Chapter 541: Barking Like a Dog

The figures approaching them were all beastkin.

There were five in total, each displaying distinct animalistic features. Some had fur covering their arms, while others possessed tails and ears that revealed their respective bloodlines. Their clothing was rough, and their expressions were openly hostile.

As they drew closer, several of them deliberately exposed their claws and bared their sharp fangs.

One of them, a broad-shouldered beastkin with wolf-like ears, stepped forward. He looked Adam up and down before shifting his gaze toward Azrynn.

"You’re quite bold, walking around here as if you own the place."

Adam frowned faintly.

"Is there a problem?"

"Of course, there’s a problem!" another beastkin snapped. He extended his claws, scraping them against the wall beside him. "This is a place for our pure races. Outsiders like you have no right to be here!"

The others growled in agreement, their hostility becoming increasingly apparent.

Adam glanced around the alley.

’So that’s what this is about.’

He had noticed the unfriendly stares directed at Azrynn earlier, but he hadn’t expected someone to go as far as following them into an alley.

The wolf beastkin stepped closer, his fangs showing beneath his sneer.

"Especially you." His gaze settled on Adam. "You don’t look like one of us. And that elf beside you certainly doesn’t belong here either."

Azrynn shifted slightly against Adam’s arm, her eyes struggling to focus on the newcomers.

"Hmm...? What’s happening...?"

"Nothing. Just some people who want to talk."

Adam kept one hand around her shoulder, making sure she wouldn’t lose her balance.

The beastkin seemed irritated by his casual attitude.

"Don’t ignore us, bastard! You should be grateful we’re giving you a chance to leave peacefully."

Adam looked at the claws extended toward him, then returned his gaze to the wolf beastkin.

"Let me guess. You’re going to make us pay for walking through your territory?"

The wolf beastkin grinned.

"At least you’re not completely stupid."

Adam sighed quietly.

’I was hoping to find an inn before dealing with something like this.’

He glanced briefly at Azrynn, who was now leaning against him with a sleepy expression.

"Well, I suppose I should ask one thing first."

His eyes returned to the group.

"Are you planning to let us leave if we cooperate, or are you just looking for an excuse to start a fight?"

The wolf beastkin crossed his arms, his sharp claws still exposed.

"That depends on your attitude. If you know what’s good for you, you’d better leave this place."

Another beastkin stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Adam’s face.

"Demons aren’t welcome here. Neither are their kind."

Adam’s expression remained unchanged, but his eyes gradually grew colder.

He had no particular attachment to Ferrund, nor did he care whether these people liked him. However, being ordered around by a bunch of strangers who had decided they owned the streets was another matter entirely.

"Why should I?"

The beastkin frowned.

"What?"

"I said, why should I leave?" Adam repeated, his tone almost bored. "What makes you think I have any reason to obey your orders?"

The wolf beastkin’s expression darkened.

"Watch your mouth, outsider."

Adam let out a quiet chuckle.

"You’re the ones who followed me into an alley, bared your claws, and started barking orders. And now you expect me to obediently walk away?"

His gaze swept over the group.

"If anything, dogs should know how to obey their masters."

For a brief moment, the alley fell silent.

Then the beastkin’s faces twisted with anger.

"YOU BASTARD!"

The wolf beastkin’s claws dug into his palms as he stepped forward, his fangs fully exposed.

"You dare compare us to dogs?!"

Adam tilted his head slightly.

"Well, you’re certainly acting like them."

Behind him, Azrynn let out a small, incomprehensible murmur. She seemed to be trying to understand what was happening, but her intoxicated mind wasn’t cooperating.

Adam sighed.

’I really need to get her to an inn.’

Unfortunately, the beastkin in front of him seemed determined to make that considerably more difficult.

The wolf beastkin let out an enraged growl before lunging forward.

"Kill that bastard!"

The others immediately followed, their claws extending as they charged toward Adam from several directions.

Adam’s expression remained calm.

"Well, I suppose talking is out of the question."

He swiftly slipped one arm beneath Azrynn’s knees and lifted her into a princess carry. She let out a small, confused sound but didn’t resist, instead instinctively wrapping one arm around his neck.

"Hold on."

"Hmm...?"

Before she could ask what he meant, Adam moved.

A beastkin swung his claws toward his head, but Adam leaned aside, allowing the attack to pass just inches from his face. At the same time, he stepped forward and kicked the ground.

[Seismic Shatter!]

A powerful tremor spread through the alley.

The ground beneath the beastkin cracked and shook violently, throwing several of them off balance. One stumbled into the wall, while another nearly fell face-first onto the ground.

Adam took advantage of the brief opening.

[Abyssal Pierce!]

A dark projectile shot from his hand, tearing through the air toward the nearest beastkin.

However, his opponent reacted surprisingly quickly. The beastkin twisted his body and narrowly avoided the attack, which struck the wall behind him and left a deep crater.

"Hah! You think something like that can hit us?!"

Another beastkin rushed in from Adam’s blind spot, swinging his claws toward his side.

Adam simply shifted his weight and stepped away, keeping Azrynn securely in his arms. The attack missed, scraping against the stone wall instead.

A faint smile appeared on Adam’s face.

’Oh? They’re faster than I expected.’

He had initially assumed they were nothing more than a group of arrogant thugs. However, their movements were considerably sharper than those of ordinary street troublemakers.

That made things a little more interesting.

Adam raised his free hand.

[Eclipse Spines!]

Several dark crystalline spikes emerged from the ground and shot toward his opponents.

The beastkin reacted immediately, leaping away and twisting through the narrow alley to avoid the incoming projectiles. One even used the wall to propel himself sideways, narrowly escaping a spike that pierced the spot where he had stood.

"Stop running away and fight us properly!"

Adam glanced at the speaker.

"Didn’t you come here to fight me?"

He flicked his wrist.

Another series of dark projectiles shot toward them, forcing the beastkin to scatter once more.

Their expressions grew increasingly frustrated.

"That bastard is deliberately playing with us!"

"Surround him! Don’t let him escape!"

The beastkin began moving more aggressively. Their bodies started expanding as fur spread across their skin, their muscles bulging beneath their clothes. Their faces gradually took on more pronounced animalistic features, while their claws and fangs grew longer.

The alley was suddenly filled with ferocious growls.

One of them transformed his arm into a massive clawed limb before swinging it toward Adam. Another crouched low, preparing to pounce, while the wolf beastkin gathered strength for a direct charge.

Adam watched their transformations with mild interest.

’So they can partially transform. No wonder their movements are better than ordinary beastkin.’

A beastkin suddenly thrust his arm forward.

Several crescent-shaped slashes of compressed energy tore through the air toward Adam.

He shifted sideways, allowing the attacks to pass him. The slashes struck the wall behind him, carving deep marks into the stone.

Adam glanced at the damage before looking back at his opponents.

"Well, I suppose my playtime is over."

His smile slowly faded.

The atmosphere in the alley changed.

A dense, oppressive presence began radiating from his body, spreading through the surroundings like an invisible tide.

[Abyssal Majesty.]

The air seemed to grow heavier.

The beastkin who had been charging forward suddenly slowed. Their instincts screamed at them, warning them that something was terribly wrong.

Their eyes widened as the pressure descended upon them.

Adam looked at them calmly, still holding Azrynn in his arms.

"Now then..."

His voice was quiet, yet it carried clearly through the alley.

"Let’s see how long you can keep barking."