CHAPTER 39: 39. WILD DOGS

The leader’s hands trembling, he tightened his grip on Liana, dagger pressed so close to her neck. His eyes darted between Leo and the bloodied bodies sprawled across the ground, his voice stammering as he shouted, "Drop that fancy sword! Now!"

Leo’s eyes locked onto him, unflinching, cold as death itself. The leader’s attempt to intimidate faltered under that stare, but he pressed the blade closer to Liana’s throat, desperate to regain control. "Do you want this bitch alive or not?" he shouted.

"Don’t care about me, Young Master Leo!" she shouted, her tone fierce and unwavering. "Kill this idiots all!"

"Shut the fuck up bitch!" the leader snapped, his grip tightening as he glared at her.

"Alright," Leo said quietly, his voice steady. "Leave her."

The leader grinned. "Throw the weapon away," he ordered.

Leo did what he said, tossing the katana slightly away. The blade hit the ground with a metallic click, the sound echoing.

The leader grinned wickedly, "Kill that son of a bitch!"

One mercenary stepped forward. "Your tricks won’t work now," he sneered, raising his blade high before slashing down from Leo’s shoulder to his hip. Blood splattered across the ground, the crimson streak stark against the darkened street.

Liana screamed, her voice breaking as tears streamed down her face. "Stop! Please, stop!"

But Leo didn’t fall. His hand shot up, catching the mercenary’s wrist mid-strike. The grip was ironclad, unyielding. With a twist, he snapped the man’s wrist, the bone crack echoing through the air.

Before the mercenary could react, Leo grabbed his head and twisted violently, the neck breaking with a brutal snap and the lifeless body crumpled to the ground.

The remaining mercenaries hesitated, but still charged at him.

Leo then grabbed the fallen dagger, rolling swiftly as another mercenary charged at him. In one fluid motion, Leo drove the blade upward into the attacker’s stomach, the force so precise it pierced deep.

The man stumbled, holding his stomach as blood flowed out of the wound, the dagger remaining whole. He fell to the ground, dead.

Leo spun around sharply, calling upon his hunting knife from item space immediately. The blade sinking into the neck of another mercenary who had attempted to strike from behind. The man gasped, his body trembling before he went limp.

[HOSTILE ELIMINATED! 7/10]

Leo rose to his feet.

[HEALING PROTOCOL INITIATED! (⅔)]

The deep slash across his torso sealed itself.

The remaining mercenaries stood frozen, as they stared at Leo. They had committed unspeakable acts in their lives—cruelty, betrayal, and violence—but none of it compared to the sheer brutality Leo made just now.

One mercenary’s grip loosened involuntarily, his weapon clattering to the ground. Leo’s eyes locked onto him, and the man instinctively stepped back, trembling, his knees shaking as he fell backward, falling to the ground in terror.

Leo approaches slowly, the mercenary on the ground crawls backward, his hands shaking as he begged, his voice cracking. "Please... spare me! I’ll do anything—just don’t kill me!"

Leo crouched down, his smirk cold and unyielding. "You know," he said, his voice low and sharp, "I might’ve let you live if you were here just to kill me."

His hand shot out, grabbing the man’s hair and yanking his head back. "But you made it yourself." With one swift motion, Leo sliced the man’s throat clean, the blade cutting deep.

[HOSTILE ELIMINATED! 8/10]

Liana’s gaze darted to the leader holding her hostage. She noticed his trembling hands, the dagger shaking as he pressed it against her neck.

The leader stammered, his voice desperate. "Let’s make a deal," he said. "I’ll let her go—you let me go. I won’t even dare to approach you again. We’ll call it even."

He forced a smile, thinking he still held the upper hand. After all, the maid was still his hostage. But Leo’s eyes narrowed, his expression unreadable. "No," he said curtly, which makes the leader’s false bravado.

"What? What are you saying? Your maid’s still at point blank! You want her dead?"

Leo didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he walked calmly toward his katana which was lying on the ground. The leader’s panic grew as Leo bent down, picking up the weapon and dusting it off casually. "Go on," Leo said, his tone calm but laced with menace. "Try it. Kill her, you motherfucker."

The leader’s desperation boiled over. "I’ll take her even if I’m dead!" he shouted, his voice cracking as he raised the dagger and drove it toward Liana’s neck. She closed her eyes tightly, bracing for the worst.

But nothing happened.

Liana opened her eyes slowly, she realized the dagger hadn’t touched her. It hovered mere millimeters from her skin, frozen in place. The leader tried again, but the blade refused to move any closer. His face twisted in confusion, his eyes darting to Leo.

[Bear Defense has been utilized on target!]

The notification echoed faintly in Leo’s mind. Of course, he wouldn’t let her die.

Liana took advantage. Her teeth sink into the leader’s hand, biting hard enough to draw blood. He screamed, his grip loosening as he dropped the dagger. She didn’t let up. With a burst of rage, she slapped him across the face with every ounce of strength she had, the sound ringing out in the street.

Her brown eyes burned with disgust, no trace of fear remaining. "You filthy coward!" she spat, her voice filled with rage.

The leader, humiliated and furious, lifted his hand to hit her, but Leo intervened. Without hesitation, Leo plunged the blade into the leader’s belly.

The man stood stock still, stiffening as he felt the pain crash over him like a wave. Blood streamed from the injury.

Leo leaned in, his eyes locking onto the leader’s. His smirk returned, sharp and cruel. "You know," he said softly, "your death should send a message."

With a sudden twist, Leo angled the blade upward, fire mana channeling through the katana. The weapon glowed red-hot. " That wild dogs can’t touch me."

Leo turned sharply, gripping the sword tightly as he pulled it upward with force. The blade sliced through the leader’s torso, cutting him cleanly in half. A wave of fire erupted from the katana, rising high into the air, lighting the dark street.

"You’ll need wolves atleast."

"Y-Young Master Leo!" Liana gasped, raising her arm and pointing. "That one—he’s running!"

Leo turned his head, slowly, following her gaze.

Final mercenary was running away, his cloak fluttering behind him. He wasn’t running straight—his steps were wild, erratic, stumbling over debris as panic overtook him.

Leo’s expression didn’t change.

Instead, he simply smiled.