Chapter 32: The Hunt for the Robbers!

"I didn't expect that we, four of us, would end up resorting to attacking a high school kid," Big Head's sidekick, a guy with a rooster-like haircut, sneered. "A brat like him doesn't even require any strategy."

The other thugs also wore expressions of contempt, but Big Head maintained a serious look. "Heh, the boss is always cautious. Anyway, the sooner we get this over with, the better."

Big Head was a Low-level Physical Cultivation Practitioner, and although the three thugs with him weren't extraordinary beings, they were seasoned street fighters who had spent years brawling in alleyways.

Therefore, they didn't believe there was any chance of failure when it came to dealing with Eric.

At that moment, Eric slowly turned around. Upon seeing the group, a flicker of mild surprise passed over his face, but he quickly regained his calm. "What do you want?"

Big Head sneered coldly. "Robbery, kid. Hand over all your money, or you'll regret it!"

Eric narrowed his eyes. "You're the one who followed me from the bank earlier, aren't you?"

His heart sank, and his face darkened slightly. He thought, Should've known better than to pick a bank near my home. This area isn't safe at all. Just a quick stop to withdraw some cash and I get targeted!

With a sigh, Eric decided that once the college entrance exams were over, he would move far away from this lawless neighborhood.

"So, you want money?" Eric feigned a helpless look. "How unlucky. I just got some from a distant relative, and now you guys have your eyes on it. Could you show some mercy? It's for my college entrance exam…"

"Shut the hell up! Nobody gives a damn what you're using the money for! Just hand it over, NOW!" Big Head threatened, making a fist and gesturing aggressively.

Eric sighed again. "Well, if that's the case, I guess I have no choice." He lowered his head, looking at his Storage Bracelet. "I'll just hand it over, since you guys are stronger than me…"

Big Head and his thugs were pleased. This high school kid's not bad. He's giving up without a fight. This job is even easier than we expected!

However, Big Head frowned. He noticed something was off about Eric's movements. He quickly snapped, "Don't dig around for the money! Hand over the bracelet directly!"

But before Big Head could finish his command, Eric had already pulled something out of the bracelet. It wasn't the cash bag they had been expecting it was the Dark Magic Ring he had just bought!

The thugs behind Big Head froze for a moment, confused by what they were seeing. Before they could react, the crystal core at the tip of the Staff started to glow brightly.

"Water Sphere Technique!"

Eric muttered softly, and the black Staff in his hand began to vibrate. Almost instantly, a water sphere shot out from the tip of the staff, like a bullet leaving a chamber.

"Shit! Dodge!!" Big Head's eyes widened in shock. He never expected Eric to have this kind of power. Thankfully, his years of combat experience allowed him to react quickly.

But the speed of the Water Sphere Technique was too fast, and it was coming straight at him. He didn't have time to dodge and thought, It's just a Water Sphere Technique! So, he raised his shoulder to block it.

"Boom!"

In the next moment, the Water Sphere Technique exploded against Big Head's elbow with a violent crash!

In an instant, the arm of this Low-level Physical Cultivation Practitioner was shredded into a mist of blood. More than half of his arm disappeared, exposing his bone at the shoulder!

"Ah!!" Big Head screamed in agony, gritting his teeth, shock flooding his mind. But almost immediately, another Water Sphere Technique came at him, this time aimed at his head.

"Boom!!"

In the alley, the remaining three thugs stood frozen, stunned as they watched. A headless corpse collapsed in front of them. From the beginning of the fight to its end, Big Head had barely had a chance to resist!

The three remaining thugs, realizing that their leader, the Low-level Physical Cultivation Practitioner, had been obliterated in one blow by Eric, didn't even think about retaliating. Instead, they all turned and ran in unison, desperate to escape!

Their leader had been killed in an instant staying behind would be nothing short of suicidal!

At that moment, the three of them bolted, fearing that they'd be next!

"Heh, you think you can escape?" Eric's face was emotionless as he sneered coldly.

There was no way their speed could outrun the Water Sphere Technique. Soon enough, "Whoosh! Whoosh!" two more thugs collapsed to the ground with sudden force.

Eric, watching the last man run, calmly flicked out another water sphere, aiming for the thug's heel and knocking him to the ground.

"Please, no! Spare me!!" The last surviving thug screamed, his leg shattered from the blast. He looked at the bodies of the other three, his face pale with horror.

"Is this… is this really a high school student?!" The thug's mind was filled with pure despair.

Eric, holding the staff, walked up slowly, his gaze cold as he looked down at the thug. "Who gave you the courage to try and rob me?"

Eric's mentality was different from most. Perhaps it was because of years of ridicule and scorn, but he felt he was no longer a normal person.

For this reason, even though he had just killed three men with a single blink, his mood was unaffected. As long as he didn't look at the bodies, he was fine.

Eric raised his staff, preparing to kill the last thug, completely eradicating any threat.

"No! Please, no! I wasn't the one who wanted to rob you we were just following orders!!" The thug trembled, almost wetting himself in fear.

"Hm?" Eric slowly lowered his staff, slightly surprised. "You were ordered to do this? Who told you to do it?"

This information was crucial for Eric. This thug was nothing more than a pawn, but if there was someone else pulling the strings, it meant even more dangerous trouble was coming his way!

"Quick! Tell me!" Eric pointed his staff at the thug's head, threatening him.

"Buck! It's Buck! Buck ordered us to rob you..." The thug quickly spilled the whole story, confessing everything.

As Eric listened, his face darkened. "I see. Well, in that case, you don't need to live any longer."

With that, he launched a Water Sphere Technique and shot it straight at the thug's head, instantly killing him. His brows furrowed tightly. "I never thought the mastermind would be Buck! That guy... But, I'm not surprised."

Eric had known for a long time that Buck had his eyes on his Magic Tome.

However, he hadn't expected Buck to be so underhanded. He really doesn't care about how he goes about things what a petty man!

Eric's expression turned cold. He stood still for a moment, deep in thought, before reaching a conclusion.

"Since he made the first move on me, I have no choice but to strike back. Buck, it's a coincidence... I'm not a man who plays fair either!"

Eric lifted his head, his resolve hardening. Buck couldn't be allowed to live any longer.

The thugs he'd sent after Eric today were all dead now, and once Buck found out, he would send stronger people to kill Eric. So, Eric decided he'd act first!

Tonight would be the night.

Eric put away his staff, deciding not to bother with the bodies, though he didn't forget one important detail.

He searched through the four bodies. Right now, money was the thing he needed most. The three smaller thugs didn't have anything valuable except for a few thousand dollars, three handguns, and some knives.

Eric was disappointed, but then his eyes lit up when he reached Big Head's body.

Big Head was wearing a storage ring, and with the owner dead, everything in the ring now belonged to Eric.

Quickly, Eric found not only several wdollars but also some pills used by Physical Cultivation Practitioners and some weapons.

"Not bad, this was a nice haul." Eric smiled. After emptying the ring, he casually tossed it into a storm drain under a manhole cover.

"Let's go." Eric returned home, but he didn't rest. He immediately began preparing. Tonight, he would go after his most important enemy Buck!

First, he put on all black clothing to blend into the darkness, making it easier to move stealthily. Then, he began analyzing his current abilities.

Skills: Magic User (Mastered)

Progress: (710/1000)

Description: A skilled Magic User with a budding combat ability!

Effect: Deepened comprehension, faster mana recovery! Increased Magic power! Learning new Magic is twice as fast!

Eric checked his progress, which was at 710, and with less than 300 to go until the next level, most of this progress had come from his brutal hunts during his recent activities.