Kira Yoshikage stood in the shadows of the woods, like a predator melting into the night. In a sense, he, this Vampire, truly was one an absolute hunter of humans.
He took a deep breath. The thick scent of blood and panic in the air caused the Vampire instincts within him to stir slightly, but they were easily suppressed by his powerful willpower. Before arriving, he had managed to create an outfit suitable for this era.
He did not plan to act immediately this time; after all, the saint's corpse was not to be trifled with. He intended to observe carefully, gather intelligence, and then make his move.
"Chaos... fear... and a residual, unpleasant barbaric aura. It feels somewhat familiar... Divine power? No, no, this isn't the Mountain God's. Is it another deity?"
He analyzed softly, his figure cautious. For him, the inherent danger of this world was secondary. What worried him more now was the insect arrow inside his body, and a conflicting power that was raging within him, something he hadn't felt before.
But upon arriving in this world, that power suddenly erupted. It seemed to be something suppressed by destiny, which had naturally been unleashed after losing its restraint.
In an instant, he suddenly realized that, in a way, he too had embarked on the path to Heaven!
No, it was more than that. He also felt a trace of divinity arising within himself... and seemingly, a faint calling was beckoning him. For a moment, he seemed to grasp something, yet couldn't quite seize it. Despite these developments, he decided to first assess the local situation before making further plans.
He did not rashly enter the center of the Town, but instead moved along the shadows like a phantom, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings. He needed a source of information an entry point that wouldn't draw too much attention but could provide sufficient intelligence.
His eyes settled on a saloon at the edge of the Town. It looked relatively tidy, but its lights were dim. Although the events of the day had terrified the people in the Town, still...
Duels were commonplace in places like this, and a few deaths now and then were normal. Even though the number of casualties this time was higher and quite frightening, these old drunks of the American frontier still couldn't resist a drink.
Such places were usually where gossip and riff-raff gathered. Especially after enduring such a terrifying day, there would always be people needing alcohol to numb their nerves, and people who couldn't keep their mouths shut.
Kira Yoshikage did not enter through the front door. Using Killer Queen's ability to see through objects, he proceeded stealthily, avoiding everyone's sight.
He circled around to the back of the saloon and found a slightly ajar back door used for moving supplies. There was not a single sound, not a single ripple.
Low murmurs and the clinking of glasses drifted out. He slipped inside silently, like a slippery fish, truly a soundless phantom, hiding in the shadows of the stacked barrels.
A suffocating, heavy atmosphere permeated the saloon, as if the entire space were enveloped by an invisible pressure, much like a pedestrian who had just narrowly escaped being run over by a large truck.
Under the dim light, the few worn tables and chairs looked especially desolate. Only a handful of people were seated together. They appeared to be cowboys, but even they now showed undisguised expressions of terror.
These audacious patrons sat in a circle, whispering, afraid of attracting any unnecessary trouble. From time to time, they would glance around to ensure that those two devils hadn't arrived.
Fear that had yet to dissipate hung on everyone's faces, especially the contestants, who had genuinely come close to death.
The bartender of this saloon was a fierce-looking middle-aged man with a scar running across his face. He silently wiped the glass in his hand and looked extremely intimidating.
Yet, even this intimidating brute occasionally cast glances toward the front door, revealing a trace of alertness and unease. He truly had never seen a guy who could grow wings and kill silently... "...I can't believe they're staying at Old Tom's inn. Ah, poor him. The place was rented out for the contestants, and he ended up hosting two things like that..."
"Shh! Quiet down! Do you want to die? Who knows if that monster can hear us!"
"God, how did he do it? Just... flew past... Are humans really supposed to have wings?"
"I heard the doctor say that those policemen... their internal organs were completely shattered. Their skin was intact, but it was as if a hand had reached through and ripped apart their insides, mashed up like they'd been repeatedly pounded by a sledgehammer..."
"And that Native American guy, he was actually mixed up with that devil... Sure enough, Native Americans are all murderous, scalping demons! We're just giving them a taste of their own medicine."
"The officials actually recognized their results?! Has the world gone mad?"
"The rich and powerful guys chickened out, that's all. Who knows what else that monster might do... But can anyone truly win a race against a monster like that?"
Kira Yoshikage listened quietly, catching every keyword. He also ordered a malt beer, holding the glass elegantly with one hand as he drank. A strange face was not uncommon at this time of night, and the bartender paid him no mind.
"Flew past," "shattered organs," "Native American," "official recognition" what exactly was this?
After listening for a while, he understood what had transpired today. This horse race seemed to have undergone a major change. A Native American and a muscular monster had gone on a rampage here today, killing many people.
That muscular monster seemed to possess some kind of sonic ability, shaking several dozen people to death, their internal organs completely pulverized.
The weak attitude of the officials and local powers meant they had temporarily chosen compromise, which, in a sense, verified the cowboys' claims.
However, he would not completely trust the words of a boasting crowd like this. But even if it were true, it didn't matter; they were all the same in his presence. What mattered was not the abilities, but the power of the gods.
Below the level of the gods, everyone was now a one-hit kill against him. The key was the entity interfering with the world's changes which god was it?
He needed more specific information: details about that "madman" and the "Native American," and... clues about the saint's corpse. The SBR race was closely linked to the saint's corpse a fact indicated by both the insect arrow and his own intelligence.
This was absolutely correct.
And absolutely crucial.
Kira Yoshikage stepped out of the shadows beside the bartender, downing the remaining beer in his glass in one gulp. His appearance was utterly silent; it wasn't until he stood next to the table that the few patrons suddenly noticed him, nearly jumping out of their skins in fright.