We left the mansion behind, the corpse of the beast still lying on the marble floor, its foul, black blood staining the edges of the carpet.
I didn't look back for long. Survival was the priority now... yet a heavy pressure settled inside my chest, whispering that this wasn't the end—only the beginning of something far more horrifying.
As we stepped outside, the atmosphere had changed in a strange, unsettling way.
A dense fog wrapped around the garden like a thick curtain hiding whatever lay beyond. Even though I knew the pathways well, my vision was now limited to only a few meters ahead.
The air was cold, filled with a strange smell… a mix of wet soil, rust, and something I didn't want to admit was blood.
My sister, Arba, clung to my hand tightly, her cold fingers intertwined with mine.
The maid walked beside us, constantly glancing around, her face pale, her breathing sharp and fast, flinching at every shadow that flickered through the fog.
Arba spoke in a trembling voice:
· "Eugene… what do we do now?"
I answered without hesitation:
· "Stay close to me. Both of you. Do not move on your own, no matter what you see or hear—unless I tell you."
But what I saw next made my heart stop for a moment.
Not far away, within the fog, three beasts were locked in a vicious battle.
Their bodies slammed into each other, claws ripping fur and flesh, their roars shaking the air.
Arba stared with wide eyes:
· "W-why… why are they fighting each other?"
I replied, keeping my gaze fixed on them:
· "That happens sometimes… when multiple beasts find the same prey. They turn on one another."
But the real question pulsing inside my head was:
· Where is the prey?
Was there another reason they were fighting?
And the answer came… in the form of a sound.
Weak. Trembling. But unmistakable.
A child's sobbing.
I turned my head toward the sound—and saw him. A young boy, no older than ten.
His hair was black with a faint dark-blue tint, and his eyes were deep black, gleaming with fear.
He sat curled on the ground, knees clutched to his chest, tears shining on his cheeks as his gaze darted around like a trapped bird.
I realized instantly—the beasts would go for him next.
But instead of rushing toward him, a thought struck me.
I needed to use this moment… to force Arba and the maid to kill a beast themselves.
I scanned the area quickly—and saw a fallen power pole nearby, electrical wires hanging down, occasionally sparking.
One thick cable was only partially insulated—strong enough to be used as a restraint.
I spoke sharply:
· "Arba. You and the maid… will kill the beast this time. I'll restrain it—but the finishing blow must come from you."
Arba opened her mouth to protest, but I cut her off with a hard stare:
· "If you can't do this now… you won't survive what comes next."
The fog grew heavier, smothering the world in gray. Time itself felt strained—too slow, too heavy.
Then suddenly, from nothing, a beast lunged toward Arba and the maid, its steps shaking the ground.
Arba screamed. The maid froze.
I didn't have time to think.
I grabbed the cable, wrapping it into a loop with burning fingers, the rough surface scraping skin.
I hurled it with all my strength.
It barely managed to catch, but it hooked around the beast's neck. I pulled—and the loop tightened brutally.
But no time was given.
The other two beasts charged toward me.
Before they reached me—
A power pole came crashing down on them, sparks exploding in every direction.
I gasped, turning to look—
The child was standing there.
Barely standing, trembling violently, face pale, breathing uneven…
Yet he had broken the pole.
With his bare hands.
No adult could do that. Not even trained soldiers.
Something inside me shook—but this was not the time.
I turned back. One beast was restrained, the other two pinned beneath the pole but still alive.
Their bodies twisted as they tried to break free, black saliva dripping from their jaws.
I shouted:
· "Arba! Maid! Now—kill it!"
They hesitated, eyes wide with horror.
Arba whispered:
· "I… I can't. I can't kill something like this…"
I stared into her eyes—cold, uncompromising.
Then the child stepped forward.
His voice was small, weak, but steady:
· "I… want to be first."
Our eyes met. I nodded slowly.
· "Then go. Place the knife on its neck."
He bent down, picked up the knife, hands trembling—but holding it tight, like it was his lifeline.
Step by step, he approached the monster.
It roared, shaking the ground.
He didn't step back.
He pressed the knife to its neck—first slowly, then suddenly with all his strength.
The blade sank in. The beast shrieked—then fell silent.
Black blood pooled beneath it.
The child stood still, staring at the corpse with an expression far from anything a child should have.
I didn't let the moment pass.
I took Arba's hand, placed the knife in her grip, guided her to the next restrained beast.
Together, we pushed.
The beast collapsed.
Suddenly, a system screen appeared in front of us:
· Mission One Complete: Beast Eliminated.
Proceed to the Rest Point across the island bridge.
Before we could even breathe, we turned to the maid—
Her body trembling, tears flooding her face.
· "I… I don't want to… please… don't make me."
But before I could speak—
Another system screen appeared:
· Time's Up.
Anyone who has not killed a beast… will be punished immediately.
We froze.
No warning. No countdown.
The maid's body ignited.
The fire wasn't normal flame—it burned with unnatural fury, heat blasting outward like a volcanic eruption.
Her screams tore through the air, ripping at our chests.
· "Please… someone… anyone… help me…"
But there was nothing to help her.
Her flesh burned, peeled, cracked, falling away in black chunks.
The smell of burning human skin hit us.
Then we heard more screams.
Not just hers—
The entire city was screaming.
Flames in the distance. Smoke rising. People burning alive.
The maid clawed at her own melting skin, sobbing:
· "No… no… it hurts… stop… please stop…"
And then she stopped.
Her body collapsed, nothing left but blackened remains.
Arba fainted instantly.
The child stared, unblinking.
There was no time to mourn.
I lifted Arba onto my shoulder and grabbed the boy's hand.
· "We need to reach the safe zone—now!"
And we started running.
While the entire city burned and screamed.