Herd of Beasts (2)
"Cat? A cat?"
I chuckled, shoving the bow into my duffel bag. "Eugh, that thing's a total monster."
I stood, drawing my swords from my waist with a sharp shing.
The monster cat whipped its head toward me, black fur bristling. Arrows were lodged in a cluster on its skull and one eye. Its remaining eye glared daggers.
"Monster? Dangerous? What's the situation?"
A grin tugged at my lips.
"Not dangerous so much as..."
"As what? You calling for backup?"
"Nah, just... whatever."
"Come on, spit it out. Can't see shit, it's frustrating. Backup?"
The massive tree and well stood proudly in the village center. I gripped my swords in both hands and advanced slowly toward the tree.
The monster cat bristled even more, stepping forward one paw at a time. Debris from the wall fragments on its back rained down.
...This is thrilling.
"Sung-hoon, you dead? Hello?"
"Not dead. Shut up a sec."
What a pain.
I'd never enjoyed a fight before. Pre-apocalypse, the messages told me what to do, so it felt like following orders. After, it was just desperate scrabbling to survive. Sure, getting specializations and bathing in blood brought some excitement at first, but even that became routine.
But this... No one's spoon-feeding me info. Lose, and I die. Eaten alive, probably.
In the dead of night, with only streetlamp glow to see by, my vision sharpened crystal clear. Colors popped vividly. My heart pounded.
...I'm gonna get hooked on this.
The cat and I circled each other like there was an invisible pillar between us, creeping in opposite directions.
The scattered single homes were the audience. This village clearing? Our coliseum.
Thinking of it that way made it even more fun. I smirked, locking eyes with the cat as we inched along.
It halted. Tail dropped. Ears flattened back. Body hunkered low.
Its maw trembled, lips quivering.
...Oh ho.
That's the attack signal, huh.
I clenched my jaw, grin intact, muscles tensing in my sword hands.
"Kyarrlrlrak!"
It lunged. Eight razor claws on its forepaws gleamed with shredding intent.
I stood stock-still. I waited.
It charged. Its form blurred, expanding in a flash!
Automatic Cast: Acceleration
That's it.
The cat was so fast it was nearly an afterimage before. Now? Crystal clear.
I scanned left and right quick. Its forepaws swept down to envelop me.
"Hoo."
I slammed my sword into its gut with all my strength. It sank in smooth.
I yanked my arm back, leaped—and drew the blade free.
Thud. Landed on its forepaw.
I sprang instantly toward its head, thrusting the sword in.
Crunch, crunch! Nice.
No matter how thick the skull, the blade pierced.
In that split second, a thought flashed: This thing won't die from a stab like that.
How to take it down?
Hunched on its head, I glanced aside.
...The neck.
...Slice it off.
No time for fancy analysis. While Acceleration holds, sever this monster's neck.
"Hup!"
I ripped the sword free and dashed along its skull to its shoulder blade.
Crossed both swords and slashed down hard.
Shriiip! Blood droplets rippled slowly in all directions.
Nape skin tore. Muscles shredded. I could see it.
Just like this, snap its vertebrae...!
I froze. Blinked in disbelief.
This thing. Monster beast.
Inside its hide and muscle? Not guts.
Human faces. Twisted in agony, writhing, screaming in torment.
In that instant, I got it.
All the human beasts it'd devoured. The zombie freaks.
They weren't digested for growth. Stockpiled whole inside it.
Staring down at the grotesque faces peeking through rent flesh and muscle, horror and glee hit me at once.
I drove the sword down.
Crunch!
Human faces. Skulls too, plain as day.
I yanked the blade free, spun, and smashed both arms downward.
Felt the swords punch through hide.
Impaled, I ran—along its body, toward the tail, full sprint.
Zzzip, rip— Skin split and tore on the blades. Nasty sound, but Acceleration pushed it aside.
And I smiled.
"Hup!"
Hit its haunches, leaped hard—arms crossed forward, swords extended.
Blades sprayed blood across my vision.
Acceleration ended.
Thud. Touched down.
A scream shredded my ears. Monster's death howl.
I turned as thunderous crashing erupted behind me.
BOOM! The cat slammed into the well, thrashing in agony. Shattered stone flew everywhere.
I walked slowly toward the beast. And pondered.
If my hunch is right...
That's how to kill it.
I hurled my swords forward.
As the grips slipped from my fingers, shadows surged from my hands and feet, seizing them.
Whoosh!
My shadow warrior burst forth on one knee.
I commanded: "Kill it."
The shadow leaped from its kneel, slashing at the twitching monster.
Splat, thwack! Rip!
"Kyaaaak! Kyarrlrlrak!"
The shadow knew exactly where to strike. Residual Image made flesh—melee attacks always hit weak points.
No hesitation. It stabbed belly, shoulders, chest, thighs—flaying skin and chunks in sprays of blood.
Like a blender.
"Krarrlrlak! Kyarrlrlrak!"
The cat flailed, stabbed and slashed nonstop. But it ignored the shadow.
Human beasts don't register non-living targets. Just like zombies dropping clueless to a single blade—this thing couldn't fight back amid the carnage.
I strolled toward my duffel bag, left behind.
"...Status."
If my hunch holds...
Eyes on the cat, I checked my status window.
Bingo.
Strength dropping.
Grabbed my bow from the bag, nocked an arrow.
Shadow swung down.
Shwick— Forepaw lopped off in a chunk.
"Kyarrraaak!"
It toppled. I aimed my nocked bow at it.
Pwaaaang—
A circle formed.
...I see it.
Its status.
The monster beast that blazed red all over. Dozens of crimson LED lights smeared like pastels.
Those lights winked out fast. One by one with every shadow slash.
Red glows: five, four, three.
I released the string, extended my hand.
Come back.
Shadow froze. Snapped its head to me. Bowed.
In a blink, it was before me, thrusting its hand.
Sword hilts slapped perfectly into my palm.
Shhh— White smoke rose.
I swung to shake off blood.
Splatter!
One-handed spin, reversed grip, sheathed.
Shing—click.
Slowly, I reached out, hooked fingers on the bowstring.
Black cat shape—no, not a cat anymore. Mangled monster beast. Fore and hind legs severed, twitching in death throes.
"Kyarrluk, krarrlrlak!"
I leveled the bow. Drew the string.
Pwaaaang—
Transparent circle. Monster perfectly framed inside.
All its fires extinguished. No more crimson blaze.
Just the heart glowing.
I loosed the taut string.
Twang.Whiiish—
Arrow snaked through air like a serpent, plunging diagonally into its heart.
The beast jerked like electrocuted, legs splayed rigid—then stilled.
Silent.
"...Hoo."
...So that's how it works.
Not that headshots didn't kill. Its whole body was heads.
So kill it till it's dead.
"...Haha."
Laughter leaked through gritted teeth. Blood from my splattered face trickled into my mouth.
Familiar iron tang.
Krrrl, krarrluk!
Familiar noise. Missed it, focused on the monster.
Human beasts swarming toward the village.
I glanced around.
...Fewer than expected?
"Krrrl! Krrrlrluk!"
Some damn close too.
Grin holding, I dropped the bow.
"Kraaaang!"
They charged from all sides.
Thud. Bow hit the duffel.
I laughed.
"Haha, haha!"
Automatic Cast: Acceleration
Arms down, snatched Ingrams from thigh holsters. Fanned them wide instantly.
Human beasts lunging from every direction.
Grinning, I pulled triggers.
Rat-tat, rat-tat, rat-tat.
Shells crawled through air in slow-mo.
"Ha, haha, krhahaha!"
Couldn't stop laughing.