Chapter 7

The plan was simple—stick to the nerd until class ended, then escort him home. Essentially, I was playing bodyguard. It seemed peaceful enough, but I couldn't afford to let my guard down. Predators always have their eyes on their prey, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Throughout the day, no one dared to mess with the nerd, which was a relief. That was, until a familiar idiot decided to show up—Neo. The same guy I had humiliated last time. He strutted up to us with a smug grin, thinking he had the upper hand.

"You're done. Abyss is coming for you." His smirk widened as if he had already won.

I didn't even flinch. Instead, I gave him a bored look and shot back, "Then where are those idiots? I don't see their fucking asses anywhere."

Neo's expression twisted into one of disbelief. It was obvious he couldn't believe I had the guts to badmouth the gang that everyone feared. He scoffed, shaking his head. "Just wait. You'll regret ever getting involved with that nerd."

Regret? The only regret I had was not being able to buy my sister the gift. That was the only thing that mattered to me.

When class finally ended, I bid farewell to Yuan and Lory, telling them to head home first. But Yuan insisted on coming with us.

"I'm coming with you," he said firmly.

I was about to refuse, but Lory, ever the voice of reason, sided with him. "It's better if we stick together. You might run into trouble."

I sighed, turning to Yuan. "What are you thinking this time?"

He looked at me curiously, and I smirked. "I'm guarding this nerd until he gets home safe. That way, I can earn some money and buy a gift for Lory."

Yuan's eyes widened in shock. He immediately tensed, his usual calm demeanor breaking. "You're insane," he muttered.

That's when I noticed something. He wasn't just surprised—he was afraid. His gaze flickered between the nerd and me before he finally spoke again. "Are you trying to drag us into hell? After we barely survived getting beaten by some gangsters, you want to pick a fight with the higher-ups? The Abyss won't let this slide just because you decided to play hero."

I didn't say anything, letting him rant. He exhaled sharply before continuing. "Even if you claim to be some legendary assassin, that was when you were in your prime. Back when you were a force to be reckoned with. But now? You're just an ordinary guy stuck in a weak body."

I understood where he was coming from. He thought I was underestimating the enemy. And maybe I was. But that didn't matter to me. "I know you're scared," I said. "But don't worry. I promise that as long as I'm around, no one can lay a finger on us. If they try, I'll be coming for their lives."

Yuan laughed. It wasn't a pleasant laugh. It was bitter, like he thought I was an idiot. "You don't get it, do you? Everything is a mess because you don't know when to keep your mouth shut. You act like you're the strongest one here, but words mean nothing when your body can't keep up."

His words stung a little, but I didn't let it show. I'd prove him wrong soon enough.

As we walked, we reached a quiet street, and that's when things took a turn. A group of ten men blocked our path.

They were massive—towering over us with muscular builds and expressions that spoke of violence. Their arms were covered in tattoos, the kind you earned through crime and bloodshed. These weren't just ordinary gangsters. These were monsters wearing human skin.

"We're dead," the nerd beside me whispered, his voice trembling.

But I wasn't afraid. Not even a little.

To me, they were just another obstacle in my way.

They looked at us like insects, their lips curling into sinister grins. One of them stepped forward, his voice dripping with amusement. "Hey, we weren't informed that you had friends. Come with us."

Before he could grab the nerd, I swiftly stepped in front of him, gripping his wrist tightly. "This guy is with me. Leave us alone if you want to keep your lives."

The gang exchanged glances before erupting into laughter, their arrogance thick in the air. One of them sneered, stepping closer. "Hey, bastard, you're the one who should leave if you care about your life—"

He never finished his sentence. The sickening snap of his bone echoed through the alleyway as I twisted his arm back at an unnatural angle. A bloodcurdling scream tore from his throat, his eyes wide with agony. His knees buckled, and I shoved him away like discarded trash.

"Two of you step back. I'll deal with these motherfuckers myself."

Shedding my jacket, I charged into them like a storm. The first one swung a bat at my ribs—I ducked, driving my fist straight into his gut with enough force to lift him off the ground. He collapsed, gasping for air. Another lunged at me with a knife. I sidestepped, grabbed his wrist, and slammed my elbow into his face, breaking his nose instantly. Blood spurted as he screamed, staggering backward.

More rushed me at once. One wrapped his arms around me from behind, trying to pin me down. Big mistake. I threw my head back, smashing into his face, feeling the crunch of bone. His grip loosened just enough for me to twist free, grab him by the collar, and drive my knee into his stomach with brutal force. He crumpled, vomiting on the pavement.

Two more came at me with metal pipes. One swung at my head—I ducked, grabbed his wrist, and twisted hard. The pipe clattered to the ground as he howled in pain. I caught the second attacker's wrist mid-swing and yanked him forward, smashing my forehead into his nose. Blood gushed down his face as he staggered back, dazed.

Another guy charged, throwing wild punches. I dodged easily, weaving between his attacks before catching his wrist and breaking it with a vicious snap. His scream barely left his mouth before I drove my boot into his chest, sending him flying backward into a pile of garbage bags.

The last three hesitated, realizing they had underestimated me. One of them—a massive brute with a tattooed face—cracked his knuckles and pulled out a switchblade. "You're dead, asshole."

He lunged. I twisted sideways, catching his arm and driving my palm into his elbow joint. The sickening snap of breaking bone echoed through the alley as he collapsed, howling in agony. His friend tried to swing a bat at my legs—I jumped, spun in mid-air, and landed a powerful 360-degree kick to his jaw. He collapsed instantly, his eyes rolling back into his head.

The last man turned to run.

Not a chance.

I darted forward, grabbed him by the back of his shirt, and yanked him back before driving my fist into his ribs. A second punch to the jaw sent him sprawling to the ground. He whimpered, curling into a fetal position.

The fight was over. The alley was filled with the groans of broken men, blood pooling on the ground. I wiped my knuckles, breathing heavily, adrenaline still coursing through my veins.

I turned to Yuan and the nerd. They stood there, completely speechless, their faces frozen in shock.

I smiled as if nothing had happened. "See? Told you I'd handle it."