Tension bled into the air as the two focused on the oncoming footsteps.

It stepped out of the shadows as though summoned. The beast towered at around three meters in height, its body resembling that of a mangled ape.

It seemed as though various elements had been forcibly fused into its body. Plated muscles and bone armour covered most of it. Its large disproportionate arms dragged against the concrete, heavily enough to leave small trenches behind while saliva dripped slowly from rows of uneven teeth.

Its eyes glowed a deep red beneath its skull-like face.

Silver took a step back unconsciously. While he had read about them, seeing something that towered over him and carried such obvious bloodlust still shocked him.

The scavenger beasts now felt like child’s play standing in front of this monstrosity. He could feel the pressure emitting from it, it was almost soul-deep. That is the kind of pressure that the strong had over the weak.

Silver didn’t like the moment of fear that had overcome him just from its sight but he also knew it was inevitable.

The thing radiated violence naturally.

Shawn’s expression changed.

"What is this thing doing in the green zones, especially here?"

Before any of them could come up with a concrete explanation, the ape exhaled heavily through its nostrils before smashing one massive arm into the side of a rusted vehicle beside it.

Silver’s eyes widened. The car actually flew.

Metal twisted violently through the air before crashing into a nearby building hard enough to practically collapse the wall.

Silver’s heart quickened slightly. He couldn’t believe his bad luck.

’A strength type, that is definitely a strength type beast. Just my luck’

Those were among the worst matchups for beginners because an overwhelming force brutally erased any sort of mistake. He could already imagine the fate of any Awakeners who might have met it.

Either squashed and then eaten or torn apart and then eaten.

Shawn’s hand immediately rested against the sword at his waist.

His gaze shifted between the beast and Silver before he shook his head. He couldn’t impulsively attack it when he had Silver around him.

’I should report it to the command centre. A Tier three in the greenzones... just how?’

"We’re leaving."

The beast’s gaze shifted towards them the moment they took a small step back.

A small memory trickled in. Bone plate Apes. That was how they had been called in the book. If he could just...

The moment he met its gaze, Silvers ’ instincts screamed immediately. That thing was really dangerous.

Yet beneath the fear, the real excitement stirred strangely,that was because his body understood combat now.

It wasn’t perfect, but it was perfect enough to recognise an opportunity.

Silver looked towards Shawn who frowned when he met his gaze.

"Let me fight."

Shawn immediately shook his head.

"What? NO!"

"This is an opportunity. I want to."

"That is a Tier 3 beast, not the riff-raffs you just fought," he whispered back harshly.

"I know," he stubbornly said.

"You’re a Rank 4 without an integration. The little strength boost you got means nothing."

Silver tightened his grip slightly against the handgun.

"I want to try."

Shawn stared at him like he had lost his mind.

It was a reasonable reaction honestly but Silver had enough confidence in Shawn to make sure he came out of the ordeal alive.

While he was also Cruella’s follower, he was a trained soldier. Every Contractor in the base military is always taught to protect the weak as lesson 101.

The beast growled deeply then began walking towards them with heavy earth-cracking steps.

Shawn’s voice sharpened immediately.

"This isn’t training anymore."

Silver inhaled slowly then exhaled.

"I know."

For several seconds Shawn looked genuinely ready to refuse. Then the older Contractor narrowed his eyes slightly.

"... Fine."

Silver blinked once.

’This was easier than I thought it would be’

Shawn pointed toward the beast immediately.

"You fight first."

"First?"

"I’ll intervene if you’re going to die," a wicked smile curved his lips," you’re the one who wanted it. Don’t tell me you wanted me beside you and fight with you."

The beast suddenly roared, cutting off his response.

Then it charged. The ground cracked beneath its weight.

Silver’s body moved instantly.

[Phantom Draw LV2 Activated.] 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Three reinforced rounds slammed directly into the beast’s chest. And it did almost nothing.

The creature barely slowed.

Silver’s eyes widened slightly.

Its hide was too dense. The beast reached him almost immediately afterwards. Silver dodged sideways as one massive arm slammed downward.

The pavement exploded apart in a mess of concrete blasting through the streets violently.

Silver rolled across the broken ground before firing again towards its eyes.

Bang!

The shot struck its brow ridge instead. That did it. The beast roared furiously before lunging again at a terrifying speed for something so huge.

Silver barely ducked beneath the swipe. Wind pressure alone was swiping against him hard enough to throw him off balance.

It was too strong way stronger than he had imagined.

"Stop backing away!" Shawn shouted suddenly from behind him.

Silver pivoted sharply. The beast threw another ruined vehicle while chasing after him relentlessly.

"You can’t hesitate while fighting strength types, they don’t get tired! Stop hesitating! Control the angle!"

’Easy advice from someone not getting hunted by a truck-sized monster’

The beast lunged again.

Silver forced himself forward instead of retreating. It was dangerously close for his comfort but he knew he couldn’t afford fear.

Its massive arm swung sideways.

Silver slid beneath it narrowly while slashing the combat knife across the creature’s exposed inner arm.

Sparks exploded upon contact, not the expected blood. The hide was unbelievably tough.

Still, the beast flinched slightly.

Shawn noticed immediately.

"There!"

Silver fired point-blank towards the exposed joint.

Bang!

Blood sprayed this time. The beast roared violently. Silver’s pulse spiked instantly, he had done actual damage.

Then, the beast slammed with its other arm downwards before it could reposition.

Silver crossed his arm instinctively. The impact hit like a collapsing bag of sandbags. Pain exploded through his body.

He crashed across the ruined street hard enough to smash through cracked concrete walls with his handgun flying from his grip. His ears rang painfully, the world seemed to be rotating with it.

"Silver!"

The beast charged again immediately. Silver tried to stand up but his left arm screamed painfully. It wasn’t broken but close to it.

The beast opened its jaws wide.