The Discarded Son's Skill Market
Chapter 37: Familiar face

Chapter 37: Familiar face

Alice watched him fight goblins and a few zombies and was amazed by his combat efficiency. His strikes were remarkably powerful—they relied more on technique than brute strength, which made them highly effective at neutralizing multiple enemies.

Not only did he strike with force, but he also struck with precision thanks to the Soft Martial Arts, and he managed to avoid taking damage.

She boldly capitalized on his efficiency and rapidly closed the gap between her current level and the next one.

In about 8 hours, she was only a few beasts short.

"I thought you were better with daggers, but this efficiency with your fists is impressive," Alice praised.

Zaid shook his head. "I’m better with daggers. My boxing moves are really clumsy."

"Are you kidding? You did an amazing job!"

They were walking through the woods and the ruins of an ancient village that had been founded during the early years of the apocalypse but had later been overrun by beasts. There were traces of some destroyed structures—walls and small houses.

"There’s so much destruction here." Zaid looked at the collapsed houses. They didn’t appear to have been built within the last 10 years.

The corrupt essence had eaten away at all their foundations.

’How dangerous is for ordinary humans.’

"Is it true that the people from this place disappeared without a trace?" Alice asked, crouching down to look at the rubble of what was left of a house. A fight must have brought it down.

"Yes. When the beasts started appearing all over the place in this area, the big city sent powerful hunters. However, what they found were beasts that were also searching for their prey, since there was no one here."

"Wow... That’s a little scary."

"What’s most frightening is that no logical explanation has been found. Some believe that someone or something abducted them... ’Aliens,’ say others?" Zaid laughed at that theory. Although it was plausible. "The truth is, that’s not the only thing that has disappeared like that."

"I remember Professor Robinson saying that the beasts in that forest also disappeared without a trace."

Zaid nodded. That was what reinforced the belief in the theory that they had been aliens, since neither case left any traces.

And since then, there have been more isolated cases...

Zaid frowned and placed a hand on Alice’s shoulder to pull her behind him. "Don’t reveal who I am," he whispered to her.

She didn’t understand what he was saying. But a few minutes later, the dry branches on the ground began to crackle as someone stepped on them. A group of people emerged from among the trees, chatting.

"Young sir, your leveling progress so far has been magnificent. Why stop now? That’s such a shame—we still have more than 12 hours left."

"That’s true. One more level and you’ll reach Level 9. Now’s the time to really push forward!"

Three men were trying to convince another to change his mind about leaving at this point.

However, the young man walking in the middle was determined.

"Say no more. It’s true that we still have some time, but preparing for an academic test isn’t just about leveling up. There’s also preparation that takes place in the field," the young man replied.

His subordinates sighed. They wanted to tell him that they could try to speed things up, but just then they had to stop.

’Luke Shawn.’ Zaid moved his hand to his lower back and clenched it. His dagger appeared in his hand.

Alice unconsciously took a step back.

Luke Shawn’s eyes lit up the moment he saw her.

He flashed his best smile. "Miss Alice, it’s been a while. What brings you here?" He tried to step closer, completely ignoring the man in the mask.

At the same time, Alice took another step back.

"I... I’ve been fine." Alice tried to smile, too, though her fear or trauma got the better of her. "I-I’m trying to level up. So, see you later." She tried to step aside and walk away with Zaid, but Luke ignored her attempts.

He raised his hand to grab her.

Thud!

Zaid grabbed him just before he could do it. The two of them struggled for a moment, until Zaid managed to push him back.

"You... Who the hell are you, and why are you meddling in my business?" Luke roared.

Luke’s three subordinates stepped forward at that moment. "Who do you think you are, grabbing our Young Master like that? Do you want to die?!"

Zaid looked at them and brought Alice behind him.

"Young sir..." Zaid made his voice sound hoarser than usual, altering it as much as he could. "I don’t know who you are, but I ask that you please not bother my client, or I’ll be forced to take action."

"Who do you think you are?!" One of those three subordinates couldn’t stand such audacity. He was the weakest, the most hot-headed. He drew the sword at his waist and lunged at Zaid. "Get out of my Young Master’s way!"

No one moved to stop him, and the sword came down vertically, straight at Zaid’s head.

Zaid stared intently at the man’s strength and power. ’E-rank, early levels.’ He guessed it with certainty.

He smiled beneath his mask and raised his right hand.

"That guy... isn’t he going to dodge?"

"He tried to grab it with his hand... Shit, I got scared because I thought he was an expert—with that mask and the strength to hold his own against my young master—but it turned out he was just an idiot."

The attacker smiled broadly when he realized he had won.

The sword then struck. He didn’t pull his hand back—it was going to cut it off, and then go for his head!

CLANK!

The sound of metal striking metal rang louder in the attacker’s ears than in the defender’s.

The sword remained firmly lodged in the defender’s hand for several seconds before Zaid shook his hand free and sent his attacker flying backward with a kick to the chest.

Everyone was stunned. Even Alice.

"Young sir, I don’t like unnecessary fights... but I’m not afraid of you if you all want to come at me," he said emphatically.

The attacker, who had been rolling on the ground, jumped to his feet. "Who do you think you are?!" he roared again, ready to lunge forward.

But suddenly, Luke slapped him.

"Huh? Y-young man..." He looked at Luke, stunned.

Luke cut him off. "The major has already said he doesn’t like unnecessary fights. Why do you want to pick a fight with him?" Luke asked fiercely.