A desperate struggle.

In Malik's mind, there was no doubt that the person standing before them was Rocky. He could identify him solely based on his face and height. However, there was something unusual about the expression on Rocky's face, especially in his eyes.

This was something Malik had never seen before in Rocky, and it struck him as strange that Rocky was standing there, gazing at them.

One of the twins remarked, as if prepared to take action at any moment, "Those looks... They don't appear normal."

They inquired, "Do you know this individual?"

"I know him. He's Malik, one of the top street fighters," Malik replied. He had encountered Rocky during a street brawl, and there was no denying Rocky's strength, even though Malik had emerged victorious in their bout.

"Let's just disregard him," Malik suggested, turning away and heading down to the street. However, it was at that moment that he laid eyes upon the sight of Rocky charging towards him, relentlessly pushing forward, an imposing obstacle obstructing his path.

"I had a hunch, an inkling, if you will, that this Rocky character might stir up some trouble," one of the twins cautiously remarked, their actions confined to mere observation, their expressions awash with puzzlement and uncertainty.

"What is your purpose here?" inquired Malik with an air of curiosity, tinged with a hint of caution. The rapport between him and Rocky was a tenuous one, for they had scarcely exchanged words since Rocky's previous defeat at Malik's hands. The situation had grown even more peculiar, given the whispers and murmurs Malik had caught wind of, insinuating something amiss in Rocky's world.

"Did you not escort the enigmatic figure known as 'hoodie' to the raucous fracas on the streets?" Rocky's voice reverberated, echoing as if it were the harmonious convergence of two distinct voices.

In response to this unexpected query, Malik and his companions found their countenances draining of color, their instincts compelling them to retreat a step, their hearts pounding with trepidation.

"Regrettably, I find myself unable to assist you in this matter," Malik declared, his intent to advance evident in his movements. Yet, in a sudden twist of fate, a forceful and relentless kick struck him square in the abdomen, unleashing an excruciating wave of pain that radiated through his body. Malik was sent hurtling backward, his trajectory mirroring that of his startled companions.

Rocky firmly declared, "You won't be able to leave until you give me what I want!"

At first, Malik was taken aback by the immense force behind Rocky's kick. He remembered that during their previous encounter, Rocky hadn't displayed such power in his legs. This led Malik to consider various possibilities.

"Wow... He's not like before," Malik remarked as he reached for a baton stick on his back and advanced towards Rocky. The two twins followed suit, and soon enough, they had Rocky completely surrounded.

"I don't know who you are, but it was a big mistake to approach us," one of the twins warned, his baton crackling with energy as he thrust it toward Rocky.

---

Meanwhile, at that specific moment, Rocky found himself encircled, and the same was true for Devon. However, this time, Devon wasn't just facing adults; their numbers were large, greatly reducing his chances of prevailing.

Interestingly, Devon remained unfazed and unimpressed by the presence of the others. It could be due to the system's rewards or simply his unshakable courage.

In whatever way the circumstances might unfold, he harbors the hope of clutching onto it tenaciously. As he attentively surveyed his surroundings, Devon remained poised for any potential confrontation that might arise.

Right at the moment when he was on the verge of charging headlong into the fray himself, his peripheral vision caught sight of a bat swinging menacingly in his direction.

"Hmm... They certainly possess remarkable speed," ruminated Devon. He was resolute in his determination not to restrain himself, yearning to expedite the conflict's resolution as expeditiously as possible.

[Horror activated]

With the activation of his horror-imbued abilities, a peculiar and unsettling aura emanated from Devon's physique, casting an eerie, pervasive pall over the entire restaurant, causing an unsettling sensation to course through every individual present.

Steel and determination converged within Devon as he braced himself to absorb the full force of the incoming bat swing, recognizing the futility of any belated evasion attempts.

[-150 hp]

'You will undoubtedly pay a substantial price for your actions,' Devon contemplated in the recesses of his mind.

As the bat found its mark, connecting with his body, Devon instinctively clutched onto the weapon. In that moment, he could distinctly perceive the trembling in the man's hand who wielded the bat.

Summoning his resolve, Devon unleashed a mighty punch of his own, striking the man squarely in the face and propelling him forcefully into the clustered tables, an act which unexpectedly rendered the man unconscious.

[A human adversary has been knocked out.]

[You have earned 100 experience points.]

'That task turned out to be rather uncomplicated,' Devon mused internally. 'However, I must remain vigilant and prevent further assaults from these individuals.'

Without delay, the rest of the assailants were charging menacingly towards him, their intentions unmistakably aligned in a synchronized attack strategy.

Nevertheless, Devon refused to remain passive. He acted swiftly, propelling himself forward with determination. Simultaneously, he triggered yet another one of his exceptional abilities.

[Wolf claws]

His horror skill was fully activated, and judging by the appearance of things, its impact on the robbers appeared rather inconspicuous.

As Devon approached the initial assailant, he swiftly extended his arm, unleashing a powerful fist. Simultaneously, he exhibited remarkable agility by seizing another bat and deftly pulling its wielder towards him before delivering a forceful blow to the man's face.

[ -5hp]

[ -7hp]...

With each relentless assault from the robbers, Devon's health steadily declined.

'I should have realized I'm no superhuman,' Devon pondered, yet he remained acutely aware that action needed to be taken, or he would succumb to the relentless attackers.

"Arughhh!" Devon let out a ferocious cry as he spun around, his claws slashing aimlessly through the air. Fortunately, they found their mark, cutting into an assailant and sending them hurtling backward. But, in this moment, Devon's paramount concern was the restoration of his dwindling health.

[+20hp]

Given the magnitude of health replenished in one fell swoop, Devon couldn't help but fear that he might have fatally wounded his adversary. However, the system notification painted a different picture.

[A human adversary has been knocked out.]

[100 exp granted].

'That was indeed a relief,' Devon thought, relieved by the prospect. Although he would feel less guilty about inadvertently causing harm to any of the robbers, particularly if it occurred accidentally, he still didn't want to become the kind of person who revels in such actions.

With a swift, spinning swipe executed by Devon, a number of the men present had instinctively taken a step back in an effort to evade his attack. This gave  Devon a precious additional moment to prepare, during which he firmly fixed his unwavering gaze on a chosen target.

"I'm certain that I can't handle all of them simultaneously; I must confront them one by one," he reasoned internally.

Having already identified his intended target, Devon hastened toward the nearest robber, his outstretched fingers clawing menacingly at the man's chest before he spun around with swift agility, launching a powerful kick toward his opponent.

[You have successfully knocked out a human].

And with it came the gratifying reward of

[100 experience points granted].

"Three down out of ten; that's a modest but undeniable measure of progress," Devon pondered, feeling a sense of accomplishment as he pivoted around.

However, it was precisely at that moment that he received a harsh, unexpected blow to his chest—a formidable kick that propelled his body out of the restaurant and resulted in the shattering of the already fractured glass door.

'Damn,' thought Devon as he attempted to rise from the ground, thoroughly impressed by the formidable strength of the kick he had just received; it had been nothing short of powerful.

The recent kick had been not only forceful but also completely unexpected, causing Devon's body to go numb, starting from his feet and creeping upwards, leaving him bewildered by the abruptness of it all.

[-20 hp]

'I can't move in this manner; I must employ the bloodlust skill,' he contemplated, recognizing that his current predicament called for a different approach.

Simultaneously, Devon discerned approaching sounds, indicating that the assailant had not yet concluded his assault on him.

Right at that moment, he sensed someone grasping his head, forcefully lifting it up to meet a pair of piercing eyes.

"You miserable wretch," seethed the man who had previously tormented Eco, now holding Devon's gaze, "I shall be carrying you away with me."

"I won't be going anywhere with you!" Devon defiantly exclaimed, forcefully embedding his claws into the man's abdominal region.

[Bloodlust increased by 50%, increasing all his stats by 2]

Empowered by this newfound strength, Devon propelled the man backward, sending him crashing back into the confines of the restaurant, and subsequently, he charged in with great determination.