#024. Hatred and Rage (1)
Thud──!
Cedric's fist stopped.
Right in front of Ray's face.
Ray's hand, which had shot up from below, gripped Cedric's wrist.
“Fuck──! Let go──!”
Cedric’s eyes were bloodshot.
He gritted his teeth, veins bulging as he strained to push his fist forward.
But his body merely trembled—he couldn’t break free from Ray’s grasp.
“You fucking bastard──! I’ll kill you──! I’ll slaughter you──!”
To Cedric, it no longer mattered who stood before him.
His sole purpose was to obliterate anything blocking his path.
“Uaaaah────!”
A roar erupted as change swept through him.
The red mana flowing from his ring to his heart accelerated, its thickness doubling.
Thud.
A surge of enhanced strength traveled through the arm Ray held.
…Danger.
Instincts screamed warnings.
Ray yanked his body sideways and released Cedric’s arm.
Whoosh───!
The freed fist tore through the air and smashed into the container wall.
Boom──!
The entire structure shuddered.
The impact site crumpled inward, forming a deep dent.
A fraction more force would have torn the metal clean off.
Cedric withdrew his fist.
Blood coated his knuckles, but he paid it no mind.
“Dodged? You dodged? Wait—Ray?!”
A feverish glint flickered in his pupils.
His body jerked erratically, like a man overdosing on stimulants.
“…….”
Ray studied the ring.
The red mana’s ferocity had dampened slightly, likely after Cedric’s outburst.
Yet it remained far more volatile than normal.
“What? Why’d you come? Ah! Here to fight me early? That it?”
Cedric’s sanity had clearly eroded.
『Atmospheric mana is raw. Prolonged use causes addiction.』
Mana addiction.
The ring’s power had devoured him, filling body and mind with pure rage.
Only refined mana from a ‘true ring’ could be safely channeled.
“So impatient! Our duel’s in two days! Couldn’t wait, huh? Fight now? Here? Huh?”
Ray kept his guard raised.
Cedric could snap at any moment.
A glance sideways revealed Philip sprawled on the ground, wheezing.
Blood speckled the floor around him.
“Ugh… hhk…”
Philip had curled into a protective ball, shielding vital areas—a small mercy.
But the pain must have been excruciating.
No ordinary person could endure magically enhanced brutality.
Ray’s attention returned to the ring.
‘The gem’s size matches the ones from the basement.’
Yet its mana density differed.
Though unclear why, the mana’s hue burned brighter than before—as if the ring had matured on Cedric’s finger.
“I didn’t come to fight. Heard the noise. Why do this to Philip?”
Cedric’s eyes widened at the name.
“Huh? You know this runt? He crawled to you too? Offered some shady deal? Right? Right?!”
His manic laughter cut through the air.
The red mana flared violently between ring and heart.
“All you weaklings do is leech off the strong! Fucking maggot! Never change!”
Cedric whirled toward Philip, foot rearing back for a kick.
Whoosh──!
Ray’s fist shot toward Cedric’s face in the same instant.
Thud──!
Cedric’s palm intercepted the blow.
Their locked limbs trembled from the strain.
“Fuck! Not here to fight? Then scram! None of your business!”
“Planning to kill Philip? Explain why first.”
The boys glared, muscles quivering as they wrestled.
“Why? This vermin trespassed in my sector! Death’s the penalty!”
“That’s not Sector 49’s rule. Beatings, yes—but not this. Philip’s no fighter.”
“Outsider brat!”
Thud──!
Cedric violently shook off Ray’s fist, creating distance.
“Haa… Cocky shit. Haa… Fucking cocky shit.”
Ragged breaths.
Swollen blood vessels in his eyes.
Proof of overstimulation.
“You’ve no right to execute Philip without cause.”
“Cause?! You want cause?!”
Kwa-rrrumble──!
Thunder shook the world, drowning Cedric’s words as it rattled the container.
“—Disgusting! Weaklings make me sick! I’ll slaughter every last one!”
Thud! Splat! Thud!
Heavy raindrops hammered the container’s exterior.
Ray shifted to block Philip from view.
“You hate the weak?”
“Yeah. Makes me puke. Now move. Before I gut you too.”
Cedric gnashed his teeth.
Ray stood firm, expression calm.
The murderous intent felt genuine.
‘Problematic.’
Business partner loyalty?
Such concepts held little meaning for him.
But Philip had provided useful intel—debts required repayment.
Rules were rules.
Moreover, Philip’s connections could prove valuable in Sector 49.
Ray recalled their earlier conversation:
『You have betting here too?』
『What, like wagering on fights? Obviously.』
Gambling on brawls was street culture 101.
Given Cedric’s reputation, spectators would flock to their duel.
Most bets would favor the established Sector champion over an outsider.
Ray planned to stake everything on himself.
Victory meant claiming the entire pot—funds to fuel his vengeance.
Larger bets meant higher returns.
Hence needing Philip alive to manage the logistics.
‘Can’t let Cedric get badly injured either.’
Any duel cancellation or reduced betting odds would ruin everything.
Conclusion: drive Cedric off without inflicting major harm.
But the enraged boy moved faster and hit harder than before.
Subduing him unscathed seemed impossible.
Clink.
Something shifted in Ray’s coat—the red gems from the basement.
Their power could turn the tide, but…
“…….”
He preferred to consult the old man about potential side effects first.
“Move.”
Cedric’s growl refocused him.
“Hating weakness is your right.”
“I said MOVE! Before I cripple you!”
“But that’s no excuse for this brutality.”
“MOOOOVE──!”
The red mana swelled again.
Cedric stomped closer, closing the gap.
“Gotta make an example! Kill the intruder! Show everyone not to cross me!”
Example.
A spark ignited in Ray’s mind.
“Overlooked something. There’s a better way to make examples.”
“What?”
Cedric halted.
“A superior method. If you want maximum impact.”
Ray dug through memories—their first meeting at the abandoned factory.
Cedric bullying underlings to prove dominance.
“You want to showcase your strength, right?”
“No tricks. Last warning. Move.”
Despite the threat, Cedric’s momentum faltered.
The curiosity was undeniable.
“Killing Philip here? Where no one sees? What’s the point?”
“…….”
“I’d do it publicly. Kill or maim. Let everyone witness. More effective.”
The rage began receding.
Sanity trickled back.
“…….”
Cedric felt no fear of consequences—other gangs turning hostile, murder rumors.
He’d crush all resistance eventually anyway.
But Ray’s words held truth.
‘Public executions leave deeper marks.’
Imagine their terrified faces.
The fantasy sent pleasurable shivers through Cedric.
“…Not a bad idea.”
“Right? The duel’s perfect—every Sector heavy will be there.”
Defeating Ray, claiming him as subordinate, then executing Philip—a glorious display of dominance.
Cedric grinned.
“Solid plan. But what if this rat flees afterward?”
“He won’t. I’ll take responsibility.”
“Your responsibility.”
“Yes. Though Philip’s execution requires defeating me first.”
Ray monitored the weakening mana connection.
Cedric finally shrugged.
“Fine. You don’t seem the backstabbing type.”
“Wise choice.”
“But if he escapes, you die. No second chances.”
Ray nodded.
Cedric shot a final glare before heading for the exit.
Squeak──
Rainstorm noises flooded in as the door opened.
Whoooosh───
Through the downpour, Cedric vanished into scrap metal shadows with his crew.
Ray immediately knelt by Philip.
“Can you speak?”
“Hhhgh…”
Philip couldn’t rise.
Cold sweat drenched his trembling form as pained whimpers escaped.
First aid cleared blood from his mouth, but the shaking persisted.
‘Worse than expected.’
Ray’s mind raced.
Philip needed proper care—something Ray couldn’t provide.
‘If only I could use white mana.’
Memories surfaced of Veronica healing wounds with it.
The bookstore? Too far, and she lacked a ring to safely channel mana.
The hotel was closer.
With black rain falling, all residents would’ve returned.
Two hundred kids meant someone there had medical knowledge.
Decision made, Ray removed his coat and draped it over Philip.
The boy’s own jacket hung in shreds.
Hoisting Philip onto his back, Ray plunged into the storm.
Whoooosh──
Through the murky curtain of rain, two figures blurred into the gloom.
