Alfred didn’t waste another moment as he hurriedly strode out of the wrecked dining hall, urgency in his every step showed his concern for the missing hunters and villagers.
Kaiser, still basking in the remnants of his shameless victory, found himself hesitating even though his also curious at why didn’t others appear amidst their duel? Which can only mean that something must have drawn their attention away. Whatever it is, surely its something catastrophic to distract everyone's attention.
Yet, he knew he couldn’t prioritize his curiosity over the safety of his friends.
Kaiser navigated through the wreckage they made. Miss Lina would really be mad once she saw the dining hall she cleaned before leaving or shun away by Alfred, was a complete mess. It lay in ruins, furniture overturned or broken and debris scattered.
'The big guy is asking for it.' He coughed, throwing blame on why he used the inn's innocent items to gain an upper hand. Fortunately, his rich to cover the damages.
Kai climbed the staircase and reached open the door. There, he found Ariella at the balcony, standing at the edge, her back to him. She gazed out over the village, her white dress billowing softly in the wind, almost ethereal in its beauty.
Curious, Kaiser approached her casually, tapping her shoulder as he leaned over to see what she was gazing at. A frown creased his brow at the chaotic scene unfolding in the distant streets.
The street was alive with activity—numerous figures moved among the abandoned houses with lights flickering in their hands as they wandered urgently as if chased by something terrifying or was chasing it? Kai isn't sure, but the faint sounds of their shouts suggest the magnitude of the situation.
“What’s going on down there?” he asked in a low voice but not completely clueless himself. Aside from him, Kai was acutely aware that another anomaly lurks in the village—The real monster that has been the recent talk in the town. A mysterious creature that had already claimed the lives of few residents and hunters alike, yet remained elusive until now. Had it finally emerged, taking advantage of the chaos he had unwittingly caused?
On his side, Ariella gave him a pouting look because he knew his not supposed to be asking her of all people. She can't speak.
Focused on the distant commotion with an unreadable expression, Kai sighed wearily and affectionately ruffled the goddess hair which is quite difficult because they're at the same height.
His sleep-deprived eyes locked onto hers for a moment, his voice low.
“Ari, can you take care of Sister Cis while I’m gone? Show me what my goddess can do, okay?” Kaiser said with a smile at the end, hus words were meant to be encouraging, but they faltered under the weight of her questioning glare. Earlier, he said he would only be away for a bit, and now his leaving again? Kai can't face her unspoken displeasure, avoiding her captivating eyes that urge him to stay.
“Sorry, I’ll be away again,” he murmured, the guilt creeping into his voice. “This… this is partially my fault. I need to help them.”
The most likely cause of the current commotion is that, his sudden rage previously, darting like a shadow beast unannounced and surprising everyone had created an opening for the lurking monster to strike. Though his intentions had been to reach his friends quickly, for they might be harmed, he had inadvertently caused the Hunters formation to break.
‘That explains it…’ The realization settled heavily in his mind, knowing his partially responsible for someone's death isn't pleasant in his conscience.
But before he could linger on those thoughts, something in the distance caught his attention—a swift, inhuman shadow darting through the alley alone, moving with an unnatural speed away from the rushing pursuers. Oddly enough, it seemed to be running away from the Hunters and moving towards the Inn?
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Kaiser allowed himself a quick, humorless grin. "Isn't that convenient."
He had been thinking of something to fill the void left by his failed deed, something to redeem himself before the night was out to let him sleep in peace. Now, it was as if fate had offered him exactly that.
Without delay, he leapt over the railing from the second floor, landing with a soft thud. Ignoring the twinge in his knee, he set off in a sprint forward, hoping to intersect the dark figure heading on his way.
The distance and speed of the shadow made it too vague for him to identify what it is, but one thing is certain. That thing isn't human, the fact that it's navigating alone and moving with inhumane swiftness was proof. So, it had to be the real monster.
He plunged into the tight alleys between the houses, every corner revealing another deepened shadow. Soon, he was swallowed up in the eerie, dark embrace of the abandoned district, where every building was stripped of light. The walls around him, once homes and shops, were silent and desolate, their windows like empty eyes. The only sound was his own breathing, the crunch of gravel under his boots, and the far-off shouts of those in pursuit can be heard.
Kaiser skidded to a halt at an intersection, pressing himself against the corner of a dilapidated wall. He took a steadying breath and closed his eyes, focusing, visualizing the creature’s path. If his calculations were right, it would pass by here any second. And so he waited, his heartbeat settling, body poised to strike. However, in that brief wait, a dark thought tugged at the edge of his mind upon remembering the dreadful devouring ability of the creature that threatened his prided immortality. Though it was only a theory, the hollow remains of its victim made it likely to be true. He shuddered but dismissed the thought. Fortunately, his task wasn’t to fight alone, all he had to do was stall it for a while, until reinforcements catch up. That much he could manage.
Just then, a sound sliced through the silence—a rapid clamor, like claws scraping against stone. Kaiser tensed, his grip tightening around his sword. Then, faster than he could have anticipated, a shadow flashed past him. His instinct took over as he swung his blade, feeling the cold resistance of flesh. But strangely, no warm blood or any liquid spattered nor pained snarl sounding, as if the monster was unaffected at all by his deep slash. Allowing it to slip away unhindered, disappearing once more into the dark.
“Damn it,” he spat, breaking into a run. It was faster than he’d expected, so quick that even with his strike, he hadn’t caught so much as a glimpse of its true form. Perhaps his mind is too tired, deprived of sleep which was drained more by the intensity of their battle minutes ago. Kaiser's focus isn't in condition at the moment.
Ahead, a door slammed open, the wood creaking under the force. Kaiser pushed forward, charging into the house without hesitation. The floorboards groaned underfoot as he moved through rooms steeped in darkness, the walls covered in the decay of forgotten lives. He caught the faintest sound—a rustle of movement just ahead, like a trapped animal frantically seeking escape. Then, a crash. When he reached the second-floor, the creature had already slipped through a window, leaping down to the street below. He halted, chest heaving as he watched its distant shadow sprint across the alley. It was nothing more than a blur in the darkness of night, but he could tell it was adapting, almost as if it sensed his relentless pursuit.
Steadying his breath, Kaiser bounded across and landing onto the roof of a nearby one-story house. Fighting it in the game of speed was a fools errand even with his beastial agility, he can't catch up. But up here, the chase was different. His paths are open, with fewer twists and turns to slow him down. He moved in a straight line, leaping over roofs while his eyes scanned the alleys below, his vantage point giving him a clearer view. The creature seemed to notice his new position, quickening its pace, frenzied as it ducked and weaved between buildings.
It sprint across the houses, making sudden, jarring turns in an effort to throw him off. But as someone who spent most of his life in society, navigating through complicated alleys, roads and intersections was second nature to him. He had a better understanding of human environment, losing him in this terrain would be difficult for the monster. Kai kept up. With every corner it turned, he was keenly following its trail, tracking its every move, relentlessly as it tried to escape his sight.
Then, finally, it made a mistake. It turns into a dead-end alley, with a wooden barricade at its end. Kaiser gradually lowered, switching on ground with a smirked, thinking he’d finally have the chance to see this beast in all its terrible glory, perhaps even catch it.
However, he was met by a gaping hole in the wall at the end of the alley, leading out into the dense forest beyond. The forcefully made hole was wide enough for him to crawl through, but Kai decided to halt there, knowing the terrain outside all too well. The forest was a place of shadows, a wild stretch where the monster would have every advantage. He would be foolish to pursue it there, especially with no backup. If he continued, the reinforcements wouldn't be able to keep up or probably lost his track, that is, if he could actually catch it in the wide wilderness.
“Damn it.” he muttered under his breath and looked down. Still finding it strange for the creature to not let out a single drop of blood. Just what kind of monster is that?
Soon after, the hurried footsteps of the other pursuers drew closer behind him. Kaiser turned as the group approached, their faces etched with exhaustion and frustration. Villagers and hunters alike crowded the alley, holding torches that cast long, flickering shadows against the walls. At the front was Alfred, his advanced position suggests the difference between physical prowess compared to others, Brick and other Hunters who held a relatively high rank was also ahead. Kaiser are really curious what separated their physicality from the masses.
Alfred slowed as he spotted Kaiser near the hole, the disappointment clear on his face.
Eventually, they all came to a halt. Those who were tired were gasping for air, bent down. It had been a busy night packed with activities and surprises. The chase ended here, so everyone would have loved to get some sleep, so did Kai.
However...
The majority of them suggest otherwise. Keeping their distance, they stood away from him. Kaiser could feel their eyes, wary and full of questions, suspicion and dread.
The flames their torches held swayed.