Chapter 60: Ridiculously effective!

"Once Ray has made up his mind, not even nine bulls could drag him back. If we push him too far, he’ll become fiercely possessive. After that, none of us will even get close enough to touch her."

Something shifted in Ace’s eyes, the storm of emotions gradually settling beneath his expression.

He turned toward Theo.

"So you’re saying we should just accept it?"

"Accept my ass."

Theo straightened and dusted the dirt from his hands, a strangely obsessive determination gleaming in his eyes.

"Accepting his claim doesn’t mean admitting defeat. Let him have the advantage in public. We can compete with him behind the scenes."

"As long as we don’t make him suspicious, there will always be opportunities for each of us to rely on our own abilities. If we fall out with him right now, his possessiveness will kick in, and he’ll hide her away so thoroughly that we won’t even get a chance."

Mitch gritted his teeth, clearly unwilling to concede, but his clenched fist slowly relaxed.

"Damn it. That bastard really got lucky!"

Alex rose from the ground and brushed the dust off his pants. His puppy-like eyes blinked innocently, though a sly glimmer flashed through them.

"Theo is right. Ray definitely won’t be able to keep up forever. We can just outlast him."

Little did they know that Ray’s stamina was nowhere near as questionable as they imagined.

"Alex, shut up!" Mitch cursed at him, but the anger in his voice had noticeably diminished.

The men exchanged looks. No one said another word.

A distinctly sour atmosphere settled over the group, somehow stronger than the musty smell permeating the air-raid shelter.

"Get back to work." Theo picked up the crowbar and headed toward the pile of rubble without looking back. "The sooner we clear the passage, the sooner we can get inside. Whatever happens, we’re getting our revenge!"

The moment he said it, Mitch and Ace’s eyes lit up.

"Damn right! We’re getting our revenge!"

Even if Ray had already gotten the main course, surely the rest of them could at least have a taste of the leftovers, right?

...

A sharp electronic chime suddenly rang inside May’s mind.

[Ding! The system has detected that the host and target Ray have achieved a deep, ultimate bond. Affection has exceeded the current level limit!]

[Congratulations, Host! You have unlocked two epic-level items: ’Domineering Man Recovery Spray’ ×1 and ’Body Repair Potion—Female Version’ ×1.]

[Instructions: The item can immediately repair injuries anywhere on the host’s body. You know what that means.]

May lay curled up in Ray’s arms, every bone in her body feeling strangely weak.

She bit her lip and pulled out the bottle of spray, her fingers trembling so badly she nearly dropped it.

"Ray, you’re injured. Try spraying some of this on your leg."

He turned his face slightly. In the darkness, she could only make out the sharp outline of his jaw. His Adam’s apple moved.

"Okay..."

May’s own voice was hoarse, softened by exhaustion. She pressed down on the nozzle, and a fine mist settled over the ugly wound high on Ray’s thigh.

The effect was almost instantaneous. The torn flesh visibly began drawing together. The dark blood crust peeled away as fresh muscle fibers rapidly regenerated beneath it.

In less than thirty seconds, the wound that had nearly crippled his leg had been reduced to nothing more than a faint pink mark.

Ray lowered his head and examined it before flexing his right leg twice. The sensation of strength flooding back into his body transformed him completely.

Only moments ago, he had been battered and exhausted, leaning against the wall while struggling to catch his breath.

Now he straightened his back. His shoulders broadened, his posture becoming imposing once again, and that familiar aura of danger returned in full force.

"This stuff... actually works." He clenched his fist.

"Of course it does. It’s limited edition."

May nestled against him and shifted slightly, her voice carrying a hint of helpless, coquettish complaint.

"I can barely even walk right now..."

She didn’t finish. Ray’s hand had already settled over her knee, giving it a light squeeze.

"Bear with it."

His voice dropped to a whisper, warm breath brushing the top of her head.

"We’ll deal with it after we get out."

May closed her eyes and buried her face against his chest, breathing in his familiar scent.

Then came a scratching sound from outside. More than one creature.

Ray’s expression instantly turned cold. His hand closed around the military bayonet. He pushed May toward the corner of the room and stood, but not before grabbing the military coat lying on the ground and wrapping it securely around her.

The iron door had already been torn apart by the skin-changing demons.

The first creature squeezed half its body through the opening. Ray kicked hard against the doorframe. Using the recoil to launch himself forward, he brought the bayonet down with brutal precision, driving it into the creature’s skull.

Black blood splattered. He planted a foot on the corpse, pulled the blade free, and turned without hesitation.

The second creature lunged in immediately behind it. Ray didn’t retreat. His left hand seized its jaw and slammed it against the wall.

At the same time, his right hand drove the bayonet sideways into its throat before twisting sharply.

The creature’s head was forced into an unnatural angle. After two violent spasms, it went still.

The third creature had only just poked half its head through the opening when it caught sight of the bodies of the first two and hesitated.

That single moment was enough. Ray was already on top of it. He grabbed a fistful of its hair and smashed its head against the iron door three times. Each impact landed with a heavy, sickening thud. The creature’s skull shattered, black blood streaming down the metal.

In less than half a minute, all three were dead.

Ray flicked the blood from his bayonet and looked back at May, who was still huddled in the corner.

Oh my God. This thing is ridiculously effective!

Wrapped in the military coat, she had only half her face and a pair of eyes visible.

Her eyes were still slightly red and watery, while the coat collar concealed most of her swollen lips.

"Let’s go."