Hellbound: Rebirth Of The Strongest Slayer.-Chapter 75: I said treasure...Not thrash

Rayden slept for a few hours.

Not because his body needed it.

His body was fine.

The fight against the Inse Bear had not left a scratch on him.

It was his soul that felt like it had been dragged across blades.

Using ten skills back to back in rapid bursts was no joke. Each activation tore at his core. The strain had stacked up so violently that for a moment during the fight, he genuinely felt like his soul might collapse.

That was not something he could afford.

Soul Conduit helped stabilize it. Rest helped more.

After a few hours, he opened his eyes again.

Calm.

Cold.

Focused.

Raoth and Grah stood before him, his left and right hand generals. The mind link opened between the three of them.

They were here to discuss something important.

Well, it was mostly Rayden talking.

The two wolves listened and nodded along.

"The Inse Bear region is far," Rayden said through the link. "Even at Grah's top speed, it would take days to reach."

Grah flicked his ears slightly.

"That means they won't expect their general and soldiers to not return immediately. They'll assume it's taking time to wipe us out."

Raoth growled softly in agreement.

"Travel time alone gives us space. By the time they begin to suspect something is wrong, it will already be too late."

The wolves nodded again.

Grah was secretly stunned.

He had seen humans before. Rarely, but he had seen them wander into the forest.

He had killed a few too.

None of them were like this.

If a human this small could analyze territory, movement timing, reaction patterns, and future responses this clearly… then how terrifying were the grown ones?

Rayden would have corrected him if he could read his thoughts.

This was common sense.

Nothing extraordinary.

Well, maybe it was a little extraordinary for someone in a baby body.

Raoth, on the other hand, thought something completely different.

It was not because Rayden was human.

Raoth had killed humans before.

They were not impressive.

This was different.

This was because he was the Lord.

Only the Lord could calculate like this. Only the Lord could defeat a general and still plan three steps ahead.

Absolute.

Unmatched.

Rayden did not know what they were thinking.

But he could tell they were not fully grasping the depth of what he was saying.

The beasts were more enlightened than normal forest creatures, yes. But their mentality was still limited.

Sometimes speaking to them felt like speaking to walls.

He suppressed the irritation.

"Strengthen the army. No slacking," he ordered.

The two wolves immediately accepted and left without hesitation.

Rayden remained seated on the large rock that served as his throne.

Not that the beasts even understood what a throne was.

To them it was just a big rock.

He rested his chin on his fist and thought.

The Inse Bears would not launch another attack for at least several days. Maybe weeks.

That was more than enough time.

He needed to find a worthy trade item for the White Monkeys. Once he secured their alliance, the assault on the Scavenger would begin.

The Scavenger had to die.

After that, he would reunite with his two human parents.

Then they would leave this side of the forest entirely.

Find a human settlement.

Avoid the Inse Bear territory altogether.

Rayden was not arrogant.

He knew his limits.

A direct war against the Inse Bears, against their entire army, against their King and Queen, would not end well for him.

Not yet.

He leaned back slightly, eyes narrowing.

Everything had to move carefully.

Step by step.

No mistakes.

Because one miscalculation in this forest did not mean failure.

It meant death.

The second thing on the list was simple.

Find a treasure.

Give it to the monkey.

That was it.

How hard could that be?

The forest was filled with things. Fruits. Rare herbs. Strange metals. Trinkets taken from beasts he had killed. Some of those beasts had carried items that served as fuel for his soul energy.

He had robbed plenty already.

Finishing this task today should be easy.

That was what he thought.

Several hours later, Rayden stood at the entrance of his cave, staring at the space where Several treasures laid.

He had sent them all.

From his personal hoard.

Every single one.

And that damn white monkey rejected them without hesitation.

The delivery wolves returned with the message.

"That was trash. I asked you to bring me a valuable treasure and you brought me trash."

Trash.

The valuable loot he personally selected was trash.

Rayden felt anger bubble up his spine. His jaw tightened.

Calm down.

He was not going to fight the monkey.

Not now.

They were supposed to become partners, not enemies.

And there was also the small detail that the monkey had beaten him black and blue the last time.

Rayden refused to think about that part.

Disgraceful.

"Alright," he said through the mind link. "Everyone move. We are looking for a great treasure."

The beasts perked up instantly.

"Anyone who finds something worthy will be promoted to third general of the beast army."

Silence.

Then chaos.

The entire army burst into motion.

They scattered across the forest like a storm.

The first wave returned quickly.

With trash.

Tree bark.

Random stones.

Flowers.

Rayden did not even look at them.

The second wave brought slightly better things.

Old rusty trinkets.

Broken ritual ornaments.

Fragments of weapons.

He barely spared those a glance.

Then came the third type.

Actual valuables.

Golden ornaments.

Sharp blades that still held their edge.

Weapons.

Odd relics.

Now this was something.

One item in particular caught Rayden's eye.

A bundle of enormous bananas.

They were bigger than his entire body.

Perfectly ripe.

Sweet scent heavy in the air.

"This will get that monkey's attention," Rayden muttered.

He sent everything.

All of it.

He waited.

Surely this time.

The wolves returned again.

Rayden knew the answer from their faces.

The monkey had rejected all the other gifts.

Called them trash.

Again.

It only kept the massive bananas.

But not as the treasure he requested.

His message was passed.

"These bananas will smooth our path to partnership. Now hurry up and bring me the real treasure."

Rayden's eye twitched.

He almost punched the wolf delivering the message.

He stopped himself at the last second.

It was not the poor wolf's fault.

The one who deserved that punch was the annoying white monkey sitting comfortably somewhere stuffing its face.

Rayden exhaled sharply.

He kept sending gifts.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Each one rejected.

By the end of the second day of nonstop searching and nonstop rejection, Rayden felt like marching straight into the monkey's territory and declaring war.

His fists clenched.

His soul energy flared slightly.

Then he forced it down.

If he went to war now, his beast army would suffer heavy losses.

Maybe even get wiped out.

And that would ruin everything.

The Scavenger would remain untouched.

His plan would crumble.

Rayden clicked his tongue.

"This is frustrating."

The forest had plenty of valuables.

But apparently not one of them met the monkey's standards.

"Fine," he muttered under his breath.

"I will go treasure hunting myself."

That was the only way.

If everything he sent counted as trash, then he would personally find something that could not be rejected.

Something that would force that arrogant white monkey to shut its mouth.

Rayden's eyes hardened.

He would go treasure hunting himself.

And this time he would find something so good that the damn monkey could neither reject it nor try to extort him over it.

Rayden sat atop Grah's back, posture straight, eyes calm but burning underneath.

Before leaving, he gathered the entire beast army.

They filled the clearing. Wolves. Horned beasts. Clawed predators. Every single one staring at him like he was their sun.

"I will be back soon," Rayden said through the mind link. "Stay sharp. Stay in shape. When I return, our real plan begins."

The air turned heavy.

"Raoth. I'm handing everything to you. Take care of the base."

Raoth lowered his head deeply.

"It will be done, my Lord."

Rayden gave one last glance at them, then Grah turned and leapt into the forest, vanishing between the trees.

Behind him, the beasts howled.

Not a normal howl.

A reverent one.

Some of them even shed tears.

Even Raoth's eyes glistened for a brief second before he forced himself to regain control.

The Lord was strong.

The Lord was wise.

There was no way he would fall while hunting for some so called godly treasure.

Unlike them, he would not be shaken by mundane dangers.

He would survive.

And now Raoth had been given the biggest mission of his life.

To prepare them.

To prepare all of them.

He stepped forward, standing at the front of the army. His gaze turned toward the direction Rayden had left.

His expression changed.

Dangerous.

Serious.

Determined.

He would make sure every single beast under him went through hell.

He would temper them in the harshest way possible.

Including himself.

They all had to grow stronger.

They all had to grow tougher.

Because when the Lord returned, their true mission would begin.

Raoth let out a violent howl.

The entire forest trembled.

The beasts answered.

Their howls grew deeper.

Darker.

More savage than before.

Raoth looked at them with a dangerous glint in his eyes.

"Training begins now."

To be continued...