Zokaro stood firmly, watching them. Diaz did not move; they hid behind the trees like shadows, yet their auras glowed slightly, which made Zokaro prepare himself. Then the King of the Rafka beasts stepped forward and roared with a tremendous force.
With narrow, sharp looks, Zokaro scanned both sides, cautious of any movement toward him—he did not budge at all.
The beasts that had been hiding behind the trees advanced, lurking like shadows. They were Rafka creatures but in altered forms: they had white hair and piercing eyes; their brows curved flatly, their mouths slanted at both corners with small fangs. Their legs were very long, and they had two long, sword-like arms—no fingers or hands, only a hard, sharp appendage where a hand should be.
From a distant, elevated angle we see the trees swaying in the wind. The atmosphere was highly charged, and no one made a move.
The King Rafka stepped forward, staring at Zokaro: "You will not remain alive... you will regret it, for you faced me."
One of the tall Rafka beasts advanced: "What happened here, my king? Do you want us to kill him and finish him off?"
King of the Rafka beasts: "No — first bring me his companion so I may devour him, then we will quickly kill this scoundrel... and feast on him as well."
Tall Rafka beast: "Very well, my lord... though they appear weak, they performed impressively... especially the power of that one. Why does your strength seem weak, when, on the contrary, you appear overwhelmingly powerful?"
Zokaro replied to them with complete steadiness and confidence: "Because no one can sense my power... it exists, but you will not be able to sense more than a small part of it."
The King Rafka's eyes widened, his body trembling: "Impossible... who says no one can sense his power? The King is above all entities, like us... no, what am I saying—there is nothing I need to tell you."
All the Rafka beasts were astonished: "My lord, shall we crush him or tear him limb from limb?"
Their footsteps began moving toward Diaz: "You — I will kill you, boy, and the King will have you."
Diaz stepped backward; he did not know what to do, for he had no special power. Yet a fierce look and a primal aura made the Rafka beast stop, sensing danger.
A Rafka beast turned to him: "You worthless wretch, I will kill you, then I will devour you with the leader."
Zokaro smiled with a mocking look: "Really? Show me what you've got."
With a thunderous cry the King struck the ground forcefully: "I thought you were a rational human... but I did not expect you to be a worthless man. I am disappointed in humans... Listen, we can spare you if you leave your friend to us... he will make a tasty meal."
Diaz's complexion changed in shock at those words; sweat appeared on his right brow, and he remained silent without uttering a word.
He knew that if he wanted to survive, he must show no mercy, and that someone he trusted would choose his life without hesitation... questions swirled around him, and he could not say anything.
The King Rafka contemplated the matter: "Leave him to us, and we will let you flee. This is your only way to stay alive... otherwise we will devour you both together. You did not answer—do you want to die with him and become a meal? Or are you afraid that we will eat him and then come after you to eat you afterwards?"
Zokaro began laughing loudly, without stopping; his laugh was boisterous, like a villain announcing his triumph, which made the beasts wonder at his behavior.
But Diaz clenched his fist tightly, his eyes sharp, though the hand holding the bag and his other hand were trembling: "I know I'm weak and I didn't help you... but don't leave me here alone... let us cooperate and defeat them like we did with the other numerous beasts."
Zokaro was surprised by his words, and with cold looks and features: "Whoever told you I would betray you is a fool... Have you forgotten what I told you after our defeat in that dungeon? We will be comrades and go search for the Bo Stone, and you will become a strong hunter and earn money for your mother."
Diaz was astonished that, despite everything, Zokaro still had not abandoned him; tears began to pour from his eyes: "Thank you... how I wished I had an older brother like you."
The King of the Rafka beasts went mad, his gaze fierce and his teeth grinding: "You chose the wrong option; you will both die together."
The tall Rafka beast advanced toward Zokaro: "We will kill you first... we will torture you with our extreme speed, and cut you into pieces."
The eyes of killing flared, prompting Zokaro to prepare, but the King of the Rafka beasts also moved toward him, and then the system screen appeared.
SYSTEM: RATIO
Warning: Do not hesitate. Use your full power. Your opponents are three powerful beasts: the King Rafka beast, and the King's guards (the tall Rafka beasts) — that is their title.
If you defeat them you will receive 600 points and 10% of each of their powers.
Alert: Their power — 160.
While Zokaro was lost in the system screen, one of the tall Rafka beasts lunged at him with speed, delivering a sudden, powerful kick by its leg, causing Zokaro's reaction to be slow. The tall Rafka beast struck him with a flying kick to the chest, making Zokaro cough blood.
He was propelled backward by the force of the kick, colliding with a tree, which shattered, producing a faint dust around the place.
Diaz shouted with force: "Zokaro!"
The King of the Rafka beasts advanced: "Only you remain... a quick meal."
Diaz fell to his knees, cursing himself for his weak strength; his heart pounded, and he was crying: "Sorry, Lord Zokaro... sorry, Mother, sorry, my brothers, I am truly sorry... I am really a coward of no use."
Zokaro heard everything he said while lying on the ground: Why is he saying sorry? Why... damn it, he was like me when I was nothing. Why am I here, and why is he asking for forgiveness? This place is not mine... and I already died once and I will not die again... If the law is "survival of the strongest," like the law of the wild, then let's apply it... after all, they are worthless beasts.
Yes, I was a fool, begging everyone for work. I apologized over and over, humiliating myself, but the whole point is that I'm an insect that's worth nothing.
Even the owner of this body was very stupid; all he did was study. Like me, he failed at everything; they bullied him and beat him—everyone, all of them. I know their names. But the first person I will take revenge on is you... yes, that scoundrel who rose by his power and is only rank C. When I raise my level more, I will grind him into the ground.
While hatred, spite, and pain were eating at Zokaro's heart, he remembered that he now had a family: a kind mother who always worried for him, who scolded him for any mistake and smiled at him. He saw a light in his life amid the darkness, and that made him rise and begin to speak and ask:
How long will I wait to become stronger? How long until I change and no one despises me? And if someone does, I will crush them under my foot. I am now Zokaro Idari; I will become the strongest in the whole world — no, not just the world but in the entire universe.
System: RATIO
Absolute immediate healing has succeeded; there is no longer any damage.
Immediate energy boost: your full strength has been restored successfully.
Zokaro stood on both feet; his eyes were ferocious and his gaze had changed. His features were cold with a happy smile—he became like a madman freed from his cage.
One of the tall Rafka noticed him: "Haaa, you're not dead yet?"
Zokaro, his gaze crackling with sparks and a white mist beginning to ripple around him: "You are counted among the dead... your end will come soon."
The King of the Rafka beasts looked at him: "I think that powerful kick wasn't enough for him... I think you should have split him in two. That would make him gush blood, then we'd eat."
Diaz looked at him, joyful, wiping tears from both eyes: "My brother Zokaro... I'm happy you're okay."
With eyes ignited by rage, Zokaro looked at Diaz: "Next time... never surrender or beg for forgiveness. Fight to the death... and also... it's impossible for me to abandon a comrade."
Diaz smiled and stood on both feet, looking at Zokaro: "I will never do it again."
Zokaro advanced toward the three Rafka beasts with a fierce stare: "Come on, you filthy beasts... you will be slaughtered by the warrior."
With blind confidence one of the tall Rafka beasts said: "My king, leave him to us. We'll tear him to pieces... it seems he hasn't realized his value yet."
With eyes glowing blue and a cold white mist radiating like an aura, Zokaro stepped forward: "Honestly, I was only teasing you... but I learned from my mistake. From today I will finish you all quickly."
A blue light flared in his hand, crackling like electricity, and the Yellow Fiend Dagger appeared. His steps were smooth and synchronized; with lightning speed he severed the head of one of the tall Rafka beasts, leaving everyone stunned and motionless.
The tall Rafka's head fell to the ground; no scream was heard—only silence in the wake of agony. It would never rise again.
Zokaro's eyes became two blue sparks, and the beast's orange blood filled his dagger, his face cold, knowing nothing of mercy or forgiveness toward the beasts. All that mattered was killing them: "The first insect has fallen; two remain."
The King of the Rafka beasts did not understand, but he became certain his theory was correct: this scoundrel is not an ordinary human. Why do I tremble before him... damn it, he is merely a lowly human... yet his aura does not match his appearance; his power is high.
Zokaro turned toward them and raised his dagger in their faces: "You are next."