CHAPTER 47: GLEAMING CRUCIAL INFORMATION

Ray’s fist looked laughably small compared to the RuneBear’s claws, like a fragile egg about to be crushed between two titanic boulders.

Without needing an explanation, the onlookers believed Ray’s fist was about to be shredded apart, followed by his entire body, but what played out before their eyes in the very next instant was the complete opposite of their expectations.

"Holy heavens, did that really just happen?"

Their eyes widened beyond the size of saucers, almost popping out of their sockets in a comical fashion, and their jaws nearly dropped to touch the ground as they watch a fiery torrent burst forth from Ray’s knuckles just as the RuneBear’s claws were about to sink into his flesh.

Fwoooosh!

Like a ragdoll manhandled by a deranged child, the RuneBear was engulfed in flames and hurled backward with terrifying force.

Craaaash!

The RuneBear was like a kite cut loose as it shattered through trees before tumbling across the ground like a gourd knocked loose, its burning, spinning figure only stopping after smashing into a massive boulder, where it lay plastered against the stone as smoke rose from its charred fur and its flesh sizzled under the intense flames cooking it alive.

"Still not dead?" Ray haven’t received a notification from his system confirming its dead, since he believed in the system’s judgement when it came to these things, he accepted that it was alive despite the brutal damage he had dealt to it. The vitality of a RuneBear was really ridiculous. "Take this!"

He conjured a Level 2 fireball before directing it to explode on the RuneBear’s head. The RuneBear’s head was melted away by the resulting explosion.

♦️ You have killed a RuneBear. You have gained +15000 EXP.

♦️ You have gained an additional +10000 EXP for killing a being an entire major realm above you.

Ray exhaled, then calmly snapped his fingers, snuffing out the flames still licking at the corpse.

He didn’t want the valuable materials ruined.

The RuneBear’s body was a treasure trove, after all.

Its stone-like hide was etched with runic lines, meaning it was a material that could be used in the formation of enchanted weapons, armors, and other types of equipment. Even a small piece of it could sell for a gold coin or two. Considering how much there was, just from selling its runic hide alone, he could earn dozens of gold coins, which was enough to recover the money he had given away to purchase his enchanted bronze rank armor and gauntlets.

"Fighting bronze-ranked demonic creatures is leagues harder than facing their weaker counterparts, but the rewards are just as immense," Ray thought to himself.

Behind Ray, Mabo’s entire team stood frozen, their expressions painted with awe.

"The RuneBear that can singlehandedly wipe out entire teams of iron tamers was defeated by two moves? Are we dreaming?"

"Ouch! What did you pinch me for?"

"Since you can feel pain, it means we’re wide awake. This isn’t a dream."

"You could have used a gentler method."

"Stop complaining or I’ll hit you even though you’re the team leader."

"Tch! So fearsome. That’s why you’re still single, Lucy."

The jab struck Lucy’s sore point, and her expression crumbled instantly.

"What did you say?" she asked dangerously.

"Did I say anything? You must be hearing things,* Mabo tried to act ignorant, but it didn’t work.

Smack!

Lucy’s fist came down without mercy, and a massive bump sprouted on Mabo’s head like a mushroom after rain.

With his backs turned to them, Ray smiled at their shenanigans.

The next moment, he picked up on their misunderstanding.

"He took out the fearsome RuneBear so easily... He must be a baron at least."

They had mistaken him for a Baron.

The reason Mabo and his team thought that way stemmed from their knowledge about silver ranked tamers.

The soul quality of silver ranked tamers was so high that their magic power mutate, liquefying into soul power.

The properties of soul power were vastly superior compared to magic power.

Skills fueled by soul power carried devastating might, enough to easily tear through the defenses of bronze-ranked beings.

On the other hand, skills charged with only magic power couldn’t usually achieve the same result.

Since Ray was able to defeat a runic beast with his skill in seconds, they believed the use of soul power was involved and that he was a silver rank tamer, a baron of the kingdom.

Of course, they were far from the truth.

The truth was simple though.

Ray’s skills, after being upgraded to level 2, had become terrifying. Too terrifying, rivaling skills used by silver rank tamers. If a bronze-rank beast charged in recklessly, death was the only possible outcome.

Ray didn’t clear up their misunderstanding.

"We were saved by a baron? Damn, we’re lucky." Lucy’s heart fluttered, feeling like a princess rescued by a knight clad in silver armor.

That so-called knight turned towards them with his head held high, gaze unreadable, and posture radiating confidence. He strode towards them in long, unhurried steps without saying a word.

"He’s coming towards us."

"Let’s thank him."

As Ray neared them, they bowed respectfully to him.

"Thank you for saving our lives," they said in unison.

"You’re welcome," Ray replied casually.

Lucy elbowed Mabo in the side, reminding him of the grave mistake he had made not too long ago.

Mabo scratched his head awkwardly as his gaze turned to Ray. "I apologize for calling you a fool earlier. Please forgive me."

"You did it in the heat of the moment. I can understand that, so I forgive you," Ray said calmly.

"Thank you for being merciful, friend," Mabo replied with visible relief painting his face. "We would like to repay your life-saving grace. This is a token of our gratitude. You can use it to request our guild’s help once. Just crush it when you’re in or near the kingdom, and a representative from our guild will come to assist you." Mabo handed him an intricate black-gold token.