Heaven Breaker: SSS Rank Tiger Evolution-Chapter 40: Personal Grudge

My body slowly began to recover along with my reserves of Primordial Force.

But my mind remained trapped in a single moment, hearing Euphy’s screams and the image of her collapsed on the ground.

Up to the present moment, she was still unconscious, though stable. Only her faint breathing could be heard.

My eyes remained fixed on her as heavy footsteps echoed behind me.

"Brother? Is this my older brother?" Gravis shouted from behind. "What a fine brother! Almost killing me at our first meeting since our mother’s death!"

My ears were deaf to him, his words entering but never truly being heard.

Slowly, I raised my gaze to the strange master and asked,

"What is your name?"

"Raiden. I am the guardian beast of this house. The Lightning Tiger himself."

"Raiden, why hasn’t she woken up?"

"I don’t know, but it’s not uncommon. The damage was severe—it’s normal to think she just needs some time."

"Tsk!" Gravis clicked his tongue. "Don’t ignore me!" He kept grumbling, and then I slowly turned toward him.

"How dare you try to assassinate your own brother?!" he continued to complain angrily, yet deep within his eyes I could see terror and profound fear.

Certainly, being turned into a lump of charcoal had not been a pleasant experience. He had only avoided death thanks to his master.

Still, I did not respond to him, making him let out a deep sigh.

"I see that you’re regretful, I see," he said even without my reply. "In any case, I’ll let it slide this time as long as you make up for it in the future. Just refresh my memory— which of the four were you?"

He asked, trying to recall which of his brothers I was, since we had all looked similar back then.

The differences were only in personality, a factor I had ignored. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"You’ll remember very quickly. Come closer," I said, staring into his soul with a smile.

"Why?" Gravis frowned.

"Don’t be afraid. It’s just so you can remember who I am," I repeated. With a sigh, he stepped very close to me, his chest filled with false courage.

"And then—"

BOOOOOM

Before he could finish speaking, his body was launched through the forest, shattering dozens of trees and rocks along the way.

BANG BANG BANG

His body twisted like a rag doll.

My Primordial Force was instantly exhausted to deliver that single violent strike.

"Would you mind restoring me once more?" I asked Raiden, who merely sighed before doing so.

Meanwhile, Gravis lay in the middle of a crater in the ground, breathing weakly, his eyes glassy.

Fear consumed his entire being. Once again, he stood at death’s door. He had lowered his guard for a single instant, and that had almost been enough.

He did not stand up; his mind had frozen.

However, Raiden and I—Euphy on my back—approached him. Raiden healed him once again with a sigh.

"You should have felt the poorly restrained killing intent, foolish disciple," Raiden said in disappointment. "He didn’t want to kill you, but he was holding himself back from doing so. The sensible thing would have been to stay out of reach."

Gravis remained paralyzed, only accepting his master’s hand to help him up.

At that moment, I took a step forward, approaching him.

"Let’s start over. How long has it been, little brother? Have you learned some manners, or will I need to toss you around like when we were kids? I hope you’ve learned that biting others has painful consequences."

Gravis stepped back, positioning himself behind his master, once again trying to assume a brave façade.

"I remember you! You’re that bastard favored by our mother, the one who was always running away and beating us up. A real bully, and still the favorite. Know this—I’ll make your life a living hell—"

I growled once more, making him tremble and hide.

His master merely sighed.

"I suppose it was always meant to be this way. Since ancient times, brothers have only served to hate one another. I should be thankful the earth didn’t have to bleed and the sky didn’t fall."

He then coughed softly.

"In any case, we’re in the middle of the forest, surrounded by beasts on all sides. Is this really the place to hold a meeting? I believe it would be better to go to a proper meeting room."

"Of course. Lead the way and protect your disciple well. I guarantee I won’t kill him, but I can’t guarantee he’ll arrive there in one piece."

Raiden nodded while Gravis merely trembled, trying to maintain a confident façade.

Step by step, we walked in silence through the forest.

At that moment, several questions crossed my mind.

First: Why did both master and disciple—true tigers—have completely human bodies, without even a single bestial trait?

Euphy was not like that, clearly displaying feral features despite having a humanoid silhouette.

Second: When was it decided that I was the older brother? As far as I knew, we were born at the same time, and I had never seen myself as such.

Even so, both Raiden and Gravis recognized me as the elder, without any need to discuss the matter.

Third: How can this little bastard be so strong and so weak at the same time? He’s a terrible fighter. Literally, if he had landed even a single attack on me, he would have won—yet he didn’t.

Worse than that, he trembles in fear after being struck by only two blows.

For someone who wants to appear so brave, he shakes an awful lot at every moment.

Perhaps calling him a tiger is an exaggeration.

My eyes stayed fixed on him throughout the entire journey, making thick sweat run down his back.

"Are you going to keep staring at me—" he said, and immediately I growled furiously. "Master..." He tugged at Raiden’s sleeve.

"You know what you did. Deal with the consequences. I’ve always told you I wouldn’t interfere in your personal battles and grudges."

"But..." He kept looking at me over his shoulder.

"But what?!" Raiden snorted. "It’s a personal feud that you triggered. If it had at least been Kai who hit you for no reason, I might have done something. But you go and hit his girlfriend—what the hell did you expect? Applause?"

"Huh?" Gravis suddenly stopped. "He’s angry because of that stupid, weak beast? I thought it was for another reason." His face twisted in anger once more.

"What kind of brother cares more about his girlfriend than his own brother?!" he shouted, flames running between my fangs.

This time, however, he did not retreat, glaring at me fiercely.

"I’ve already seen what kind of person you are and what your values are—truly a low, stupid beast," he continued. "You’re not even worthy of being called my—"

BOOOOOM

Flames erupted.