Chapter 44: Plan Ahead

The once chaotic scene suddenly fell silent only a few minutes later. The groans of pain did not cease, but the whimpering stopped. Most of the Espers who attacked Rise were now on the ground and unconscious. 

Rise sat on a boulder, legs crossed, his left foot rested on someone's back, lying on the ground with his stomach. The man had a robust body compared to the young man, and yet he could not even get up, letting his body become a footrest, albeit unwillingly. 

Gritting his teeth, the robust man cursed once more. 

"Y-You... will not get away from this. No one can just provoke the underground forces like th—cough...this..." 

He almost could not finish when the pressure of the foot on his back increased. 

"Oh?" Rise smiled and looked down at the man, leisurely crossing his arms. "Are you threatening me?" His gaze carried a kind of menacing glint, making the robust man who was about to refute once more firmly shut his lips.