Blinking Innocently, Luke Looked Completely Innocent

"There's... such a strong smell of blood!"

Faintly, he could also hear some kind of low growling, along with the sound of teeth tearing into flesh.

Riiip.

"Someone's here!"

Realizing something was wrong, Luke's expression changed. Following the scent of blood in the air, he slowly felt his way forward.

His black skin provided unprecedented camouflage.

His eyes widened, and he moved like a ghost in the night. When he reached the door of a classroom, his body abruptly froze.

Riiip, riiip.

Through the glass on the door, he saw several monsters with split-open foreheads crouching in the open space at the center of the classroom.

"This is..."

The monsters waved their tentacles, their gazes cruel and greedy, their mouths constantly tearing at a young corpse.

"Damn it!!"

With no mental preparation whatsoever, Luke jumped back in shock.

The next second.

His entire body shuddered, and he nearly screamed.

[Emotion Points from Luke Cage +343]

Who was it?!

Cold sweat broke out across Luke's back. Someone was standing silently behind him.

He heard a cold breath exhale beside his ear, followed by the slow sound of bones cracking in a way that made his teeth ache.

Danger!!

Startled, Luke did not hesitate for even a moment. He yanked open the wooden door, then rolled into the classroom.

At that very moment.

Shing!

A flash of blade light streaked through the air, easily carving a deep gash into the wall.

"Haah..."

Luke raised his head and had just taken a breath.

[Emotion Points from Luke Cage +377]

"Oh? Another prey."

"That build looks pretty good. It must have a nice texture when chewed."

"I'm tired of eating this one anyway. Switching to another one is fine."

"It just looks too dark. The meat probably isn't springy enough."

"..."

Hearing the commotion, several monsters consciously surrounded him.

Luke's face darkened at their words.

What the hell?

You were discriminating even when eating meat?!

Fuck your grandmother!!

Luke hurriedly scrambled to his feet, cursing inwardly as he backed away again and again, instinctively pressing himself against the blackboard.

Dealing with people was one thing, but he had never dealt with monsters before. For a moment, Luke had no idea what to do.

He painfully forced a smile onto his face, determined to show them his sincerity.

"Brothers, let's talk this out.

My skin is dark, my meat is sour and tough, and it gets stuck in your teeth. I really taste awful!"

Swish, swish, swish.

Holding a book titled East Country Cuisine Encyclopedia, one monster waved its tentacles and scratched its head in confusion.

"What is this guy talking about?

White-skinned domestic pigs may taste good, but wouldn't black-skinned wild boars taste even better?"

"Exactly, don't worry.

We're already very experienced at preparing food. This time, we'll definitely wash you nice and clean, get rid of the gamey smell, and then cook you!"

Their mouths dripping with blood, the monsters looked utterly polite.

[Emotion Points from Luke Cage +388]

Fucking hell. How did eating him give you experience?!

Fuck your immortal grandma, we're all men here—why make things hard for another man?

Bang.

The monster outside the door on the left finally came in.

The moment it entered, it impatiently shouted.

"What are you all doing? Why are you wasting so much breath talking to the prey?!"

"Huh? What do you know?"

One of the monsters protested. A flash of blade light swept past, barely grazing Luke's nose.

Luke: "."

"This is a new cooking method I learned. I heard that Kobe beef is played beautiful music while being raised, and there are people dedicated to massaging it. It makes the meat even more delicious."

"Even though the environment here is a little lacking."

"A little? Are you blind, brother?" Luke silently complained.

"But we can refine the quality of his meat through verbal interaction."

Luke: "Oh~ no, man, fuck squid!!"

"Look at that physique. Just wash him up, rub him with oil, add some chili and cumin powder, then put him through a few more steps—he'll surely become an unrivaled delicacy!"

Luke's eyes went blank as he listened: "."

You devils!!

[Emotion Points from Luke Cage +444]

"Look, isn't that expression on his face one of enjoyment?"

"That's right. It proves our method is correct!"

"Enough talk, get started already! I'm practically drooling!"

Though the monster at the door did not understand, it was deeply shaken.

Seeing its companions raise their whip-blades, it raised its own as well.

Pressed against the blackboard and staring at the four sharp bone blades before him, Luke widened his eyes and lamented inwardly.

"It's over. I'm barbecue."

Boom—!!

The monster at the door was the first to suffer. Its head was instantly blown apart by a high-powered bullet!

The three monsters jumped in fright, not yet having time to react.

Crash! Crash! Crash!

Three figures swung in on ropes from outside, smashing through the glass and diving in.

"Chun-Li, the one in front is yours."

"Jessica, the one in the back is yours. As for the monster in the middle, leave it to me!!"

Daredevil Matt gave the orders, drew his customized short batons, swung his arm, and charged forward.

The monsters finally reacted. Shouting as their bodies trembled, they each confronted one of the three.

Chun-Li smoothly unleashed a move: "Chi Palm!"

Jessica Jones refused to be outdone: "Mama Punch!"

Matt held up his short batons, feeling completely out of place: "."

Frank Castle held a shotgun, his eye twitching. Even if it killed him, he could not shout such an unbearably embarrassing slogan!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The three monsters died very unpeacefully. Even before death, they drooled as they stared regretfully in Luke's direction.

"."

These bastards still couldn't forget about me even as they died?

Did they really like me that much?!

Walking down from the podium, Luke spat on one of the monsters.

To be honest, in all his life, Luke had never been "pursued" by so many guys at once.

Seeing the way they died... he actually felt a little empty inside?

Ah... this.

The emotions churning within him were like a surging river, impossible to fully describe.

"Frank, watch out!!"

A thunderous roar made Luke's eardrums ache.

Matt snatched up his billy club and hurled it at Frank's position.

Frank possessed exceptional military training. The instant he heard the sound, he ducked and performed a tactical roll to the right.

Bang!

The incoming blade tip first struck Matt's thrown billy club, forcibly changing direction, then carved a bloody gash across Frank's back.

Frank did not so much as furrow his brow. He continued rolling several times, swiftly widening the distance.

When he adjusted his stance and turned back around, he saw the big Black man expressionlessly gripping a bladed whip.

[Emotion Value from Frank Castle +411]

"Now that's a real man!" Frank felt a surge of respect and silently gave him a thumbs-up.

[Emotion Value from Matt Murdock +407]

Matt and Chun-Li stopped at the same time, recognizing that this man was no ordinary person.

[Emotion Value from Jessica Jones +477]

Only Jessica wore a strange expression. She kept feeling that dark face looked exactly like someone from her memories!

Blinking, Luke looked utterly innocent: "..."

He himself had no idea how that bladed whip had appeared in his hand.

[Emotion Value from Luke Cage +433]