King's Attack (Part 2)

On the outskirts of Isle City, we ran down the narrow cobblestone streets.

We needed to move. To reposition.

We can’t get caught.

At least, not yet.

The houses that burned besides us were our protection. The harsh smoke masked our scents. There was still a chance that some of King’s creatures could still catch our scent and run toward us, but it wouldn’t be all of them.

And that was what I had hoped for.

Arnold stopped by a trash-filled alleyway.

“What’s going on?” I asked. “Did we run too far?

We needed to observe King and his abilities, so we couldn’t stray too far from him.

“No, that’s not the case,” said Arnold.

He lowered his head and closed his eyes. He was focused on something. Hearing perhaps?

He then opened his eyes.

“We’re being followed.”

“Huh?”

Everyone in the group raised their guard and weapons.

Ophelia squeezed my hand.

I looked over. Was this still the time to be doing that?

I didn’t know. But at the moment, I didn’t let go.

“How many are there?” I asked.

“I’m not sure?” Arnold answered. “But they’re fast.”

I scanned the surrounding area. Was there a swarm of monsters coming toward us?

No, that can’t be the case. If there’s a bunch of monsters heading right towards us, then we would know. They wouldn’t be discreet about it.

But still, I couldn’t hear any roars, growls, or wings flapping through the air.

Where could this creature be?

And that’s when I felt it.

It was a tingling sensation. The same kind of sensation I felt when the werewolves were reviving.

I was sensing mana.

The sensation was ‌of a thousand tiny pats on the back of my neck. It wasn’t harmful, unlike the time with the werewolves.

But it was a warning to my human senses. Was this how the human body perceived danger in this world?

Ophelia and Bertram looked troubled.

“Can you guys sense it as well?”

Ophelia nodded while Bertram spoke.

“Yeah, I felt alright. Arnold was spot on. Whatever this thing is, it’s fast.”

And not only that…

“It’s also running on two legs.”

Bertram nodded.

“The damn thing’s humanoid.”

The others looked worried when Bertram said that. Were humanoid creatures that much of a problem?

Thinking about it, the only humanoid creatures we went up against were those werewolves, and they almost killed me.

So yeah, humanoid creatures are a problem.

“But I can only sense a single creature,” I said.

It was just a guess. Though it might’ve been less of a guess but more so of a gut instinct. The thousand tiny pats on the neck felt similar to a person’s foot hitting the ground when they ran.

“Is that true?” Arnold asked.

He looked over to his buddy, Bertram.

Bertram nodded. He grinned right after.

“The kid’s right. I sense only one of them.”

Ophelia nodded.

“M-me too.”

Hearing those words, Arnold raised his colossal greatsword.

“Then running away would be pointless.”

I nodded.

“We have the numbers advantage.” I’m sure we can overwhelm it. “We can beat it.”

Everyone nodded and got into their most comfortable fighting positions.

From down the street, the homes from the outskirts of Isle City crashed onto the ground. The flames spread to the next big thing.

The edge of another home lit on fire. A home that the owners and their families couldn’t go back to. At least for the time being.

My mind replayed the screams of the dying folk from all over the city. The image of bodies mutilated and mauled splattered across the streets.

Though in the image, there was only a small amount of blood sprayed onto the streets.

Most of the blood we saw was on the wall.

My stomach churned.

Those creatures must’ve drunk it. Mana was in a person’s bloodstream after all. That must’ve been how they replenished their mana and energy.

How horrible.

My heart ached for the people who can never go back to their homes. Who can never reunite with their loved ones. Their family.

How awful.

I tightened my grip on the dagger I had been handed moments before we went to the sewers.

King’s words remained in my head and how humanity and the people of Isle City deserved all this carnage and destruction.

When he cried, I felt for him.

They hunted him and the creatures he lived with until they eliminated them forever. I can’t imagine how terrifying that must’ve been.

But still, I can’t let you eradicate all of humanity. Not when there’s good people roaming this world—helping others who need it and spreading love to the surrounding people.

Such as Frank, Maya, Mia, August, and Ophelia.

I’m sorry to say, King, but we’re not going to die that easily.

You’re going down.

Another building crumbled and crashed to the ground, engulfed in flames.

A gust of wind blew past us and a cloud of heavy smoke didn’t rise to the air but stayed close to the ground.

It was the perfect spot for us to fight.

None of King’s creatures would run through that fire.

But I was wrong.

Because there was one.

And it was the humanoid creature that did it.