“Excuse me.”

Aries didn’t stop. The scarecrow took another hit, shaking from the impact as two women approached him. They stood out among the exhausted, disheveled crowd, their makeup still somewhat intact. Probably university students, judging by their superficial charm and heavy makeup.

One of them, a girl with long, straight hair and eyes that sparkled with forced innocence, stepped forward. Her lips curled into a coy smile, her hand forming a cute, clenched fist, trying to look delicate. She spoke first, her voice soft, almost playful.

“Is there any point in hitting those things?” she asked, tilting her head slightly like it would make her look more endearing.

Thud. Thud.

Aries didn’t even acknowledge her. His fists hit the scarecrow in quick succession, precise and powerful, without a single wasted movement. The scarecrow creaked under the force, but Aries’ gaze remained locked on his target. The conversation didn’t matter.

The girl, seeing her initial approach fail, stepped closer, her smile now tinged with a hint of frustration. “Aren’t you going to answer me?” she pouted, her voice turning more insistent. She moved right next to the scarecrow, her blouse slipping down her shoulder to reveal smooth, bare skin. The thin fabric clung to her curves, a deliberate tease that would have turned the heads of most men.

And it did. Aries could sense the nearby onlookers, a few men staring with envy as they watched the exchange. They probably thought he was lucky to have her attention.

Pathetic.

Aries didn’t bother to look at her. His knuckles hit the scarecrow harder. Thud! Thud! His focus was absolute. In a place like this, seduction was nothing more than a weapon, a distraction for the weak-minded. He wasn’t about to waste time indulging in her game.

“Fuck off,” he finally muttered, his tone flat, as if her existence barely registered.

The girl’s confident smile faltered. Her pride took a hit, and it showed. She staggered back slightly, eyes wide with disbelief. No man had probably ever rejected her this way. She lowered her head, biting her lip, trying to mask her frustration as her brows furrowed in silent fury.

“What the hell’s your problem?” she snapped, her voice no longer sweet. The façade had cracked.

Aries’ eyes flicked toward her, cold and dismissive. “You’re wasting your time,” he said, his voice low and unforgiving. “And mine.”

For a moment, the air hung heavy between them. Her attempt to control the situation, to draw him in, had failed spectacularly. The other woman, silent until now, shifted awkwardly, unsure whether to stay or retreat.

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His fists hit the scarecrow again. The world around him didn’t matter. All that mattered was getting stronger, and nothing—no woman, no distraction—was going to stand in his way.

Sofia’s face twisted as she heard Aries’ reply. It was like someone had slapped her pride. She lowered her head, her brows knitting together.

“Crazy bastard! Is he an eunuch or what?” she thought.

This wasn’t how men usually reacted to her. Not even close. Sofia was used to being treated like royalty—an idol in her world. Guys lined up just for a chance to hold her hand. And she knew she was beautiful, so her standards were sky-high. Doctors? Lawyers? Not good enough. If she hadn’t been summoned here, she’d probably be on a dinner date in a sports car right now.

And this guy? He should be thanking her, crying tears of joy that she even spoke to him. But no, he had the nerve to tell her to *fuck off*.

“Just because he knows how to fight a bit…” she grumbled internally.

Truth was, she knew better. He didn’t just fight "a bit." Over the past three days, she’d watched him tear through monsters like they were nothing. Strong was an understatement, and in this place, strength was everything.

She looked back at him, her pride still burning. He was like a lone wolf—untouchable, terrifying, and completely uninterested in anyone. She thought she could change that. She straightened her clothes, smiled, and walked toward him again.

“Aren’t your words a bit too harsh? Even I’d be a little hurt by that,” she said, flashing him her most charming smile.

Aries paused, his expression cold and unreadable. His eyes flicked over to her, and she took that as her cue.

“I’ve seen you fight these last few days. People talk about you, you know? Babe, oh, I can call you babe, right?” She stepped closer, lightly brushing her hand against his. No guy ever resisted that kind of contact.

‘When have you ever held hands with someone like me?’ she thought smugly. Aries wasn’t ugly, but he was plain. In her world, he was invisible.

“They say you’re a bit greedy, but don’t worry, babe. They’re just cowards. You kill the most monsters, so of course, you should get the best rewards!”

She locked eyes with him, giving her best finishing move—a soft, inviting laugh. But the moment she saw his eyes, a shiver ran down her spine. There was nothing human there, no warmth, no flicker of interest. Just a deep, terrifying abyss.

“Are you done talking?” Aries’ voice was cold.

“Huh? Uh, y-yeah,” she stammered.

“Then fuck off.”

“What... did you just say?” she blinked, stunned.

Without another word, Aries slammed his fist into the scarecrow, breaking it apart.

She flinched, her whole plan crumbling. He didn’t care about her, not even a little. Her charm, her beauty—it all meant nothing.

He leaned in, his voice a low growl in her ear, “Try that again, and your face will look like the scarecrow’s.”

Sofia froze. Her legs trembled as the realization hit. This guy wasn’t just a fighter. He was dangerous. The kind of dangerous that didn’t care about anything or anyone.

‘I’m not a good man.’ Aries thought, turning back to the scarecrow. ‘Maybe I’m an evil one. But I’m not here to be good.’

“Hiccup!” Sofia squeaked. Her legs gave out, and she started to crumble.

“Hiccup! Hiccup!” Her friend rushed over, grabbing her by the wrist and dragging her away.

Aries didn’t bother to look back. He just resumed his punches, the scarecrow shuddering with each hit.

‘If I rank high in the boss raid, I could get a C-rank weapon,’ he mused, his thoughts already on the next battle. ‘A C-rank is good enough for the monsters ahead. I have the experience to make up for the rest.’

And with that, he kept punching. Thud. Thud. Thud.