The air crackled with tension. Lucas felt five pairs of greedy eyes fixed on him, along with Lightning Hunter's cold gaze. He knew fleeing was useless. With the open terrain and the superior numbers of his opponents, they'd catch him instantly. He was forced to fight.
"I'll give you one last chance, kid," Lightning Hunter growled, raising his rusted battle-axe. "Hand over your secret, or I'll tear you apart and search for it on your lifeless body."
Lucas didn't reply. He took a deep breath, focusing all his concentration on his palm. The star-shaped scar burned, a familiar surge of energy flowing through his veins. The Husk-Brute's memories—of sustained strength and resilience—flared. Lucas felt his muscles tense, his bones becoming incredibly solid. He didn't grow more muscular, but his body became remarkably tough, far more resistant to impact.
"Attack!" Lightning Hunter commanded.
The first two Scavengers charged, one swinging an iron pipe, the other a knife. Lucas didn't back down. He swayed, dodging the pipe with an agility he'd learned from the Spine-Crawler. At the same time, he raised his arm to block the knife strike.
CLANG!
The sound of metal hitting flesh and bone rang out. Although the Scavenger's knife was sharp, it only left a shallow scratch on Lucas's arm, not nearly as deep as it should have been. The Scavenger's eyes widened in disbelief. Lucas's skin and muscle seemed to have become much harder, absorbing the impact far better.
Lucas gave them no time to react. With unexpected speed, he twisted, using the full force absorbed from the Husk-Brute, pushing hard into the knife-wielding Scavenger's chest.
THUD!
The man flew backward, crashing into his comrade, sending both tumbling to the ground. This was no ordinary punch. It carried a raw, unnatural power, almost like a low-tier monster's strike.
Lightning Hunter frowned. "What was that?"
The remaining three became more cautious. One threw a net, another swung an iron chain. Lucas used the Bone-Eater Grub's senses, feeling the air currents and vibrations. He easily sidestepped the net and leaped over the incoming chain. His speed and agility had been greatly enhanced after days of training.
"All of you, go!" Lightning Hunter roared, charging forward himself.
He was the strongest. His battle-axe swung down with incredible force. Lucas knew he couldn't block it directly. He ducked, sliding under Lightning Hunter's swinging arm. The close proximity allowed him to act. He grabbed the man's arm, feeling every vein and joint.
"You... what are you doing?!" Lightning Hunter was caught off guard by Lucas's audacity.
Lucas poured all his sustained strength and his ability to perceive structural weaknesses from the Husk-Brute and Stone Centipede into his palm. He twisted hard, aiming for Lightning Hunter's shoulder joint.
CRACK!
A sickening dry sound echoed. Lightning Hunter roared in agony, his axe clattering to the ground. His arm hung limp and useless. Lucas had dislocated his shoulder.
The remaining Scavengers were horrified. Such a weakling, yet he could neutralize Lightning Hunter with a single move?
"What the hell was that?!" one of them backed away, his face pale.
Lucas said nothing. His eyes were cold, devoid of fear. He knew he had to end this quickly. He absorbed a bit of the Shadow Stalker's memory again, utilizing its predatory instincts. He glided past the nearest Scavenger with terrifying speed, like a blurred shadow.
The man didn't even have time to react. Lucas used his fist, now hard as stone thanks to the Husk-Brute's endurance, slamming it into the man's stomach. The Scavenger dropped to his knees, retching, and collapsed.
The last one was utterly terrified. He bolted, without a single glance back.
Lightning Hunter, clutching his dislocated shoulder with one hand, looked at Lucas with eyes filled with both hatred and fear. "You... you're a monster!" he gritted out. "No, you're not a Scavenger. You're something else!"
Lucas advanced on Lightning Hunter, looking down at him. He said nothing, only the dark green light from his palm pulsed, and his eyes held a chilling new coldness. Lightning Hunter understood. Lucas was not someone he could mess with anymore.
"You... you win," Lightning Hunter said, his voice trembling. "Take it all... I'll never bother you again."
Lucas nodded, a slow, authoritative nod. He didn't want to kill them. He just wanted to be left alone.
He turned, leaving the group of Scavengers groaning on the ground. His secret had been exposed. Now, not only Elara but other Scavengers would know of his "abnormality." But at least, they had learned a costly lesson.
Lucas continued towards the Abandoned Mine. His steps were steadier, no longer carrying the timidity of a weak Scavenger. He had fought and won. He had revealed a part of his power, enough to put others in their place.
But a greater secret still awaited him deep underground. More powerful Obsidian Shards and answers about the Great Collapse beckoned. And now, he had a new, dangerous enemy: the envy and fear of humanity itself.