Chapter 24 - 24: Ambush

"Come on, don't pout like that" Rhash said while chuckling. His little gem is really cute. Where else would you see a kid that would deeply pout just because they can't carry you in their arms?

"Big Brother don't like me anymore" Reif sulked and Rhash can't help but pinch Reif's cheeks that now has more meat than months ago

"How can that be? Big Brother will always like you!"

Those words made Reif felt like he just experienced the most beautiful spring but he was still sulking

"Big Brother don't want me to carry him. Big Brother don't like me anymore" Reif continued

His childish side was showing itself again yet his right hand was dragging the corpse of a beetle that is several meters big

The contrast between his actions and expressions to the thing in his hand makes people unable to know whether they should cry or laugh

Even Rhash is in the same state and he can only give Reif a kiss on the cheeks. Rhash's soft lips made contact with Reif's soft cheeks that makes both of their hearts happy

Their point of contact felt particularly hot and Reif had an illusion as if he gained ten times more power than he originally has

Rhash's kiss turned into an energy drink for the dispirited Reif. He can already drag the beetle with his hand easily but now, Reif felt that the giant beetle doesn't have any weight at all.

If this is an anime, Rhash would surely see flowers blossoming around Reif due to the kid's lifted mood

Seeing that, Rhash shook his head with a smile. The kid with him is too simple. A simple kiss alone is enough for Reif to be in a good mood

"We'll have a feast later for Reif's good work, alright?"

Reif nodded his head at that. He doesn't really care about eating a lot of foods but he also likes seeing Rhash eating. Although human food is simply a form of enjoyment for Rhash and not really something that he should do to fill his stomach

Still, Reif sees how happy Rhash becomes whenever he is eating tasty foods

After all, Rhash is extremely poor back on earth. His aunt doesn't give him palatable foods and when he lived alone, he can only buy the cheapest food which doesn't taste good at all to save as much money as he can

Only in this world can Rhash eat such delicacies

After messing around with each other, they sped up their pace. Since the beetle is still bleeding, they need to move fast and exit the forest

However, they haven't run that long when Rhash sensed another danger

In his peripheral vision, he saw an arrow flying in the air and its target was Reif

Rhash's blood boiled and adrenaline washes his body. In a speed he originally doesn't have, Rhash pushed Reif in the chest

The force in his hand was enough to throw the kid several meters away. As a result, the arrow that should hit Reif penetrated the already injured Rhash's chest

Their ambusher might have targeted Reif since Rhash looks weaker after he got injured

A sharp pain traveled from Rhash's chest into his whole body. His mind matured a lot after entering this world but he is still not used to severe pain like this

That is a weakness of Rhash. Even back when they fought the beetle, the pain from being hit rendered his fighting power to almost zero

"Damn, I let my guard down!" Rhash can't help but cursed. Although his common sense enabled him to know the things he should do in a fantasy world, he still doesn't have much experience

When he was messing with Reif earlier, he let down his guard. Even when they start running, Rhash's guard was still not as active as when they just entered the forest

"Oh, what a noble sacrifice!" A familiar voice entered Rhash's ears and when he turned to look at the source, he saw a woman he badly wants to kill

It was none other than Milleth Rob!

Seems like the death of her comrades didn't stop her from wanting to take revenge

She was only accompanied by seven gangsters this time but they have confidence since Rhash is already hit by an arrow in the chest. He was almost as good as a dead

That might be the case for humans with a normal body but Rhash is different. Injuries like this were still not heavy injuries for him. It was only the severe pain that is affecting him

"Big Brother!" Reif called out worriedly. Before Milleth and the others even rejoiced, a field with heavy gravity already spreads around

Reif's aura exploded and Milleth's side felt like they were being suppressed. They can't believe that a single kid alone was putting too much pressure in their bodies

This is unbelievable! All of them are veteran adventurers already. Even adventurers that were one rank above them should not make them feel this suppressed!

"I-I'm fine, k-kill them!" Rhash said through gritted teeth before using his hand to pull out the arrow causing a gush of blood to leak out from his chest

The enemies thought that he was too stupid and inexperienced. After all, it was common knowledge for the adventurers to not lightly take a weapon that penetrated their body as that weapon is preventing them to lose more blood

But they didn't know how special Rhash's body was. It would benefit him more if he took out the weapon so that his body can start the healing process

"All of you deserve to die!" Reif said hatefully and the already strong gravitational pressure became even stronger

The ambushers were forced into their knees aside from Milleth that has stronger power than them

These ambushers have roughly the same power as the ones that tried to kill Reif and Rhash last night

The only reason why these people even tried to kill the two was thanks to the element of surprise that put Rhash on the 'brink of death'

"D-damn it!" Milleth cursed after seeing how her allies were kneeling into the ground thanks to the gravitational pressure

However, Reif didn't give her much time to curse. In a flash, Reif appeared in front of Milleth and he punched her in the stomach

Last night, Reif felt some pity for this woman but all of that pity vanishes when they hurt the most important person in his life

Reif doesn't even care if Milleth is a girl, he won't let anyone hurt Rhash!

Milleth was thrown several meters away. Reif's punch was not simple since it was infused with gravitational power and Millet let out a jet of fresh blood

"L-leave her first, k-kill the others!" Rhash gave his order while he weakly stood up from the ground

Rhash's chest still hurts but he doesn't like this outcome

Rhash already knew how much stronger Reif can become in the future and he was readying himself for that

However, Rhash thought that it would be a very long time before his power would pale in comparison to the power that Reif has

But from how things look, it seems like Rhash is already falling behind. Reif almost solo killed the giant metal skin beetle

And now, Reif is also the only one fighting their ambushers. Rhash is unwilling to become a mere flower that Reif would protect

To prevent that from happening, Rhash needs to conquer his own weakness. He completely ignored the severe pain in his chest and conjured crimson fires in his hand

Milleth as a veteran was already standing up from the ground. Despite the painful internal injuries she sustained, Milleth still decided to fight because she knows that if she doesn't, today would be the day of her death

"You brats, I won't forgive you!" Milleth said angrily, completely forgetting the fact that it was her to tried to harm the kids first

"And you think I would?!" Rhash barked back angrily. His fury is not just because of Milleth's actions in this timeline, Rhash is also angry because this woman greatly harmed Reif in the original timeline

Rhash absolutely would not forgive this bitch!

In anger, Rhash waved his hand in the air, and tongues of flames swept the area. Milleth also has some power as she made a rising gesture with her hands

An earthen wall immediately grew from the ground the flames slammed on it. Rhash's attack was unable to hurt Milleth and the woman even slammed her palm into the earth wall

The wall crumbled down into smaller pieces that turned into projectiles

A bloody aura appeared in Rhash's body once more and he either punches or kicked the earthen projectiles. The impact from his attacks even sent the projectiles back to their maker

However, Milleth moves at a fast speed and her presence seems to vanish. If this is an RPG game, Milleth would be a thief, and to prove that, she blended her body into the trees around

Even Rhash can't easily sense her even though he can create attacks as powerful as a D rank attack and Milleth is just an E Rank adventurer

This was an example that a person's ability is not only measured by their rank

C ranks might have the power to collapse a whole mountain but there are lower-ranking adventurers that can hide their presence even when fighting a B Rank adventure