Megumi trembled in fear, but Ryuji remained calm.

  "I have a few questions," Ryuji said, his voice steady as he raised his right fist. A pale blue glow surrou once more. "Before that, though, you please be quiet for a moment?"

  His words were directed toward the monstrous creature in front of him, a human-faced dog that had just tried to attack him. Ryuji had other priorities. Urban legend? He was intrigued.

  With a casual motion, he swung his glowing fist at the creature.

  Bam!

  The punch sent the human-faced dog flying over teers, crashing into the alley wall with a loud thud.

  "It hurts! It hurts!" The creature yelped in pain. "What kind of monster are you, human?!"

  The creature was stunned. It couldn't believe what had just happened. It was supposed to be an urban legend, a being feared by humans, yet this boy had k aside like it was nothing.

  Ryuji, however, wasn't ed with its fusion. Ign its pained cries, he looked down at his glowing fist with a thoughtful expression.

  "Just as I thought."

  Under normal circumstances, humans couldn't physically harm supernatural beings, but this pale blue light that surrounded his fist seemed to grant him the ability to strike them. It wasn't just brute strength-there was something more to it. He was starting to grasp the true extent of this strange new power.

  Meanwhile, Megumi stood frozen, wide-eyed and speechless. She had fully expected this to be the end of her, to be devoured by the horrific creature that had been chasing her. but now... now, she watched as Ryuji, a fellow student, had not only stood up to the monster but sent it flying with a single punch.

  What was going on? Who was this guy?

  Her fear gave way to awe as she stared at him, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

  At that moment, Ryuji dispersed the glow around his fist and began walking toward the creature, which was now crumpled on the ground.

  " we talk now?" Ryuji asked, his voice cold and calm.

  "Human!" The creature snarled, still writhing in pain. "I'll kill you! I'll eat you alive!"

  Its fury had repced its fear. It couldn't tolerate being humiliated like this by a mere human. Its grotesque face twisted in anger, its body shaking as it struggled to rise.

  "It seems you still haven't learo listen,"

  Ryuji said, his tone slightly amused. The blue gloeared around his fist, and the creature's eyes widened in fear.

  "Wait, wait-!"

  Bam!

  Before it could finish, Ryuji delivered another punch, this time directly to the creature's head, causing part of its face to cave in.

  "Are you ready to listen now?" Ryuji asked casually, gng down at the creature, who was now trembling in fear, its head half-colpsed from the impact.

  "Please, please! I'm sorry! Five me!" The human-faced dog was now on its knees, groveling before Ryuji. Its earlier fidence had pletely disappeared. This human wasn't just strong-he was terrifying.

  Megumi stood by, unsure whether she should be terrified or relieved. The boy who had saved her was clearly powerful, but watg him beat the creature so effortlessly made her questioher she should be more afraid of him than the monster.

  "So, tell me about these urban legends," Ryuji said, finally giving the creature a ce to speak.

  "Y-yes, of course!" The creature stammered, eager to ply.

  It expihat urban legends were supernatural beings born from stories passed down through geions. These creatures were different from ordinary spirits hosts. They could appear in front of humans freely, without being bound to a particur location. Their power came from the fear they instilled in people, which was why they thrived on human terror.

  That expined why the human-faced dog hadn't immediately devoured Kato Megumi- it had been sav her fear, letting it grow stronger before pnning to e her.

  "I see," Ryuji said, his expression thoughtful.

  So, you're not just some random ghost. You're born from stories."

  Urban legends. He had heard of them before. And if those legends were true, some of these beings were incredibly powerful-on par with gods, even.

  Things in this world were definitely more plicated than he had first thought.

  "Since I've told you everything I know, I... I go now?" The human-faced dog asked, its voice trembling with hope.

  "Leave?" Ryuji raised an eyebrow, then smiled. His smile wasn't friendly-it was the kind of smile that sent shivers down your spine.

  The creature's hope vanished instantly.

  "Don't worry," Ryuji said, stepping closer. "The pain won't st long."

  "Wh-what?! No, wait!"

  But it was too te

  "Soul Dev!" (T/N: I ged this to soul dev from soul devourer because I thought it sounds better let me know your thoughts should I leave it as it was before or tinue using this)

  s erupted from the air behind Ryuji, ing around the human-faced dog and pinning it ihe creature struggled, but the s tightened, pulling it toward a dark, swirling void.

  "Human! No! Please-!"

  Its cries were cut off as the s dragged it into the darkness, and the alley fell silent once more.

  Burp!

  Ryuji let out a small burp and patted his stomach. "Ah, finally full," he said with satisfa.

  The silence was heavy until Megumi finally found her voice.

  "T-thank you," she said, her voice still shaky. She wasn't stupid. Without Ryuji's intervention, she knew she would have been devoured by that creature.

  You don't have to thank me," Ryuji waved her off, clearly uned.

  Besides, he had gained something from the enter too. A goldery had triggered whe Megumi, though he didn't yet know what ability it would grant him. Golderies were rare and powerful, so whatever it was, he k would be something good.

  Ryuji was in a very good mood.

  "Didn't you report me to the school for beating up those bullies?" Ryuji asked casually, as if they were discussing something trivial.

  Megumi shook her head. "No, I didn't," she said quietly. "I know those three. They've been bullying other students for a long time. I've reported them to the teachers before, but..."

  She trailed off. With her low presend the general apathy of the school staff, her reports had always been ighe teachers didn't care as long as the bullying wasn't too obvious.

  Anyway," she said, bowing her head slightly. "Thank you again for saving me."

  Ryuji smiled. "Alright, if that's all, I'll be heading baow." As much as he enjoyed chatting with Kato Megumi, he was eager to return home and check out the goldery he had just unlocked.

  "Wait!"

  Ryuji paused, looking back at her.

  " I... I have your tafo?" Megumi asked, as she fidgeted awkwardly.

  It was the first time she had ever asked a boy for his number, and she felt nervous beyond belief.

  "Hmm?" Ryuji raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the er of his lips.

  Notig his pyful gaze, Megumi became even more embarrassed, but she didn't back down.

  "Please?" she asked, Her voice soft but ear.

  After a moment, Ryuji chuckled. "Sure, why not?"