It had amplified the jealousy, drunkenness, and malice that already existed in these men.
And as for himself...
He had likely become their target.
The other two men spread out behind him, silently cutting off the alley’s exit.
The sturdy man was the first to move, his fist, reeking of alcohol, swinging straight toward the side of Ryan's face.
Ryan instinctively raised his arm to block.
With a dull thud, his entire arm instantly went numb.
Although his body was much better now than when he had first transmigrated, it was still only at the level of “no longer looking like he was on the verge of death.”
When it came to actual fighting, three grown men who spent their lives on the streets could still easily overpower him.
The tall, thin man behind him had already circled around and kicked Ryan hard in the ribs.
Ryan stumbled and crashed against the wall, the air nearly knocked clean out of his lungs.
Curses immediately echoed through the alley.
“Damn it! You still dare to dodge?”
“Let's sober him up!”
The sturdy man grabbed Ryan by the collar and threw another punch.
Ryan barely managed to tilt his head, and the fist grazed his temple, burning with pain.
Immediately after, a second punch arrived, this time striking him squarely in the shoulder.
Ryan slammed heavily against a wooden crate.
He could feel it—he was simply no match for them.
Although the Glory in his eyes could cause them to daze out briefly, the effect was very weak.
Especially in such a chaotic situation, it could at most cause a momentary distraction.
It was impossible to actually drive someone mad with a stare, like in some web novel.
The sturdy man reeked of alcohol, yet his eyes grew redder and redder.
He didn't even know why he was so furious; there was only a single emotion churning in his mind.
Jealousy.
Irritation.
A burning desire to beat this newcomer to a pulp.
It was as if something were continuously magnifying this desire.
Ryan suddenly realized.
This wasn't just a simple scuffle.
It was the “Grail.”
The trace left by that woman was constantly stimulating their emotions, while the Lantern aspect on himself was in turn stimulating that pollution.
The two forces were feeding into each other.
In the next second, the tall, thin man grabbed half a wooden stick from the side.
“Hold him down!”
Ryan's pupils contracted.
If this fight went on any longer, something terrible would happen.
So he suddenly raised his head, and the faint golden light in his eyes flared once more.
The three men's movements stiffened at the same time, as if their eyes had been pricked by something.
Ryan seized the opportunity to shove the sturdy man away with all his might, then turned and bolted.
“Fuck! Don't let him get away!”
Shouts and heavy footsteps immediately followed from behind.
Ryan rushed out of the alley and darted straight into another street.
The cold wind rushed into his lungs, making his chest burn with pain.
He simply didn't have enough stamina, so he could only rely on making constant turns to lose them.
The footsteps behind him grew distant and then close again, and he could occasionally hear drunken curses.
Ryan gritted his teeth and ran all the way.
Only when he dashed into a quieter side street did the noises behind him finally fade away.
He leaned against a wall, panting heavily, his forehead drenched in cold sweat.
His right shoulder throbbed with intense pain; it was likely already bruised.
But before he could catch his breath, the sound of high heels clicking against the ground suddenly echoed from ahead.
Click.
Click.
Click.
It was very soft, yet exceptionally clear in the quiet street.
Ryan slowly raised his head.
Under the dim yellow glow of the gas lamp, the deep crimson figure was leaning against a lamppost ahead.
Winona.
She looked as if she had been waiting there all along, her long dress swaying gently in the night wind.
She was even holding a half-filled glass of wine in her hand.
Upon seeing Ryan, she offered a slight smile.
“You run quite fast.”
Ryan's heart instantly sank.
He was finally certain now.
This woman was absolutely no ordinary tavern singer.
Winona slowly approached him.
The faint aroma of wine wafted through the air once more, and it was even more pronounced than in the tavern—like some fermented sweetness.
Rate on N.U.
