On the other side of the wall, where Urkil was stationed to guard the opened gate, waiting for Irkil's arrival.

Whilst humming and looking around the beautiful starry sky with bits of floating clouds, Urkil heard some footsteps coming right from where Irkil and the old man went in to.

He then turned his back to check on the passage, but as soon as he took a step closer to it. Suddenly, a strong gust of wind blew over, coming from inside of the passage.

Urkil's body started to waver from approaching the small passage as if every strand of his hair was standing at a standstill, warning him not to get near it.

*ECHOING FOOTSTEPS*

The sound of the footsteps started to draw closer with each passing second. Urkil's senses have been on high alert ever since he heard those strange sounds which echoed throughout the internal structure of the humongous walls.

Urkil tried to hide and swallow his fear as he held onto the hilt of his one-edged blade, which was still placed within its scabbard.

*GULP*

Slowly, he opened his mouth to speak as he swallowed his saliva, though as soon as he heard the noise inside, it came to a halt midway through the passage. The guard, Urkil, started gazing upon the darkness that seemed like an endless pit and spoke with uncertainty.

"Irkil...?"

That was the first word that came out of his mouth, but even then, after calling upon his friend's name, the individual who stopped midway didn't answer and continued forth once more, heading right towards him.

Without any more hesitation, Urkil drew his katana covered with divine energy, which resonated within his entire being.

"Who goes there!?"

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Urkil calmly shouted, with his katana right out in the open, pointed at the very same passage he's now being wary of.

With its shadow right out in the open, he saw its feint appearance through its shadow from the cold iced brick made of a sturdy material being used as flooring. Through that, he saw two pairs of horns, which is very highly likely not Irkil since neither of them is allowed to take off their armour and weapons while on duty.

The guard, took a bit of a step back, glaring at the creature hiding within the absence of light.

He made a quick battle posture he learned during the drills. With his front foot in one corner, toes pointing straight forward, and his back foot in the opposite corner, toes pointing slightly outward, heel lifted slightly, he held upon his katana rather tightly due to the irregular behaviour he's currently experiencing.

Shifting his gaze to his hands, in that small moment of carelessness, the shadow suddenly disappeared out of his sight.

'Where is it?!'

Urkil frantically looked around his surroundings from his perspective but found nothing.

Then again, as he looks down right below him where he stood. Urkil saw something rising right behind him.

From its small pair of horns, it grew bigger and bigger over time. Now, due to a novice mistake, he left his rear open, which he immediately regretted as he turned his head to the side.

Since he's still in his stance position, the very moment he moved his limbs might be the last time he would be able to do so to probe as to what exactly he's facing right that instant. The lone guardsmen were left only with one single movement in hopes of counterattack.

Urkil, hastened the turn of his head, releasing his grip from his left hand, completely leaving the force of the swing into his right arm.

However, as soon as he acted. He unknowingly slashed through thin air seeing nothing but emptiness. But whilst tilting the blade of his weapon, he saw something just about 20-30 steps away from him where he slashed his weapon.

The being looked camouflaged with its dark fur and goat-like body with a distinct feature of a black lion's mane, standing still like any other two-legged creature who walks within this Realm.

Urkil's gaze was fixated on the creature's dark golden eyes with a black cross symbol within them.

It may look harder to look at because of the passing clouds, though in near moments with the cloud's passing, it disappeared like an illusion made out of his mind.

He didn't even blink, and he still lost signs of its sudden disappearance, so he looked down once again out of habit, and right below his shadow, he saw about his own shadow soon to be taken over.

Once again, Urkil slashes his katana up to his front.

*SLASH*

Though with that one slash, a part of the blade flung the other way around.

Urkil lifted his head to face his foe. There he saw its mouth wide open, out with its unprecedentedly sharp fangs.

*CRUNCH!*