is still just a drop in the bucket compared to his.’

’I might have superior hardware, but my software is severely lacking.’

’So no, using the pill wasn’t a waste. If anything, it was a smart call.’

Never judge a book by its cover. Never underestimate your opponent. A starved camel is still bigger than a horse.

Those proverbs existed for a reason!

I tightened my grip on the talisman’s ashes and exhaled.

I stepped out from behind cover and strode confidently into Nolan Street.

I immediately saw Peter lock his gaze onto me. His slightly yellow eyes narrowed into slits, like a snake sizing up its prey.

Even though I knew I was far stronger than him, at least stat-wise, I couldn’t stop the fear from creeping in.

His gaze was nothing like the two thugs I’d seen at the city entrance.

It was the eyes of a true, seasoned criminal who had done many horrible things, probably including killing!

For a second, I felt frozen in place.

However, almost instantly, I forced myself to be calm. I simply reminded myself that my stats were four ranks above his. There was no need to fear someone so terrifyingly outmatched.

’I’m stronger than him... I’m stronger than him...’

I repeated the words like a mantra.

To distract myself from his predatory gaze, I simply closed my eyes. As darkness enveloped me, the fear gradually receded, replaced by a growing sense of calm.

All the while, I never stopped walking.

By the time I opened my eyes again, I had closed a good chunk of the distance between us.

After going through a few more steps, I finally arrived in front of him.

"Do you know who I am?"

I heard him asking the question.

Without meeting his gaze, I replied calmly, "Yeah. You’re ’Rat’ Peter, right?"

"So you do know me, and you still walk up to me like this? Either you’re brave... or just plain stupid."

He spoke with a harsh, arrogant, and truly menacing tone, exactly the same tone that most thugs used when they tried to intimidate their victims.

My body froze again, fear seizing me before I could even fight it off. I closed my eyes once more, pretending not to hear his words, hoping to stave off the terror. When I opened them, I deliberately avoided his gaze, an easy feat, given that I was much taller.

"I don’t know what you’re trying to pull by walking up to me, but I’m busy right now. So I’ll let you off... just this once."

Then, suddenly, he reached for my robe.