A faint heartbeat thumped in his ears, but Rio wasn't sure if it was his own. The air reeked of iron and rot. The ground beneath his boots was soft, even though he had been standing on rocky terrain just a moment ago.
Standing in front of him was a 5'7" savage blood app, staring and grinning at Rio like a beast waiting for the perfect moment to tear a rabbit apart.
Rio clenched his dagger tightly, his muscles coiled like springs, waiting for an opening to strike.
Swoosh!
The blood app took a giant leap toward Rio, its hands stretched wide to grab him, its mouth open in a grotesque smile, ready to rip him apart.
Rio bent his body forward and slid at the last moment, just as the creature closed in. He raised his dagger, grip unyielding. The blade slashed clean under its neck, running down all the way to its stomach thanks to Rio's perfect timing and the blood app's reckless leap.
He stood up slowly. Blood dripped from his dagger, streaking across his face and soaking his upper body. He didn't bother to wipe it clean.
Raising his other hand, he chanted calmly, "Rune of Destruction—Void Arrow."
Swoosh!
"ROAR!!"
The blood app screamed in fury. It tried to get up and run, but its belly was ripped open, and a gaping puncture wound in its chest leaked black-red blood. It clawed at the ground, desperate to crawl away.
"Hmph, didn't expect that, did you? I've already killed at least a hundred of you since my tenth day here. The only reason I didn't finish you earlier was because I was tired."
The creature didn't respond. It kept crawling like prey trying to escape a predator it could never defeat.
"Hmm. Am I really that scary? How dull."
Rio grabbed its head and slashed its throat without hesitation.
As soon as the blood app went limp, Rio felt a surge of power coursing through him. His body felt stronger, sharper. A sense of pride rose in his chest.
But his satisfaction was short-lived.
Clack!
A stone shot through the air. Rio barely dodged it, his head snapping toward the direction it came from.
His eyes widened.
Dozens… no, hundreds of blood apps stood there, their crimson eyes glowing in the dim light. Each one grinned with hungry malice, ready to tear him apart.
"Shit. I wasted too much time again. I forgot these bastards usually travel in groups. Damn it, there are at least hundreds of them."
The blood apps leapt forward from every direction, their claws and fangs bared. To them, he was just a lone sheep waiting to be slaughtered.
"Fine by me then! Come—I'll show you the real hell."
Rio's palm slammed into the ground.
"Rune of Destruction: Pillar of Chaos!"
The air screamed.
The ground split open violently, shockwaves rippling out like a living thing. The rocky surface quaked as if struck by an earthquake. Two massive pillars, each at least eight feet tall, erupted from the earth.
The blood apps slowed, their charge faltering as the storm-like wind howled around them. Their instincts screamed at them to run.
Then—
Crack! Crack!!
Bones shattered. Agonized howls filled the air as the blood apps' bodies twisted unnaturally, their skeletons breaking piece by piece.
Within seconds, the ones within 15 meters dropped lifelessly, blood leaking from their mouths and ears. Some even killed themselves, unable to bear the excruciating pain.
Those outside the range didn't hesitate—they fled in terror.
The towering pillars slowly dissolved, turning to dust and fading into the air.
Rio coughed up blood, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
"Shit… this skill takes a toll on my body. Good thing I've got Rune of Regeneration. I should ge—"
"ROOOAAARRR!!"
The roar echoed through the wasteland. Deep. Ancient. Unmistakable.
Rio's eyes went wide. He didn't need to look.
Argus.
The hundred-eyed ancient monster.
For 46 nights, he had heard it roaming nearby, its monstrous form haunting his every move. And now… it was here.
Rio didn't hesitate. He turned and bolted, his boots pounding against the soft, flesh-like ground. He didn't look back. He didn't need to.
Behind him, Argus crept into the clearing, its countless eyes blinking in an eerie rhythm. It sniffed at the mutilated bodies of the blood apps.
"F…ou…nd…y…ou."
The words were slow, chilling, as if uttered through a grin.
---