Wandering Soul Alley.

  Xiemor narrowed his eyes, his gaze flickering uncertainly as he studied the young man before him.

  Something was off.

  Why did this guy seem so fearless, as if he had nothing to worry about?

  Did he really think he could survive after seeing all the bio-weapons the Demon Association had brought?

  After all, their battle yesterday had given Xiemor a good grasp of this human boy’s combat strength.

  Even if he had two top-tier bio-weapons on his side, at most, he could take down one or two Hunters. To dream of taking on a hundred? That was pure delusion.

  "It seems... you were expecting us?"

  Xiemor narrowed his eyes, deciding to test the waters.

  Lynn crossed his arms calmly and said flatly, "Of course. After all, your Demon Association already lost a Flesh Puppet and three Hunters to me. Unless you’re planning to admit defeat, there’s no way you’d just let this go."

  Xiemor let out a cold laugh. "You sure have guts. So? If you knew we were coming, why aren’t you running for your life? Do you actually think you can beat us?"

  Lynn adjusted his monocle slightly and replied, "Not at all."

  Xiemor sneered. "Oh? Then I’m curious—if you have no confidence in winning, what are you even doing here?"

  [Warning! Danger Level: 100]

  [Warning! Danger Level: 100]

  A breeze stirred the black mist, rustling Lynn’s hair.

  He slowly raised his head, adjusted his monocle again, and then, with deep significance, said:

  "Nothing much. Just here to act cool."

  “……”

  “……”

  The wind swept across the ground, lifting a swirl of dust.

  Xiemor froze for a moment, opening his mouth as if to speak—only to realize he had no idea how to respond.

  This… This was completely outside his realm of comprehension.

  This guy…

  He wasn’t normal.

  Even in the viewing space, where the spectators had been heatedly discussing the fight just moments ago, an eerie silence fell.

  Lynn’s monocle caught a sharp glint of light as he spoke again, voice calm:

  "My teacher once told me—if you hesitate and overthink in a battle where victory is certain, you’re just embarrassing yourself."

  "If you’ve already got three aces and two jokers in your hand, why wouldn’t you play them one by one to toy with your opponent?"

  "Why wouldn’t you—"

  His monocle flashed again. He continued, voice deep and solemn:

  "Live up to the parents who brought you into this world?"

  [Ding! Your notoriety in the Dark World has increased by +1]

  [Ding! Your notoriety in the Dark World has increased by +1]

  [Ding! Your notoriety in the Dark World has increased by +1]

  Every spectator watching the scene fell into stunned silence.

  For some reason, they found themselves speechless.

  This guy…

  This guy had to be insane!

  There was no way he was normal!

  How could he stand before an army of monsters and say something so outrageously arrogant—with a completely straight face?!

  Something was definitely wrong with him!

  [Ding! Xiemor's Rage +10]

  [Ding! Xiemor's Rage +10]

  [Ding! Xiemor has been successfully provoked by your theatrics!]

  "Oh, you think you can toy with me?!"

  "You arrogant little shit, how dare you put on this act in front of me! You really think you’re something, huh?!"

  Xiemor gritted his teeth, his expression twisting with rage.

  Who was he?!

  He was the Vice President of the Demon Association!

  A top-tier demon who had developed countless cutting-edge bio-weapons!

  And yet, this cocky bastard was actually pulling this stunt right in front of him—making him look like some clueless idiot!

  Xiemor absolutely hated people like this.

  He had no more patience.

  Forget the Colossus components—this guy had to die.

  "KILL HIM!"

  With a furious roar, Xiemor gave the order.

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  Behind him, countless Hunters snapped their heads up and launched themselves toward Lynn at terrifying speed.

  The two massive Flesh Puppets beside Xiemor locked their eerie vertical pupils onto their target.

  "Oh? Feeling bold, are you? Enjoying your little act?!"

  "Flesh Puppets—activate Ultimate Bio-Extermination Mode! Switch to War Mode! I want him crushed into a single-celled smear of blood!"

  Xiemor’s face contorted in rage as he bellowed his command.

  The moment his words fell, the two Flesh Puppets underwent a monstrous transformation. A sea of limbs erupted from their shifting flesh, shrieking as they extended outward.

  "War Form Activated… Maximum Response Directive Engaged… Bio-Extermination Mode Online—"

  "Target Locked… Dragon’s Breath Arm Engaged… Focused Sight Engaged… Phantom Corridor Engaged—"

  "Initiating Hunt—"

  BZZT!

  In a split second, the Flesh Puppets accelerated to impossible speeds, overtaking the incoming Hunters. Their writhing mass of arms stretched toward Lynn, launching an all-out assault.

  "You think your theatrics will save you?!"

  "My Flesh Puppet Mark III is the finest war machine this world has ever seen! Even if the Blood-Clad Wraith himself were here—so what?! Even if a King-Class entity showed up—so what?!"

  Xiemor’s voice thundered through the alley, crackling with electric fury.

  "Even if a Primordial-Class being showed up—SO WHAT?!"

  His words boomed like rolling thunder.

  And then—

  THUD.

  A massive severed head fell from the sky, slamming down onto one of the charging Flesh Puppets with a wet, sickening splat.

  SPLAT.

  Chunks of flesh and pools of blood splattered outward.

  A still-blinking, red-glowing bio-mechanical eye rolled from the crushed Flesh Puppet—coming to a stop right at Xiemor’s feet.

  [Ding! Xiao Xiao has squashed a Flesh Puppet Mark III! You’ve received a bonus reward: 200 base EXP!]

  “……”

  “……”

  Dead silence.

  Xiemor remained frozen in place, mouth half-open as if time itself had stopped.

  The lone eyeball at his feet let out a soft sizzle, its heat still radiating in the air.

  A suffocating, Primordial-Class aura now loomed over the alley, spreading from the severed head like an invisible tide.

  Meanwhile, the echo of Xiemor’s previous words still lingered in the street—

  "Even if a Primordial-Class being showed up—so what?"

  "So what—"

  "What—"

  "What—"

  Lynn rubbed his ear absentmindedly, then tilted his head and asked,

  "Hmm? Sorry, what was that you just said?"

  “……”

  In an instant, the massive, pale, and drooling head emerged within the field of vision.

  “(ΩДΩ)!!!”

  At that moment, everyone watching the live broadcast screamed in terror.

  Even the camera visibly trembled before swiftly pulling back at an unimaginable speed, as if too afraid to get any closer.

  “It’s that same Headhunter from before! That Root-tier monster (ΩДΩ)!!”

  “You’ve got to be kidding! No way!! Are you telling me that thing didn’t come to Ghost Alley to slaughter—it was actually invited here by Lynn?!”

  “That’s impossible!!”

  Ding! The Bell Ringer’s fear of you has increased by 10.

  Ding! The Nocturnal Scavenger’s fear of you has increased by 10.

  Ding! The Blood Thrall’s fear of you has increased by 10.

  Ding! Achievement unlocked: Spreader of Fear. You have earned 200 base experience.

  [Spreader of Fear]: A milestone achievement awarded when over a thousand beings develop fear toward you. You have taken another firm step toward becoming an eldritch horror. Permanent buffs gained: All Attributes +5, Monster Fear Factor +1, Happiness +10.

  Lynn stood there, dumbfounded as the system notifications rang in his ears.

  Meanwhile, Xiaoxiao licked its lips with its long, slippery tongue, eyes gleaming with excitement.

  “This is... delivery food? So much... so much meat... I can’t hold back any longer—”

  “Don’t worry, Xiaoxiao,” Lynn reassured, reaching out to pat the giant head’s cheek. “No one’s going to steal from you. They’re all yours.”

  Nearby, the Mecha-Fiend stared stiffly at the massive head that had just descended beside Lynn. Its mouth hung open as a deafening buzz filled its mind.

  “R-Root-tier... How... how is this possible…”

  It staggered backward, body trembling uncontrollably.

  “This can’t be real…”

  Ding! The Mecha-Fiend’s fear of you has increased by 10.

  Ding! The Mecha-Fiend’s fear of you has increased by 10.

  Lynn slowly stepped forward and picked up the two eyeballs of the fallen flesh puppets from the ground, rolling them in his palm.

  He gazed deeply at the Mecha-Fiend and said, “You called for reinforcements, so naturally, I wouldn’t come unprepared. Do you really think I’d be standing here so openly if I didn’t have something up my sleeve?”

  Adjusting his monocle, he continued with a serious expression, “I told you—I had a full house with two jokers, and you still didn’t run? Are you looking down on me?”

  Ding! Achievement unlocked: Borrowing Power. You have earned 200 base experience.

  [Borrowing Power]: A special achievement granted when successfully intimidating a stronger opponent using external forces. Permanent buffs gained: Intelligence +3, Reputation +5.

  Lynn: “…”

  The Mecha-Fiend trembled violently, eyes darting between the colossal Headhunter and the blood-soaked remains of the flesh puppets. One of them was still twitching, its severed hand convulsing on the ground.

  A garbled, urgent warning buzzed in the Mecha-Fiend’s ear from the remaining flesh puppet:

  “Target analysis… Root-tier… Highest-level alert… Cannot be resisted… Cannot be assimilated…”

  “Battle success rate… 0… Assimilation success rate… 0… Immediate retreat recommended…”

  “Immediate retreat…”

  At that moment, the Mecha-Fiend finally snapped out of its daze. With a shriek, it spun around and roared:

  “RUN!!”

  In the blink of an eye, it burst into the fastest sprint of its life, dashing away at an unimaginable speed, fleeing like the wind.

  Seeing this, Lynn grinned.

  “Xiaoxiao! It’s all yours now—eat to your heart’s content! If this isn’t enough, I’ll take you straight to their lair for a feast!”

  Xiaoxiao’s eyes sparkled with joy. “Mmm!!”

  In an instant, it spread its mouth wide, unleashing a torrent of writhing tentacles that surged like a tidal wave toward the fleeing hunters.

  The moment they were ensnared, they were tossed straight into its mouth—crunch!—crispy, with a hint of chicken flavor.

  “Mmm—so delicious! The meaty aroma—paired with a crunchy metallic texture—too good!”

  Xiaoxiao (???) trembled with joy.

  Ding! Xiaoxiao ate a hunter. Its affection for you has increased by 1.

  Ding! Xiaoxiao ate another hunter. Its affection for you has increased by 1.

  In no time, Ghost Alley had turned into a paradise for a ravenous feast.

  The surviving hunters shrieked in panic, scattering like headless chickens as they fled alongside the Mecha-Fiend.

  Some, however, were too bold for their own good—one of them swung a blade at Xiaoxiao’s nose.

  Clang!

  The blade shattered.

  Crunch. Crunch.

  Xiaoxiao cheerfully (t t) slurped up another one, overjoyed by the experience of being treated so generously by its beloved doctor.

  Not a single scrap would be wasted.

  For the first time since Uncle Unicorn, someone was actually feeding it like this.

  Meanwhile, in the broadcast, as the scene unfolded before their eyes, all the spectators went (ΩДΩ) in shock.

  “As expected! That Root-tier Headhunter really was summoned by Lynn!”

  “I never thought I’d get to witness a Root-tier monster eating in my lifetime! I… I can die happy now!”

  “It’s just… just like watching a person casually munching on popcorn… This is unreal…”

  “Wait a minute, do you guys remember how those three Headhunters ravaged our entire sector a while ago but completely ignored Ghost Alley? Could it be…”

  “…Could it be because of that apprentice named Lynn?!”

  The realization hit them like a bolt of lightning.

  That’s right. That explained everything!

  If it weren’t for Lynn living in Ghost Alley, they… they would’ve been slaughtered by now.

  Then, as their eyes returned to the screen, they were struck dumb once more.

  On the screen—

  The massive Headhunter extended a single tentacle, wrapped it around Lynn’s waist, and lifted him onto its head. Then, with a gleeful (*?＞?＜?)? bounce, it hopped off to hunt down the fleeing prey.

  “WTF (ΩДΩ)!!”

  “No way! That Root-tier Headhunter just… let him ride it?!”

  “What kind of relationship do they have?! There’s no way they just know each other!”

  “My worldview is breaking!! He’s probably the first human in history to ride a Root-tier monster!”

  “A Root Knight!!”

  The entire audience was trembling in disbelief.

  It was as if a world-famous loli queen had suddenly descended upon their shabby little town, turned to their dumbass neighbor’s kid, and said—

  ‘Here, ride me.’

  How were they supposed to process this?!