NOVEL NEXT 66 First Kill [2]
Chapter - 66
Gruff charged towards Rick and the girl, his massive frame causing the ground to tremble with each powerful step. His intentions were crystal clear - he intended to punish Rick severely for daring to defy his master.
As Gruff rapidly closed the gap between them, an intense and palpable tension hung in the air. The forest itself seemed to hold its breath in anticipation of the impending clash.
Rick, with the girl seeking refuge behind him, prepared himself for the inevitable confrontation. He understood that he had to shield her at any cost. After all, the girl held significant value, worth a hundred thousand Ero Points. If any harm were to befall her now, particularly with all the chaos he had stirred up, making enemies left and right, he might as well just find a handful of water and drown himself.
But jokes aside, fear gripped Rick's heart as the impending danger closed in. His pulse quickened, and uncertainty chipped away at the edges of his confidence. This marked his first physical altercation since obtaining the Lust system, and in fact, it might have been his very first such encounter in his life. His hopes had dwindled significantly since acquiring the system.
As he reached Rick and the girl, his colossal fist sliced through the air, like a battering ram zeroing in on Rick's chest. Rage twisted Gruff's face, and he channeled every ounce of his formidable strength into the punch.
And then, as if out of thin air, a wooden shield appeared in Rick's hand, materializing as if summoned by some unseen force. Gruff's eyes widened, a mixture of surprise and confusion filling them. He couldn't fathom where the shield had come from.
Gruff didn't have time for a brain workout; he just bulldozed forward with zero hesitation. Without a second thought or a glimpse of shield-related wonderment, pressed forward with stubborn resolve. With a triumphant roar, he lunged ahead, his arm coiled like a spring ready to unleash a punch that could turn bones into breadcrumbs. His muscles strained like an overburdened shopping bag, and he was all set to release a world-shaking punch. This was pure fury-driven, brute-force madness.
Time seemed to slow to a crawl as Gruff's massive fist hurtled towards Rick's chest. Rick stared at the wooden shield in his hand, with anxiety doing the tango in his mind. The shield looked genuine enough, but could it actually stand up to the brute force of Gruff's attack?
And not just Rick, even the spectators were equally spellbound, all hushed and holding their breaths, as the impending collision hung in the air like a storm on the horizon.
Rick's heart pounded like a jackhammer in his chest as he clutched the shield in front of him. Anxiety and uncertainty swirled inside him like a storm. This life-or-death situation was completely unexpected, and it was his first taste of real danger since he got that strange system. He had dreamt of an easygoing life, but fate had other plans.
When Gruff's punch collided with the wooden shield, a deafening crash echoed through the forest, creating ripples of force that vibrated through the air. Rick bore the brunt of the immense pressure, the shield trembling under the ferocious impact, threatening to knock him off balance.
For a brief moment, it seemed like the wooden shield might not withstand Gruff's overwhelming force. Rick's arms trembled as he struggled to maintain his stance, a sense of desperation creeping over him. The girl, who had been cowering behind Rick, watched with wide eyes filled with terror. The unexpected guest, who initially appeared to be siding with the old man, had switched allegiances and was now attempting to protect her.
Rick prepared himself for the worst, anticipating that he would be sent flying by the sheer strength of Gruff's punch. However, much to his surprise, he didn't get knocked back as he expected. While he did feel an intense pressure pushing against him, he managed to remain firmly in place.
Rick planted his feet firmly on the ground, his muscles straining as they resisted the powerful force attempting to push him away. It was as though an invisible barrier had materialized behind him, aiding in keeping him steady. Gradually, the relentless force began to wane.
The entire clearing, from the old man and his minions to the girl and even Rick himself, stood in amazement. Rick's determination held firm as he strained to maintain his position, the wooden shield quivering in his grasp.
Gruff, initially confident that his punch would shatter the shield and send Rick flying, stood frozen in utter disbelief. He found himself caught in an inexplicable standoff, his eyes darting between the shield, Rick, and the bewildered onlookers. It was as if the laws of nature had momentarily been suspended, creating a surreal and tense atmosphere.
Before long, one of Gruff's fellow minions, a wiry man with a sinister grin, couldn't contain his astonishment any longer. He pointed a mocking finger at Gruff and burst into a loud, mocking laughter.
"Look at that, folks! Gruff, the tough guy, can't even punch through a simple wooden shield! What a laugh!" the wiry minion taunted, his laughter ringing out across the clearing.
The others couldn't resist joining in, their laughter sharp and mocking. They teased Gruff mercilessly, openly ridiculing his failed attempt. Even the girl, who had been terrified just moments ago, couldn't help but crack a smirk at Gruff's expense.
"Gruff, maybe you should stick to hitting chickens! You can't even push around a kid," another minion chimed in, earning more laughter from the group.
Gruff's face burned with embarrassment as he clenched his fists in frustration. Once the embodiment of brute strength, he now found himself the target of their mockery.
Rick, his grip steady on the wooden shield, couldn't help but feel a surge of triumph. Not only had he successfully thwarted Gruff's punch, but he had also turned the tables, making their adversaries the laughingstock.
The taunting and jeering grew even louder, and soon, the entire group of minions joined in the mockery. They reveled in Gruff's predicament, their amusement evident as they witnessed their typically imposing companion struggling to budge Rick.
Gruff's face turned into a deep crimson hue, partly from exertion and partly from shame. His fists clenched, and he redoubled his efforts, hell-bent on proving them all wrong. However, no matter how forcefully he pushed, Rick remained an immovable force, and it seemed like an invisible barrier thwarted his every attempt.
In the midst of this spectacle, the girl watched with wide-eyed wonder, her astonishment growing as she witnessed the inexplicable phenomenon unfolding right before her eyes. Once again, she had been saved from harm, thanks to Rick's resilience and the enigmatic powers at play. suddenly the coldness on her face began to fade and gratitude began to fill her heart.
As Gruff's fellow minions relentlessly mocked him, his fury intensified, and rationality slipped from his grasp like sand slipping through clenched fists. Humiliation had transformed into a seething rage. The humiliation he had endured had pushed him past the point of caring about the consequences. Consequences be damned, Gruff no longer cared whether Rick lived or died. He thirsted for vengeance, to pummel Rick and make him pay for the shame he had experienced. His boss's commands, and the old man's orders, no longer held any sway over him. All that mattered now was pounding Rick into oblivion.
With a primal roar, Gruff surged forward, his fists a whirlwind of fury as he unleashed a barrage of punches directed at Rick's head and chest. His knuckles collided with the wooden shield with bone-shattering force, each impact sending tremors through Rick's body. Gruff's strikes rained down rapidly and relentlessly, each blow intended to inflict severe harm or even death.
Rick, in contrast, strained to maintain the stability of the shield, his arms bearing the brunt of the onslaught. He had never faced something like this before, but even then it felt on entirely different beast. Gruff's unrelenting assault allowed him little room to retaliate or even catch a moment's respite.
The clash of flesh against wood echoed loudly through the forest as Gruff's fists met the wooden shield. Each strike sent waves of agony, pain rippling through Rick's body, yet he refused to yield. Surrendering to Gruff's relentless fury would undoubtedly lead to his certain downfall.
As the brawl raged on, emotions ran high on both sides. Gruff's seething rage was palpable, driving his punches to become increasingly wild and merciless. He was determined to make Rick pay for the humiliation he had suffered and was prepared to do whatever it took to achieve that goal.
The clearing was a cauldron of intense emotions. Gruff's face twisted into a grotesque mask of rage, his eyes ablaze with manic fervor. He had surrendered reason to the overwhelming urge to inflict pain and torment upon Rick.
The surrounding forest seemed to fade into the background as the two combatants engaged in a savage ballet of strikes and defenses. Gruff's fists hammered the wooden shield with a relentless tempo, creating a symphony of violence that reverberated through the trees.
Each blow carried the weight of Gruff's pent-up anger and frustration, as if he believed that by breaking through the shield, he could salvage his wounded pride. Yet Rick held his ground, his arms throbbing with exhaustion but his resolve unshaken.
Time lost its meaning as the battle raged on. Rick's muscles protested vehemently as he fought to maintain his defense. The wooden shield groaned under the unrelenting onslaught, but it refused to yield.
The girl, witnessing the horror unfold before her, felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude toward Rick's unwavering bravery. This stranger had repeatedly shielded her from harm, defying everyone against her.
Meanwhile, the old man, observed the chaotic spectacle with a malevolent grin. It was a sadistic pleasure that fed his twisted desires.
"About time this worthless punk did something decent," the old man remarked, nodding as he watched Gruff seemingly dominate the boy.
However, as the minutes dragged on, the old man's wicked grin transformed into a scowl of annoyance.
"What is this useless thing doing? Is this some reality show?"
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[A/N: Do vote, leave a comment, send me golden tickets and bring up some gifts.]