Chapter 5 – Loyal Friend
996 Words
Thud!
Justin kicked a thick tree trunk, smashing it to smithereens. Dou Qi made him frighteningly powerful.
Alex was horrified.
After running in the woods for over ten minutes, he was quickly losing the energy to move. He was sweating and panting and every bit of action seemed to sap at his strength.
Alex stopped in his tracks. He leaned against a tree and panted heavily.
“What, tired already?” Justin sneered. "Go on, keep running! You’ve done a good job so far! After you insulted my girlfriend, there’s no way I’ll let you off easily!"
Alex narrowed his eyes sharply at Justin. Until now, he found it useless to talk to the other boy. But it was all he could do now.
"Fine, you got me!” gasped Alex. “I was unlucky to offend you by accident. But mark my words, I’ll pay you back double for this!" he warned.
"Pay me back double?" Justin scoffed, chuckling in amusement. "You’re useless! You don’t have any affinity! How could you pay me back double? I look forward to seeing you try!"
Justin disappeared. In a flash, he reappeared next to Alex. It was the only warning Alex got before Justin sucker punched him in the stomach.
Alex’s body flew through the air, landing about eight meters away. His back hit a large tree, causing the leaves to fall to the ground.
Clutching his stomach, Alex spat out a mouthful of blood. His back ached terribly.
Justin was so powerful, he could crush boulders easily. Breaking Alex's bones was nothing to him. One blow was enough to incapacitate Alex.
"What’s wrong? Didn’t you say you were going to repay me in double? Why aren’t you getting up? Was my punch too strong? Oops, I forgot that you’re a wimp!" Justin taunted with a smug smile.
Alex’s entire body was throbbing painfully. It felt like his body was falling apart. Even his intestines felt battered.
Nonetheless, he gritted his teeth and stood up.
Alex would rather die fighting than live cowering.
It was a matter of pride.
From the current situation, slipping away was the best choice. If Alex couldn't flee, he would face Justin fearlessly.
Everyone had their own dignity, even a nobody like Alex. And he didn’t tolerate bullying.
Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, he spat, "You better kill me, or I’ll definitely make you regret it!" His eyes were cold as ice.
"Make me regret it? Are you kidding me? Is that a threat?" Justin grabbed Alex by the collar and lifted him off the ground.
With no more strength to resist, Alex hung in the air helplessly. But his eyes were fierce, without a trace of fear. He stared Justin down, much to the bully’s discomfort.
Receiving an arrogant threat from a nobody like Alex irritated Justin.
Crack!
Justin smacked Alex's face. His cheek was red and swollen, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
Gritting his teeth, Alex continued to glare daggers at Justin.
Alex felt unprecedented humiliation and anger. At the same time, he was hungry for power. Only power could help him salvage his dignity and save him from this horrible fate.
I need to become stronger! The strong always bully the weak! A person can only change his fate with strength!
An unprecedented desire to be powerful surged in Alex.
I want to be stronger!
"L-let go of Alex!" squeaked a timid voice.
Logan stood nearby, trembling in fear. Despite his terror, he followed the two and came to Alex’s aid.
Alex’s eyes widened.
Logan!
Alex was moved to see his only friend face Justin in spite of his visible fear. He did not expect Logan to help him, let alone confront Justin himself.
I underestimated him, Alex thought, his heart filling with warmth. He really is my friend.
Momentarily stunned by Logan’s demand, Justin stared at the boy in confusion. He never expected that Logan would dare confront him to help Alex.
"That’s funny! Logan, are you talking to me?" Justin flashed a dour smile.
Logan was white as a sheet. He was frightened to death and his legs were trembling violently. He took a big gulp. "Y-yes. I’m talking t-to you. Come on, let g-go of Alex. I-if you don’t... if you don’t, I’ll show no mercy!"
Justin threw his head back and laughed. "A nobody says he’ll make me regret it, and now a mouse is spouting nonsense! Do you idiots want to die?”
His face suddenly turned cold, and he shot Logan a fierce glare. Logan unconsciously took a step back.
"I don't want to waste my time on you! Piss off!" Justin growled. He found Logan attempting to negotiate with him unbearable.
"I… I won't go unless you let Alex go." Logan couldn’t stop trembling, but his voice was firm.
"Logan, I don't need your help! Leave me!" Alex shouted. Although he was grateful, Logan was not Justin's enemy.
"You’re my friend! I won't leave you alone!" Logan shouted back. His tinny voice was louder than Alex’s.
Alex wanted to cry. What did I do to deserve such a friend?
"Fine! You asked for this, Logan!" Justin threw Alex aside and stalked towards him.
Witnessing Logan’s unwavering loyalty made Justin furious.
"Logan, go away! Leave me alone!" Alex yelled anxiously. No matter how much he wanted to, he was too weak to even stand.
Logan stared at Justin in terror. His blood ran cold as the bully approached him.
Much taller than Logan, Justin towered over the boy like a grizzly bear.
Logan was too scared to even breathe.
- Writer
