SHAMAN PROTOCOL
Chapter 90: Medium-Rare Mayhem: Sir Loin

Chapter 90: Medium-Rare Mayhem: Sir Loin

For a moment, everyone just stared at Ran’s body — the boy who didn’t even last ten seconds against the Ruminant King.

The trio hiding behind the tree — the grandpa and the twins — looked at him in pure horror and disbelief.

Just now, Ran had actually looked kind of cool, after all. But all that image he left for them instantly shattered.

"The—the cow..." Blitz stuttered, eyes fixed on Ran’s limp form. "...tenderized Big Brother Ran!"

"If I get hit, do I become ground shaman?!" Boom exclaimed in horror.

Hearing that, Mikel’s face twitched. He couldn’t tell if the kids were genuinely scared or just saw an opportunity for beef puns.

Are those two serious?

"MOO!"

Another roar rang out behind them, making the forest tremble. The leaves rustled as some of them fell off their branches.

Mikel turned to look at the towering cow that had just swatted Ran like a fly.

I know this test is supposed to be rare... but this is medium-rare.

"Ack—" He flinched at the realization of how much the twins’ jokes were affecting him. It just slipped out... naturally.

At the same time, the grandpa spoke in a low voice, "Don’t make eye contact and stay hidden. You might end up pasture-ized. As in sent to the pasture. Like a cow."

Mikel clenched his teeth, glaring at the spirit cow. "This is no time for jokes—Doom."

[Spirit Designation: The Ruminant King — Sir Loin.]

His eye twitched as he stared at the screen. But there was no time to dwell on how everyone suddenly came up with beef jokes, right after Ran got launched like a ragdoll.

The Ruminant King huffed, smoke flaring from its nostrils. Once again, it pulled its hoof back, preparing for another punch. Judging by the direction, Mikel instinctively looked toward where Ran had fallen.

Meanwhile, Ran’s body, slumped among the roots, gave a small twitch in one finger. A second later, his back trembled as he pushed himself up with visible effort.

"Damn it," he hissed, his entire body trembling from the pain. If Gallos (the silver knight phantom) hadn’t cushioned his back, he might’ve snapped his spine.

"He’s... he’s too strong," Ran muttered through shaky breaths, eyes locked on the massive cow a few meters away. "Even with a fraction of Gallos’ strength, I couldn’t stop him."

He’d managed to block the punch — barely — but the shockwave alone had been devastating. There was a way to match it: allowing more of Gallos’ energy into his body. But that would be too risky. Not just for himself, but for the others.

His vision blurred as he stared at the Ruminant King, his brain racing — and then freezing — as the wind began to spiral around the cow’s glove.

In one swift motion, the Ruminant King jabbed at the air.

"Ran!" Mikel shouted, but it sounded distant in Ran’s ears.

Ran lay frozen on his stomach, staring at the spiral of wind coming in his direction like a horizontal whirlwind. His pupils constricted as his breath hitched. That gust — that quiet force — was his death, rushing toward him.

Boogsh!

Just before the massive wind blast could hit him, Mikel scooped Ran off the ground and dove to the side.

They hit the dirt, rolling several times, barely dodging the invisible yet deadly attack.

All the trees in the blast’s path were cut clean in half, like they’d been lasered. The top halves launched skyward, vanishing into the clouds. A long, hollow trench was carved into the ground. Even the tree the grandpa and twins had hidden behind was sliced in half, narrowly missing the old man’s head as he ducked and shielded the children.

"Ugh..." Ran groaned as the impact rattled through his aching body. He propped himself up with one arm and looked over, catching that Mikel was already rising to his knees.

It took him a few shallow breaths to register what had happened. Mikel had just saved him.

"Tha—thanks," he muttered, jaw clenched as he looked away in humiliation. He’d promised to buy them time... but he hadn’t even lasted a minute. Not even fifteen seconds.

Mikel just glanced at him and brushed the dirt from his uniform. Once he was upright, his glare locked on the pound-for-pound monarch.

"Grandpa," he called, pointing at the giant cow. "The rules say capture without hurting it. But does it have an exception for that thing?"

The grandpa, straightening up and only now realizing the tree he’d used for cover was half gone, turned his eyes to the Ruminant King.

"No," he said grimly. "Other students have captured—and even tamed—it without harming it spiritually."

"Spiritually?"

The old man nodded. "Yes. However, be mindful that—"

"Get Ran out of here," Mikel cut in, stepping forward. "If I can’t hurt it spiritually, then I can just mince the crap out of him physically, right?"

[Combat Note: Opponent is 100% Grass-fed. Zero mercy.]

The old man blinked, then frowned. "A spiritual battle might give you a chance, but as a white color stripe, it’s unlikely. And its physical strength is just as terrifying. Don’t underestimate him!"

"Got any better plans?" Mikel replied flatly.

That shut the old man up.

"Me too!" Blitz suddenly wriggled out of the grandpa’s grasp and dashed toward Mikel. "Big Brother Mickey, I’ll help too!"

Mikel paused and turned, deadpan. "Hey—go. Shoo."

At the same time, Boom joined in, happily skipping toward them.

"Cows scare me, but it hurt Big Brother Ran!" he shouted. "I’ll avenge him! I’m gonna make him moo-rn!"

Mikel’s face twitched. These two just watched that thing send Ran flying — and now they’re charging in like it’s recess?!

"Hey—kids—!"

"Boom! Blitz!" Ran shouted weakly after them.

But Boom had already raised his arms high and slammed his tiny palms to the ground.

"Bloomblast!"

The second his hands hit the soil, trees around the area suddenly bent, stretched, and shot toward the Ruminant King. Blitz, meanwhile, charged forward.

"Here... I go...!" he shouted, hopping across the rising tree limbs until he finally landed right in front of the massive cow.

"Bad cow!" he declared.

He stomped the ground, and instantly, a section of earth between the cow’s legs exploded upward, slamming into its groin.

[System Alert: Critical hit detected. Damage inflicted: Dignity.]

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