《Gods Don't Bleed》


 CHAPTER 01: KNIGHT BLACKBURNE

    Knight Blackburne, his black cape billowing behind him, rode towards the fallen kingdom, his sights fixed on the horizon. A smirk played on his lips¡ªthe kind of confidence earned from a lifetime of slaying demons and supernatural creatures. As he drew closer, he noticed a skull and scattered bones near a hill. The air around him grew thick with dust. Was a storm brewing?


    He shielded his face from the dust, his vision only slightly obscured. Looking up, he saw a massive flock of crows circling the kingdom''s heart like a tornado. No¡ªit was far worse than that...


    Princess Elysia. I...I''m going to make it...I know I am.


    Knight Blackburne''s brow furrowed, but he clung to hope. If he kept riding, he had to at least try. The kingdom loomed larger as he approached. With a flick of the reins, he urged his horse to greater speed. The horse huffed and puffed as they navigated the scattered bones and entrails near the palace entrance.


    Inside the palace, everything was ablaze. Houses, trees, even corpses burned. Blackburne frowned again and guided his horse into the capital at a steady pace. As far as he could tell, only chaos remained.


    He spotted a blood trail leading from the alley''s entrance. With a sigh, he followed the gruesome path, which seemed almost cursed, as if it were spewing radioactive spores.


    Um...okay. I''m still confused.


    This wasn''t new. Knight Blackburne was often confused, but this was sorcery on another level. He continued down the alley until something caught his eye. It wasn''t the broken glass reflecting his dark armor and black cape¡ªit was a bloody symbol on the wall. He dismounted and approached the symbol, studying it intently.


    Oh...uh...I think it''s in another language¡ªis it? Well, I never learned to read anyway...so...


    Frustrated, he sat down and crossed his arms. If he couldn''t read the symbol, how could he hope to find Princess Elysia? He scratched his head, but no ideas came. He was stuck.


    He remained on the ground, waiting for something to happen, until a distant scream jolted him into action. He leaped onto his horse.


    "GO!" he shouted, snapping the reins. The horse bolted in the direction of the screams, leaving the alley for the cobblestone road. Blackburne followed the sound, his mind racing.


    That must have been Elysia. I think. Wait...what was the blood on the wall for?


    Confusion gnawed at him again. As he followed the screams, he neared the epicenter of the crow-formed tornado. In the distance, he saw three figures before the palace: a crimson-clad figure, Princess Elysia, and a black ogre. Blackburne''s frown deepened.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    The crimson figure held Princess Elysia hostage, a sword at her throat, the ogre standing beside him.


    As Blackburne drew closer, the crows still swirling above, he dismounted and clenched his fists.


    "Knight Blackburne...you''re so predictable," the crimson figure sneered. Blackburne cracked his neck.


    "Is that so?" he replied, advancing cautiously. The ogre tensed. If he got too close, the crimson figure would surely kill Elysia...


    "What have you done while I was away? All this destruction¡ªfor what?" Blackburne demanded.


    The crimson figure grinned.


    "You should have never left your post, Knight. Soon, the entire globe will be under my reign. I plan to use the Princess as a vessel for my queen. Once the ritual is complete, we''ll be unstoppable!"


    Blackburne sighed.


    "And your name was?"


    The crimson figure recoiled, deeply offended. He gripped Elysia tighter.


    "You''ve got to be kidding me...I''m the world''s most powerful being, and you can''t even REMEMBER MY NAME!?"


    Blackburne''s expression remained unchanged.


    "Nope. Not at all."


    The crimson figure, enraged, could bear it no longer.


    "FINE! FUCK YOU THEN! PRINCESS, PREPARE TO DIE!" He raised the knife.


    Blackburne lunged forward, but before he could reach them, a cloud of dust and smoke engulfed the pair. The force of the blast knocked Blackburne back, sending him tumbling to the ground.


    Huh?


    He was dazed, surrounded by dust and smoke. Slowly, he pushed himself up and looked around. At first, the crimson figure and Elysia were nowhere to be seen. Then, Blackburne felt a hot gust of air on his back and smirked.


    He turned and saw Kokusho, his dragon, shielding Princess Elysia. Even better, Kokusho held the Sword of Perfection in her mouth.


    Knight Blackburne glanced around and finally spotted the crimson figure. The figure gradually pushed himself up, his face a mask of shock and disappointment when he realized the Princess was no longer in his grasp.


    "NO! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!" the crimson figure raged. Knight Blackburne took the Sword of Perfection from Kokusho.


    "Thank you, pal," Blackburne said, turning back to the crimson figure.


    "The Sword of Perfection?! But only gods can utilize its power..." the figure sputtered, terrified.


    "Your reign of terror ends here. I will banish you from this world. It seems you have been mistaken. You are not a god. I am. Now, the whole world shall know that gods don''t bleed..." Knight Blackburne declared, moving into a fighting stance.


    The crimson figure grunted, drawing his malevolent sword and mirroring Blackburne''s stance.


    "I am Azurath! I don''t need you to bleed to defeat you. I''ve killed gods before, and you will be no different. Draw your last breath, knight. Relish it!" Azurath snarled, charging.


    The kingdom trembled under the magnitude of their power. Knight Blackburne charged forward.


    "I SHALL NOT BLEED!" Blackburne roared, positioning his sword to cleave Azurath in two. Before the Sword of Perfection could connect, Blackburne heard a man screaming at him from the back of his mind. Time seemed to stop for a moment, then snapped back into focus.


    Knight Blackburne¡ªor in reality, Harlow¡ªwas standing in a kendo stance, pretending to hold a sword. He was in the middle of his cell, lost in the world of his manga once again. Daydreaming about saving princesses, fighting demons...


    He sighed and walked to the cell door, answering the voice that had called him.


    "Huh?" Harlow asked, confused as he looked at the door.


    "357. Get up right now. Hurry up. We don''t have all day. Don''t make me come in there," the officer barked.


    Harlow frowned. He glanced at his manga and then back at the door.


    "Can I finish my manga first? Please?" Harlow asked. The officer banged on the door.


    "357! IF YOU DON''T GET READY IN FIVE MINUTES I''M COMING IN THERE!"


    Harlow glanced back at his manga. Maybe he could read it another time. Just maybe...

 CHAPTER 02: YOURE A MONSTER

    Harlow was bored as he slowly lifted a forkful of potatoes to his mouth. The cafeteria was almost always boring. For one thing, he couldn''t really read his manga because there were too many people around. And he didn''t want to get called out by the officers again. They were annoying.


    Geez. I just want to read that story again. It was amazing. I knew Granny would send it to me. Hm...I wonder how she''s doing. She''s probably doing fine, though.


    Harlow poked at his food. It didn''t really taste good, so he didn''t eat. Most days he didn''t eat or drink much, but it was fine because he didn''t feel the need to sustain himself in order to feel comfortable. He never quite understood why most people did.


    Someone tapped him on the shoulder. He looked up and noticed a buff man with a beard and lots of body hair.


    "Sup," Harlow said.


    The man frowned. He grabbed Harlow''s fork and tossed it on the floor. Harlow was confused.


    "Uh...hey, what did you do that for?" Harlow asked, staring at the man. The man didn''t reply. He just crossed his arms and walked away. Harlow watched him go, then looked at his fork lying on the ground.


    Huh, wonder what his problem is. Oh well...


    Harlow got up with his plate and made his way to the back of the cafeteria where they put the dirty dishes. When he put his dishes down, he noticed an officer on the upper floor staring at him. Harlow glanced at the officer before turning around and walking back to his seat.


    When Harlow arrived at his seat, someone was already sitting in it. Harlow frowned.


    "Hey, that''s my seat," Harlow said, staring at the man. The man quickly got up and rolled up his sleeves.


    "You wanna go, pretty boy?" The man said, staring intensely at Harlow. Harlow raised his eyebrows, looking more annoyed than afraid.


    "No," Harlow replied simply. The man nodded and sat back down.


    "Yeah, that''s what I like to hear. That''s exactly what I want to hear..." The man replied.


    Harlow turned around and started strolling. He didn''t have anywhere to sit now, and breakfast was still going on.


    Damn, I really wish I could read some manga right about now...


    Harlow walked up to a wall and leaned against it. He was about to close his eyes and drift off until he heard rustling noises nearby. He quickly opened his eyes and saw the officers coming into the cafeteria.


    Harlow straightened up.


    "357!" The officer in front shouted.


    Harlow slowly but surely walked towards the officer that shouted his number.


    "Yeah?" Harlow replied.


    "Follow me," The officer replied.


    Harlow shrugged and followed the officer out of the cafeteria. The other officers left the cafeteria as soon as the first one did.


    I hope they''ll at least let me read some manga...


    ...


    The interrogation room was silent. The officer stared at Harlow from across the table for a while before pulling out some papers and asking him questions.


    "So, can you tell me why you''re here?" The officer asked, looking at the papers.


    Harlow scratched his head. Why was he here again? What was this place? He knew it was a place where people like him went for doing bad things, but what else? Hmm...he couldn''t seem to remember.


    "I...I don''t know why I''m here. Why am I here again?" Harlow asked, folding his hands. The officer took off his cap.


    "You''re here because you beat up a group of boys. Do you remember that?" The officer asked.


    Harlow frowned. No, he couldn''t remember that. He couldn''t remember doing anything like that. He wasn''t the type to beat up people randomly anyway.


    "No, I don''t," Harlow said, scratching his head. The officer looked through the papers again.


    "At the rate you''re going, I reckon you won''t be here for long, but we want to make sure that you don''t make the same mistakes when you get out. Is that clear?" The officer asked.


    Harlow nodded.


    "Alright. Now, since you''re of legal age, I have a proposal for you," The officer said. Harlow leaned in a bit, waiting to hear what the officer had to say.


    "I could get you out of here sooner, but there''s a test you have to take. You see, lately, there''s been a spike in monster cases, and most of them were associated with males that had higher levels of aggression. If you take a monsterification test and you''re below the threshold, you''ll get out of here in no time," The officer explained.


    Harlow nodded. He seemed to like the idea.


    I could finally see Granny again.


    Harlow stared at the papers in front of the officer.


    "Sure," he said, scratching his head again. Looking at the officer, he repeated, "Yeah, I guess I will take the test."


    The officer nodded.


    "Great. Now, all you have to do is sign here," The officer said, handing Harlow the contract. Harlow looked at it. Most of the words and sentences were already confusing enough. He simply skimmed over them and went straight to the signature line. When he was done, he handed it over to the officer.


    The officer smirked, stood up, and walked towards the door. He left the room, and Harlow followed. As Harlow was following the officer, he took note of the many weird-looking monster pictures on the walls.


    What were they? Why were they kept like this?


    Harlow continued to follow the officer to the top of the stairs that led to the basement. Harlow stared down below, thinking of what the monsterification test was going to be like. The officer glanced at Harlow then back at the stairs.


    "You''ve got one shot. I''m sure you''re like 0.09% or something like that, so you shouldn''t have to worry too much. C''mon, follow me," The officer said, descending the stairs.


    Harlow followed him. He was still somewhat reluctant¡ªnot because he was scared, but because he wanted to pass the monsterification test. He sighed. When they reached the bottom of the stairs, the officer pointed at a door not too far from them.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    It was a red door which could be opened with an access card. The officer walked towards the door, Harlow by his side. When he reached the door, he used the access card to open it and stepped in.


    Harlow watched him step in but didn''t bother to go in yet. The officer looked around the lab.


    TSSssss....Tssss....Tzzzzzzzzssss...


    It sounded like someone was drilling something. Who could it have been?


    Harlow walked with the officer as they continued exploring the lab. Harlow stopped to analyze a pair of prosthetic limbs.


    He tried touching one of them, but someone screamed at him before he could even graze them with his finger.


    "STOP!" Someone screamed. Harlow froze in his tracks, nonchalant about the whole thing.


    Huh, why?


    He looked up and noticed a slender, tall, old man approaching him. Harlow raised his eyebrows.


    "Hey...I''m..." Harlow began, but the doctor immediately screamed, "NEVER¡ªEVER¡ªIN ANY CIRCUMSTANCE DO YOU TOUCH THE EQUIPMENT! EVERYONE KNOWS THAT!"


    Harlow squinted his eyes. He had tuned out most of what the doctor had said, and it wasn''t even a long sentence. The officer looked embarrassed. He laid a hand on the doctor''s shoulders.


    "Dr. Sunji, my apologies. This is Harlow Blackburne. I want him to take the monsterification test. If you''re too busy now, we could do it another time, although I doubt it would take long to do the operation, given your skill set," the officer said.


    Dr. Sunji gave the officer a side eye.


    "You''re Yowaya, right? Hmpth..." Dr. Sunji replied. Yowaya glanced at Harlow, who was leaning against the wall, picking his nose. Yowaya frowned. He looked back at Dr. Sunji, who was eager to get back to whatever he was doing.


    "The kid doesn''t belong here, doctor," Yowaya said.


    Dr. Sunji stopped working, and he didn''t even look back at Yowaya when he said, "Is that my problem?"


    Yowaya slowly approached Dr. Sunji.


    "Why don''t we just check him and get this over with? You still owe me, remember?" Yowaya said.


    Dr. Sunji finally faced Yowaya.


    "And you want to waste it on me helping that brat? Okay, fine, I''ll test him," Dr. Sunji said, crossing his arms in annoyance.


    Yowaya pulled out the contract that Harlow had signed and gave it to Dr. Sunji. The doctor signed it and placed it on a table. Dr. Sunji sighed as he looked through a pack of syringes.


    He finally took one of the syringes and analyzed it. He smirked and turned to Harlow, who was still leaning against the wall.


    "Kid, you''re up," Yowaya said to Harlow. Harlow didn''t really hear Yowaya speak because he was somewhat half-asleep. It was only when he saw Yowaya walking up to him that he fully opened his eyes and leaned off the wall. He strolled to Dr. Sunji and sat on the chair.


    "Try not to move," Dr. Sunji said. He looked at Harlow''s right shoulder. He used an alcohol swab to clean the area where he was going to inject the needle and positioned Harlow''s arm.


    When Dr. Sunji tried to inject the syringe into Harlow''s shoulder, the needle snapped in half. Dr. Sunji raised his eyebrows in disbelief.


    "I''m flabbergasted. You''re human, right? Why is your skin so tough?" Dr. Sunji said. He glanced back at Yowaya, his face showing signs of extreme caution. He then looked back at Harlow, who was still somewhat half-asleep.


    "Hey, brat, answer me. Are you a monster?" Dr. Sunji asked. Harlow frowned. Why would he be a monster? He was just a normal human, like everyone else. He''d felt normal all his life, so why would it be different now?


    "No, I''m not a monster. Isn''t that obvious? Can''t you see I''m a human?" Harlow said, raising his eyebrows.


    Dr. Sunji was somewhat taken aback, but he wasn''t surprised. He knew that there were some monsters who lived a portion of their lives believing they were still human until they did something horrific that proved they were a monster. Harlow must have been like this.


    "Brat, have you ever been hurt? Like...have you ever bled before? Have you ever broken a bone, gotten a splinter, or stubbed your toe? You get what I mean, right?" Dr. Sunji asked, staring into Harlow''s eyes with a hint of curiosity. Harlow slowly shook his head.


    "I''m so confused why you''re asking me these questions," Harlow said.


    Dr. Sunji stood up.


    "If I can''t pierce your skin, then there''s another way to numerically check your monsterification status. Follow me," Dr. Sunji said, throwing the syringe away. Harlow stood up and followed Dr. Sunji to the back of the lab. Near the back of the lab was another door that presumably led to another room.


    Dr. Sunji opened the door and stood to the side, waiting for Harlow to go inside. Harlow walked past the doctor and entered the room.


    Yowaya did the same. When both of them were inside of the room, Dr. Sunji stepped inside himself and closed the door. Harlow stared at the pod in front of him.


    What? It looks like something out of an alien movie. Yeah, like something aliens from outer space would crash on Earth with when their ship gets destroyed and they need to abort or something like that. Man, even that idea sounds so boring...


    "Kid, pay attention. Do you want to leave this place or not?" Yowaya asked. Harlow stopped daydreaming and glanced at Yowaya, nodding. He then glanced back at the pod and watched it open.


    "Alright, step in. It should take about fifteen seconds to start up. When I activate it, there''ll be a total of twenty flashes within a short period of time. I recommend you close your eyes when I say ''flash.'' Got it? Oh, and make sure to align your face with the screen inside," Dr. Sunji said.


    Harlow nodded, not really caring for anything that Dr. Sunji had just said. He stepped into the pod and got comfortable. Dr. Sunji helped him stay fastened and went back to the computer. He typed in a couple of codes and activated the program.


    The pod, originally red, turned green and began to close. Inside, it was hot, but Harlow wasn''t bothered. Temperature extremes didn''t affect him.


    Yowaya approached Dr. Sunji.


    "What''s the average monsterification percentage?" Yowaya asked. Dr. Sunji, focused on monitoring the program, answered while typing.


    "Around 0.07%, give or take. Why? You think he''ll be higher? That''s possible. I''d guess around 10%," Dr. Sunji said.


    Yowaya was taken aback by Dr. Sunji''s prediction.


    "No way... but isn''t anything over 5% already absurd? I doubt he''s over ten; he has no monster features. Everything points to him being human, except for his skin, of course," Yowaya said. Dr. Sunji continued typing, considering this. He nodded.


    "From your perspective, yes, I understand. But based on the database, it''s different. There''s a good chance he''s above 10%," Dr. Sunji replied.


    Yowaya stroked his chin.


    "What''s the highest ever recorded? Some say 60%, some say 90%. Based on the database, what have you seen?" Yowaya asked.


    Dr. Sunji thought it over.


    "The way you phrased that makes it irrelevant. A better question is, ''What''s the limit for human monsterification?'' And that, my friend, is 99.99%," Dr. Sunji said, grinning.


    Yowaya frowned.


    "So... basically 100," Yowaya said, baffled.


    Dr. Sunji shook his head.


    "Nope, 99.99. Think of it like Achilles'' Paradox. It approaches 100 but never reaches it," Dr. Sunji explained.


    Yowaya glanced at the pod. Harlow seemed fine. The signal light on top blinked, prompting Yowaya to begin.


    "Here comes the truth," Dr. Sunji said, looking at Harlow.


    "FLASH!" Dr. Sunji said, pressing "ENTER." Harlow closed his eyes as the flashes went off. When they finished, he slowly opened them.


    Dr. Sunji saw the data transfer to his computer. He was shocked.


    "...Wait... am I seeing things?" Dr. Sunji said, removing his glasses. Yowaya leaned in, trying to see the data too.


    "Holy shit... that''s 100% monsterification..." Yowaya said slowly. They looked at each other, then at Harlow through the pod.


    "No, that can''t be right. Something must be wrong with the equipment," Dr. Sunji said, immediately unplugging the cords connecting the pod to the computer.


    The pod shut down and opened. Yowaya watched as Harlow slowly stepped out, confused by Yowaya''s fearful expression.


    "Hey, I got a low number, right? Can I go home soon?" Harlow asked, approaching Yowaya. Yowaya stared at the ground, eyes wide with fear. He finally looked at Harlow.


    "No... you won''t be going home anytime soon..." Yowaya said, slowly standing up.


    Dr. Sunji closed the pod and observed them.


    "I don''t understand. Why can''t I go home?" Harlow asked, turning to Dr. Sunji, who looked away. Harlow frowned.


    "Hey, are you guys hiding something from me?" Harlow asked, pouting.


    Yowaya put a hand on Harlow''s shoulder.


    "Kid, I''m sorry, but you''re a monster. I mean, you''re truly a monster..." Yowaya said firmly. Harlow frowned.


    "No, I''m not. I don''t look or feel like one, so I''m not," Harlow replied plainly.


    Yowaya crossed his arms.


    "The data showed you''re 100% monsterized. That means none of you is human anymore, which shouldn''t be possible, but it is. I''m sorry, kid, but you''re not going anywhere," Yowaya said, staring at Harlow. Harlow sighed.


    "Whatever. I want to go back and read my manga," Harlow said childishly. Yowaya was surprised but not displeased by Harlow''s response. Dr. Sunji approached Yowaya to whisper.


    "You realize I''m obligated to submit this contract and result to the database, and when I do, the kid will be executed..." Dr. Sunji whispered. Yowaya frowned.


    "Then destroy it," Yowaya replied.


    "And what should I say when they come down for questioning? You should know that they track our ins and outs..." the doctor replied. Yowaya bit his lip. He didn''t know how to respond. Dr. Sunji shook his head in disappointment.


    "Well, for what it''s worth, that kid should be extremely powerful, and given how there''s never been a case like him, who knows what he''s capable of. The term ''superhuman'' might be redefined sooner than you think..." Dr. Sunji mused, leaning back.


    Yowaya and Dr. Sunji glanced at the door. Harlow had already left the room. He was probably doing something out there while he waited for Yowaya and the doctor.


    Dr. Sunji''s heart skipped a beat.


    "WAIT! I CAN''T SEE YOU! I SWEAR IF YOU''RE TOUCHING SOMETHING..." Dr. Sunji yelled, storming out of the room. Yowaya stayed, still in disbelief. He thought about his girlfriend, Fukui, who was hundreds of miles away from him.

 CHAPTER 03: MONSTER OUTBREAK PT. 1

    Knight Blackburne, brandishing the Sword of Perfection, propelled himself towards Azurath, the killing blow poised on the edge of his blade. As he closed the distance, a hulking ogre interposed, shoving Azurath aside and taking the full brunt of the strike. The ogre stumbled back, his severed arm thudding to the ground, a macabre fountain of blood erupting from the stump.


    Blackburne, his bloodlust momentarily quelled, stared in disbelief.


    That was fast, for a brute. I should have finished the demon when I had the chance...


    He regained his footing, his stance once again aggressive. A quick glance over his shoulder confirmed Kokusho was still guarding Princess Elysia. Good. He turned his attention back to Azurath and the maimed ogre.


    "What''s wrong, Knight Blackburne? Surely a hero like you doesn''t mind a little uneven fight?" Azurath taunted, surging forward with the ogre at his side. Blackburne narrowly evaded their combined assault, but as he hovered in the air, the ogre launched himself for another attack.


    Blackburne blocked the ogre''s punch, but the sheer force sent him hurtling through several houses, finally crashing into a small hut. He groaned, wincing in pain.


    Damn. Please, let Kokusho have escaped with Elysia. I... I can handle these two. This is nothing...


    Through the gaping hole he''d created, he saw the ogre approaching. Ignoring the pain, he pushed himself to his feet. As the ogre attacked again, Blackburne dodged, the hut collapsing around them. He backpedaled, his grip tightening on the Sword of Perfection.


    I can''t lose this... It''s the only way to win...


    The ogre emerged from the debris, grinning savagely. With a roar, he charged, aiming a final, unavoidable blow.


    Blackburne''s senses sharpened. In a blur of motion, he leapt, twisting in mid-air, the Sword of Perfection a silver arc that cleaved through the ogre''s neck. The ogre''s headless body stumbled, then collapsed, its head rolling to a grotesque stop.


    Blackburne landed gracefully, panting. Even for a god, the ogre had been a formidable opponent. No wonder Azurath had chosen him.


    One down, one to go... Azurath''s head is next.


    A deafening explosion ripped through the air. Blackburne whirled around. A crimson light blazed from the direction of his initial confrontation with Azurath. His heart sank.


    Kokusho... Elysia...


    He dropped into a fighting stance, channeling his energy into the Sword of Perfection.


    O Sword of Perfection, I beseech thee. Grant me your limitless SPEED!


    He shot towards the red light, his speed so great it shattered the ground beneath him. In the blink of an eye, he arrived at the epicenter. In slow motion, he saw Azurath draining a vial of dark energy.


    NO!


    Blackburne''s attack would have been impossible to dodge under normal circumstances, but Azurath, empowered by the dark energy, narrowly evaded the strike. The slash, meant for Azurath''s neck, tore into the ground, nearly splitting the kingdom in two. Blackburne stumbled, gasping for breath.


    Damn!


    He watched as Azurath finished the dark energy, discarding the empty vial.


    "Perhaps with this power, even a god can bleed..." Azurath grinned, launching himself at Blackburne, claws extended. Blackburne sidestepped, severing Azurath''s arm, which regenerated instantly. Azurath retaliated with a kick to Blackburne''s gut, sending him crashing into the clock tower.


    As the tower crumbled, Azurath gave chase. Blackburne leapt from one falling stone to another, Azurath hot on his heels. Azurath nearly caught him, but Blackburne grabbed his arm, plunging the Sword of Perfection deep into Azurath''s chest.


    "WHAT?!" Azurath screamed, the sword burning his very soul. Blackburne grinned as they crashed to the ground, the sword pinning Azurath to the earth.


    Dazed, Azurath looked up at Blackburne, who towered over him, his expression cold.


    Slowly, Blackburne withdrew the sword. Azurath gasped, blood gushing through his clenched teeth.


    "Agh..." he managed, before drawing his last breath.


    Suddenly, a loud beeping filled the air. It seemed to come from the back of Blackburne''s head. Blackburne - Harlow - slowly opened his eyes, his vision swimming. The beeping resolved into the shrill wail of a fire alarm. No, it was louder, more insistent.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Ugh, what''s that noise? It''s so loud... And I was having such a good dream too.


    Harlow stirred, propped against his pillow, a manga book obscuring his face. He tossed the book aside, blinking in the harsh light of his cell. Aside from the incessant alarm, everything appeared...normal.


    Eeeeehhhhhh. Eeeeehhhhhh. Eeeeehhhhhh.


    The alarm continued its relentless shriek. With a sigh, Harlow sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. He padded to the door, confusion knitting his brow.


    What''s going on? Is this a signal to leave?


    He tested the handle, but the door remained stubbornly locked.


    I could break it, but... He glanced back at the manga on his bed. I don''t want to leave that behind. What if I don''t come back?


    Decision made, he retrieved the book, then returned to the door. After a moment''s hesitation, he casually gripped the handle and pulled. The door, hinges protesting, swung open with a metallic screech that echoed down the empty hallway.


    Harlow stepped out, the silence pressing in on him. The hallway stretched in both directions, dimly lit and seemingly endless. A cold draft snaked around his ankles, raising goosebumps on his arms.


    Left or right?


    He hesitated, then a faint, coppery scent tickled his nose. It seemed to be coming from the left.


    Left it is, then.


    Clutching his manga, Harlow turned left and began walking down the silent, blood-scented hallway.


    ...


    Yowaya''s heart hammered a frantic rhythm against his ribs. His breath caught in his throat, each gasp a losing battle against the rising tide of nausea. The horrific image¡ªblood and viscera splattered across the cold tile¡ªreplayed endlessly in his mind''s eye, a macabre nightmare he couldn''t escape.


    Such horrors had only ever been distant news reports, unreal and far removed. Now, their reality clawed at his sanity, reducing him to a trembling, cornered animal.


    I''m nothing but food.


    Uncontrollable tremors wracked his body, a primal fear he couldn''t suppress.


    This is how it feels to be at the bottom of the food chain.


    Tears had long since dried, leaving behind a sticky residue and the bitter taste of despair. He huddled beneath the office desk. The sounds of his coworkers'' demise echoed in his ears. Guilt gnawed at him; while they fought and died, he cowered in the dark, paralyzed by an all-consuming terror.


    His phone, its screen cracked and lifeless, lay useless in his hand.


    I can''t even tell Fukui I love her.


    He stifled a sob, the silence pressing down on him with suffocating weight. A sudden THUMP against the office window shattered the silence, sending his heart into a frenzied gallop. A heavy body slumped against the glass, the sickening sounds of tearing and feasting following in its wake. The monster, its appetite whetted, had returned.


    Distant gunfire erupted. Then, a guttural scream, a sickening crack, and the wet, sloshing sounds of consumption resumed. Yowaya squeezed his eyes shut, his mind reeling.


    Harlow...is he...?


    The thought trailed off, replaced by a chilling realization. Harlow was a monster too, but against that...Hope dwindled with each passing moment. If Harlow was gone, Dr. Sunji''s fortified basement offered the only chance, however slim, of survival. Yowaya''s stomach churned; he fought the urge to retch with each horrifying sound that reached his ears.


    Another crack, another body hurled against the window. The gunfire continued. Yowaya clutched his head, the world tilting, spinning into darkness. He was losing his grip, slipping into the abyss of madness.


    I can''t...I can''t...


    ...


    "OH GOD! PLEASE! STOP! STOP!" An officer pleaded, desperately firing his assault rifle at the enormous, pale, and hulking cyclops monster. The officer turned and fled, but the monster lunged forward, seizing the officer''s arms.


    "I BEG YOU! STOP!" the officer screamed. The monster, unmoved, casually tore the officer in half, spraying blood and guts across the walls. The creature knelt and began to devour the remains: the pancreas, the stomach, the intestines, and some of the flesh.


    The fear and adrenaline coursing through the officer had made the meal even more delectable. After finishing, the monster approached the wall and licked away the blood and gore.


    Further down the hall, Harlow strolled, oblivious to the chaos. He paused, noticing bullet casings scattered across the floor.


    Huh? What''s this? Why are these here? What''s going on?


    He knelt, picking up a shell.


    As usual, he was puzzled but unconcerned. He continued, manga book in hand.


    I''m starting to smell blood. Oh... what''s this?


    He stopped, his eyebrows raised. Was that an arm? Why was there an arm on the floor? Could there be a monster on the loose?


    Oh... it''s starting to make sense now.


    He began to jog down the hallway, the sound of his footsteps echoing. Suddenly, he came upon a gruesome scene: a pile of corpses, limbs, and guts spread across the floor.


    Oh, that''s not good. People are dying.


    He carefully navigated the carnage. As he walked, he spotted the monstrous creature licking blood from the wall.


    Ew. Is that a monster? What is that thing? I''m so confused. Maybe I''m dreaming again...


    "Hey, bro, what are you doing?" Harlow asked, crossing his arms and squinting.


    The monster turned to face him. "Well, hello there. I can sense you''re a monster too. I left some bodies over there if you want to have some."


    "Bodies? Why are you eating them? That''s disgusting, bro..." Harlow replied, averting his gaze.


    The monster frowned and stood up, revealing its towering height. "Aren''t you a monster too? You should eat well to stay healthy. Here, have a limb," it offered, tossing a limb at Harlow. Harlow ignored it.


    "Bleh, disgusting," he muttered, turning away and sticking out his tongue.


    The monster, offended, advanced towards Harlow, its footsteps shaking the ground. "THEN DIE!" it roared, swatting Harlow so hard that he crashed into the wall.


    The monster, assuming the kill was complete, turned away. But to its surprise, Harlow emerged from the wall, unscathed. Harlow smirked.


    "Oh, so you want to role-play too? Well, I''m Knight Blackburne, half-god-half human, and you can be a monster. It''s my job to slay you," Harlow declared.


    Before the monster could react, Harlow delivered a powerful punch to its chin, sending it flying through the roof.


    "Oh, I hit it too hard by accident. Well, it''s okay. This was just role-play anyway. Hope we can do it again," Harlow said, picking up his damaged manga book. "I need to find something to protect it."


    He continued down the hallway, determined to uncover the truth.

 CHAPTER 04: MONSTER OUTBREAK PT. 2

    The office had been silent for a long while. Yowaya felt drowsy, almost paralyzed with fear. He leaned forward slightly to stretch his cramped arms. Staying in the same position for so long, especially crammed under the office desk, was exhausting. At least no monster had dared to enter the office. For that, he was immensely grateful.


    I don''t hear anything outside. Could the beasts be sleeping? No, impossible, the alarm is still blaring. They probably moved on to another part of the building. It''s only a matter of time before they take over the entire center. If that happens, the whole district will be declared a red zone¡ªI''ll never make it out alive...


    Yowaya clutched his chest, his heart pounding. He couldn''t summon the courage to even peek out from under the desk. What could he possibly do on his own anyway? He was practically useless.


    Alright...maybe just a quick look wouldn''t hurt...


    Yowaya gulped. He slowly slid out from under the desk and cautiously poked his head out from the side. He could see the office door and the adjacent windows. Aside from the bloodstains and lifeless bodies, he didn''t see anything moving. Strange.


    So...the coast is clear.


    Yowaya strained his ears, listening for anything other than the incessant alarm. He decided to take the risk. He gradually emerged from under the desk and crept towards the door. He slowly opened it, peeking out into the hallway. His eyes widened in horror at the gruesome scene before him.


    While I was cowering in here, they were being slaughtered...


    Yowaya felt a pang of guilt. Was he a coward? No, he wasn''t. He was just doing what he had to do to survive¡ªso why did he feel so ashamed?


    Yowaya frowned as he started walking down the blood-soaked hallway, littered with viscera and spent bullet casings.


    Oh god...that''s a severed limb...


    Yowaya nearly gagged in disgust as he lifted his foot from the dismembered limb he had been stepping on. A few seconds later, he heard more footsteps echoing down the hallway. He froze, hesitant to continue.


    No...was my assumption wrong? Shit...I''m going to die because of this stupid mistake...


    Yowaya turned, ready to run, but stopped short. The figure approaching him was¡ªHarlow?


    Harlow? Oh, crap...


    Yowaya straightened up. Harlow was casually strolling down the hallway, a manga book in hand. Harlow stopped walking.


    "Oh, hey. Do you have anywhere I could put this book so it won''t get damaged? Like a backpack maybe?" Harlow asked, showing Yowaya the book. Yowaya scratched his head, bewildered.


    So he isn''t going to kill me? He''s free to do whatever he wants...


    "Sure. There''s a storage area nearby. I can check to see if there''s a backpack in there. Is that alright with you?" Yowaya asked, trying to keep his voice steady. Harlow nodded. Yowaya led the way. As they ventured further down the hall, the stench of blood and gore gradually faded. It was replaced by a growing sense of dread, a tension emanating from Harlow.


    Yowaya couldn''t stop thinking of the countless ways Harlow could brutally kill him: tearing him limb from limb, punching a hole through his chest, or even decapitating him. The fact that Harlow possessed such immense power, yet didn''t seem to pose an immediate threat, was deeply unsettling.


    At any moment, he could decide that he''s done with me...


    Yowaya finally arrived at the front of the storage room. The adjacent walls were riddled with enormous holes, as if someone had desperately tried to claw their way inside.


    "You gotta be kidding me..." Yowaya muttered in disbelief. He glanced at Harlow, who seemed utterly indifferent to the destruction.


    Yowaya cautiously stepped through one of the gaping holes and entered the storage room. The interior was a scene of chaos: shelves were overturned, supplies scattered across the floor, and the air hung heavy with the stench of a recent, violent struggle. Yowaya knelt, examining the floor more closely.


    Those beasts¡ªtheir footprints are engraved on the floor...


    Yowaya glanced back at Harlow, who had finally stepped inside the storage room.


    "Where are the backpacks?" Harlow asked.


    Yowaya immediately stood up.


    "Um...let''s check the back..." Yowaya suggested, his voice barely a whisper.


    Yowaya and Harlow cautiously made their way to the back of the storage room, their footsteps muffled by the debris. To their relief, they found a couple of torn backpacks discarded on the floor.


    Yowaya nervously glanced at Harlow. "Is that alright?" he asked, gesturing towards the damaged bags.


    Harlow nodded, seemingly unconcerned. He casually picked up one of the backpacks, opened it, and placed his book inside.


    "I don''t care if it''s torn. Oh, hey, I forgot¡ª" Harlow began, but before he could finish, a deafening BANG shattered the silence.


    Yowaya instinctively raised his guard, his heart pounding in his chest. A monstrous cyclops, its muscular form covered in rubble, stood before them, its single eye blazing with fury. It had broken through the wall and into the storage room. The creature turned its wrathful gaze upon Harlow, who remained unnaturally calm.


    "YOU IMBECILE! YOU BROKE MY JAW! YOU''LL PAY FOR THAT!" The monster roared, its voice booming through the room.


    Harlow nonchalantly covered his ears, as if annoyed by the noise. "Huh? What? Your jaw? Looks fine to me..." he replied, his tone casual.


    "THAT''S BECAUSE IT''S HEALED!" The monster screamed, lunging forward and punching Harlow in the face with a bone-jarring impact.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    Harlow stood unmoved, absorbing the monster''s punch as if it were a mere tap. Yowaya gasped. He knew Harlow was powerful, but this was on another level. What kind of strength did he possess?


    This doesn''t make sense... Yowaya thought, collapsing onto his backside. His fate was now entirely in Harlow''s hands.


    "You''re ready to role-play again? Hold up, let me take off my backpack..." Harlow said, reaching for the straps.


    The monster hesitated, its pride wounded. It charged forward for another punch, but Harlow effortlessly pushed it back with the palm of his hand. The monster went flying through multiple walls, crashing through the cell blocks beyond. Harlow frowned.


    "I told you to let me take my backpack off. I don''t want to role-play with you anymore now, meanie." Harlow said, his voice hardening.


    Yowaya trembled uncontrollably. He slowly stood up as the dust settled. When Harlow turned to speak to him, Yowaya flinched.


    "You good, bro?" Harlow asked, his voice gentle.


    "Y-yeah, I''m fine. What do you want to do now?" Yowaya asked hesitantly.


    Harlow scratched his chin, thinking. "I want to go home," he said plainly, starting to walk past Yowaya.


    Yowaya quickly stopped him. "Wait, let me come with you. Please, I won''t make it if I try leaving out of here on my own." He knelt in front of Harlow, desperation evident in his eyes.


    Harlow seemed confused. "Huh? What do you mean? Just walk out."


    "No, I''ll be killed."


    "Oh, you will?" Harlow responded.


    Yowaya nodded and added, "Is there any way you could escort someone else out of here¡ªthe doctor you met last week, for instance?"


    Harlow frowned. "Hey, aren''t you older than me? Why are you so scared? I don''t understand. Ok, fine, but you have to promise that you''ll get me the Second Volume of God''s Don''t Bleed."


    Yowaya nodded eagerly. IS HE INSANE?! HE CARES ABOUT A MANGA VOLUME RIGHT NOW?!


    "Yes...I promise." Yowaya said.


    Harlow smirked.


    "Then it''s a deal."


    ...


    Dr. Sunji had taken every precaution to fortify himself within the lab. In addition to locking all the doors, he had rigged a series of deadly traps, transforming the space into a perilous gauntlet for any monster foolish enough to breach its walls. The doctor himself wasn''t even in the main lab area; he had retreated to the back room where he had initially conducted Harlow''s monsterification test. Despite his exhaustion, he forced himself to stand tall.


    Those aberrations of nature¡ªthey won''t know what hit them, he thought grimly. I''ve activated several high-voltage shock traps out there. Thank goodness I didn''t have to waste time scrounging for parts; I could simply use the ones I had in storage. That should be enough... Yes... It should be...


    The incessant wail of the alarm in the main lab grated on his nerves. He had not only barricaded the doors and set traps but also sealed off the vents. He had no idea what kind of monsters he might face, but for now, he assumed it would be some kind of brute, one with the strength to bend or break steel. The combination of the high-voltage shocks and the flamethrower should be sufficient to deal with such a threat.


    Wait... I hear something... Or is that something else?


    No, it was not his imagination. Dr. Sunji''s grip on the flamethrower tightened as he heard the main lab''s front door splinter and buckle under immense force. That door was made of steel... He waited, his heart pounding in his chest, for the foolish monster to trigger the shock trap. And just as he predicted, it did.


    BzzzzzzZZZZZT-CRACK-crackle... BZZZZT-ZAP!


    Dr. Sunji''s heart skipped a beat. It wasn''t the sickening sound of the electricity coursing through the monster''s body that alarmed him. It was the silence that followed. The monster hadn''t screamed, hadn''t even groaned.


    What... That wasn''t enough to kill it?!


    BzzzzzzZZZZZT-CRACK-crackle... BZZZZT-ZAP!


    BzzzzzzZZZZZT-CRACK-crackle... BZZZZT-ZAP!


    More shocks?! Just how resilient is that thing?! Those shocks exceed 20,000 milliamps! No monster I know could have survived even one!


    Dr. Sunji''s brow furrowed in concern. He could hear the sounds of destruction from the main lab¡ªglass shattering, shelves toppling. If the monster had so easily bypassed his fortifications, he had no choice but to face it head-on. With a surge of adrenaline, he tore down the barricades blocking the door, burst into the main lab, and aimed his flamethrower at the smoke-wreathed figure.


    "DIE, ABOMINATION!" he roared, unleashing a torrent of fire.


    FWWWOOOOOSHHHHHHHHHHH


    The flames engulfed the monster, but Dr. Sunji didn''t relent. This was no ordinary creature he was dealing with. As he continued to scorch the monster with his flamethrower, he silently resigned himself to the possibility that his efforts might be in vain.


    Finally, the flamethrower sputtered and died, its fuel exhausted. Dr. Sunji stumbled back, his eyes wide with disbelief. The figure that emerged from the smoke was indeed a monster, but not the one he had expected.


    "Dude, I just came down here to escort you out of this place," Harlow said, patting down his singed hair. "You thought I was a monster or something?"


    Dr. Sunji''s eyebrows shot up in surprise. Did he just try to protect his hair from burning by covering it with his hands? How does that even make sense?


    He slowly lowered the flamethrower, his hands trembling. "My apologies, Harlow... I should have known better... Is Yowaya with you? Or is he..."


    "The other guy? Yeah, he''s on the stairs, waiting. Although, there seems to be something wrong with him. He''s shaking like he''s freezing or something. He''s acting kinda weird..." Harlow explained, scratching his head.


    Just how clueless is this kid? Dr. Sunji thought, shaking his head. His gaze drifted to the monster radar on the table. The device, originally used by the ODW for tracking monsters, now served as his lifeline.


    And my stupid self was in such a rush, I forgot about it on the table.


    Fortunately, he had stumbled upon a leaked file containing the device''s coding a while back and had managed to create his own replica of the device. Of course, it wasn''t as efficient as the real one, but it still worked regardless.


    Dr. Sunji walked towards the table and grabbed the device. He looked at it: so far the readings didn''t indicate that there were monsters in the area except for Harlow.


    Interesting. I guess they left the center to find better prey.


    Dr. Sunji glanced back at Harlow and sighed.


    "What do you intend to do with us?" The doctor asked.


    Harlow winced.


    "Huh? What do you mean? I just want to go home. Although, I don''t think I can even remember where home is...hm...you guys can help me, right?" Harlow asked. He still had the persona of a child, and it somewhat annoyed Dr. Sunji.


    "Sure, we can." Dr. Sunji said plainly. He followed Harlow out of the main lab and met Yowaya on the stairs. From there, they made their way to the control room.


    ...


    What''s happening? More people are dying? I don''t understand. Where did all the monsters go? Did they just leave?


    Harlow stood in front of the entrance to the central control room. The door that used to be there was gone, and the adjacent walls were covered in blood and viscera¡ªthe same gruesome scene that was scattered throughout the hallways. Harlow casually stepped inside the dimly lit control room, the monitors providing the only source of light.


    Yowaya and Dr. Sunji followed Harlow inside. Dr. Sunji immediately made his way to the area where numerous radios and intercom systems were laid out. His attention was drawn to a corpse slumped over in a chair in front of the monitor system.


    The doctor carefully retrieved the radio from the corpse''s grasp. He pressed the button and spoke: "This is Doctor Sunji from District 3 Detention Center! The center has been overrun with monsters! I repeat! The center has been overrun with monsters! Is anyone there? Over."


    Dr. Sunji released the button and waited, but there was no response. He repeated his message. While the doctor spoke, Yowaya stared at the broken monitors. Harlow walked to his side.


    "This is kind of boring. Can we just leave?" Harlow asked. Yowaya glanced at him, unsure of what to say. After Dr. Sunji finished his transmission, he put the radio in his pocket and glanced at the monster radar device: there was still no sign of monsters in the area. Harlow crossed his arms.


    "Can we leave?" Harlow asked, frowning. Dr. Sunji nodded.


    "You may escort us out, but if we do encounter a monster, are you confident you can handle it?" Dr. Sunji inquired. Yowaya leaned in and whispered to the doctor, "Oh, he''s more than capable. I''m just afraid he''ll get too distracted and leave us to die..."


    Dr. Sunji finally understood. It made sense. After witnessing Harlow''s capabilities in the lab, his concerns were understandable. Harlow started walking towards the control room entrance, ready to leave. Dr. Sunji and Yowaya followed.

 CHAPTER 05: THE MIDNIGHT SKY

    District 3 has been plunged into chaos following a massive breach at the Detention Center, which was overrun by monstrous entities for several hours. No longer confined to the Detention Center, these creatures have dispersed throughout the district, actively seeking prey.


    Panic has gripped the streets as tens of thousands of residents flee their homes, desperately seeking refuge in the designated Green Zones, the only areas within the district that remain secure. These zones are heavily fortified and guarded by military personnel, who are engaged in a relentless struggle to contain the monstrous threat. However, the capacity of the Green Zones is limited, and the demand for shelter far exceeds the available space.


    The influx of people seeking safety has resulted in overcrowding and a severe strain on resources within the Green Zones. Consequently, many individuals are being turned away due to these limitations. In response, the military has been compelled to orchestrate perilous transport operations, moving large groups of people across the district to Green Zones that still have the capacity to accommodate them. This has become necessary as the district''s tunnel system has been rendered unsafe due to the presence of monsters that have established lairs within them during the nighttime hours.


    Tragically, these transport operations have proven to be highly dangerous and often result in fatalities. The Red Zones, where the monsters roam unchecked, pose a significant threat to both civilians and military personnel, with numerous lives being lost during attempts to reach safety.


    The arrival of Operation Dark Wave (ODW), a specialized unit formed with the express purpose of eradicating the monster threat, is eagerly anticipated. Until their deployment, however, District 3 remains a war zone characterized by widespread danger and suffering. With monsters continuing to roam freely and people desperately attempting to escape the Red Zones, the situation remains dire and the need for urgent intervention is paramount.


    ...


    The persistent wail of the alarm reverberated in Harlow''s ears as he traversed the passageway connecting the cell blocks. This corridor was littered with the bodies of the unfortunate souls who had perished in the attack. Harlow, Yowaya, and Dr. Sunji had witnessed the full extent of the carnage.


    Dr. Sunji, hand pressed to his nose, carefully navigated the gruesome scene. Yowaya, exhibiting greater caution, mirrored the doctor''s gesture. Harlow, seemingly unfazed, strode forward, his thoughts preoccupied with the heroic tale of Knight Blackburne and his epic battle against the malevolent Azurath. A smirk played on his lips as he contemplated the prospect of acquiring the coveted volumes detailing the knight''s exploits.


    His attention was abruptly drawn to a door on his left, a potential egress to the outside. "Could we just exit here?" he inquired nonchalantly. Yowaya hesitated, but Dr. Sunji responded, "Yes, that leads to the courtyard. It''s surprising that the monsters haven''t breached it again."


    Harlow nodded and, with a casual kick, sent the door crashing open, revealing the courtyard. However, a sudden realization struck him: How would he return home? Turning to Yowaya, he voiced his desire in a childlike manner, "I want to go home."


    Yowaya, sensing Harlow''s unease, asked, "Do you at least remember the name of your neighborhood?" Harlow shook his head, admitting his forgetfulness. He then turned to Dr. Sunji, who was engrossed in examining the massive footprints marring the ground.


    "It''s curious," Dr. Sunji mused, "the beasts were here, yet the courtyard walls remain intact. Did they simply leap over? That''s atypical of their behavior."


    Harlow, growing impatient, interrupted the doctor''s musings. "Hey, doc, or whatever, do you know where I can find my address?" Dr. Sunji looked up, a hint of annoyance in his expression. "I could, given time, but shouldn''t you know your own address? If you''ve been receiving mail, it should be on the envelopes, unless you''ve discarded them."


    Harlow''s eyes lit up. "Oh, right! Let me check the card! Great idea!" he exclaimed, rummaging through his backpack and retrieving his manga book. Inside, he found the letter and its envelope, and upon examining the latter, his address came flooding back to him.


    Chiding himself for his forgetfulness, Harlow handed the envelope to Dr. Sunji, who stood up to peruse it. Meanwhile, Yowaya, seeking to alleviate his anxiety, attempted to distract himself by bouncing a basketball on the nearby bench.


    After confirming the address, Dr. Sunji returned the envelope to Harlow. "Yes, that''s definitely west of here," he said, "but Harlow, if I''m being honest, you''re probably not going to find anything if you go back."


    Confused, Harlow asked, "What do you mean?"


    Dr. Sunji explained, "Isn''t it obvious? The monsters are on the loose, and your neighborhood is the closest to the detention center. Everyone has likely fled to the Green Zones by now."


    Harlow remained unconvinced.


    "You''re not making any sense. I just want to go home and see my granny," Harlow replied, but Dr. Sunji countered, "Your granny is definitely not there."


    Harlow pouted.


    "Well, I''ll prove you wrong. C''mon, I want to go home," Harlow insisted, sounding increasingly stubborn. Dr. Sunji shrugged, and Yowaya finally rose from the bench. As Harlow returned his manga to his backpack, Yowaya approached Dr. Sunji.


    "What should we do if he gets caught?" Yowaya whispered, his voice trembling slightly. "Shouldn''t we be heading to the nearest Green Zone? How can we do that if we''re tagging along with a monster? He''ll be a walking corpse if the ODW finds out about him. What would that mean for us? You have some ideas, don''t you?"


    Dr. Sunji stroked his beard. "You''re right," he admitted, "but our best chance of survival is still sticking with Harlow. We''ll do whatever he wants until the ODW arrives..."


    Harlow interrupted them. "Huh? What are you guys whispering about?"


    Dr. Sunji and Yowaya quickly straightened up. "We were discussing how to scavenge for food. You must be hungry, right?" Dr. Sunji asked.


    Harlow placed his hand on his stomach. "No, not really. I usually go for a while before I want to eat something. Wait¡ªwhat was I going to say? Oh yeah, right, can we take a car there or something?"


    Yowaya pulled out his keys and pressed a button, hearing his car beep in the parking lot.


    "Thank god they didn''t wreck that at least," Yowaya said, feeling a sense of relief. Dr. Sunji rubbed his ears; even out here, the alarm was still grating. Yowaya was about to walk back towards the opening Harlow had created when he heard a loud bang. He halted and quickly turned around: Harlow had already punched another entrance to the parking lot from the courtyard.


    "This way is much faster," Harlow said casually, jogging towards the parking lot. Yowaya exchanged a brief glance with Dr. Sunji before following Harlow. When they arrived at the parking lot, they managed to locate Yowaya''s car and get in.


    Yowaya took the driver''s seat, Dr. Sunji rode shotgun, and Harlow settled into the backseat. It took some time for Yowaya to get adjusted, as he was constantly checking his surroundings for any surprise attacks by lurking monsters¡ªor even a monster hiding underneath his car.


    "Relax, I have this radar here. There are no monsters within 300 meters of us, except for Harlow," Dr. Sunji said reassuringly, pointing to the red dot on the radar. Yowaya nodded, his anxiety subsiding slightly.


    Harlow, getting situated in the back seat, saw a photo on the chair. He picked it up: it was a picture of Yowaya and a blonde woman. Harlow turned the photo around and showed it to Yowaya, who didn''t notice Harlow had it until the last second.


    "Hey, who''s this person? Is it your sister or something?" Harlow asked.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Yowaya quickly took the photo away from Harlow.


    "It''s just someone, you¡ªyou don''t need to know..." Yowaya said, almost regretting his response. Dr. Sunji nodded, completely understanding who the person in the picture was, while Harlow was still confused. Harlow leaned back.


    "Oh...ok. So, can we head on the road now?" Harlow asked.


    Yowaya started the vehicle. The temperature outside was mild, so he didn''t feel the need to turn up the AC. However, when he checked his gas, he was surprised: he barely had any left. Dr. Sunji leaned towards Yowaya, checking the gas himself. He then glanced back at Harlow, who was slumped over, almost half-asleep.


    "Harlow...hey...Harlow," Dr. Sunji said, trying to get Harlow''s attention. Harlow stirred awake, drooling a little bit.


    "Huh? What?"


    "If the gas runs out, could you push the car so it will keep going?" Dr. Sunji asked. Harlow nodded, only half-paying attention.


    "Sure," Harlow replied, before slumping again. Before Yowaya could reverse out of his parking spot, Doctor Sunji said, "WAIT. Harlow, go punch out an exit for us."


    Harlow stirred back awake, got out of the vehicle, and punched the gate into oblivion¡ªpieces flying in all directions. Harlow went back into the car and Yowaya started driving.


    ...


    After Azurath''s death, the storm stopped and the sky began to clear. The air felt warmer now. The knight stared at Azurath''s corpse as it slowly withered away.


    Knight Blackburne wiped the blood from his face and looked at his Sword of Perfection. He smirked. He had done it. He had finally defeated the embodiment of evil and saved the kingdom from eternal darkness.


    Knight Blackburne noticed a sudden change in the wind pressure around him and looked up¡ªit was Kokusho and Princess Elysia. It seemed Princess Elysia had awoken during the knight''s battle with evil. Knight Blackburne smiled.


    "Princess...you''re safe...but¡ª" Knight Blackburne started, looking down. Princess Elysia frowned as she hopped off Kokusho and walked towards the knight¡ªvery exhausted.


    "Where''s my father? Where''s..." Princess Elysia started, but then she covered her mouth, her face in shock. She winced, kneeled, and started crying. Knight Blackburn kneeled next to her and soothed her back.


    "I''m sorry...I couldn''t save them. By the time I got here...well, I just saw you...so..." The knight began, but Princess Elysia quickly brushed the knight''s hand off and stood up. She wiped her tears. Was this really the knight''s fault? No, he shouldn''t blame himself. What was done was done¡ªthey couldn''t go back now.


    Knight Blackburne stood up.


    "I presume the villagers are all cramped up somewhere underground? Come on, let''s go and let them know that it''s safe to come out..." Knight Blackburne said.


    Princess Elysia was still taking the time to recover. No matter how many days, weeks, months, or years passed, she didn''t think that she would ever get over this day. She followed Knight Blackburne onto Kokusho and held onto the knight as the dragon began to lift off. As the dragon ascended, Knight Blackburne and Elysia took in the kingdom below.


    I did all that I could¡ªat least the torment is over, for now, at least.


    ...


    Weeks later, Princess Elysia slumped over the master bed, skimming the childish notes she once penned to her parents. When had her imagination last soared so freely? When had she last dared to fantasize and dream without a care for the consequences?


    A tear traced a path down her cheek, quickly wiped away. Having sifted through her mother''s letters, she turned to her father''s. One, sent during a military campaign, transported her back to a time when she yearned to practice swordsmanship in his absence. Her mother, of course, forbade it.


    "Mother... you were always so strict," she murmured, a hint of resentment in her voice.


    Each letter was a portal to the past. When the last was read and returned to its small box, tucked away in the closet, a knock echoed through the room. A small smile graced Elysia''s lips. Knight Blackburne.


    She crossed the room with a newfound lightness, opening the door to find the knight bowing deeply.


    "Greetings, Princess," he intoned.


    "Greetings, holy knight," Elysia replied, her smile widening.


    Their eyes met, a silent conversation passing between them.


    "May I come in?" the knight inquired.


    "Of course," Elysia stepped aside, her gaze lingering on the knight''s form as he entered. The door closed with a soft click, and she leaned against it, her appreciation for his physique evident.


    "So... did you want to talk about anything in particular or..." the knight began, but Elysia was already closing the distance between them, her hips swaying subtly.


    "Not really..." Her voice was low, sultry, a hand reaching out to rest on his chest. Knight Blackburne''s eyebrows rose in surprise.


    "Um... what are you doing?"


    Elysia''s eyes met his, a smirk playing on her lips. "This doesn''t feel bad, does it? Being this close? I''m sorry, but I''m still recovering from everything, and it would be nice if I had someone to hold onto..." Her voice was barely a whisper, vulnerability seeping into her carefully constructed facade. As if on cue, Knight Blackburne''s arms enveloped her in a comforting embrace.


    "I understand, it''s tough," he murmured, his voice a soothing balm.


    Elysia frowned, pulling back slightly. "No, you don''t. I have to make all the decisions. The chancellor helps, but the burden is mine. What will the neighboring kingdoms say if I continue to rule without a king? I don''t have anyone to be my right hand."


    Knight Blackburne nodded slowly. "Who cares what they think? Besides, you''ll find someone soon enough, if you''re that eager."


    A weight seemed to lift from Elysia''s shoulders.


    "I suppose so..." Her gaze drifted upward, meeting the knight''s, and a blush stained her cheeks. "Say... I''ve known you for a while... I mean... would it be a crazy idea if I asked you¡ª"


    "No," Knight Blackburne interrupted, his voice firm.


    Elysia recoiled, surprised. "But... why?"


    "Because I don''t see you that way... I''m sorry."


    Her gaze fell¡ªshe was disappointed.


    "I see... well... what would it take for me to make you?" Her voice was barely audible, her face inches from his.


    Knight Blackburne shrugged, a non-committal gesture that only fueled Elysia''s determination. With a sudden surge of boldness, she pushed him onto the bed, attempting to position herself above him.


    "What? Hey? What are you doing?" The knight''s voice was laced with surprise, his hands gently pushing her back.


    Elysia''s voice was a desperate plea. "Please... just let me show you..."


    "No, stop. You''re scared and desperate, that''s all this is."


    Ignoring his protests, Elysia captured his hand, pressing a kiss to his knuckles. "So what if I am?" Her breath hitched in her throat.


    Knight Blackburne disentangled himself from her grasp, rising from the bed. "Princess... believe me, I understand you, but I can''t accept what you''re offering."


    Elysia began to shed her clothing, her eyes locked with his. "Is that so?"


    With a sigh, Knight Blackburne turned away, opening the door.


    "Yes... it is."


    He stepped out, closing the door behind him, leaving Elysia standing there, half-dressed and bewildered.


    How could he turn me down like that? Well, it didn''t hurt to try.


    She collapsed onto her bed, thinking about the nights she would''ve had with Blackburne if he had accepted her offer. She sighed.


    Maybe he''s right...


    It would be nice to have someone there to support her, but she didn''t want to force anyone. She needed to find a way to rule on her own; she needed to become strong.


    ...


    Midnight


    Out in the open grass field, Knight Blackburne leaned against Kokusho as they stared into the midnight sky. The knight yawned. What a day it had been. Never in his life did he think the princess of all people would try to seduce him. Well, that was over now.


    What was she thinking? I mean, I can understand her motives, but that doesn''t mean I feel the same...


    Knight Blackburne glanced at Kokusho. She was enjoying this downtime just as much as he was. The knight smirked.


    "You did well today, I''m proud of you. You''ll always be by my side, right?" Knight Blackburne asked.


    Kokusho moved a bit, and the knight took that as a "yes." As Knight Blackburne continued to gaze up at the midnight sky, he began to feel sleepy. Slowly, his eyes shut, and he drifted off.


    ...


    The dim light of the sun woke Knight Blackburne from his peaceful slumber. He felt his neck lying on a pile of grass and was confused. He yawned, sat up, and stretched. A moment later, he realized one crucial detail: Kokusho was missing.


    What? Where did she go? That''s so unlike her. She doesn''t just fly off for no reason...


    Knight Blackburne stood up and examined his surroundings. He was practically in the middle of nowhere, with fields of grass stretching in all directions. He scratched his head. This didn''t make any sense.


    Without Kokusho, how was he supposed to get back to the kingdom? The knight glanced at his Sword of Perfection.


    Should I call upon the blessing of the sword? No, I shouldn''t have to. I could''ve sworn that Kokusho was right here with me¡ªsleeping like I was.


    Knight Blackburne cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted: "KOKUSHO! KOKUSHO! KOKUSHO! KOKUSHO!"


    Nothing. That was to be expected. The knight sighed and sat back down on the grass, trying to assess the situation.


    She just left. Why? Why would she just leave...I...I don''t understand...


    ...


    Back to reality


    Yowaya was proud of himself. He hadn''t had a panic attack the entire time he was driving down the main road through the woods. They were about seven miles from the detention center, with some more to go before they reached Harlow''s neighborhood.


    It''s honestly crazy. The roads further up that I would take to go to another District are probably blocked off. I suppose District 3 has become a war zone now. Christ...I sure hope Fukui is holding up. I swear, when I get a cell phone, I''ll call her immediately...


    Yowaya looked at Dr. Sunji, who was wide awake. The time right now was 5:21 PM.


    "You''re not tired?" Yowaya asked.


    Dr. Sunji shook his head.


    "There''s just a lot on my mind, that''s all," Dr. Sunji replied.


    Yowaya nodded.


    "W-well, you''re doing better than me. I don''t understand how you can be so calm in a situation like this," Yowaya said.


    The doctor raised an eyebrow.


    "Who said I was calm? I''m terrified," Dr. Sunji replied, glancing at Harlow, who was sleeping.


    While Yowaya was driving, Dr. Sunji heard his radar beep. The doctor quickly sat up and looked at the radar. There were many red dots surrounding them.


    "Stop the car!" The doctor commanded. Yowaya slammed on the brakes almost immediately, the car slowing down until it came to a full stop.


    Dr. Sunji ducked below the car window and Yowaya did the same.


    "You see this? We have company..." Dr. Sunji whispered, pointing to the red dots that surrounded the green dot on the radar. Yowaya nodded.


    "Wake¡ªup¡ªHarlow..." Dr. Sunji commanded.

 CHAPTER 06: WHOLESOME MEMORIES

    The monstrous wolves drew nearer, their snarls growing louder. Yowaya, his eyes glued to Dr. Sunji''s monster radar, could see the blips closing in. Panic rising, he leaned over the back seat and shook Harlow''s shoulder urgently.


    "Harlow! Wake up, Harlow!" Yowaya''s whisper was barely audible over the rising din. Harlow remained unresponsive, his eyes stubbornly shut. Desperation lending him a surge of courage, Yowaya slapped Harlow''s cheek, the sharp sound cutting through the tense silence.


    Oh god, I hope he doesn''t kill me for that later...


    Harlow''s eyes blinked open, bleary with sleep. "Hey! What was that for, you jerk?" he grumbled, rubbing his cheek. Yowaya was relieved to see that his slap had only annoyed Harlow, leaving no mark.


    In the front seat, Dr. Sunji noticed the encroaching wolves. Fear twisting his face, he whipped around and screamed, "HARLOW! MONSTERS! THEY''RE OUTSIDE! GET THEM! THEY''RE SURROUNDING THE CAR!"


    Yowaya flinched as a monstrous wolf, its fur matted and fangs bared, crashed through the window. Harlow, unfazed, casually grabbed the creature and tossed it back out as if it were a mere inconvenience.


    "HEY! DON''T SIT ON ME!" Harlow shouted at the discarded wolf. Yowaya could only stare in disbelief. If anyone could survive this nightmare, it was Harlow.


    He watched as Harlow stepped out of the car, the wolves circling him like a pack of hungry sharks. The monster radar indicated at least ten of the creatures, yet Harlow seemed utterly unbothered.


    I don''t understand him. His casual attitude, his strange perspective... No wonder he ended up in that center. But what''s truly terrifying is that he probably thinks this is all normal. If he''s this powerful, why didn''t he just escape? Why did he even listen to me back in the lab? He''s a complete enigma.


    Yowaya''s thoughts were interrupted by a sharp crack as the front view mirror shattered. He scanned the surroundings, his heart pounding, and saw the wolves retreating, their snarls replaced by whimpers.


    He did it. He actually did it. Thank god...


    Relief washed over Yowaya as he slid into the driver''s seat. Harlow climbed back in, nonchalant as ever, and Yowaya slammed his foot on the gas. The engine roared, and they sped down the road, leaving the chaos behind. Their destination: Harlow''s neighborhood, wherever that might be.


    ...


    Shalerock Point, Harlow''s neighborhood, was eerily silent as they pulled up to the shattered entrance gate. The remnants of violence¡ªbloodstains and tattered clothing¡ªlittered the ground. Dr. Sunji, his mind a catalog of monstrous threats, mentally classified the mutated wolves they had encountered earlier.


    Those wolves, I believe, would fall into the ''Tremor'' category¡ªthe lowest level of threat, he mused. But given my research, it''s only a matter of time before we face a creature capable of pushing humanity to the brink. The mere thought of such a monster sends shivers down my spine...


    His contemplation was interrupted as the car shuddered to a halt. They cautiously surveyed the surroundings before proceeding down the deserted street. The vehicle''s movements became increasingly erratic, a familiar and dreaded sign.


    "We''re out of gas... Damn it. We knew this was coming," Yowaya groaned.


    "As long as Harlow can push, we''ll manage," Dr. Sunji reassured him. "Besides, look at all the abandoned cars. We''re bound to find some usable fuel. Perhaps one of the houses even has a siphon hose."


    Yowaya nodded, a flicker of hope in his eyes. "I-I guess you''re right..."


    The car finally sputtered to a stop beside a dilapidated house. Yowaya turned to glance at Harlow, who was still blissfully asleep, snoring softly. Dr. Sunji mirrored his gaze, and their eyes met in silent understanding.


    "C''mon, Doc, I tried shaking him last time..." Yowaya''s voice was laced with trepidation.


    "And nearly lost your life for it," Dr. Sunji retorted. "Better to yell, as I did."


    Yowaya fell silent, conceding the point. Dr. Sunji leaned towards the backseat and bellowed, "Harlow! Wake up! We''re here!"


    Harlow stirred, his hands instinctively rising as if gripping an invisible sword.


    What on earth...?


    Both Yowaya and Dr. Sunji observed Harlow''s peculiar gesture with bewilderment.


    Harlow blinked, shaking off the remnants of his dream. A wide smile spread across his face as he realized they had arrived.


    "Yay! I get to see Granny!" he exclaimed.


    Dr. Sunji raised an eyebrow. "What were you doing just now, lad?"


    "Huh?"


    "You were holding an imaginary sword. Something from that manga, I presume?"


    "Oh, this?" Harlow held up the well-worn volume. "I guess I was daydreaming again. Sorry about that."


    As Harlow and Dr. Sunji discussed the manga, Yowaya''s attention drifted to the desolate landscape outside. The crumbling houses and abandoned vehicles whispered of a violent exodus. He shuddered, recalling the hulking cyclops he had encountered at the detention center.


    Were these the same creatures responsible for this devastation?


    "You alright? You seem distant," Dr. Sunji inquired, placing a hand on Yowaya''s shoulder.


    "Yeah, I''m fine," Yowaya replied, watching Harlow step out of the car and survey the scene with an unsettling nonchalance. He then turned his gaze to Dr. Sunji, who exited the vehicle. By the time the doctor had joined Harlow on the sidewalk, Yowaya was still rooted in the driver''s seat, his hands trembling uncontrollably.


    Dr. Sunji reached for the door handle, but Yowaya stopped him. "What are you doing? Aren''t you coming out?"


    "No... I''m fine here... safe in the car..." Yowaya''s voice quivered.


    "You''re safer with Harlow," Dr. Sunji countered.


    "That''s where you''re wrong," Yowaya retorted, his voice rising in panic. "I''m not like you two... I simply can''t... I... I..." He trailed off, unable to articulate his fear.


    Dr. Sunji rubbed his temples, a frown creasing his brow. "I find it hard to believe someone like you ever became an officer. If you won''t help yourself survive out here, then you''re on your own."


    With that, Dr. Sunji turned and walked away, leaving Yowaya alone in the car, grappling with his fear and the harsh reality of their situation.


    ...


    The image was still vivid in Harlow''s mind¡ªhis grandmother gracefully descending the stairs, bathed in the warm glow of the morning light. As always, Harlow would be there to offer a steadying hand, then settle down to breakfast while she watched the news. The news never held much interest for him; he preferred to escape into the vibrant worlds of his comics, the ones his classmates often dismissed as "distasteful."


    I was quite the daydreamer, wasn''t I? Granny would always scold me for being slow and warn me I''d be late for school.


    A smirk tugged at Harlow''s lips as he reminisced about those moments with his grandmother. She was a simple woman, much like himself, but with a notably shorter temper. He recalled the time she had accidentally dropped a cherished family photo, the glass shattering on impact. Her initial grunt of frustration quickly dissolved into sobs.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    At the time, Harlow couldn''t fathom such a strong reaction to a broken picture frame. It wasn''t until later that he understood it wasn''t the frame itself that held such significance, but the precious memory it contained¡ªa photo of his parents, standing side-by-side before he was born.


    Lost in thought, Harlow paused his steps and looked up, the familiar sight of his house greeting him. It felt strange, standing here amidst the wreckage of his monster-ravaged neighborhood. Footsteps approached from behind, and he turned to see Dr. Sunji. But where was Yowaya?


    "Want to say hi to my grandma?" Harlow asked, his voice tinged with childlike innocence. Dr. Sunji''s eyebrows rose in surprise as he studied the house, his keen eyes drawn to a gaping hole in the roof. It was clearly the work of a monster, but what kind? He glanced at Harlow, then slowly removed his glasses.


    "Harlow... must I really spell it out for you?" Dr. Sunji asked, his voice heavy with pity. Harlow shook his head, oblivious to the doctor''s meaning.


    "I don''t understand. If you want to say hi to my grandma, just follow me inside," Harlow replied, stepping into the ransacked house. The interior was a scene of chaos¡ªfurniture overturned, books scattered, broken plates and splintered wood littering the floor. As Harlow made his way to the dining room, he noticed a full bowl of soup on the table. A wave of confusion washed over him. Why hadn''t his grandmother finished it?


    "Grandma! Grandma! I''m home! I was released! You didn''t finish your soup!" Harlow called out, expecting his grandmother to emerge from her bedroom upstairs. Silence met his calls. As Harlow waited at the foot of the stairs, Dr. Sunji examined the disarray in the kitchen. Still, no response.


    She always gets up when she hears my voice, no matter how deeply she''s sleeping. Something''s not right...


    Harlow ascended the stairs, his heart pounding. Reaching the second floor, he made his way to his grandmother''s bedroom door and knocked. "Granny, are you in there?"


    No answer. He knocked again, louder this time. Still, nothing. A frown creased Harlow''s brow as he stared at the locked doorknob. It was never locked before...


    The house is already a mess, Harlow reasoned. She wouldn''t mind if I broke the door to get in, would she?


    With a casual shrug, Harlow punched through the doorknob, splintering the wood. He gently pushed the door open, his eyes widening in surprise. The room was empty. His grandmother was nowhere to be found.


    Strange... very strange...


    Harlow scratched his head, perplexed. Where could she have gone? Running out of options, he decided to check his own room, not for his grandmother, but for any sign of her presence. Perhaps she had tidied up or left a note. He opened the door and stepped inside. The room was exactly as he had left it, his manga scattered across the bed.


    Maybe I should take some of these comics with me, Harlow thought. Oh, right, I forgot. That officer guy still owes me a volume.


    He grabbed his backpack, stuffed the comics inside, and slung it over his shoulder. As he turned to leave, his gaze fell upon a framed photo of him and his grandmother, smiling happily in a park. A wave of nostalgia washed over him, and he quickly grabbed and walked out of the room¡ªnot looking back.


    He descended the stairs. In the kitchen, Dr. Sunji knelt, his eyes fixated on the shredded clothes scattered across the floor, aligned ominously with the gaping hole in the roof.


    Dr. Sunji touched a torn piece of fabric, rubbing it between his fingers, a frown creasing his brow. Confusion gnawed at him; how could discarded clothing be directly beneath such a destructive breach? Unless...


    Harlow entered the kitchen, wincing as he noticed Dr. Sunji''s intense focus on the tattered remnants.


    "Hey, what are you doing?" Harlow asked, crossing his arms defensively.


    "Just inspecting," Dr. Sunji replied, his attention still partially on the fabric. "Any sign of your grandmother?"


    Harlow shook his head.


    "Uh... no, but maybe she went for a walk or something..." he offered, his voice laced with uncertainty.


    Dr. Sunji''s eyebrows shot up.


    "Kid, are you hearing yourself? Like I said, she''s not here. She can''t be¡ªthe neighborhood is trashed for a reason. I shouldn''t have to tell you that," Dr. Sunji said, rising to his feet. Harlow''s face fell, a child''s impatience warring with dawning fear.


    "Okay... well, what do we do now? Where can I find my granny?" Harlow asked, his voice tight. Dr. Sunji scratched his chin, a thoughtful frown creasing his forehead. He looked away for a moment, then back at Harlow, his expression grave.


    "I don''t want to explain everything right now, you might get the wrong idea. Let''s just try to scavenge for supplies first and we''ll¡ª"


    "NO! I want to see my granny NOW!" Harlow''s voice rose to a desperate shriek, his teeth gritted. Dr. Sunji recoiled, startled by the sudden outburst. He now regarded the boy with a cautious, calculating gaze.


    "Harlow... I... I don''t know how to make that happen. If I could, I would, but I don''t know how," Dr. Sunji stammered, taking a step back. Harlow''s face contorted with rage; he slowly advanced on Dr. Sunji, fists clenched.


    "Are you lying to me?" Harlow accused, his voice low and dangerous.


    "No, why would I lie?" Dr. Sunji replied, his voice carefully neutral.


    "...I don''t know... but it feels like you''re lying," Harlow retorted, his eyes narrowing.


    The tension crackled in the air. Harlow''s expression remained furious until his gaze fell upon the torn clothes on the floor. A flicker of recognition crossed his face, and he bent down, snatching up a piece of the fabric. He held it up to Dr. Sunji, his voice thick with emotion.


    "These... these are my grandma''s clothes," he whispered.


    ...


    Yowaya slumped in the front seat, his gaze fixed on the photo of him and Fukui. The Ferris wheel. A bittersweet memory surfaced; their shared laughter, the carefree joy before they boarded. It had been a perfect ending to their day.


    Closing his eyes, Yowaya drifted back in time, not to the Ferris wheel, but further, to the moment he contemplated the job offer. Back to District 8, back to Fukui.


    My memories... they always soften around the edges when it comes to her. I focus on the good times, the laughter, and conveniently forget the rest. Not this time.


    The Ferris wheel scene replayed in his mind, but with a different focus. Fukui''s flushed cheeks, not from the summer heat as he''d assumed, but from a different source of tension.


    "More water? If you''re too warm, we could..." Yowaya offered, his voice laced with concern.


    "It''s not that," Fukui replied, her eyes meeting his. "Why do you always feel the need to prove yourself?"


    Yowaya paused, the question catching him off guard. "I don''t know," he finally admitted, his voice barely a whisper.


    Fukui''s lip quivered. "The monsters... they''re more active in the district you''re transferring to. It''s dangerous. What if something happens to you? Don''t you care about how I feel? If you were killed..." Her words caught in her throat, as if speaking the fear aloud would make it a reality.


    Yowaya''s brow furrowed. He reached out, his arm enveloping her. "Fukui, I know it''s hard, but this is my job, my calling. I can handle it, I have to. And I won''t let anything keep me from coming back to you." He leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.


    "But you''re putting yourself in more danger for no reason. You could stay here... Please, decline the transfer. Forget the badge, forget being an officer. Just... be with me." Fukui''s voice cracked, tears welling in her eyes. "If I were you, I''d say no. I''d kiss me, and I''d stay."


    Yowaya felt a lump form in his throat, blinking back his own tears. He leaned closer, his voice a soft murmur. "I can''t turn my back on this. It''s who I am. But I promise, I won''t be gone long. I''ll call, I''ll text, every chance I get. And hey, look on the bright side, you''ll get a break from this hothead for a while." He attempted a smile, but it faltered.


    "This isn''t a joke..." Fukui retorted, turning away, her voice thick with disappointment.


    Silence fell between them. Yowaya stared out at the horizon, the vibrant cityscape blurring as his thoughts churned. Duty or love? Was it truly an either/or choice? He shook his head, dispelling the thought. It wasn''t that simple. But then, what was it?


    Yowaya''s eyes snapped open, the memory fading. He touched his cheek, surprised to find it damp. Had he been crying?


    How did I not even notice?


    ...


    "Huh? You''re telling me my grandma''s a monster? Are you crazy? That''s insane..." Harlow''s voice trailed off, his eyes fixed on the shredded clothes scattered across the floor. Dr. Sunji, leaning against the wall, observed Harlow intently.


    "It''s just a hypothesis, Harlow," Dr. Sunji replied calmly. He discreetly checked his monster radar¡ªthe screen was blank. No blips, no signs of monstrous activity... except for the single, glaring red dot that pulsed over Harlow''s location. With a shrug, Dr. Sunji slipped the device back into his pocket.


    "Well, I''m going to check the other houses. Let me know when you''re done here," Dr. Sunji said, heading towards the front door. He stepped out into the eerie quiet of the street and crossed to the neighboring house.


    Alone in the ravaged kitchen, Harlow''s gaze drifted to the gaping hole in the wall. Then, something caught his eye on the floor¡ªa crumpled piece of paper peeking out from beneath a pile of shattered plates. Curiosity piqued, he walked over, knelt down, and carefully retrieved the paper. As he smoothed out the creases, he recognized his grandmother''s handwriting:


    Dear Harlow,


    I hope this letter finds you well. I want you to know that I''m doing just fine, so please don''t worry too much about me. The neighborhood has gotten a bit kinder since folks heard about you being in the detention center. Some of the neighbors even stopped by to see how I''m doing. It''s strange, but it''s nice to know they''re looking out for me. I guess people can surprise you sometimes.


    Did you get the manga I sent you¡ªGods Don''t Bleed, Vol. 1? I hope you enjoyed it as much as I thought you might. It''s a little darker than your usual reads, but I know you like those stories with a twist. When you get a chance, write me back, and I promise I''ll send you the next volume. It''s always good to have something to look forward to, right?


    I miss you every day, Harlow. But knowing you''re safe makes my heart lighter. I think about you all the time and hope you''re keeping your spirits up. Remember that you''re never alone, no matter how far away you feel.


    Take care of yourself sweetie, and write back soon.


    All my love,


    Grandma


    "Grandma?" Harlow whispered. He stared at the letter, his mind reeling. Where was she? How could she have disappeared?


    The image of his sweet, doting grandmother transforming into a monstrous creature seemed impossible. He sank onto the debris-strewn floor, his legs crossed, lost in a flood of memories of happier times.

 CHAPTER 07: THE MALL PT. 1

    Dr. Sunji, unfortunately, couldn''t find a siphon pump or any other effective tool to simplify his task. He had already searched the house adjacent to the car where Yowaya was resting, but still, he found nothing of use. The only potentially helpful item he could locate was a hose on the opposite side of the house.


    I really didn''t want to put my mouth on the other end of this hose, but if it''s necessary, I suppose I don''t have another option. Technically, I could ask Yowaya if he''d be willing to do it, but considering his aversion to even getting out of the car, I doubt he''d agree to this...


    With a sigh, Dr. Sunji grabbed the hose and checked its length, nodding in satisfaction when he determined it was sufficient. Thankfully, their car had broken down in front of the house rather than between two houses, which would have made the hose too short.


    As the doctor approached the vehicle, he made sure to check his monster radar again. Still, no monsters were detected except for Harlow.


    Upon reaching the vehicle, Dr. Sunji inserted the hose into the gas tank while glancing at Yowaya in the front seat. From what the doctor could see, Yowaya was clutching a photograph of himself and his girlfriend. As the doctor walked back around the side of the house to reach the other end of the hose, he began to ponder Yowaya''s reluctance to leave the car.


    Is he truly afraid of dying as an officer? No, it must be more complicated than that. He knew the risks when he chose that career path and started working at the District 3 Detention Center. This is just my speculation, but perhaps the poor man isn''t afraid of dying itself, but rather the impact his death would have on his loved one. That seems to be the most plausible explanation.


    Lost in thought, Dr. Sunji absently brought the other end of the hose to their vehicle. He shrugged, turned, and walked over to the other car parked in the road. He opened the gas tank and inserted the hose, ensuring it was deep enough to prevent it from slipping out easily.


    Would it be inappropriate to make a joke about that? he thought with a wry smile.


    Of course, it would be, but why was he feeling immature in such a dire situation? Perhaps it was due to exhaustion¡ªexhaustion from all the recent events, especially his recent confrontation with an angry Harlow. Dr. Sunji continued to contemplate this as he walked back to their vehicle and knelt beside the gas tank.


    What if Harlow had become angry enough to kill me? It''s a slim possibility, but still a frightening one...


    Dr. Sunji began sucking on the end of the hose until he felt the telltale vibration of gasoline flowing. At the last moment, he quickly removed the hose from his mouth and inserted it into the gas tank. It had worked¡ªgas was flowing. Dr. Sunji stood up and stretched. Just then, Harlow appeared in front of him, causing the doctor to twitch in surprise.


    Huh? When did he get there? I didn''t even hear him approach...


    "I want the second volume..." Harlow said in a childish voice.


    Dr. Sunji raised his eyebrows.


    "The second volume of that book you have?"


    "Yes. The guy in the car promised me he''d get me a second volume. Do you know where I could find one?" Harlow asked. Dr. Sunji knew where he could easily obtain a second volume, but he hesitated. There were two options: the public library or the mall. Based on the doctor''s knowledge, the mall was closer to a Green Zone than the public library.


    Do I really want to take Harlow closer to a Green Zone? Eventually, we''ll have to part ways... Given that the ODW is supposed to be arriving soon... If I take Harlow closer to a Green Zone, and they happen to arrive at that moment...


    "Hey, are you even listening to me?" Harlow asked, snapping Dr. Sunji out of his thoughts.


    Dr. Sunji walked to the other side of the vehicle.


    "Once we''re finished filling up on gas, I know a place where you''ll be able to get all the volumes, not just one," Dr. Sunji said.


    Harlow''s eyes lit up.


    "Really?"


    "Yes."


    Dr. Sunji glanced at the hose. Gas was still flowing, and presumably, it would continue for another minute or so.


    "Hey, Harlow, why don''t you get in the car and rest? When you wake up, we''ll definitely be there."


    "OH, REALLY! WELL, I BETTER GO TO SLEEP NOW!" Harlow exclaimed.


    ...


    Yowaya woke up feeling sluggish. It was probably evening, and he had just felt someone open the car door. He glanced to his right and saw Dr. Sunji.


    Oh, thank goodness.


    He felt something soft on his chest¡ªit was the picture of him and Fukui. He had been daydreaming about his last encounter with her. Had it really been that long ago? Slumped over the driver''s seat, scared and uncertain, how could he not think of her? He also noticed that Harlow was asleep in the back.


    I see...


    Yowaya sighed, stretched, and put his hands on the steering wheel. He noticed that the doctor was checking the radar.


    "No monsters nearby. I know I said this before, but it''s just a checkup," Dr. Sunji reassured him.


    Yowaya nodded.


    "Well...now that we have gas, where do we go? Did Harlow get what he came here for?" Yowaya asked.


    Dr. Sunji shook his head.


    "No, but he mentioned you promised to get him the second volume of some comic book. It would be wise for you to live up to that promise," Dr. Sunji said, giving him a sidelong glance. Yowaya understood, but everything was happening too fast. He was exhausted.


    "And where would that be?" Yowaya started, but Dr. Sunji quickly interjected, "The mall¡ªthe nearest one to the Green Zone."


    ...


    Kyoufu squinted, her vision tinged with an unsettling red hue. Something was amiss. A salty taste lingered in her mouth, and tears streamed down her face. She attempted to clear her throat, but the gesture was futile, as was any attempt to move her limbs. A wave of despair washed over her.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Wait...where am I? What is this place?


    Recognition dawned. The mall...it had to be. The familiar storefronts lining the corridor, the kiosks scattered throughout the concourse¡ªunmistakably the mall. But why? She tried to clutch her head in confusion, only to realize she lacked the physical means to do so.


    I...I can''t remember anything. Why does my mouth taste like salt?


    The frustrating inability to move persisted. On the verge of surrender, she envisioned herself strolling through the mall, and to her astonishment, it worked. She was moving¡ªnot by walking, but by gliding effortlessly, as if suspended in mid-air.


    It''s like I can go anywhere I want...there''s no limit to the places I can explore here...at least within this mall...


    As she continued her ethereal journey down the hall, an excruciating pain pierced her mind. She screamed internally, begging for the agony to cease. When it didn''t, she came to a sudden halt, hoping that stillness would bring relief. The pain persisted, though its intensity lessened.


    It hurts so much...


    Her gaze swept across the familiar stores until it landed upon a macabre sight. In front of one shop, a grotesque egg lay on the floor, seemingly on the verge of hatching. Its black shell oozed green pus, and a sticky substance adhered it to the wall.


    What...what is that?


    Fear paralyzed her. Moving closer meant risking a worsening headache, but an irresistible curiosity drew her towards the unsettling object. Summoning her courage, she inched forward, hoping the minimal movement wouldn''t exacerbate the pain. As she neared the egg, an unseen force propelled her onward, robbing her of control.


    Hey, what''s going on?!


    She braced for impact, squeezing her eyes shut. Yet, when she reopened them, she was enveloped in a sea of green pus. Had she somehow phased through the egg?


    No...it doesn''t make sense. Where''s my body? It''s like my mind is wandering through the mall without my body...


    Controlling her movements remained a challenge, but gradually, she adapted. The sensation was less like hovering and more like traversing the mall as a disembodied consciousness.


    Bodies...no, no, why are there so many...


    Tears welled up again, accompanied by a fleeting image of a young girl with vibrant red hair and dark, fathomless eyes. It was a mere flash, a fragment of a memory that vanished as quickly as it appeared. Before she could dwell on it, a torrent of images flooded her mind, intensifying her headache.


    Ahh...I can''t...I simply can''t...


    A scream caught in her throat, trapped by an invisible force. The relentless onslaught of images continued, and the young girl''s identity remained elusive.


    I can''t take this anymore. I can''t...I just want to...


    Her heart skipped a beat. Something was approaching the mall¡ªno, multiple entities were closing in. Her omnipresence within the mall granted her an uncanny awareness of their approach.


    No...no more danger...no more hurt.


    ...


    Night had fallen. Harlow''s eyes flickered open to the sight of a sprawling building in the distance, bathed in the moon''s silvery glow. "The mall," he murmured, the familiar term surfacing from the depths of his memory. How could he have forgotten, even for a moment?


    He sat up, his gaze falling upon the slightly dusty manga volume in his lap. A mental note to clean it later flitted through his mind, quickly overshadowed by a more pressing thought.


    "Kid, we''re getting close," Dr. Sunji''s voice announced, accompanied by the telltale beep of the monster radar.


    Harlow stifled a yawn.


    "Finally, I can practically taste that second volume." Harlow said. A sudden, thrilling thought struck him.


    What if the mall held more than just one additional volume? The possibility of completing his collection in one fell swoop ignited a spark of excitement.


    "Hey, Doc! There should be more volumes there, right?"Harlow said, leaning forward.


    Dr. Sunji winced, covering his ears against the sudden outburst.


    "Yes, of course, there are. What goes through your head, kid?" Dr. Sunji said.


    "Huh?" Harlow replied as he blinked, momentarily confused.


    "Nothing." Dr. Sunji sighed, shaking his head.


    In the front seat, Yowaya fidgeted nervously, his gaze darting around for potential threats. Harlow, oblivious to his companion''s anxiety, grinned as the mall loomed larger in the windshield.


    "Oh, I''m so excited," he squealed, his voice a childish singsong.


    Dr. Sunji rolled his eyes.


    As Yowaya steered the car off the main road and onto a side street, the path to the mall was abruptly blocked by a closed gate. A thick, crimson substance, glistening ominously in the moonlight, sealed the bars together.


    "Monster vomit. If I had some syringes, I could definitely make use of this opportunity." Dr. Sunji said.


    Harlow''s excitement deflated, replaced by a frown as he stared at the slimy barrier.


    "Aw, man, why''d we have to stop now? We''re so close. I''m just gonna get out and go to the mall. Hey, you: come with me and help me find the volumes." he said, turning to Yowaya.


    Yowaya, lost in his own world of worry, didn''t respond. It took a gentle tap on the shoulder from Dr. Sunji to bring him back to reality, his body shaking with a fresh wave of fear.


    "Didn''t you hear me, man? I want you to come with me." Harlow repeated, already opening the car door.


    Yowaya''s panic escalated.


    "Wait, wait, there''s no way I can go with you." Yowaya stammered.


    Dr. Sunji placed a comforting hand on Yowaya''s shoulder.


    "I don''t care." Harlow retorted.


    "What do you mean?" Yowaya''s voice rose in pitch.


    Without another word, Harlow reached across the car, grabbed Yowaya by the collar, and unceremoniously dragged him out of the vehicle.


    "Hey, Harlow, we can talk about this! You know me!" Yowaya pleaded.


    "Huh? What are you whining about? We''re just going to the mall, dude." Harlow replied, his tone nonchalant.


    "Please! Don''t bring me in there," Yowaya begged.


    "You''re such a whiny pants, bro," Harlow scoffed, pulling Yowaya across the road.


    Meanwhile, Dr. Sunji remained in the car, lost in thought. He glanced at the monster radar and nearly jumped out of his skin. The device indicated a massive monster lurking within the mall, something far more dangerous than anything Harlow had faced before.


    Red dots, representing smaller monsters, clustered around the larger one, painting a grim picture of the situation inside. Beads of sweat formed on Dr. Sunji''s forehead.


    "Even with Harlow, could he possibly defeat all those monsters?" he muttered to himself.


    His internal debate was cut short by a sense of duty. He couldn''t, in good conscience, let Harlow and Yowaya face the unknown alone. With a sigh, he opened the glove compartment, retrieved a flashlight, and exited the car.


    By the time he caught up, Harlow had already dispatched the gate with a casual punch, leaving a gaping hole in the slimy barrier.


    "Yay, now I don''t know which direction to go, so you''re going to help me." Harlow said, glancing at Yowaya, who still sat on the ground, a little traumatized.


    "Uh, yes..." Yowaya said slowly. Harlow wasted no time, casually lifting Yowaya to his feet and gesturing for him to lead the way. Yowaya stepped in front of Harlow and started walking, fearful of what awaited them.


    "Harlow, there is something you should know," Dr. Sunji called out.


    Harlow and Yowaya halted and turned towards Dr. Sunji.


    "There are a lot of monsters in there. Will you be able to handle them?" Dr. Sunji began, showing them the monster radar.


    Harlow shrugged.


    "Sure, but I couldn''t really care about that right now. Monsters are monsters, whatever."


    "Are you still not convinced that you''re a monster too?"


    "Hey, stop asking me those questions and let''s go inside the mall." Harlow said, jogging towards the entrance. Yowaya and Dr. Sunji reluctantly followed.


    ...


    The dim beam of Dr. Sunji''s flashlight cut through the oppressive silence of the deserted mall.


    "It''s not ideal, but it will have to do." Dr. Sunji said. Beside him, Yowaya trembled. In contrast, Harlow and Dr. Sunji maintained an outward appearance of calm.


    As they ventured deeper into the eerie quiet, they stumbled upon a mall directory kiosk, its screen dark and lifeless.


    "Of course, the power''s out." Dr. Sunji muttered, then, a thought came to mind.


    Shouldn''t the backup generators have kicked in? Surely a place like this would have them. Of course, the outbreak affected the power plants too. Maybe some of the engineers...


    "There might be a physical map near the escalators," Dr. Sunji suggested, redirecting his flashlight beam.


    It was then that he noticed the glistening substance dripping from the ceiling, a decoration that became more pronounced as they neared the escalators. The map, thankfully, was still clearly visible.


    Harlow, his eyes scanning the map, exclaimed, "Oh-ho, yes! Now, tell me where to find the store..."


    He glanced expectantly at Yowaya, who remained silent.


    "The third floor. That''s where we need to go." Dr. Sunji said, stepping in.


    A sudden crash echoed through the desolate mall. Dr. Sunji and Yowaya whirled around, searching for the source of the noise. Harlow''s reaction was a beat slower, and by the time he turned, his companions had vanished.


    "Huh? Where''d you guys go?" Harlow called out, bewildered. He took a hesitant step forward, only to feel a pair of rough, cold hands clamp around his ankle, yanking him down through the floor.


    "Hey, wait! I want to go to the third floor!" Harlow cried out, his voice swallowed by the darkness.

 CHAPTER 08: THE MALL PT. 2

    Harlow searched the soft grass for his missing manga, his brow furrowing in confusion. Sitting up, he scanned his surroundings.


    How...How did I get here?


    The laughter in the distance drew his attention. Through the trees, he spotted movement - a squirrel, or something similar, darting through the undergrowth.


    "Okay, then," Harlow shrugged, stepping over the leafy barrier.


    His manga was still missing, and he had no idea where the doctor or the officer had disappeared to. Pushing through the trees, he emerged into a clearing and froze. People. Not the shambling horrors of the mall, but actual people, milling about and chatting. It didn''t make sense.


    "Whatever, I''m going back to the mall." Harlow decided.


    As he approached the crowd, a prickling sensation made him pause. Someone was watching him. Squinting, he scanned the faces until he found her - a small girl with white hair and a black and white striped shirt, her expression flat and unreadable.


    Before he could decide whether to approach her, she moved towards him, her gaze unwavering.


    "What''s your name?" she asked.


    Harlow crossed his arms.


    "Tell you what. you get me back into that mall and find me the manga I want, and I''ll tell you." Harlow replied.


    The girl''s expression didn''t change, but the air crackled with tension. Suddenly, her hands lifted, and the crowd around them erupted in a gruesome display of violence. Blood and gore splattered across Harlow, who recoiled in disgust.


    "Gross! What did you do that for?!" Harlow exclaimed.


    The girl lowered her hands.


    "Are you not afraid?" she asked.


    "Huh?"


    Harlow wiped gore from his face.


    "--Of dying? Since you entered the mall, I sensed something... monstrous. My father always said monsters deserve no kindness, that they can''t tell right from wrong. Maybe he was right..." The girl began.


    Harlow scratched his head, her words barely registering. He just wanted his manga. The girl turned and pointed towards the mall.


    "I''ll ask again. What''s your name?" She asked.


    Harlow sighed, and replied: "It''s Harlow."


    "Harlow...Walk with me. Let me show you the pain monsters have caused... the pain they caused my sister..." she repeated, a single tear tracing her cheek.


    Trauma dump? Seriously? Harlow thought, but he followed nonetheless.


    ...


    Yowaya shuddered, his breath catching in his throat as he huddled beneath the desk, the hollow groans of the monstrous horde echoing through the store.


    The silence between him and Dr. Sunji was a deafening void; with no way to contact the doctor, he was utterly alone, blind to the horrors lurking just beyond his hiding place.


    Memories flashed through his mind - the sight of Harlow being swallowed by a gaping black hole in the earth, a scene ripped straight from the science fiction films of his childhood. Reality had twisted into something far stranger, far more terrifying, than any movie.


    The doctor and he had barely escaped the ensuing chaos, pursued by a horde of grotesque figures, their movements eerily coordinated, their intent chillingly clear.


    A sudden thud against the store wall jolted Yowaya back to the present. His heart pounded in his chest, the image of those creatures, those monstrous parodies of humanity, seared into his mind. They were like zombies, but infinitely more cunning.


    Fear had painted vivid pictures of gruesome demise. He gagged, clamping a hand over his mouth to stifle the sound, his body trembling uncontrollably.


    Just when he thought the silence was his only enemy, a new terror emerged - footsteps. Slow, deliberate, they echoed through the store, shattering his fragile sense of security.


    He tensed, every muscle coiled, ready to bolt the moment the creature revealed itself. But then, a sound, not of horror, but of ethereal beauty, filled the air. A chorus of voices, singing a melody both haunting and majestic, seemed to draw the creature away. The footsteps retreated.


    The music, whatever its source, had distracted the monster, offering a potential path to escape. Yet, the memory of the grotesque figures made him hesitate. He had pushed his limits before, peering out from his hiding place at the detention center, but these creatures were different.


    Thoughts of Fukui, his friend, his anchor, flooded his mind. What would she think of him, cowering in the dark, paralyzed by fear? Could he protect her, if she were here, if they were facing this nightmare together?


    He couldn''t stay hidden forever. Taking a deep breath, Yowaya steeled himself, slowly emerging from beneath the desk. The hallway was empty, the monstrous groans replaced by the distant, ethereal chorus.


    A trail of blood and viscera painted a gruesome path towards the escalators, but Yowaya turned away, drawn instead by the haunting melody. It led him away from the lower floors, towards the opposite end of the mall, towards the unknown.


    ...


    The mall was more stunning than Harlow remembered from his first visit with the doctor and the officer. Crowds of people milled about, enjoying the restaurants and the enticing aromas of noodles and chicken. Harlow smirked.


    Wow...nice...


    The girl remained nonchalant. After a long silence, she finally spoke: "Follow me." Harlow followed her up the escalator, through the bustling crowds, and into a restaurant. As they walked on the second floor, she pointed out two people standing in front of an ice cream shop.


    "That''s my brother and me," she said, her voice trembling slightly. Harlow didn''t respond, unsure of what to say.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Uh...ok...so what?


    The girl''s lips quivered.


    "You see how happy we are? You took that from me. Everyone in this mall was happy before you showed up," she accused, pointing a finger at Harlow.


    "HUH? BUT I WASN''T EVEN HERE. DON''T BLAME THAT ON ME!" Harlow retorted, his voice rising. The girl narrowed her eyebrows and walked towards him.


    "You''re a monster, and you''re responsible for this. I''ll show you what happened...then, if you''re lucky, I might make you my slave instead of killing you," she threatened, turning away. Harlow was growing increasingly annoyed.


    "Hey, that''s not fair. I told you my name, and now what''s yours?" Harlow asked, placing his hands on her shoulder. The girl''s head whipped around, and she glared at him.


    "DON''T YOU DARE TOUCH ME! I''M IN CONTROL HERE!" she screamed, her voice so powerful that it knocked Harlow back, sending him crashing to the first floor. BOOM! The surrounding people screamed and panicked.


    Most of them scrambled to their feet and ran for the nearest exit. The girl floated down to the first floor to check on Harlow, surprised to find him completely unharmed.


    Harlow slowly stood up and dusted himself off.


    "NOW I HAVE DIRT AND BLOOD ON ME!" Harlow shouted, clenching his fists.


    Alright, I''ve had enough of whatever this punk is thinking.


    Harlow raised his fist, ready to strike if she didn''t give him the answers he wanted, but the sudden sound of shattering glass above stopped him. Harlow and the girl looked up to see a horde of monsters invading the mall through the roof.


    Harlow watched as the monsters destroyed everything in their path, searching for humans to consume. One monster, resembling a giant eel, absorbed electricity as it slithered around the walls.


    Harlow turned back to the girl, who was still floating.


    "I don''t know what you''re trying to prove, but I need to get to the third floor," Harlow said, looking upwards. Before the girl could respond, Harlow leaped, effortlessly breaking through the second and third floors. He scanned the area but couldn''t find the store he was looking for, the one that had the rest of the Gods Don''t Bleed volumes.


    Ugh...oh no...it''ll take me forever to find this store...


    Harlow picked his nose as he searched for the store. After a while, he noticed the girl had followed him to the third floor.


    "Whatever you''re looking for, it''s meaningless," she said.


    Oh, right, I asked her name, but she didn''t tell me...whatever...I''ll get it out of her eventually...


    Harlow suddenly stopped. He had finally found it: the bookstore.


    YES! I CAN FINALLY GET THEM!


    Harlow rushed into the store, eager to find the volumes. The girl waited outside, uninterested in his quest. Harlow scratched his head, frustrated by the store''s confusing layout.


    This is so annoying. Why did they have to make it so confusing...?


    Harlow continued his search, but after twenty minutes, he still couldn''t find a copy of Gods Don''t Bleed. He knelt down, clutching his head in despair.


    "NOOOOOO! IT CAN''T BE! WHY ISN''T IT HERE?! DID WE COME HERE FOR NOTHING?! NOOOOO!" Harlow screamed. The girl entered the store, her eyebrows raised.


    "I don''t know why you''re screaming, but I hope it hurts," she said, frowning. Harlow stopped screaming and glared at her.


    "YOU..." Harlow growled, advancing towards her. The girl remained calm and unafraid.


    "What?" the girl asked, but before she could react, everything went black. Harlow had struck her face with such force and speed that she was caught off guard. From Harlow''s point of view, the moment his fist connected with hers, darkness enveloped him, leaving him alone.


    "HELLO?! PUNK?! WHERE ARE YOU?!" Harlow shouted.


    ...


    The horrifying sound of a monstrous scream, reminiscent of a demon in the throes of exorcism, ripped through the air, causing Yowaya to drop to his knees and instinctively cover his ears.


    As the echoes faded, an unsettling realization dawned upon him: Someone, or something, is controlling this mall. Shuddering, he resolved to press onward, his every step now laden with a heightened sense of caution.


    Reaching the end of the second-floor corridor, he gripped the railing, peering down at the scene below. His earlier suspicions were confirmed; a grotesque assembly of monstrous humanoids were engaged in a chilling ritual, their discordant voices raised not in song, but in fervent worship of an enormous egg. This egg, dwarfing any he had previously encountered, held Dr. Sunji captive at its center, encircled by the ominous figures.


    A wave of despair washed over Yowaya.


    Are they planning to sacrifice him? Even if I wanted to intervene, what could I, a mere human, do against such creatures? Doctor, I''m so sorry... Retreating from the railing, he concealed himself from view, his heart pounding in his chest.


    The humanoids'' chorus continued to drift upward, a disturbing paean to their enigmatic deity: "In the shelter of her watchful gaze, walls rise high, a fortress maze, within her arms, we find solace, in shadows deep, fears released. O Great Mother, shield and light, guide us through the endless night. Your whispers echo down each way, sacred beams above, they gleam. Your presence, warm. O Great Mother, shield and light, you guard us through each stair and¡ª"


    The hymn abruptly ceased, replaced by an ominous silence. A cold dread gripped Yowaya as he turned to find one of the monstrous humanoids looming over him, a sinister grin twisting its features. How did it get here so quickly? They''re supposed to be singing! This is it...I''m going to die! Panic surged through him as he attempted to flee, but the creature''s reflexes were lightning-fast. A vice-like hand clamped around his neck, cutting off his breath.


    "Uu-gh...uGH..." he choked, struggling in vain against the creature''s unyielding grip. With effortless strength, it lifted him off the ground, its fingers digging into his flesh. Yowaya''s legs kicked frantically, desperately seeking purchase as he was dragged inexorably towards the edge of the second floor. The grinning humanoid dangled him over the precipice, the drop below promising a swift and brutal end.


    "AGh! Please...I beg you...PLEASE..." Yowaya pleaded, his voice barely a whisper. The creature tightened its grip, silencing him, before callously releasing its hold. Yowaya plummeted towards the unforgiving ground below, the air rushing past him as his life flashed before his eyes.


    Just as he braced for the inevitable impact, a figure emerged from the shadows, scooping him up with remarkable agility. The rescuer, a female cyborg with vibrant red hair, landed gracefully on the second floor, then, ascended to the mall ceiling, depositing Yowaya safely away from the edge.


    It''s the ODW! They''ve arrived! We''re saved!


    The cyborg, her movements a blur, descended through the ceiling, leaving a gaping hole in her wake. From below, a chorus of enraged screams erupted. Moments later, the cyborg reappeared, Dr. Sunji cradled in her arms. Yowaya rushed to embrace his friend.


    "I''M SO SORRY I COULDN''T DO ANYTHING! THERE WERE TOO MANY OF THEM AND..."


    Dr. Sunji, ever composed, cut him off.


    "Stop being melodramatic. I had a feeling the ODW would notice the increase of average monsterification nearby, especially with Harlow''s proximity to the Green Zone."


    Turning to face their savior, Yowaya and Dr. Sunji studied the female cyborg.


    "Let me guess, you''re 1st Rank?" Dr. Sunji ventured.


    "Correct. Delta, a soldier of the 1st Rank." The cyborg replied, laughing smugly.


    Yowaya sighed, his relief mingling with lingering fear.


    "Well, thank goodness you''re here. I was about to¨C" Yowaya began, but Delta silenced him with a finger pressed to his lips.


    Another figure, a human woman clad in a battle suit, materialized behind her, executing a series of acrobatic flips before landing gracefully. Taller than Delta, she possessed long, flowing crimson hair, piercing brown eyes, and a formidable mace strapped to her back.


    "Suzune. No further introduction needed," she stated.


    Her nonchalant demeanor vanished when her eyes fell upon Dr. Sunji.


    "Grandpa? Is that really you?" she gasped, kneeling in disbelief.


    Dr. Sunji merely smirked in response, leaving Yowaya utterly flabbergasted by the unexpected connection.


    "Didn''t I tell you I''d be fine if something like this ever happened? You thought I was dead, didn''t you? You young ones need to stop underestimating us old folks." Dr. Sunji chuckled, pulling Suzune into a warm embrace.


    Meanwhile, Delta, still holding her finger to Yowaya''s lips, leaned in close, her face inches from his.


    "I heard the doctor mention Harlow. I sense a monster of immense power below, but it hasn''t shown itself, even after I disintegrated the weaker ones. Is this powerful monster Harlow?" Delta asked.


    Dr. Sunji and Suzune turned their attention to Yowaya, silently awaiting his response. For a fleeting moment, his eyes met Dr. Sunji''s, and then he spoke.


    "I''m not entirely sure. There could be another monster down there, but we were taken hostage by one during our journey, and that monster''s name was..." Yowaya began.


    "Harlow?" Suzune finished his sentence, her voice barely a whisper. Yowaya nodded reluctantly, a sense of dread washing over him.


    Before he could utter another word, Delta''s voice rang out: "GET OUT OF THE WAY!!"


    With incredible speed, Delta, carrying Yowaya, and Suzune, clutching Dr. Sunji, leaped from the rooftop just as a colossal, serpentine eel-like monster erupted through the mall''s ceiling, its massive form shooting skyward.

 CHAPTER 09: THE MALL PT. 3

    Harlow blinked, trying to clear his head as the strange, heavy feeling drifted away. When his eyes adjusted, he found himself back in the mall, standing in the middle of a bright, bustling food court.


    The place was filled with people, no monsters, no chaos. Just people, shopping bags in hand, laughing and chatting like it was any other day. It looked...peaceful. Harlow''s mind struggled to catch up, and then he scowled. His fists clenched, and he stomped a foot hard on the polished mall floor.


    THIS IS SO ANNOYING WHERE''S MY MANGA!!!


    He could still remember holding that volume, and could practically feel the weight of it in his hand.


    I was almost done with a chapter again too...


    He didn''t have time to spiral, though. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted someone familiar. That girl¡ªthe one who''d been staring him down with that dead-eyed look.


    Only, this time, she looked... different. She was walking down the mall, smiling brightly, practically skipping, alongside an older boy. Harlow squinted. He hadn''t seen this guy before, but judging by the way the two interacted, it seemed like he was her brother.


    Ignoring his surroundings, Harlow jogged over to them, his frustration simmering back to the surface. That girl had made his life a hassle earlier; he was more than ready to give her a piece of his mind.


    Maybe a punch would do her some good too. He started to raise his fist, but then he stopped short. She had something in her hands, something that made him stare.


    Volume 1 of Gods Don''t Bleed.


    His own Volume 1¡ªthe same one he''d lost.


    Harlow''s mind took a second to piece things together, and in that second, the girl and her brother walked right past him as though he weren''t even there.


    Harlow frowned.


    Was he seeing things? No, the cover was unmistakable. The girl was carrying his manga. He cleared his throat, expecting her to turn, to flinch, to react¡ªbut she didn''t. Not even a blink in his direction.


    Harlow stepped forward, waving a hand in front of her face. She didn''t flinch, didn''t react. She just kept smiling, her eyes focused on her brother, completely ignoring him.


    A realization started to form, one that made him uncomfortable. Maybe this wasn''t the mall. Or, at least, it wasn''t the mall in the way he was used to seeing it. Could he be in someone''s mind?


    He didn''t know how that worked, but he remembered that in the prologue of Gods Don''t Bleed, there was a villain with the power to manipulate minds and create entire worlds that weren''t real.


    "Wait... Am I in someone''s imagination or something?" he mumbled.


    The boy, noticing that his sister was distracted, turned to her. "Hey, Kyoufu. What are you staring at?"


    Kyoufu gave a small, puzzled frown, casting a look over Harlow''s shoulder.


    "I don''t know. Thought I saw... something." But Kyoufu shook it off and looked back at the boy, her expression lightening. She held up the Gods Don''t Bleed volume, her eyes sparkling.


    "Anyway, I''ve been waiting all week to reread this one! There''s this scene I absolutely love..." Kyoufu started.


    Harlow barely heard her as he eyed the volume in her hands, his fingers itching. He reached out to snatch it, to finally get back his precious manga, but as soon as his fingers brushed the cover, they passed right through. His hand went straight through the book¡ªand through Kyoufu''s hand too.


    He froze, watching his hand go in and out like he was nothing but air. Harlow''s mouth hung open as he stared at his own fingers in bewilderment.


    He tried again, more determined this time, but his hand still passed through the volume.


    Why isn''t it working? Why can''t I just grab it and be done?


    "Come on... Come on!" he muttered. In a last-ditch effort, he reached out to tap her brother''s shoulder, to do something that would get their attention, but his fingers just phased through him too. Harlow''s fists clenched, his whole body tensing with irritation.


    He gripped his head with both hands, feeling like he might explode. This was impossible. Nothing made sense. He was so close, but at the same time, it felt like he was worlds away. After a moment, he looked back at Kyoufu, watching her animatedly talk about the manga in her hand.


    She seemed so wrapped up in the story, her smile widening as she described her favorite parts. It reminded him of himself, how he felt each time he opened a volume of Gods Don''t Bleed...


    "Ugh...really?" he muttered to himself, grumbling. But somehow, seeing her look so happy holding that manga, Harlow felt a tiny pang of... something close to sympathy. He shook his head and folded his arms, watching her talk about the story. She seemed just as attached to it as he was.


    Not that he''d ever admit that out loud.


    ...


    The silver-scaled eel beast continued to ascend, snaking through the clouds like a monstrous titan, its scales shining against the stormy sky. Delta, Yowaya, Suzune, and Dr. Sunji watched in awe, grappling with the overwhelming sight. This beast was enormous, far beyond what they had anticipated. They''d barely escaped the crumbling mall roof and landed in the trembling streets below.


    As Dr. Sunji clung to Suzune''s back, his voice quivered with urgency. "If this creature''s powerful enough to cause earthquakes, its destruction will ripple through the Green Zone soon."If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Delta''s robotic eyes flared, analyzing the colossal eel''s biology with calculated precision. She turned her gaze to Suzune, shouting above the cacophony, "It''s roughly 1.5 kilometers long. If we take it head-on with our suits, we''ll be electrocuted, or worse¡ªexplode!"


    Yowaya, clinging to Delta, shuddered as the beast''s massive tail suddenly began to swing downward, directly at them. "LOOK OUT!"


    Delta and Suzune reacted on pure instinct, vaulting out of the way just as the tail crashed down, shattering the pavement and creating a powerful shockwave. The ground quaked violently as the air was filled with dust and debris, cutting off their line of sight. Yowaya and Dr. Sunji shielded their faces, barely able to see through the swirling dust as Delta and Suzune braced themselves for another assault.


    They sprinted down the street, zigzagging past abandoned vehicles and debris. "Delta! Their organs are vulnerable! If I can hit it with a megasonic wave directly, it might be enough to destabilize it!" Delta shouted, her speed increasing.


    Suzune nodded, clutching her mace tightly. "Got it! Let''s move!"


    The two soldiers dashed around the wreckage, scanning for a safe place to stash Dr. Sunji and Yowaya. They needed somewhere away from the eel but also far from the wave of monsters that seemed to be pouring out of every shadowed alley.


    As they tore through a dense stretch of woods, the quakes intensified, shaking the trees as though they were mere saplings. The ground began to crack, breaking apart beneath them. Adapting swiftly, Delta and Suzune leaped from branch to branch until they cleared the forest, landing near an old, crumbling building.


    "SUZUNE! NINE O''CLOCK!" Delta yelled.


    Without a second thought, Suzune twisted mid-leap and smashed her mace into the head of a nearby monster, splattering it into the ground. They could barely pause to catch their breath before more creatures emerged, drawn by the noise.


    "WHERE ARE THEY ALL COMING FROM?" Delta shouted, her voice edged with frustration as she incinerated a line of monsters with an energy blast. The creatures seemed endless, swarming toward them like a flood.


    "Ugh, can''t shake them!" Suzune muttered, dodging a monstrous claw that sliced through a parked car as if it were paper. The creature''s laughter grated on her nerves as it lunged again, its speed unsettlingly quick despite its size.


    "SUZUNE! DUCK!" Delta warned, firing a massive energy bolt. Suzune dropped instantly, letting the searing blast fly past her and obliterate the horde chasing her. She grinned as she sprang back up, regrouping with Delta, who was already primed for the next wave.


    Panting, Yowaya''s hands shook as he watched the monstrous onslaught from Delta''s back. "I don''t... I don''t sense any more coming," Delta finally said, her eyes scanning the surroundings. "Maybe we scared them off for now."


    Suzune glanced back at Dr. Sunji, catching the thoughtful look on his face. "Any ideas? I''m not leaving you two here without some plan..."


    Dr. Sunji straightened. "We might be fine. Besides, you''ve cleared the area. And if you don''t go now, that beast will reach the Green Zone. This is our only shot to stop it."


    Delta''s gaze hardened as she studied him, rain beginning to fall, dripping down her crimson hair. "So... you''re saying we''re dealing with a full Cataclysm Level Threat?" Delta asked.


    Before Dr. Sunji could answer, a sleek black helicopter suddenly emerged from the clouds, whirring loudly as it descended toward them.


    Suzune smirked, her confidence reigniting. "Looks like your transportation has arrived."


    ...


    Kyoufu''s head felt foggy. There was a never-ending cloud that was present, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn''t get rid of it. She had encountered this cloud when she had first sensed the three individuals that entered the mall¡ªher domain. However, out of those three individuals, one of their presences'' felt different.


    Harlow...he''s a true monster, I know it. How else was he able to affect me in my own mind?


    Kyoufu gritted her teeth. She refused to let anyone walk over her, especially some random jerk who clearly didn''t care about anything other than manga. Wait...manga...


    He did say that he was looking for something on the third floor, and when I followed him, I ended up in a book store. What manga could he be looking for?


    Kyoufu thought for a moment and then it clicked. Just like her, he was a fan of the Gods Don''t Bleed manga. The only reason that she even started reading the manga was because her brother had convinced her to watch anime. After she started her anime binge, she got bored and went off her brother''s manga list: horror and dark fantasy stories.


    My brother...I don''t even know where he is, and yet, my memories tell me that monsters have killed him. I''m scared, really scared. Could they have killed my parents by now too? No, it doesn''t make any sense. If monsters were the reason that I''m like this, then how did I survive?


    "Because you killed them all..." Harlow said, appearing right in front of her, his fists clenched. Kyoufu didn''t say anything but stared at Harlow in utter shock. He had managed to traverse her own mind and find out where she was hiding. Since she was in close proximity with him, her thoughts were amplified so much that Harlow could hear them. How he was able to do it would never be known.


    I knew it¡ªa true monster...


    "You''re lying, I know you are. I would never willingly kill people who aren''t monsters..." Kyoufu said.


    "Huh? Who said willingly? You said it yourself: monsters have no free will and can''t tell the difference between right and wrong." Harlow said, pointing at her. Kyoufu frowned.


    "Yeah...but..."


    "No buts. You were scared and didn''t know what you were doing, so you killed everyone in the mall." Harlow said, getting closer to her. Kyoufu couldn''t take it and she burst into tears.


    Harlow crossed his arms as he watched her sob. Eventually, he decided to kneel and put an arm around her. It was surprising that Kyoufu didn''t attack him at that moment.


    "So...you have my book, don''t you? From your memories, I saw you carrying it. Well, since I lost the version of my book, could I have the version of yours?" Harlow asked with puppy eyes. Kyoufu sniffed.


    "Can you please just stop? You''re a horrible person. The entire time you''ve been talking about that book. Don''t you have other things to worry about?" Kyoufu asked, sniffing some more. Harlow''s mind went to his grandmother, then, back to his manga. He scratched his head.


    "Yea, I guess I do...but first...I want that manga volume back." Harlow replied.


    "I don''t know where it is, and I don''t care. I''m sure my brother is dead, and my parents could be dead too. I have no one else in my life." Kyoufu started, her bottom lip quivering. Harlow didn''t know how to reply, until Kyoufu said: "Should I just...kill myself?"


    Harlow was a little surprised by the prospect. Why would anyone want to kill themselves anyway? Monster or not, that was a waste of life.


    Harlow stood up.


    "No, definitely not." Harlow said.


    "But...I''m a monster...my father told me all the stories of what they do to monsters when they catch them¡ªhow they torture them..." Kyoufu started, her voice turning into fear.


    Harlow frowned again.


    "So what if they call you a monster? They can label you whatever they want. I don''t believe in any of that monster crap anyway. It''s plain stupid, and everyone who believes in it is stupid too. Anyone can be a monster...doesn''t mean they can''t work their way back."


    Kyoufu nodded. She had understood what Harlow was saying, but unfortunately, the world didn''t work like people. People had either seen you as a monster or not, and if you were, well, you were going to die sooner or later. Kyoufu grunted.


    "Thank you for helping me regain my lost memories, but...I refuse to believe whatever you''re saying. I refuse to continue living as a monster. I refuse to disgrace my own family..." Kyoufu said, slowly raising.


    Harlow was confused.


    "But...your family is dead. Who cares¡ª?"


    "SHUT UP!" Kyoufu screamed, clapping her hands so hard that the shockwave had destroyed her entire mental network. Basically, she was brain dead.

 CHAPTER 10: A NEW BODY?!

    The helicopter touched down with surprising gentleness. ODW personnel disembarked swiftly, heads lowered against the swirling debris. Suzune, releasing Dr. Sunji from her back, exchanged a final glance with him before he disappeared into the chaos.


    "Please...come back in one piece," Dr. Sunji''s voice trailed off as he walked away. Suzune couldn''t help but smirk as Yowaya dismounted from Delta''s back.


    "What''s that supposed to mean? Don''t underestimate us, gramps," Suzune retorted, turning her back on the departing doctor. As the ODW personnel boarded the helicopter, Yowaya and Dr. Sunji paused, their gazes lingering on the two figures who remained: their protectors, the soldiers. Moments later, the helicopter''s rotors whirred to life, lifting the aircraft into the sky, its destination the sanctuary of the Green Zone.


    Suzune, gripping her mace, and Delta, adjusting her specs, turned to face the colossal eel-like monster that dominated the ravaged cityscape.


    "This thing...it''s growing," Delta observed as she sprinted towards the creature''s writhing tail. Suzune, her expression mirroring Delta''s, followed suit.


    Delta unleashed a volley of energy blasts at the creature''s tail, a desperate attempt to draw its attention. The attack, however, had little effect; the beast''s hide remained unscathed. Frustration flickered across Delta''s face as she propelled herself into the air.


    I need to use my megasonic blast soon, or it''ll become too powerful for us to handle, Delta thought, her mind racing as she hurtled past crumbling buildings. Suzune, matching Delta''s incredible speed, had caught up; their combined velocity shattering the sound barrier.


    That''s it...once I''ve gauged the distance from the tail to its head, my blast should work...


    A plan was forming. Now, all they needed was the right opportunity...


    "DELTA! JUMP!" Suzune''s urgent cry pierced the air. Delta, reacting instinctively, slowed her pace and glanced at Suzune just as her comrade executed a powerful leap, propelling herself high above the rooftops. A split second later, Delta understood the urgency; the lower half of the monstrous eel was decimating buildings with its sweeping movements. She too, launched herself skyward, narrowly avoiding being crushed.


    "SCREW THAT THING! USE THE BLAST NOW SO WE CAN GET THIS OVER WITH!" Suzune''s voice echoed from below. As Delta descended, a chilling realization struck her: the beast wasn''t merely destroying buildings; it was moving with purpose towards a power plant.


    How did I not see that before?


    Delta and Suzune landed with a resounding crash. Delta, brushing the dust from her uniform, offered Suzune a hand, which was accepted with uncharacteristic roughness.


    "What? You mad? That''s so typical," Delta quipped. A playful grin spread across her face.


    "Just shut up and blast that thing so I can smash it," Suzune retorted.


    Delta simply shrugged.


    "It''s heading to the power plant for energy. Waiting until it gets there is risky, though. We don''t know how many people it might kill along the way¡ªpeople who are still hiding and haven''t found a Green Zone. However, if it reaches the power plant, I could maximize the damage my blast inflicts." Delta explained, her voice calm and analytical.


    Suzune nodded.


    "I know what you''re thinking, but...I can''t afford to wait any longer," Suzune declared, breaking into a sprint towards the approaching monster. Delta, sighing, followed suit.


    "Yeah, and I also know how arrogant you are."


    "Oh, so you''re criticizing me now?"


    Their banter was cut short as they drew closer to the power plant. The eel-like beast, however, abruptly halted its relentless advance, leaving Suzune and Delta bewildered.


    "Huh?" Suzune said as she relaxed her tense shoulders. Delta, meanwhile, was once again scanning the creature''s vitals. This time, she noticed something she had missed before: something inside the beast. A host, of sorts. But what kind of humanoid creature could survive within such a monstrous entity? Unless...


    Delta''s thoughts were cut short as the tremors subsided. When the dust settled, a scene of utter destruction lay before them. Her mind raced, fixated on the humanoid figure she had detected within the monstrous eel. Suzune''s grip on her mace tightened, her knuckles turning white.


    "I''ll investigate," Suzune declared, dashing towards the collapsing upper half of the eel-like creature. Delta nodded silently, her eyes following her comrade.


    As Suzune drew near, a figure emerged from the wreckage, crawling weakly from the creature''s gaping maw.


    "A girl? No...it''s..." Her words caught in her throat as she took in the figure''s appearance. The humanoid was undeniably female, but her features were... human. Too human.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    This thing''s monsterification level is incredibly high... easily in the upper 60%. She appears more human than monster, which means she''s far above the average monsterification curve. But... what if I''m wrong? No, that''s impossible. No human could survive inside that creature.


    Suzune watched as the eel''s massive head crashed into a nearby building, its body following suit, sending tremors through the already unstable ground. The stench of the creature''s breath was overwhelming, a putrid mix of decay and bile. Suzune covered her nose with her sleeve as she approached the fallen girl, who lay sprawled amidst the rubble, covered in the creature''s viscous saliva.


    As she drew closer, Suzune realized with a shock that the girl didn''t just appear human; she was human. There was no trace of monstrous disfiguration, no hint of the grotesque mutations that marked those transformed.


    The girl stirred, pushing herself weakly to her feet. Suzune, her mind reeling, quickly scanned the girl with her device. The reading was impossible: 100% monsterification.


    WHAT?! 100%? BUT SHE LOOKS HUMAN! Is my scanner malfunctioning?


    Suzune stumbled back, her mind awhirl. Without hesitation, she swung her mace at the girl with all her might. The girl reacted instantly, leaping aside as the mace slammed into the ground, obliterating the building and several nearby structures in a shower of dust and debris.


    Suzune emerged from the cloud of dust, her eyes scanning the area for the girl.


    NO! Where did she go?


    A flash of movement caught her eye. The girl was running, fleeing into the ruined cityscape. Suzune landed and gave chase, her mace held high.


    This time, I won''t miss.


    The girl was fast, incredibly fast, but Suzune was confident she was faster. She closed the distance, swinging her mace again and again. The girl dodged each blow with uncanny agility, leading Suzune on a destructive dance through the city streets. Buildings crumbled, roads buckled, but the girl remained untouched.


    Where the hell is Delta?


    As if in answer to her unspoken plea, Delta appeared, launching herself at the girl from behind. But before she could land a blow, the girl vanished, reappearing behind Delta and striking with blinding speed. Delta was sent flying, crashing into a nearby building.


    Suzune watched in horror as the girl disappeared once more, melting into the shadows.


    No way... We can''t win against this thing...


    But Suzune wasn''t one to surrender, not even in the face of impossible odds. If anything, the challenge only fueled her bloodlust. A fierce grin spread across her face as she activated her suit''s turbo function. The world around her blurred as she prepared to charge once more, her mind already formulating a new plan of attack.


    At the opportune moment, Suzune charged toward the girl, her speed generating a sonic boom that rippled the air around her. Seizing a nearby car, she hurled it at the girl, who was already leaping agilely from building to building. The car struck its target with a resounding crash, momentarily stunning the girl.


    Suzune, capitalizing on the opening, accelerated to a speed that blurred her form, appearing behind her opponent in an instant. She swung her mace, but the girl had recovered with astonishing swiftness, using the wrecked car as a shield. The mace struck the metal instead, and the impact sent both Suzune and the girl crashing into another building.


    How is that possible? She turned the car into a defensive tool that quickly? It must have something to do with her joints... Suzune thought, rising shakily from the rubble.


    The girl, standing a short distance away, mirrored Suzune''s posture, a look of confusion on her face. Suzune''s grip tightened on her mace, her gaze unwavering. Without warning, she lunged at the girl, aiming for her head.


    "WHEN ARE YOU EVER GOING TO QUIT?!" the girl screamed, effortlessly catching the mace in one hand. Suzune was stunned by the sheer force the girl exerted. She''s a monster, that much is clear... but how can she generate that kind of power with such a slender frame? The girl''s expression hardened.


    "I want my manga book back..." she muttered, releasing the mace. Suzune, trembling with a mix of fear and adrenaline, watched as the girl turned away. She needed to check on Delta, but the monster...


    My instincts are screaming at me to run, but I can''t help but wonder what she''ll do if I just leave... We definitely can''t let her reach the Green Zone, that''s why I wanted to kill her, but now I don''t think that''s possible...


    Suzune sighed. She had to take a chance. Turning, she prepared to flee, but a guttural sound from the girl stopped her in her tracks.


    "I''M A GIRL?! NO! THIS CAN''T BE! I HAVE BOOBS?! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!" the girl shrieked, her voice filled with panic and disbelief. Suzune didn''t hesitate. Seizing the opportunity, she dashed away, leaving the bewildered girl to grapple with her unexpected transformation.


    ...


    "This doesn''t make any sense. How did I become a girl? And to make matters worse, I''m in the body of the same girl I tried to save from suicide." Harlow frowned as he picked up a shard of broken glass from the rubble and stared at it. "Yep, there''s no mistake. I''m definitely not in my own body anymore."


    Great, just great. Now what? Things keep going from bad to worse. First, I lose the first volume of my manga, and now I''ve switched sexes? Unbelievable.


    Harlow sighed as he casually crushed the glass shard in his hand. This was definitely not a situation he wanted to be in. "Where did the doctor and that officer go, anyway?" Harlow walked past the slanted, broken walls of the building, emerging into the middle of the night, alone.


    No... they have to be here somewhere. I''m clueless about where to go without them. I... I can''t even remember where the mall was.


    Harlow pouted. Despite being in this new body, the only differences he felt were in his chest, thighs, buttocks, and intimate area. His physical strength and mental state remained the same.


    Oh, and this body feels lighter, too. Hmm, interesting.


    Harlow started walking down the street, but he nearly tripped as he tried to get the hang of it. He hadn''t considered that his center of balance and joint movements would be different in this body¡ªin a different gender''s body.


    Hmm... I don''t have my... you know... wait... I think I need to pee...


    Harlow''s eyebrows shot up. He had wet himself. He could tell because the panties he was supposedly wearing felt sticky and damp. He frowned. He had underestimated how long it would take to adjust to this body, but one thing was certain: he needed to get his original body back.


    But how? I don''t even understand how I ended up in this girl''s body in the first place... and these, whatever you call them, feel so weird and uncomfortable. Ugh... I want to take them off so badly...


    Well, technically, nothing was stopping him. He decided to remove his skirt and panties, then put the skirt back on. He sighed.


    That feels much better, although, technically, I''m half-naked now, I guess... whatever...


    Harlow threw the panties away and started walking, with no idea where he was going.

 CHAPTER 11: RECOVERY

    The sun beat down on Knight Blackburne''s back as he arrived at the kingdom, clutching the Sword of Perfection. He paused for a moment, slightly dizzy from the immense speed he had traveled.


    Kokusho. I don''t know where she went, but mark my words...I will find her.


    Knight Blackburne straightened up and surveyed his surroundings. He stood before the kingdom gates, surrounded by workers diligently repairing the damaged bridge. His battle with Azurath had severely impacted the kingdom, and despite the passage of time, much work remained. The absence of the king and queen made the task even more challenging.


    I suppose I can understand why Elysia would ask such a thing of me... Still, she''ll catch up eventually. She''s quite strong.


    Knight Blackburne sheathed his sword and started across the bridge. He encountered a ragged, elderly man who appeared ill and malnourished. Most notably, the old man seemed gripped by fear, as if something unseen was watching him.


    Knight Blackburne knelt beside the man. "What are you afraid of?" he asked. The old man remained silent, staring at the sky in terror. Then, slowly, he lowered his gaze to meet the knight''s.


    "I...I can see things. Something...I don''t know what...but something is coming...wait...no, agh...my head hurts..." the old man groaned. Knight Blackburne raised his eyebrows.


    "What can you feel?" the knight inquired. The old man frowned.


    "Fear...fear emanating from the lives of many, and the lives yet to come. All-consuming, paralyzing fear, O knight. But...with you...just maybe..." The old man began coughing. Knight Blackburne helped him sit up.


    Fear...coming from the lives of many?


    "On the night the kingdom was engulfed in flames, what did you see? Please, tell me..." the knight urged. The old man struggled to process the question, then uttered a single word: "Dragon."


    Knight Blackburne crossed his arms.


    A dragon? That''s impossible...everyone was surely underground. Koko was the only dragon present, and she was protecting Elysia, wasn''t she? Could it be something more symbolic? Ugh, nothing ever makes any sense to me...


    Knight Blackburne stood, his black cape billowing. He was about to question the old man further but was interrupted by a group of people approaching. He turned to greet them, but they brushed past him and roughly forced the old man to his feet.


    "This is unexpected. What do you intend to do with him?" the knight asked. The old man''s fear intensified as the group''s grip tightened. The knight glanced back at him.


    "Are you with them?" the knight inquired. The old man remained silent, seemingly afraid to answer. A stern-looking man from the group stepped toward Knight Blackburne.


    "This man has committed the blasphemous act of obscenity within our religious space, sir knight. We will take him to court for judgment."


    Knight Blackburne frowned. "Punishment? No, can''t you see his condition? He needs help."


    "Indeed he does. The Lord''s blessing helps all, but some acts are too evil to go unpunished. He''s coming with us, sir knight."


    Knight Blackburne looked at the old man again, but the old man didn''t resist. It was as if he had resigned himself to his fate.


    I''m not going to force anything...but...I do want to know what he meant about ''dragon''.


    As the old man was led away, he turned and looked at the knight one last time. "Look for the one who bears the weight of the world in their ring. Beware, holy knight. The Black Death is upon us."


    Who bears the weight of the world in their ring? Black Death? Knight Blackburne pondered the old man''s cryptic words as he was taken away. Now, he stood amidst a stream of peasants going about their lives. Many eyed him, but he didn''t mind. He was, after all, a knight.


    ...


    Harlow had to pee¡ªagain. He quickly got up from the carpet and stormed to the bathroom, where he sat on the toilet for ten minutes. He still couldn''t believe that he was actually in the body of the opposite sex.


    I think I remember hearing about this from someone. Oh yeah, periods¡ªforgot about those. I tried to put on some briefs, but I guess that was stupid. So, I managed to find some panties to put on and...well...I had to change them out sometime later...


    Harlow didn''t feel anything. Even in this body, where he would think this might''ve been the first time he felt pain, or whatever it was that normal humans called it, there was nothing. If anything, it was just uncomfortable.


    It just gets worse from here. I can''t even find the doctor or the officer. I tried, but I got lost, and now I''m just chilling in this building. I can''t really think of anything to do since I''m still not hungry. It''s weird, though. Wouldn''t I be hungry in this body?


    Harlow finished his business and exited the bathroom. He sighed. He strolled back to the ransacked couch and sat on it with a FLOP, leaning back in a relaxed state.


    KNOCK-KNOCK.


    Harlow leaned up, raising his eyebrows.


    Who could be knocking at this time? Did someone follow me?


    Harlow casually got up and approached the door. He initially thought that maybe one of the women in the suits had indeed followed him after retreating, but it still didn''t make sense to him. He casually grabbed the knob and opened the door. Standing outside in front of him was a seven-foot-tall, slim, crimson, and malnourished monster with its organs partially hanging out. Harlow frowned.


    He didn''t even think twice about casually slamming the door shut and walking back to the couch. It''s not that he was afraid; he was just simply annoyed with everyone trying to interrupt him.


    As he sat back down on the couch, there was another knock on the door¡ªthis time, louder.


    Ok...fine...I''ll let you in.


    Harlow got up and opened the door again. The monster stepped in and nodded.


    "Good morning. I see you''ve made quite the stay here," the monster said, looking around the room. Harlow shrugged.


    "Yeah, so what? Look, I''m kinda busy doing nothing, so what do you want?" Harlow asked.


    The monster turned around.


    "You aren''t afraid of me? Like, hostile or anything?" the monster asked.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    "No, why would I be?" Harlow replied.


    The monster sat on the couch.


    "I heard that there was a battle that happened last night. I saw my friends'' bodies scattered everywhere. Was that your doing?" the monster asked.


    "No," Harlow replied simply. He sat down on the couch too.


    "I see. Are you a powerful monster? I was going to ask you a favo¡ª" the monster started, but Harlow interrupted him.


    "Favor? No, not now. I''m angry that I don''t even have my manga to read, or any manga for that matter," Harlow said, leaning back.


    "Did you check the other buildings?" the monster asked.


    Harlow thought for a moment and shook his head.


    "Nah, although I did check one of the bookstores in the mall, I think. Oh, and on my way here, there was another bookstore I checked and still couldn''t find them," Harlow said, pouting.


    The monster nodded. Harlow turned around and put his hand on the monster''s shoulders. The monster flinched a little, and Harlow raised his eyebrows.


    "Hey, you''re pretty weak for someone who looks strong, what gives?" Harlow asked, standing up from the couch. The monster felt afraid. It slowly got up, backing against the wall.


    "You see, yes, I''m weak, weaker than a human even, but I use my horrifying appearance to scare humans and weak sentient monsters away. That''s why I need your help with..." the monster started, but Harlow put out his hand.


    "Hmm...you seem like a pretty chill person. I''m Harlow Blackburne," Harlow said. The monster reluctantly shook his hand.


    "Kregg...You said your name was ''Harlow''? That sounds more like a boy''s name," Kregg said, his eyebrow raised.


    Harlow just shrugged.


    "Yeah, well, I''m a boy¡ªtrapped in a girl''s body..." Harlow said, a nonchalant tone.


    Kregg''s jaw dropped.


    "A...what?" Kregg asked.


    Harlow shrugged nonchalantly.


    "Long story short, some psychic-reality mishmash thing happened, and POOF, now I''m living this strange, gender-bent life..." Harlow replied.


    "What happened to your original body?" Kregg asked. Harlow frowned.


    "That''s the problem. I have no idea," Harlow replied. He clenched his fists, his brow deepening. He grunted and casually punched the wall with such force that it cracked.


    "UGH! I CAN''T FIND MY GRANDMA, I CAN''T READ MY MANGA, AND I''M STUCK IN ANOTHER BODY!" Harlow said to himself, aggravated.


    Kregg scratched his head.


    "If your situation has anything to do with souls, then there''s this powerful human they call Shadow. He goes around executing and enslaving monsters...even a strong monster could lose to him. I believe he''s part of an organization that participates in necromancy. It might tie into your situation, although I''m not too sure..." Kregg started.


    Harlow looked up.


    "What? You mean there''s a chance this Shadow guy can help me?"


    "A very slim chance. They call him Shadow for a reason. The last thing you''ll see before he kills you is his shadow..." Kregg replied. Harlow nodded.


    "Uh, ok. So, what does this have to do with you?" Harlow asked.


    Kregg frowned a bit.


    "If all goes well, and you get what you want from him, I want you to kill him. He''s too dangerous to us monsters. He can''t distinguish between good and bad monsters, sentient monsters, like you and me. So, are you a powerful monster?" Kregg asked.


    Harlow shrugged.


    "I don''t know, maybe. I guess I won''t know until I go against him. But...this seems kind of sudden. Uh, how did you find me?" Harlow asked.


    Kregg smirked. Harlow hadn''t noticed it before, but there was another shadow next to his own¡ªan ominous shadow. Harlow raised his eyebrows. Before he could even think about turning around, he felt something sharp touch his neck. That was the moment he realized the shadow in front of him was enveloping his own.


    "Don''t move, flower. Stay right where you are..." The ominous figure said from behind. Harlow was still confused. How did they even manage to get into the room? The door was closed.


    Well, this is embarrassing, to say the least. This skinny-ass monster tricked me...


    ...


    Princess Elysia sighed and slumped into a chair in the council room, her journal open before her. While the servants bustled about the grounds, tending to the yard work, she found her only solace in writing and swordsmanship.


    Her thoughts drifted back to the events of Azurath, a shiver of fear running down her spine as she remembered the first time she laid eyes on him.


    No, I can''t keep dwelling on this. But...what if I had been the one to pierce his heart with that holy sword? What would it take for me to wield such power? Am I being foolish?


    She paused, pen hovering above the page. Perhaps she was overthinking. But a nagging doubt remained. If the knight were to perish and her army, which had proven so ineffectual during the Azurath incident, was all she had left, could she truly guarantee her people''s safety and prosperity?


    Just then, the chancellor entered the room, and Elysia hastily set her notebook aside.


    "What news?" she asked.


    "Your Majesty, King Oliver has announced his visit. He and his company should arrive within a few days. How shall we prepare?"


    Elysia stammered, taken aback.


    "I see. Ensure the royal chambers are prepared, of course. Arrange a formal banquet, but with a focus on the knight. I expect he''ll attend the meeting as well."


    The chancellor nodded.


    "I understand your frustration with the other rulers. They were absent when we needed them most, but we had the holy knight on our side. Such power incites envy. They likely questioned why they should risk their forces for a cause that seemed lost."


    Elysia conceded the point. The other rulers sending aid would have been futile. It wouldn''t have changed the outcome. But the bitterness lingered.


    "How can I prevent another Azurath? How can I guarantee our safety?" she asked, turning to the chancellor.


    The chancellor paused, considering his words carefully: "Your Majesty, all we can do is prepare. That''s all any of us can do."


    Elysia nodded slowly. Prepare. But what did that truly mean?


    "If I''m honest, a desire has been stirring within me..." she trailed off, her gaze drifting toward the garden outside the window.


    The chancellor raised an eyebrow.


    "Has someone caught your eye?" he inquired.


    Elysia shook her head.


    "No, it''s not that. It''s a desire for more than just ruling. I yearn for real power, chancellor. I''m talking about the kind of power that can protect this kingdom if the knight is gone. Greater threats loom on the horizon. I can feel it."


    She watched as her soldiers honed their swordsmanship in the courtyard below, her eyes drawn to the clash of steel.


    The chancellor approached her.


    "You have every right to feel this way, Your Majesty, especially after losing the king and queen. But I cannot advise you to seek power through conflict."


    Elysia met his gaze.


    "Are you saying I''m unfit?" Elysia asked.


    "No, Your Majesty. Far from it. I''m merely echoing what your father, the king, would have advised." The chancellor replied.


    "I appreciate your honesty, but my mind is made up. After the banquet, I will pursue a different path. A path to a power that my mother and those before her lacked the courage to seek." Elysia stated.


    With that, Elysia gave the chancellor a final look before sweeping out of the room.


    ...


    Back to reality, District 3 Green Zone #2


    Yowaya and Dr. Sunji sat at the outdoor table, eating what little they had. The military personnel who''d picked them up had promised them a good meal when they arrived at the Green Zone. Well, they got something to eat, alright, but it definitely wasn''t good.


    Nonetheless, Yowaya realized he needed to be grateful. After all, they recognized his officer status as soon as he boarded the helicopter and hadn''t looked down on him.


    I couldn''t do anything anyway. Guns are useless against those...things...


    Yowaya looked up and noticed that Dr. Sunji had almost finished his meal. Yowaya had barely eaten more than three bites. As he reached for another scoop, he saw a woman approaching their table from the corner of his eye.


    Yowaya glanced at Dr. Sunji, who looked to the right and noticed the woman approaching him.


    "Reina...it''s been a while..." Dr. Sunji said, getting up to hug her. Reina reluctantly accepted his hug and frowned.


    "I''m glad you made it. Food is scarce, and there isn''t enough medicine to go around," Reina said plainly. Dr. Sunji nodded.


    "Well, as long as everyone''s monsterification levels are low within this zone, we should be able to hold up for a little while," Dr. Sunji said. Reina agreed. She turned to Yowaya.


    "And you are¡ª"


    "Yowaya," he said, extending his hand. Reina shook it and raised her eyebrows.


    "Did the two of you really manage to get from the detention center to the mall unharmed? That''s an impressive feat in itself...anyway, I should get going. I''m going to check up on the other tents..." Reina said, walking away.


    As Reina walked away, Yowaya contemplated for a moment. Then he turned to Dr. Sunji.


    "Hey, I don''t mean to pry, but...Suzune, that''s Reina''s daughter, right?" Yowaya asked, hesitating a bit.


    Dr. Sunji played with his food.


    "Yes, my baby girls still alive, for which I''m deeply grateful. What''s your point?" Dr. Sunji asked.


    "How does Reina feel about...y''know, her child...serving at a time like this...?" Yowaya said slowly. Dr. Sunji rubbed his temple.


    "It''s complicated, but she has come to terms with it, and I helped her through that. Suzune...she has a tough spirit, tougher than mine even. She was willing to put in the work, and now that the district is overrun with monsters, she didn''t hesitate to use her skills against them..." Dr. Sunji explained.


    Yowaya nodded.


    "I guess so..." Yowaya started. Before he could take a sip from his water bottle, someone called out to him.


    "Doctor Sunji of District 3 Detention Center¡ªplease, come with me to the conference room," The man said, standing upright. Dr. Sunji cleaned up his things and followed him.


    Yowaya stayed behind and watched Dr. Sunji go, sighing.

 CHAPTER 12: THE HUNT BEGINS

    The eel monster''s disposal process was still ongoing and required meticulous attention to detail. Not only did the ODW Disposal Team need to ensure the complete elimination of the creature, but they also aimed to extract every possible piece of information and sample from its remains. From the hardness of its skin to the composition of its saliva, nothing escaped their thorough investigation.


    Accompanying the Disposal Team and safeguarding their operation were four highly skilled soldiers: Delta, Suzune, Chisaki, and Rikuya. Their presence provided an impenetrable shield, ensuring the team''s safety as they carefully handled the formidable remains of the eel monster.


    With a smirk, Rikuya watched a man struggle to extract a monster''s tooth. Pointing at him, he playfully asked Suzune: "Suze, how much do you think that tooth will fetch once this outbreak ends?"


    Suzune sighed, disinterested in Rikuya''s banter. Her mind raced back to her recent battle, contemplating the monster''s whereabouts. Meanwhile, Rikuya stretched and glanced at Chisaki and Delta.


    Only Chisaki met his gaze, returning the smirk.


    "You''re not really my type..." Chisaki said softly, getting up. Rikuya shrugged.


    "Ah, c''mon...the way you looked at me said otherwise..." Rikuya said, approaching her.


    Delta stepped in front of the both of them.


    "I recommend you two leave it for now. We''re supposed to be watching over the Disposal Team..." Delta said.


    Rikuya grunted.


    "Blah-blah-blah, all they''re doing is disposing and taking whatever shit''s down here, like you just said. This is boring. Can''t I at least practice my flirting skills?" Rikuya said.


    Chisaki laughed as she leaned forward and put a hand on Delta''s shoulders, staring at Rikuya.


    "Flirting skills? You call that flirting? My grandpa could do better than that..." Chisaki said, getting a little serious.


    Rikuya frowned and made a smug face.


    "You''re bluffing..." Rikuya said, grinning.


    Suzune pitched in and said: "No, she''s right. Even my grandpa could flirt better..."


    Rikuya quickly turned around and stared at Suzune, a little heated.


    "Hey, you take that back.." Rikuya threatened.


    Delta had already left the dispute. It sounded like a waste of her time anyway.


    "No...she doesn''t need to. Go back and practice flirting with your imaginary girlfriend before you even start with us..." Chisaki said, leaping towards Suzune, who was chilling while sitting on a railing. Rikuya frowned again and put up the middle finger at Chisaki.


    "Fine. Suit yourself chicks...I''ll be showing off these nice guns somewhere else..." Rikuya said, smirking. He launched himself away from the disposal site, leaving the team and the soldiers.


    When Rikuya had left, Chisaki turned to Suzune, smirking a bit.


    "That dick''s annoying, right? Can''t say I blame him. Anyway, you''ve been a little quiet...hmm?" Chisaki said, leaning closer. She was chewing bubblegum.


    Suzune sighed and leaned up.


    "I''ve been thinking about the battle I had with this monster¡ªthe one with the higher monsterification..." Suzune started.


    "Oh, I would''ve thought a meathead like you would''ve been able to smash their brains out..." Chisaki said, smiling.


    Suzune quickly tried to punch her, but Chisaki caught her fist.


    "Ooo, feisty. Could you save that for later?" Chisaki replied, smirking. She let go of Suzune''s fists and cracked her knuckles.


    "I know you like me...and no...I won''t go out with you..." Suzune said, smirking.


    Chisaki sighed. She was a little disappointed, but it wasn''t like she could force things anyway. She batted her eyelashes.


    "Ah...it was worth the try for a sweet, kind, and LOVING person like you, right?" Chisaki asked, clearly sarcastic.


    Suzune smirked. Before she could reply, Delta had appeared in front of both of them, interrupting the little thing they had going on.


    "Oh, Ms. Four Eyes, look, we''re bus¡ª-"


    "The workers, it appears that they need us to take a look at something..." Delta said, pointing to the workers below who were gesturing to the soldiers to come on down. Chisaki sighed and shook her hair back. Suzune stood up.


    "Way to spoil the fun...alright, let''s head on down and see what those tards are crying about ..." Chisaki said, getting up as well.


    By the time Delta, Chisaki, and Suzune had arrived in front of the giant eel monster''s head, which lay slumped on the ground, Rikuya was already there, kneeling and smirking.


    "Guys, seriously, I might just snatch a couple of these teeth to make a buck or to..." Rikuya said, glancing back at the other soldiers. Chisaki crossed her arms.


    "Great idea. You could use it to afford a good dentist." Chisaki replied.


    Rikuya shrugged, acting as if he were immune to her insults.


    "So, what''s the problem?" Delta asked. The workers were about to respond to her question, but stopped and looked at the eel monster''s skin coming off one by one. Delta raised her eyebrows. This didn''t necessarily make any sense. Why did the skin of the eel monster suddenly start coming off?


    Chisaki noticed Delta''s change in demeanor.


    "Four eyes, can you explain this?" Chisaki said, blowing up another bubblegum.


    Delta casually jumped and landed on the eel monster''s neck. Once she analyzed the monster''s body with her robotic eyes, the results were staggering.


    "It appears the monsterification level of this monster is decreasing exponentially..." Delta declared, taking another measure just to be sure. Rikuya kicked the eye of the monster in the furry.


    "Seriously? There goes the buck I was trying to make..." Rikuya said. He turned around and started walking away.


    "And where the hell do you think you''re off to?" Chisaki asked.


    Rikuya glanced back.


    "This is dumb. You guys got this, I''m outta here Chicky..." Rikuya said, leeping away.


    "What did you call me?" Chisaki said, stepping forward and watching him leave.


    Suzune approached Delta.


    "I can''t stop thinking about that monster I encountered last night. It couldn''t have gone too far. After we head back to regroup, do you wanna partner with me to find it?" Suzune asked.


    Delta looked up.


    "It would be wise of you to stop reminiscing about the encounter because if you do encounter that monster again, you might not be able to take it on..and, no, I won''t be partnering. I have other things to complete. Ask Chisaki..." Delta advised, walking past Suzune.


    Suzune hesitantly approached Chisaki, who turned around and blew her a kiss.


    "Let me guess, you need my help? Hmmm...I don''t know. You kinda turned me down..." Chisaki said sarcastically, smirking.


    Suzune shrugged.


    "...Ok...fine...I''ll go out with you...but I need you to help me catch a particular monster. Deal?" Suzune asked, extending her hand.


    Chisaki giggled.


    "Hehehe...of course...." Chisaki replied, shaking on the deal.


    For the remainder of the time, Suzune, Chisaki, and Delta helped the Disposal Team collect the remains of the giant eel monster.


    ...If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    Harlow should''ve known from the moment that Kregg had smirked that something was wrong. Either way, he wasn''t sure he would''ve noticed the figure entering the room anyway due to its uncanny stealth. He watched as Kregg slowly backed away, its hand in the air.


    "She¡ªor may I say he¡ªis all yours boss..." Kregg said, keeping his distance.


    "Damn, you guys are such jerks¡ªinteruppting me on such shor¡ª" Harlow began, but the figure had cut him off.


    "Why is your skin so tough?" The figure said.


    Before the figure could say anything else, Harlow quickly dashed forward and dodged the slice, which had cut the entire couch in half. Harlow landed on the side of the wall and leaped away, dodging another slash.


    He''s like some sort of ninja...


    Harlow landed in front of the door, staring at both the figure and Kregg. He frowned.


    "C''mon, I''m just trying to relax here and get some rest. Last night, I was attacked by some people in battle suits...I think¡ªanyway, the point is¡ª" Harlow started, but the figure wasted no time.


    He dashed towards Harlow so fast that Harlow didn''t even notice until it was a moment later. The katana had hit the side of Harlow''s neck, but it wouldn''t even cut. The figure¡ªwhich Harlow now realized was probably Shadow, raised his eyebrows.


    "Just as I thought¡ªyou are abnormal..." Shadow said, leaning back, still holding his katana.


    Harlow shrugged.


    "You''re not gonna cut me with that puny katana thing¡ª" Harlow said nonchalantly.


    Shadow smirked. The katana, which was now black, had turned red. Harlow stared at it, raising his eyebrows a little bit.


    The katana changed color?


    Shadow slashed at Harlow again and Harlow dodged, the slash nearly cutting all the walls in half. Harlow leaped back, crashing through the front door, and landed on the street, breathing a little heavy.


    That slash...why was I afraid of it?


    In the midst of the dust and debris within the building he had crashed out of, Shadow was nowhere to be seen. Harlow frowned. He tried to look all around him to get a sense of where this ninja could''ve gone¡ªbut he had gotten nothing, then, he felt blood trickle down the side of his neck.


    Harlow''s eyes were bulging. He wanted to scream but decided to hold the reaction back. For the first time in his life, he felt the pain that normal humans had experienced. It felt...odd, and it hurt. Harlow put the palm of his hand and the side of his neck and put it in front of his face to see. Blood¡ªthere was no denying it.


    But...I thought gods don''t bleed...isn''t that what Knight Blackburne is...a god?


    His entire image of what he thought he was had been shattered this very moment. He wanted to deny it. He wanted to say that the only reason why he was bleeding had been because he switched bodies¡ªbut he knew all too well that that couldn''t be the case.


    In the corner of his eyes, Shadow stood upright, his face pitch black. It was almost impossible to tell what facial expression Shadow made.


    "Based on your reaction, this was the first time you''ve bled, right? I get it...I''ve got the same reactions from many monsters, but alas, none of it really mattered...you wanna know what''s funny?" Shadow asked, slowly approaching him.


    Harlow took a step back, his heart pounding, somewhat afraid.


    Is he going to decapitate me? Am I really ready to die? Wait...if I die...won''t Kyoufu die too?


    Shadow dashed at Harlow again and slashed, but Harlow narrowly escaped with only a small cut on the side of his face as he landed on top of a car.


    In that case...I guess I''ll just...


    An idea came to mind. He made a glimpse to the left and saw a manhole. That was it¡ªthat would be his sole opportunity to escape this situation. Shadow had met Harlow''s eyes and knew exactly what he had planned to do.


    "You have 100% monsterification, don''t you? That''s why you''re so tough, but I''m also 100% monsterized. Isn''t it ironic how the more monsterized we become, the more we look like normal humans?" Shadow had explained.


    Harlow tried to tune him out, but he couldn''t. Nonetheless, he started to put more of his focus on staring at the manhole, preparing to leap towards it whenever he was ready. Shadow continued to approach Harlow.


    "I usually don''t talk this much, but after finding someone else like me, I couldn''t help myself. Well, besides that, it doesn''t change the fact that I''m going to make you my slave.." Shadow said, and with that, he moved so fast that he had disappeared.


    Harlow, already knowing that he''s coming from behind, predicts Shadow''s slash by ducking and leaping towards the manhole. Shadow tries to grab him, but fails. Harlow had already shot through the manhole and landed inside of the sewer tunnels, the gray water splashing all over him.


    EWWW...disgusting...I think I''m gonna throw up...


    Harlow, having half of his body covered in gray water, quickly treaded away from the light coming from the manhole. He had no idea where he was going next.


    Shadow, staring at the sewers from above the surface, decided not to pursue Harlow. After all, there were plenty of other monsters roaming down there, and his katana wouldn''t be bright enough to see them. At this point, Harlow was a lost cause.


    ...


    Knight Blackburne had arrived at the palace gates, feeling a bit hungry. The guards, who were eyeing him with a great deal of respect, nodded.


    "Greetings, holy knight. Have you come to  pay a visit to the Princess again?" The guards ask, already parting ways. The Knight nodded and started walking forward.


    "Yes, it is a very urgent matter indeed." Knight Blackburne replied, strolling past the guards.


    The knight continued to make his way through the palace grounds. Eventually, he had ended up walking past the garden and found a couple of men sparring with each other. As he continued walking, he was surprised to see Princess Elysia sparring with one of the soldiers near the back.


    She''s better with the sword than I thought.


    Knight Blackburne patiently watched as Elysia continued to spar. Once the spar was over, the knight had met Elysia''s gaze and smirked.


    "Have you come to give it thought?" Elysia asked.


    Knight Blackburne shrugged.


    "I have come for another matter, one that is very dear to me. My companion, my dragon, is missing..." Knight Blackburne said.


    Elysia put down her sword and approached the knight.


    "Beg your pardon?" Elysia asked.


    Knight Blackburne sighed.


    "Missing...gone with the wind I suppose." Knight Blackburne clarified. Elysia frowned.


    "I will send some of my men to be on the lookout for it, if that helps¡ªI''m sorry¡ªif you want, I could spare some horses for you." Elysia said, feeling a bit sorry.


    Knight Blackburne nodded.


    "That would be great." The knight replied. As Elysia led Knight Blackburne to the royal stables, the knight had wanted to ask her a question.


    "So...I see you were sparring. Since when did you take an interest in swordsmanship?" Knight Blackburne asked as they arrived at the stables.


    Elysia graciously turned around to face him.


    "I''ve always had an interest in it, and now that  you''re here, unless you have anything else to do...how about teaching me a trick or two?" Elysia said, getting up close. She put the palm of her hand on his chest.


    "Please...would you teach me...?" Elysia said softly.


    Knight Blackburne shrugged.


    "Of course, when do you want to start?" Knight Blackburne asked, but Elysia quickly pulled a dagger from the side of her thigh and tried to strike the knight. The knight had easily sidestepped and caught her hand.


    "Impressive..." Knight Blackburne said, smirking.


    Elysia frowned.


    "Your reflexes are fast. How did you train them like that?" Elysia asked as the knight let go of her hand. Knight Blackburne pondered the question.


    "I was always like this...as you know, the blood of the gods runs through me. I''ve told you the story of my mother, Gaia, many times." Knight Blackburne started. Elysia nodded.


    "Yes, Gaia...the goddess that ruled over this earth. But, I never quite understood why a god would mate with a mortal. A pure god at least. Not to say that we couldn''t be a thing..." Elysia said, leaning back against the wooden fence.


    Knight Blackburne brushed his hair.


    "It is a complex origin to say the least. I don''t know what became of my father, but I''m glad this kingdom decided to take me in." Knight Blackburne replied.


    "Indeed¡ªwe''ve won many wars because of that decision. Say, if you''re ever gone, O knight, who would be the main defense of this kingdom? My men have grown drunk, weak, and lazy due to your constant protection. I''m afraid if anything were to happen to you, this kingdom..." Elysia started, staring at the horizon.


    Knight Blackburne stood by her side.


    "I pray we won''t have another Azurath, or another Black Death if that ever happens. Until then, I''ll be on the lookout for my dragon."  Knight Blackburne said.


    He leaned back and walked over to the training grounds. There, he picked up a sword, played around with it for a little, and got in a stance. Elysia noticed this and smirked.


    "I see you''ve chosen not to use your Sword of Perfection. I know I''m not a god, but, could I try and wield it?" Elysia asked, stepping closer to the knight. Knight Blackburne unsheathed the Sword of Perfection and handed it to Elysia, who took it with great satisfaction. She smirked as she tried using different sword techniques with the weapon.


    "This feels...nice." Elysia said.


    "Indeed it should." Knight Blackburne replied, smirking.


    ...


    At the Start of the Outbreak


    It is sunrise. The light is illuminating the place of the holy shrine as Shadow makes his way past the torii gate. He''s surrounded by mother-nature, taking in all the lush and greenery he can get before he lasts to leave for another meeting with his clan.


    At last, I can have some time to myself. I''ll definitely be using it to practice on perfecting my creation.


    Shadow was pleased at the thought, pleased about making more progress towards something that he actually cared about, rather than sitting down and listening to useless gossip and family business.


    As Shadow finally reached the shrine, he noticed that the atmosphere felt a bit different. Was something or someone spying on him? He didn''t think so. If it had been the children spying on him, he would''ve noticed by now, but after looking around and listening to the distinct sound of each animal within his range, he decided that there were no children around.


    At last, Shadow knelt down in front of the shrine and began to pray. After praying, he stood up and went towards a fountain where he washed his hands. He definitely knew that something was watching him, but he couldn''t figure out what. Nevertheless, he decided to stay calm. After all, this was a sacred space, and no one or thing was going to change that for him.


    After taking the time to organize the materials laid out before him: the scroll, brush, and pain, he thought of Musashi Miyamoto¡ªhis idol. Oh, how he had a long history of reading countless stories and biographies all surrounding that one man. Saying Miyamoto was his idol might have even been an understatement, but still, he played a big role in Shadow''s life as an aspiring samurai.


    I''ve longed to follow in his footsteps, to maybe even become like him, but the reality is, I''ll never become like him, no matter how much I try or how much I train¡ªhe''s simply a blessing in itself...his work...


    Shadow began painting, fully aware that the presence of something lurking in the distance was growing. He frowned. He continued to paint images and possible correlations between his kenjutsu and Miyamoto''s.


    When he was finished painting his first piece, he was about to move on when he felt the presence of something lurking had gotten too strong. He sighed and looked up. It was a ginormous eye covered in veins that had eight arachnid-like limbs attached to the center, holding it up. Shadow gulped.


    Is that a demon? Could I unsheeth my katana faster than it can pounce?


    Shadow continued to think about it as the demon¡ªmonster, or whatever it was, was drawing closer. He soon noticed that more of its kind was also showing up out of the bushes. As Shadow closed his eyes, he imagined how Miyamoto would control this situation. Even though Shadow didn''t have Miyamoto''s infamous Kaneshige Koshirae, his katana should do the trick.


    As soon as the demon shot out a limb at Shadow, Shadow casually sliced the limb into 20 pieces so fast that it looked like he did it in one slice. The rest of the demons attacked, only to end up in a pile of blood, guts, and chopped limbs.


    Where did I gain this power from? Why do I feel so much like Miyamoto? Or even...stronger...


    No¡ªMiyamoto was still human, but what Shadow had done had far surpassed anything he''s ever known or seen in his entire life. Such speed and reflexes didn''t even put a strain on his muscles. He smirked and he wiped the blood from his katana.


    "These demons aren''t even worth sharpening my blade. Time to move on and warn the clan..." Shadow had said.

 CHAPTER 13: A PLAN

    District 3 Green Zone #2


    A few days have passed since I''ve heard from Fukui or our parents. It''s hard not to worry, especially given the situation in District 8 as well. I hesitate to ask anyone about the status of other Green Zones, fearing the worst, but...I can''t help but muster up the courage to do so, even if I don''t get anywhere...


    Yowaya continued to contemplate as he got up from the bench. Right now, there were plenty of people moving equipment, food, medicine, and other products across the Green Zone. Yowaya felt slow.


    What was he supposed to do in the middle of all this ruckus? He spotted one of the soldiers who seemed to be packing up slower than the others. Just like him, the soldier was probably contemplating a lot of things.


    Maybe he could spare some time to talk...


    Yowaya maneuvered his way past a group of clustered survivors and approached the soldier, who still seemed to be lost in thought.


    "Hey, could I speak with you for a moment?" Yowaya asked.


    At first, the soldier didn''t seem to register what he had said, then, it clicked.


    "I have a second," The soldier said.


    Yowaya sat down next to him.


    "You have family in other districts, right?" Yowaya asked.


    The soldier shook his head as he prepared his assault rifle and grabbed his magazines.


    "No. I''m on my own, but that''s the reality for a lot of us. I guess it makes me feel better knowing that I''m not the only one," the soldier said softly.


    Yowaya nodded.


    "Sorry for assuming."


    "Don''t kid yourself. We''re all screwed here. So, you want to reach someone specific in another district? Forget it. Even the bigwigs are struggling to communicate. Everyone''s swamped. It sucks, but other places might be even worse off than us." the soldier said, getting up.


    Yowaya frowned. He didn''t really like the sound of that. It was almost as if the soldier didn''t have any hope of reaching out to anyone.


    "I have to go, see you around," the soldier said, walking away. Yowaya caught up to him.


    "Wait, at least point me in the direction of the Board," Yowaya asked.


    The soldier gave him a raised eyebrow.


    "The conference room? Just past those tents over there. I doubt they''ll let you in. You could talk to Colonel Kawaki. Do you have anyone in the room that you know of right now?" the soldier asked.


    "Yes, I do..." Yowaya replied.


    Yowaya and the soldier started walking over to the training area where the soldiers were doing test runs and quick exercises. Based on what Yowaya could tell, it seemed like only the highly ranked soldiers were able to operate the enhanced battle suits, while the normal soldiers just had to stick with their guns.


    Why is that? Don''t they know that their guns have little effect on those monsters?


    Yowaya straightened as he and the soldier stopped in front of Colonel Kawaki, who turned around to face them with his hands behind his back.


    "Soldier, why are you slacking behind? You were supposed to be here a minute ago. Drop down and give me thirty," Kawaki commanded.


    The soldier didn''t hesitate to drop down and start doing push-ups. Yowaya started talking, stuttering a bit out of nervousness.


    "Colonel, it was my fault that he w¡ª"


    "Name please?" Kawaki shot back.


    "Yowaya," Yowaya replied.


    Kawaki shook his hand with a very firm handshake.


    "If you need an¡ª" Yowaya started.


    "No, I recognize the name. You were with Dr. Sunji, correct? You were one of the officers that managed to escape the detention center..." Kawaki started.


    The soldier was still doing push-ups¡ªhe had five more left.


    "I am. Colonel, I know this might sound like a lot, but I really need to get in that conference room," Yowaya started.


    Kawaki had somewhat ignored him for a second and took a bite out of his apple.


    "Why didn''t they call you in?"


    "I''m not sure," Yowaya replied.


    Kawaki nodded and put his apple back down. As he did, the soldier finally stood up after finishing the push-ups. A moment later, rain started falling. The soldiers who were training groaned, clearly annoyed by it.


    "I can get you in that room. I don''t know what went over their heads anyway. For God''s sake, you were at the site where it all started. Speak up more¡ªlet them know you''re just as important as the doctor. Also, change that weak demeanor of yours. Anyone I know could snap you like a twig," Kawaki said.


    Yowaya nodded. In some way, the colonel was right. Sooner or later, he would have to stop acting like a timid coward. But, how could he even do that given his current situation?


    Yowaya said thanks to the soldier and started walking away from the training grounds with Kawaki. As Yowaya and Kawaki were approaching the door to the conference room, the soldiers who were standing by its side greeted them. The soldiers then opened the door, and Yowaya and Kawaki walked in.


    ...


    Dr. Sunji stood before a room full of military personnel, attempting to explain the outbreak at the detention center. Seated in the front row was Dr. Oki, who seemed pleased to hear from someone who shared her views.


    "Are you telling us that by the time you and Yowaya made it past the cell blocks, the Warden was already presumed dead? Bullshit. What kind of monster was it?" The General demanded.


    Dr. Oki shot the General a disapproving look.


    Dr. Sunji took a sip of water and cleared his throat. From the corner of his eye, he saw Yowaya and a colonel enter the room.


    At least I won''t have to explain everything to him afterward...


    "The monster in question was more of a brute... Its skin was so thick that standard assault rifles and shotguns couldn''t pierce it. It also had only one eye. It looked something like this..." Dr. Sunji stepped aside, allowing the projector to display an image of a bulky, pale cyclops. Dr. Oki took notes in her journal while the other personnel analyzed the monster''s appearance.


    Dr. Sunji continued: "A 19-year-old boy named Harlow Blackburne, incarcerated in the center on assault charges, is the sentient monster who enabled us to make it from the detention center to the mall alive. He''s also the first monster in my database to achieve 100% monsterification."


    The personnel gasped, but Dr. Oki simply nodded, unsurprised.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    "100% monsterification? What does that even look like?" The General inquired.


    "A human," Dr. Sunji replied.


    The General pressed: "I understand that monsterification has always been a slippery slope, but wouldn''t it make more sense for this boy with 100% monsterification to look more distorted than the cyclops with 65%? You''re claiming he looked completely human?"


    Dr. Oki paused her notetaking.


    "Yes, General, that''s exactly what I''m saying," Dr. Sunji affirmed. The room fell silent for a moment. Then, Dr. Sunji began speaking again.


    "I''m sure many of you have thoroughly reviewed monster cases and journals from the Black Death era. Cases involving ''vampires'' and the like. After extensive research in the lab, I''ve developed an explanation that I believe clarifies much of the confusion. It''s nothing groundbreaking, but when explained in this way, it makes a lot more sense¡ª


    ¡ªMonsterification progresses along a fascinating spectrum. Below 50%, individuals retain a largely human appearance with only minor aberrations¡ªperhaps sharpened teeth, glowing eyes, or slightly elongated features. However, as the percentage increases, these traits intensify, resulting in dramatic physical transformations such as claws, scales, or additional appendages.


    ¡ªAt exactly 50%, the individual reaches the peak of visible monstrous traits, displaying the most striking combination of human and beast-like features. Beyond 50%, however, the process appears to reverse; the individual''s monstrous traits diminish, and they gradually appear more human.


    ¡ªBy 100%, they look perfectly human, even unnervingly flawless, though internally, they are fully monstrous in nature and capabilities. I call this the Monsterification Reversion System." Dr. Sunji explained.


    Dr. Oki raised her hands.


    "Doctor, given your close proximity to this monster you call Harlow, who you claim has 100% monsterification, what symptoms have you observed in this individual?" Dr. Oki asked.


    Dr. Sunji cleared his throat again.


    "Well, for starters, I''ve observed schizophrenia. Harlow has also shown signs of dyslexia, particularly when it comes to directions. He''s also shown signs of low impulse control and an obsession with fictional stories." Dr. Sunji said.


    "Fictional stories?" Oki asked.


    "Yes, tied to his schizophrenia." Dr. Sunji replied.


    Dr. Oki nodded and began taking more notes. The General raised his hand.


    "Where do you think Harlow is now? Given what you''ve seen of the ODW Unit''s top soldiers, do you think they would be able to handle Harlow?" The General asked.


    Dr. Sunji shrugged.


    "I''m not sure. However, given the sudden increase in monsterification levels within the district in the last 24 hours, and the fact that the new level hasn''t changed, Harlow is definitely still in this district. I don''t have anything else to say. Thank you for listening, General. I''ll hand the floor over to you." Dr. Sunji said, stepping away.


    The General nodded, rose, and strolled toward the front of the room. After switching the database displayed on the projector, he began his address.


    Dr. Sunji sat beside Dr. Oki, who offered a small smile and a nod. Dr. Sunji then glanced over his shoulder, meeting Yowaya''s gaze.


    "As you know, the tunnels are currently useless, overrun by monsters. However, with Dr. Oki''s help, we''ve made progress in developing two solutions for eradicating the monsters within this district. The first solution involves releasing a chemical gas¡ªstill in development¡ªon the surface and within the tunnels. This gas would target and eliminate monsters with a monsterification level of 20% or higher, not just in this district but across all districts.


    --The second solution is to strategically place camouflaged explosives within the tunnels during the day when most monsters are active on the streets. We would then detonate these explosives at night while the monsters are presumably sleeping.


    --To be honest, we have reservations about the second option due to our limited knowledge of survivor locations within the Red Zones. However, if the first solution proves ineffective, we will proceed with the second option." The General concluded his explanation.


    The room absorbed this information in thoughtful silence. Dr. Sunji, still contemplating the solutions, looked at Dr. Oki before speaking.


    "If the first solution is successful, what percentage of the population do you anticipate will be affected?" Dr. Sunji inquired.


    The General stroked his chin.


    "If you''re referring to the impact across all districts, we estimate a reduction of thirty to forty percent. I''m sure you understand the gravity of this, Doctor, but the average monsterification levels are increasing annually, based on ODW data. It''s crucial to limit monsterification growth before it''s too late." The General replied.


    Dr. Sunji frowned.


    "But what if it has the opposite effect? What if we adapt, and the monsterification levels begin to accelerate?" Dr. Sunji countered.


    The General continued his pacing.


    "There are always ''what-ifs,'' Doctor, but I''m confident that you can''t envision a superior alternative, can you?" The General challenged.


    Dr. Sunji shrugged.


    "Give me some time. Perhaps I can." He replied, glancing at Dr. Oki, who returned a look of respect.


    The General nodded.


    "Very well. Take the time you need. However, for now, the decision is made. Units 2, 6, and 4 will undertake the operation to plant the explosives in the tunnels. As I mentioned, this is merely our backup plan. I anticipate that some high-ranking ODW soldiers will also participate in this mission." The General announced.


    The projector display changed, showcasing a map of the tunnels throughout District 3.


    "It was challenging, but we''ve managed to contact some of the other districts and inform them of our backup plan involving the tunnels. They should be implementing similar measures. We acknowledge that if we proceed with this backup plan, the districts will collapse, necessitating a complete rebuild. However, given the current state of our districts, rebuilding was inevitable. Are there any questions?" The General inquired.


    Silence met his question. No hands were raised, and no voices spoke up. The General nodded in acknowledgment.


    "In that case, this meeting is set." The General declared. The attendees rose and began to file out of the conference room. Yowaya and Dr. Sunji met near the exit.


    "There''s no hope for Harlow, is there?" Yowaya asked.


    "No, don''t think so." Dr. Sunji replied solemnly.


    ...


    The sewers were a never-ending pit of darkness, filled with the putrid stench of piss and shit. Yet, Harlow pressed on, wading through the murky water, desperate to lose the Shadow man.


    He winced as he touched the side of his neck. The cut there, only partially healed, throbbed with a dull ache.


    Fuck that guy man. Ugh, I want to rip him in half so bad. That was just a fucking fluke, a fucking fluke. I''m stronger than him, I know I am.


    Why was he getting so worked up over a simple cut? His face contorted into an angry scowl as he paused, leaning against the slimy sewer wall. He felt like he was losing his mind.


    Fuck this shit. Why can''t everyone just leave me alone?


    Pushing off the wall, Harlow continued his trek through the filth. How long had he been wandering? He couldn''t remember, but he pushed forward nonetheless. Eventually, he began to feel faint vibrations beneath his feet. It was almost as if a miniature earthquake was brewing beneath the district.


    That sound...what is it?


    As Harlow pressed on, the vibrations intensified, accompanied by the wet, squishy, and slapping sounds that grew louder with each step. Harlow clenched his fists. Whatever it was, he was ready to punch it into oblivion.


    Suddenly, something rolled past him with such speed that it sent murky water splashing all over his upper body. Harlow stumbled back against the wall, shaking his head in disbelief.


    Giant centipedes¡ªmonstrous, writhing things¡ªwere hurtling down the sewer tunnels at incredible speeds, far too fast for Harlow to react. They probably hadn''t even noticed him.


    After the last of the centipedes had vanished into the darkness, Harlow stepped back, frowning.


    Just how many giant bugs are there? This is too much for my brain to handle...


    He glanced to his left. He hadn''t noticed it before, but there was a door, not too far away, covered in ooze and saliva. With a shrug, he strolled towards it. When he reached it, he casually punched it open and stepped through.


    He walked down a narrow passageway, bursting a couple of pipes as he passed. At the end, another door. He punched that one open too, emerging back into the sewers. This time, he was faced with a choice: three different tunnel directions.


    After a moment''s thought, Harlow broke into a jog, heading straight ahead. The tunnel eventually opened up into a massive chamber with a waterfall cascading down, its water flowing into a network of tunnels.


    In the center of the chamber was a pool of stagnant water, filled with bones and soggy limbs. Harlow grimaced in disgust. It wasn''t until he noticed that he, too, was standing in murky water, with a bone or two floating past him, that he fully grasped the grim reality of his situation.


    So...this is where all the monster waste goes? Besides the centipedes, what other kind of monsters could be down here?


    Harlow sighed. He was still lost. Turning back, he started searching for another door. When he found one, he casually punched through it and descended the stairs. Eventually, he reached a dark lair.


    The lair was enormous, bigger than any he could have imagined. Harlow could even make out long chains dangling aimlessly from the ceiling. He sighed and continued walking until he saw a pair of glowing eyes.


    Oh...shit...


    The enormous creature lunged at Harlow, trying to swallow him whole, but something stopped it just in front of him, its mouth open wide. Harlow realized he was facing a giant wolf, chained up in the massive lair.


    "Who''s keeping you down here?" Harlow asked, raising his eyebrows.


    The ground shook as the giant wolf struggled against its chains. Its saliva pooled in a large puddle in front of Harlow.


    Disgusting...can I even pet this thing?


    "Move aside..." A light, angelic voice said from behind. Harlow turned quickly to see who it was: a woman with beautiful skin, wearing a glamorous blue robe. Her demeanor and aura were undeniably powerful. It wasn''t just her beauty; Harlow could sense a high level of monsterification. He gulped.


    The woman casually pushed Harlow aside and stepped in front of the giant wolf, which was calming down. She petted the wolf until it fell asleep, then glanced back at Harlow.


    Why is she looking at me like that?


    Hands¡ªvery strong hands¡ªher hands, were on Harlow''s chest. He didn''t even notice until it was too late. With a small grunt, the woman pulled Harlow''s soul out of Kyoufu''s body.


    Kyoufu, back in her own body, dropped to the ground. Harlow also landed on the ground, completely naked. The woman didn''t even look back at them. She simply walked away.


    Harlow sat up, staring at his hands.


    "YES!!! I GOT MY BODY BACK! Wait..." Harlow looked for the woman again. She was nowhere to be seen, but a slightly ajar door told a different story.


    I''ll pursue her later.

 CHAPTER 14: AN EMANATING THREAT

    Rikuya leaped from building to building, searching for anything that might pique his interest. To be honest, he was bored¡ªbored from having to protect the people working to dispose of that enormous monster nonstop. It was annoying. He needed a break from that¡ªsomething that could get him excited again.


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">Where are all the monsters? Don''t those bastards roam around during the day and sleep at night?


    Rikuya landed on another rooftop and paused, pondering for a moment. Maybe the monsters had overslept today, which was why he could barely see any of them on the streets or anywhere in the district.


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">Or those two hotties killed most of them in this area. I mean, just looking at the destruction that the monstrosity had caused, I wouldn''t be surprised if that was the case...


    Rikuya stood up and leaped toward another rooftop. Apart from crushed and overturned cars, he still couldn''t find anything. He was about to give up and turn back when he spotted an eerie apartment building just a couple of blocks away.


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">Slashes? A freakin fight was going on down there...yeah, that''s exactly what it was...a fight...


    Rikuya smirked. He stretched a little, then leaped toward the apartment building. When he landed on the side of the building, he kicked the window, shattering it, and entered the third floor. He tensed a little as his monsterification reading went up slightly. Step by step, he snuck down the corridor. Room 303...Room 301...Room 209...Bingo. He felt it. It had to have been that room. He casually kicked down the door and entered, ready to destroy any monster he spotted. Nothing. His monsterification reading then went down a notch.


    "You''ve got to be kidding me." Rikuya said, frustrated. He grunted. No, he refused to simply give up now. By the time he got back, they might need his help with something. To him, it was better to scout this entire block then head back to that boring place.


    Rikuya took a step and felt rumbling. Something was causing it, but what could it have been? Could it be the ODM testing some of their new equipment on another mountain?


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">I feel it''s coming from underneath. So I was right. It''s probably those damn monsters having a brawl in the sewers or something...if I were strong enough on my own, I would''ve run right through those bastards and annihilated every single one of them...but I''m not, and it pisses me off. Out of all the soldiers that trained and registered, I was one of the few who got to test its early access on the battlefield, but now, more soldiers from other units are becoming qualified and I''m seen as fucking disposable...


    The small quake was still occurring, but Rikuya was distracted. He leaned forward and demolished the room wall with a casual punch, causing parts of the ceiling to also be demolished. He was breathing heavily...not from fatigue, but from anger. Why does Delta of all people have to be Team Captain? Why does she have to be number one? Why did he have to be the weakest out of them?


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">I can''t fucking stand it anymore...


    Rikuya gulped. Out of rage, he sprinted towards the other wall and charged right through, falling towards the street. As he descended, he saw broken pieces of a manhole near the manhole opening. He raised his eyebrows. Landing swiftly on a car, he quickly made his way to the manhole and looked inside. He kneeled down and took a whiff. Not only did he smell piss and shit, but rotten flesh and vomit were there too. He gagged.


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">Ugh...monster vomit...yup, it never gets old...


    Rikuya covered his nose. There was no one in this area, and from what he could make out, given the slashes on the first floor of the apartment building, whoever had been fighting here managed to escape into the sewers.


    "Monsters fighting each other? I''m not surprised. I see them as no different than cannibals. They must be vanquished..." Rikuya said to himself, smirking at what he thought was a pretty cool phrase. He clenched his fists.


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">I''m not permitted to enter the underground alone...but...if I don''t prove that I''m more important than those three, then...


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">You piece of expired meat¡ªjust what the hell do you think you''re doing?" Chisaki said teasingly, smirking.


    Rikuya looked up. Chisaki and Suzune were standing on the rooftop of the building behind him. They were looking at him like he had done something wrong. He frowned as he watched them descend from the rooftop and land gracefully on the street.


    "Why are you goofballs here? I thought you were helping Delta with the watch," Rikuya said, turning his back to them. Chisaki and Suzune continued to approach.


    "Four-eyes is busy doing her own thing alongside watching...after all, she''s the strongest. Anyway, we felt a small quake coming from this area and thought you were in trouble..." Chisaki said. She glanced at Suzune and smirked.


    "You think this is funny?" Rikuya asked.


    "I sure do. You''re lucky Suze here is looking for a monster; otherwise, I wouldn''t have given a crap if you were in trouble," Chisaki replied, almost giggling.


    Suzune didn''t say anything. She was more focused on the mini quakes she felt coming from the underground. She knelt, deep in thought.


    "The General and his men are making their way to the disposal site, right? Like you said, they should be fine, and I have a feeling the monster I''m looking for went through this manhole..." Suzune replied.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">Hey! I found the manhole first, so I''ll be getting the last hit on whatever monster you''re looking for..." Rikuya replied.


    When Suzune stood up in response, Chisaki leaned closer to her and said, "Are you going to let him talk to you like that?"


    Suzune shrugged and turned to Rikuya.


    "Do what you want. As long as the monster I have in mind is dead¡ªI don''t really care what happens after," Suzune replied.


    Chisaki pouted.


    "Ahh...such a boring response..." Chisaki said playfully.


    Chisaki descended the manhole first while Rikuya and Suzune followed.


    ...


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">I''m naked¡ªlike, butt naked¡ªagain. And lost. In a wolf monster''s lair. Great. Just great. This is the pinnacle of my life. If Kyoufu wakes up and sees me like this, I might as well just give up now. I''m a professional embarrassment.


    Harlow shuddered, pushing away the thoughts that threatened to overwhelm him. He needed to focus on the present: finding clothes and, more importantly, the woman who had set him free. He paced around the lair.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">Clothes...clothes...clothes..." He muttered, his gaze drawn to the chains hanging from the ceiling. His thoughts felt sluggish, his focus hazy compared to the clarity he''d experienced in Kyoufu''s body.


    "Maybe the sudden switch is what''s left my mind feeling like mush." He mumbled.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">Uh...H-H-Harlow...are you n-n-naked?" Kyoufu''s voice, hesitant and tinged with a blush, startled him.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">HEY! DON''T LOOK!" Harlow shouted, his hands instinctively covering himself. Kyoufu immediately turned away, her face growing redder.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">Where are we? Did you bring me to this...this...it smells horrible..." Kyoufu complained, her voice laced with a pout. Despite feeling weak, she managed to stand. The air felt damp and earthy, confirming her suspicion of being underground. A wave of heat washed over her back, and she turned to find a massive, slumbering wolf monster mere inches away.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">AHHHHH!" Kyoufu exclaimed.


    The giant wolf stirred slightly at the noise but remained asleep. As Kyoufu tripped and fell, she noticed a door that was slightly open. Muffled voices drifted through the opening, growing louder as she strained to listen. A frown creased her brow.


    Harlow, still wandering aimlessly, felt lost and unsure.


    "Can you hear that?" Kyoufu asked.


    Harlow paused.


    "Um...oh, yeah, I guess I do..." Harlow replied.


    He took a hesitant step forward, resigned to navigating the sewers in his current state of undress. Kyoufu rose to her feet and glanced at the wolf.


    "It''ll eat us if it wakes up, right...?"


    Harlow shrugged.


    "It tried to eat me. But then this strange woman appeared out of nowhere, calmed it down, and pulled me out of your body¡ªthat''s why I''m naked..."


    Kyoufu rubbed her temple.


    "You were <em style="box-sizing: border-box">controlling my body this whole time...?" Kyoufu asked.


    Harlow stepped back, wary of her reaction.


    "Woah, no need to get angry about it. That was kind of <em style="box-sizing: border-box">your fault..."


    Before he could finish, Kyoufu lunged at him, pinning him to the ground.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">YOU PSYCHO FREAK!! WHAT DID YOU DO IN MY BODY?!" Kyoufu demanded.


    Harlow lay there, offering no resistance.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">NOTHING...stop making such a big deal out of it. AT LEAST YOU HAVE SOME CLOTHES! AND GET OFF ME, I GOT NO CLOTHES! CAN''T YOU SEE THAT?!"


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">NO BIG DEAL?! WHY YOU..." Kyoufu''s voice rose, but a thunderous snore from the giant wolf cut her off, shaking the entire lair. Both Harlow and Kyoufu fell silent, their eyes drawn to the slumbering beast.


    "Get off me, weirdo..." Harlow muttered, casually shoving her aside. Kyoufu''s face flushed.


    "If I start acting really weird...you might want to consider running for your life, jerk."


    Harlow rose to his feet, a wary expression crossing his face.


    "You can sit here and whine all you want, or you can come help me find some clothes," Harlow said.


    Something was whimpering. Neither Harlow nor Kyoufu knew what it was, but it had been coming from behind the sleeping giant wolf. Harlow and Kyoufu started backing up as they stared at the wolf. Eventually, they saw more glowing eyes appear in the back of the lair.


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">More wolves?


    Harlow sighed. He wasn''t sure whether those wolves could actually harm him or not, but given his recent encounter with Shadow¡ªhe didn''t want to take any chances. He raised his fists.


    A moment later, the wolves emerged from the shadows, almost eager to approach Harlow and Kyoufu.


    "They''re children?" Kyoufu asked, relaxing a bit. Kyoufu knelt in front of the wolves and petted them. Harlow was reluctant.


    "I think those were the same wolves that attacked me in the past..." Harlow said, remembering the incident on the road. He frowned. Kyoufu still continued to pet the wolves. There was a smile on her face, a smile that Harlow hadn''t seen before.


    "Do you want to pet them?" Kyoufu asked.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    "I''m...freaking...naked...uh¡ªno, I don''t want to," Harlow said, crossing his arms.


    "Why not? Are you afraid?" Kyoufu asked.


    Harlow shrugged.


    "I''m leaving this place to find some clothes...see ya..." Harlow said, breaking into a casual jog towards the slightly ajar door.


    Kyoufu leaned up, watching as Harlow jogged away. After glancing down at the wolves one last time, she stood up and followed Harlow. As she did, the wolves were following her too.


    ...


    "Was that a flare?" Shadow asked, looking up. He and Kregg had been strolling back to the village through the woods when they saw a red flare shoot up into the sky.


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">The military is on the move. They''re not thinking of taking over the entire district now, are they? Isn''t it too soon? I doubt they have the firepower or equipment to take care of the monsters on the surface, including the tunnels...unless...


    Shadow stopped to think a bit. Kregg was shaking just from the thought of the military invading the entire district.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">Boss, what should we do?" Kregg asked.


    Shadow turned around.


    "I want <em style="box-sizing: border-box">all other monsters to be my slaves, but I haven''t even touched the ones underground. For all we know, they could be gathering their forces to fend off against the military, which is why I can''t seem to find many above ground." Shadow said.


    Kregg nodded.


    "Ok. And that boy¡ªare we going to just forget about him?" Kregg asked.


    Shadow raised his eyebrows.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">Boy?" Shadow questioned.


    Kregg nodded in response.


    "He said it had to do with some psychic or spiritual mishap." Kregg replied, raising his eyebrows.


    "Interesting. And yes, for now we''ll forget about him...but I still plan on using him if I ever get the chance." Shadow replied. They continued walking until they had eventually reached a cobblestone path that led to the village. As they were walking on this path, Shadow noticed the small tremors and quakes beneath his feet. Something¡ªor some sort of beast¡ªhad awakened deep underground. Some sort of monster that had the size and strength of nothing that he had ever seen before.


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">The military¡ªthey can''t stop it. This is our new reality now, and they will soon learn to live with it. Evolution has it that everyone and everything will eventually become monsters¡ªso why fight jt? What''s the point?


    Shadow stopped walking, and Kregg did too shortly after. Shadow stared at the <em style="box-sizing: border-box">family minka not too far away. Even from here, he could feel the tension and fear that stirred within that place. Shadow slowly began walking again, and eventually, he approached the front door.


    After a couple of knocks, his father, Haruto, eventually opened the door. From what Shadow could tell, Haruto was still sick and extremely tired. Shadow frowned.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">Father...what is the meaning of this? You''re supposed to be in bed resting before the gathering. Where''s Souta? Couldn''t he have gotten the door...?" Shadow asked, stepping inside. Kregg followed.


    "He and Mio are busy trying to get the children to settle down. And I can walk fine," Haruto said, gesturing a bit.


    Shadow sighed.


    "Is that so?" Shadow replied.


    Haruto smirked. He then glanced back at Kregg and frowned.


    "The children...<em style="box-sizing: border-box">that thing can''t be present in the room. It''s too much for them," Haruto said.


    Shadow stopped.


    "It''s better for the children to see what they will eventually become¡ªif it does happen. While yes, I do agree that it might traumatize them, it won''t be any more traumatizing than what they''ll soon experience," Shadow replied.


    "And what is that? A war? They''re <em style="box-sizing: border-box">children. I won''t say it again¡ªthat thing is not permitted to be present in that room," Haruto said, gesturing to Kregg.


    "I understand¡ªfather," Shadow said. He turned to Kregg.


    "Go on¡ªleave now. Check up on the monsters that I''ve put in cages in the south camp. I don''t want any of them escaping. You don''t want to be doing most of the labor around here, do you?" Shadow asked.


    Kregg shook his head.


    "Then go¡ªmove." Shadow demanded.


    Kregg left the family minka and headed toward the south camp. Shadow and Haruto walked down the corridor until they reached the tatami gathering room. Everything was laid out perfectly: the table, the food...


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">Souta and Mio look oddly calm...


    Souta and Mio, the only two clan members close to Shadow''s age, were kneeling on opposite ends of the table. The children tensed somewhat in Shadow''s presence, which was expected. While Haruto kneeled at the head of the table, Shadow kneeled next to him on Souta''s side. Shadow glanced at Mio a couple of times before they all began to pray. Once they were done praying, Haruto began to speak again.


    "It''s a blessing that we''ve managed to survive the outbreak so far. Especially because of you, my dear son, Ma¡ª" Haruto started, but Shadow interrupted him.


    "¡ªShadow, father. It''s Shadow. This is not new."


    "Right...you''ve changed, but you''re my son. I deserve to call you by your true name," Haruto said.


    "But I''ve gone through a transformation. My true name is and forever will be Shadow," Shadow said.


    Haruto was sweating a bit.


    "You hurt me, son, but nevertheless, if you prefer that, then I will say Shadow. Now that we''ve settled that, I''d like to address another matter: supplies, food. We''re running low. Most of the wildlife is long gone. There are no crops left either, but maybe there''s a possibility that the..." Haruto started, but he sensed that Mio wanted to say something.


    "What is it?" Haruto asked, looking at Mio.


    "I''ve checked every stash in this village, including the bodies. There''s nothing left," Mio said.


    "Nothing? Really?" Haruto replied. Haruto and Mio turned to Shadow.


    "It''s no surprise. I''ve kept track of the monster vomit within this village, and most of it has been near the stashes," Mio explained.


    Shadow nodded.


    "Only a few of the monsters within this village were sentient, which I now have as slaves..." Shadow said.


    Haruto looked infuriated.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">Shadow...you would make your own kin into slaves? I thought you told me those monsters were outsiders..." Haruto replied.


    Shadow shrugged.


    "It was more convenient that way, father. I''m sure you can understand." Shadow replied.


    Haruto slammed his hands on the table, causing the kids to gasp.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">NO! IT''S NOT. You LIED TO ME!" Haruto shot back. Shadow looked away, unable to meet his father''s gaze. Haruto leaned back and coughed a little.


    "I want you to release those slaves..." Haruto demanded.


    Shadow frowned.


    "No, father. They have a purpose that I''ve kept them for. Releasing them would be a waste." Shadow replied.


    Haruto''s face contorted in anger, and he stood up.


    "Do as I <em style="box-sizing: border-box">say this instant..." Haruto demanded.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">No...I won''t." Shadow replied, standing up too.


    "There''s a powerful monster that I''ve encountered before I got here, and I''ve been looking to make that one my slave too, but it got away. I''m going to need all the sentient monsters I can get, to formulate a plan against the military..." Shadow explained.


    Souta stood up.


    "You can''t be serious? You''d be putting the kids'' lives at risk..." Souta replied.


    "No, not if the plan works, but in order for it to work, I''m going to need to enslave that monster I have in mind. You haven''t been paying attention, but the quakes you''re feeling underground aren''t from the military¡ªa giant beast is down there, waiting to be unleashed. If I could just¡ª" Shadow began, but stopped talking, thinking it all over.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">This was never about overthrowing the government...I thought everything you''ve done up to this point was to ensure the clan''s survival, but it''s clear to me now that your actions were nothing but rooted deeply in your own selfish ambitions. I won''t allow you to put this clan in danger. If you want to overthrow the government, then you''ll be banished from this clan..." Haruto stated. He slowly got back on his knees, catching his breath. Shadow did the same shortly after. No one said anything.


    ...


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">District 3, Green Zone #2


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">So I was right...the ODW is only a branch plan of the military¡ªa plan that they''ve been having for decades...doesn''t that mean they''re going to be more soldiers wearing those battle suits? And they''re telling me that they use monster waste to power them? That''s disgusting...


    Yowaya contemplated again underneath a tent as rain poured throughout the entire camp. After the meeting with the other military personnel, it was clear to him that reuniting with Harlow was a slim chance. After all, everyone in the camp knows about Harlow and what he could do, thanks to Dr. Sunji. Now, they''re just preparing for the worst that could happen, which includes releasing the chemical gas that they''ve been experimenting on monsters.


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">All of this feels wrong. It''s like they''re so confident they can deal with it all in one swoop...or maybe I''m just paranoid because I really can''t do anything but just watch.


    And of course¡ªFukui. For all he knew, she could be dead, but he needed to push those thoughts away for now.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">What went on in there?" Reina asked, approaching the tent.


    Yowaya leaned up.


    "Two plans: Plan A and Plan B. The first plan is to...uh...release a chemical gas throughout all of the districts to eliminate the monster threat, and if that doesn''t work, they''re going to blow up the tunnels so the monsters will have no choice but to fight on the surface." Yowaya said, shivering a bit.


    Reina stepped inside the tent.


    "And if neither of those plans work?" Reina asked.


    "Well...I guess they would just have to eliminate them in an all out brawl. That would be the ODW and standard units combined."


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">Suzune..." Reina mumbled.


    Yowaya nodded.


    "I''ve thought about it too, but I''m just hoping that the gas will do the trick." Yowaya replied.


    Reina turned around.


    "Could you help me station some new survivors that have arrived? If I''m doing nothing, then all I''ll be able to think about is...y''know..." Reina said.


    Yowaya stepped out of the tent.


    "Of course." Yowaya replied.

 CHAPTER 15: THE ARENA

    Kyoufu walked alongside Harlow down the eerie sewer tunnels. She couldn''t believe that Harlow had actually taken over her body while she was supposedly unconscious for a long while.


    What <em style="box-sizing: border-box">did Harlow do while he was controlling her body anyway? She hadn''t checked herself yet, but once they were out of this situation, she would definitely make sure to do that. She couldn''t trust him, at least not completely.


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">It''s like I can''t fully use any of my powers anymore. I''ve tried them on him, but they don''t work...Maybe I''ve overused them...and something broke...


    She rubbed her belly. Before she had been unconscious, she was still very hungry. Before she met Harlow, the only thing she ate were some of the leftover stocks of food in some shops¡ªincluding some of the food stored in the freezers.


    However, after she went unconscious and woke up in that lair, she felt pretty fine, with the exception of the possibility of losing her abilities.


    Kyoufu stopped. She felt more tremors nearby. Where was it coming from? Harlow had also stopped shortly after, surprised to see that Kyoufu had taken a halt.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">Don''t stare at my ass..." Harlow said plainly.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">Just shut up." Kyoufu spit back.


    The tremors continued. Kyoufu lifted her finger, trying to point in the possible direction of where the tremors could be coming from.


    "Eh...somewhere...there..." Kyoufu finally replied, pointing at the wall beside Harlow. Harlow took a glance at the wall beside him and frowned.


    "Uh...you mean through the wall, right?" Harlow said, dumbfounded.


    Kyoufu palmed her face.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">YEAH, OBVIOUSLY!" Kyoufu replied.


    Harlow put his hands up.


    "Ok-ok, geeze, no need to bully the naked guy. Alright, I''ll just punch through, but whatever it is, we''ll have to make it quick. I can''t stand walking around bare." Harlow said, grumbling a hit.


    He casually leaned forward and punched the wall, creating a massive hole. When Harlow and Kyoufu finally peeked through the dust and debris, they could see broken pipes, vomit, and blood trails that led down another long and narrow corridor.


    Kyoufu took a breather.


    Harlow shrugged and stepped through. He started walking down the corridor until he noticed that Kyoufu wasn''t following him.


    "What are you doing? You pointed this way, right? So come on and get moving." Harlow said.


    "I know, but...that blood trail...and the tremors..." Kyoufu started.


    Harlow turned around and continued walking.


    "A naked man doesn''t have time to hear all that nonsense. I''m going. If you don''t want to follow, that''s your business..." Harlow said, going deeper down the corridor. After a while, Harlow had disappeared from sight.


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">He''s crazy. He''ll definitely die soon for sure.


    Kyoufu felt a pang in her heart at the thought of Harlow dying. She sniffled. Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted when she heard wolves approaching her.


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">They would abandon their mother and follow me?


    Kyoufu almost stuttered a bit before the wolves had reached her. She kneeled and petted them once again.


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">Their mother might wake up and cause havoc. Hmm...those chains look strong though. I guess I''m worrying too much...


    A recent image of her pounding Harlow to the ground, naked¡ªflashed before her eyes. No, it was perverted and unnecessary. She didn''t need to think about him like that. If only he was wearing clothes then those thoughts wouldn''t have come about in the first place.


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">That darn idiot...


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">...


    Yowaya shivered a bit as he was now entering the testing facility of this camp. He sighed. He had been walking alongside Reina, Dr. Sunji, and Dr. Oki. According to Dr. Oki, the District 3 Military Units and the ODW were transporting the gas to the aircraft that would fly over the district and gas everything.


    "Wouldn''t that affect us as well?" Yowaya had once asked Dr. Oki.


    Dr. Oki shook her head.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">No, the compound is only supposed to decrease monsterification, and since we already have some at less than 1%, there wouldn''t be any side effects. However, monsters with 20% monserification or higher would still have a chance of fatality rather than reversal..." Dr. Oki had explained.


    Yowaya and the others stepped into the lab. There were plenty of other scientists preparing for the demonstration of what Dr. Oki had called <em style="box-sizing: border-box">Formula Zero¡ªthe gas that would supposedly reverb most life forms in the district back to their original state.


    "¡ªDo we really have enough aircraft to transport the gas to other districts?" Reina asked.


    Dr. Oki glanced away from the pods after she moved away from the railing.


    "That would be unnecessary. All of us created the formula through monster remains, and my guess is that other districts at least gave thought into compiling those remains. My formula has already been sent out to them, but I think it would be wise for me to visit other districts and help them devise another plan too. Wouldn''t you agree, Dr. Sunji?" Dr. Oki said.


    Dr. Sunji nodded, not really having anything further to say. Reina, Dr. Oki, and Dr. Sunji resumed watching the scientists experiment with <em style="box-sizing: border-box">Formula Zero on a monster. Yowaya rubbed his temple. He turned to Dr. Oki.


    "Doctor¡ªthere will be aircraft going for District 8, correct?" Yowaya asked.


    Dr. Oki nodded.


    "More than likely, yes."


    "I need to get on one of those aircrafts..."


    "Why? Is it family...?"


    "It''s..." Yowaya started. He paused and glanced at Dr. Sunji. He had a feeling that Dr. Sunji would start speaking up for him, but he didn''t. Good. Yowaya needed to build up his courage and self-worth on his own without the need for Dr: Sunji pitching in.


    "Yes, family. I can''t stop thinking about them, and I know what you''re going to say: <em style="box-sizing: border-box">it''s not all about you. But please, just this once, I need to at least know that they''re alive, and I''ll be back for support after. Just...please..." Yowaya pleaded.


    Dr. Oki tapped her foot against the wall as she thought about it. A moment later, I sighed.


    "Ok¡ªI''ll try to convince them to get you on board with the aircrafts headed to District 8, but don''t get it twisted. I''m only doing this because <em style="box-sizing: border-box">you were at the place where this whole outbreak started, so they''ll see value in you¡ªnot that you weren''t valuable anyway." Dr. Oki said, her voice monotone.


    The scientists who were moving about on the lower level had all stopped to witness the demonstration of <em style="box-sizing: border-box">Formula Zero. One of the scientists, who was the initiator, gave the signal and everyone cleared the area, except for the monster that was being restrained.


    "Hope to God this glass holds." Reina said.


    Dr. Oki gave her a glance.


    "Trust me, it''ll hold." Dr. Oki replied..


    Dr. Sunji and Yowaya also watched closely. The monster that had been inside of the pod started to revert back to its human form after the gas was released¡ªafter <em style="box-sizing: border-box">Formula Zero had been released...


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">It looks...painful...


    Even through the glass, the four of them could hear the screams of the test subject coming from the pod. Once the operation was complete, the lights turned back on and the scientists began to scramble back inside of the lab.


    Dr. Sunji, who had still been staring at the test subject even after Yowaya, Reina, and Dr. Oki left, had thought of Harlow. To him, there was something still missing in his understanding of the <em style="box-sizing: border-box">Monsterification Reversion System. He just couldn''t figure out what it was.


    ...


    Suzune had led the way through the tunnels since Delta wasn''t there to accompany them. Surprisingly, Rikuya was rather calm given that he had been the weakest one of the three. But still, he talked a big<em style="box-sizing: border-box"> game about anything regardless.


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">I just hope I''ll be able to kill this thing and be done. It''s not like we''re going to have to face off against an entire group anyway...


    Chisaki stopped walking, and Suzune noticed. Rikuya noticed too, but only shortly after.


    "What''s wrong?" Suzune asked, pointing her flashlight at her.


    Chisaki kneeled and frowned.


    "And I thought that the smell down here was the worst thing yet¡ªwell, butter my biscuit darling because <em style="box-sizing: border-box">WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS?!" Chisaki exclaimed, picking up pieces of meat and bone that had been floating in the grey water.


    Rikuya and Suzune gagged at the sight. When Chisaki had picked up another skull, Suzune gagged some more. Chisaki smirks.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">C''mon...I know you want to give this poor soul a kiss..." Chisaki said, bringing the skull to Suzune''s face.


    Suzune stepped back and put her hands forward.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">Screw that¡ªwhy are you always such a tease?" Suzune asked.


    Chisaki dropped the skull.


    "Only around you, darling. Hey, sleepy head, what are you looking at?" Chisaki asked, staring at Rikuya. Rikuya had his back turned against them, looking down the way they had just come from.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">I feel something...more...rumblings...dammit, are we going the wrong direction?" Rikuya asked, turning to Suzune.


    Suzune checked her monsterification reading. It hadn''t changed one bit.


    "We can''t be...right?" Suzune said.


    The three of them stared at each other for a moment as they felt more tremors. Then, gradually, they all pointed their flashlights in the opposite direction down the sewer tunnels. The tremors got worse by the second. Then...


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">"MAKE WAY!" Suzune commanded, quickly leaping to the side. Rikuya and Chisaki did the same, and before they could respond to Suzune, a bunch of gray water suddenly splashed all over their suits, including fragments of bone and meat.


    Rikuya and Chisaki yelped in disgust while Rikuya stared at the objects that had rushed past them. From her perspective, they appeared to be giant centipedes.


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">The hell?!


    Wasting no time, Suzune dashed after them, not caring if Chisaki or Rikuya were following. When she caught up to the centipedes, she swung her mace down on their withering bodies, obliterating them. She smirked as their guts sprayed against the tunnel walls. She put her mace back in her strap as Chisaki and Rikuya had caught up with her, only to witness what she had done to the mysterious creatures.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">That was brutal, girl¡ªbut I would''ve gone for the head instead..." Chisaki said, examining the bodies of the monstrous centipedes.


    "These aren''t one of the monsters, are they? Because we''ve been looking and still haven''t seen a darn thing. Maybe you fought one of these bastards and¡ª" Chisaki started.


    "No, I did not. It was just a single humanoid monster, like I said..."


    "Could you be more specific? A humanoid isn''t all that clear y''know..."


    "..."


    "Why not say?" Chisaki asked, standing up.


    Delta called them, disrupting their moment. Suzune raised her arm and watched as Delta appeared as a mini-hologram.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">You guys aren''t back yet? Suzune...you texted me¡ª"


    "I know-I know-I know, it''s just..." Suzune started.


    "If you can''t find the monster then come back <em style="box-sizing: border-box">NOW. It''s been forty minutes and the other units are coming. They''re planning on entering the tunnels through one of the main lines." Delta stated.


    Suzune was a little shocked, along with Chisaki and Rikuya.


    "The main lines? That''s a terrible idea¡ªwhat if..."


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">Traps? Like monster traps? Don''t worry¡ªthere are more soldiers participating in the operation who are "supposedly" just as "capable" as us. Plus, if they''re planning on placing camouflage bombs throughout the tunnels as quickly as possible¡ªthe main lines are the way to go..." Delta said.


    Suzune thought about it for a moment.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">Isn''t the main line you''re talking about facing the ocean?" Suzune asked.


    Rikuya and Chisaki glanced down the tunnels again.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">I don''t see a problem with that. The distance isn''t crazy, and according to their personnel, they''re gathering all of the survivors to the first district. All we need now is for you three to come back so we can proceed with the mission..." Delta advised.


    Suzune nodded.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">Ok...I got that..." Suzune replied, cutting Delta''s signal off. She turned towards Rikuya and Chisaki.


    "Looks like we''re going back..." Suzune said.


    Chisaki and Rikuya grumbled.


    ...


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">ARE THERE ANY CLOTHES IN HERE?!


    Harlow thought as he casually smashed a wooden crate open, only to see a bunch of glass full of chemicals fall out and spill on the ground.


    Harlow grunted and stomped his feet. He couldn''t think of any place where he would be able to find some clothes. There were a couple of rooms near the back, and he had already checked those.


    Not knowing what to do next, Harlow maneuvered to the exit.


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">What''s that sound? It sounds like¡ªcheering...is someone or something cheering? Wait a minute¡ªdon''t tell me those things are having a fight somewhere...Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    Harlow smirked. Despite everything that he had gone through, he was bored. Besides¡ªthat Shadow guy had pissed him off by making him bleed...Harlow needed to let out some <em style="box-sizing: border-box">steam...


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">But I still need clothes...it''s not like¡ª


    "Harlow?" Kyoufu said softly, standing at the exit. Harlow was surprised he didn''t notice her earlier. He was also surprised to see her holding a dirty and roughed up T-shirt and some shorts. The wolves were also next to Kyoufu.


    "Oh...how did you find them?" Harlow asked.


    Kyoufu looked away while she handed him the clothes, her cheeks a little red. She glanced at the wolves, who seemed surprisingly glad to see Harlow.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">They found some. It was by accident while I was following them after they left me for a bit in the tunnel...so..." Kyoufu finished.


    After Harlow had put on the clothes, he patted her on the back, grinning. Kyoufu yelped as she almost tripped.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">HEY?! Don''t just do that..." Kyoufu warned.


    "What? I was just saying thank-you." Harlow shot back.


    "Just say it¡ªyou <em style="box-sizing: border-box">don''t have to hit me..." Kyoufu replied.


    "I wasn''t hitting you..."


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">YES you were..."


    "It was just a soft pat..."


    Kyoufu pressed her finger against Harlow''s chest.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">WATCH it..."


    "Nuh-uh, you watch it. How old are you anyway? Let me guess...15?" Harlow asked mockingly.


    Kyoufu pouted.


    "16..." Kyoufu said softly.


    Harlow giggled a bit.


    "Stop laughing..." Kyoufu commanded.


    "16...really? Not 15?"


    "Shut up. I bet you''re...19...." Kyoufu said slowly.


    Harlow raised his eyebrows, a little surprised.


    "Damn¡ªyou''re better than I am. Well, now that you know who''s older, you gotta listen to me...hehe..." Harlow said, stretching a bit.


    Kyoufu shed a tear.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">You were the same age as my big brother..." Kyoufu mumbled.


    Harlow put an arm over her shoulder.


    "Why don''t I become your big brother then?" Harlow asked, somewhat serious.


    Kyoufu looked up.


    "Stop messing with me." Kyoufu said.


    "Uh...I''m serious...I don''t have any family either, besides my missing grandma. I''m not losing anything from this." Harlow replied.


    Kyoufu wiped her tears and smirked.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">You''re old enough to adopt me too, dummy." Kyoufu said.


    "Huh? I am?!" Harlow replied, a little surprised.


    Kyoufu palmed her face again. Harlow felt something lick his thigh¡ªit was one of the wolves.


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">I''m surprised that they''re not scared of me...do they not remember what I did to them on the road?


    The wolves were panting from excitement. Harlow reluctantly kneeled and petted them.


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">Hmm...this is not so bad...


    Kyoufu kneeled next to him.


    "Where are we headed now?" Kyoufu asked.


    Harlow raised his eyebrows.


    "Uh...I don''t know...I guess we''ll just follow the tremors..."


    "But won''t that lead us to danger?"


    "How so?"


    "I don''t know...<em style="box-sizing: border-box">other monsters..."


    "We''ll be fine¡ªtrust." Harlow replied, putting out his hand. Kyoufu reluctantly shook it. Harlow stood up. Harlow, Kyoufu, and the wolves left the room, searching for the source of the tremors.


    ...


    Ever since the near catastrophic event that happened on the surface, which had involved the eel monster and its rampage across a small city within the district, the sentient monsters who had survived the onslaught fled to the tunnels.


    Deep inside the tunnels lies a spectacular arena. With the help of some unique monsters within the large cluster of their population during the beginning of the outbreak, they were able to create a ginormous <em style="box-sizing: border-box">fighting ground to see which monsters were the strongest.


    So far, there have been many contestants followed by many fatalities. Throughout them all, one stood victorious: Bone Crusher.


    His methods were brutal, but in his words, they were necessary to assert utter dominance against anyone who even thought about taking him down.


    Surrounding the center of the arena were the sentient monsters that were currently cheering Bone Crusher on. He smirked as he surveyed the countless number of corpses around him.


    Near the entrance of the arena two monsters appeared accompanied by wolves: Harlow and Kyoufu.


    Harlow was a little dazed as he stared at Bone Crusher who seemed to be sinking in his own pride. After taking a couple of glances at the rest of the crowd, Harlow had shrugged.


    "It''s too loud in here, and, uh...I don''t see the angelic lady anywhere..." Harlow said, frowning a bit.


    Kyoufu stepped forward.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">Then we''ll keep on searching...wait...hold on a minute..." Kyoufu started.


    She kneeled in front of the wolves and caressed the side of one of their faces. He closed her eyes, trying to tap into the memories of the wolf without indirectly harming it. However, no matter how much she tried, she couldn''t seem to do it.


    She guessed that maybe this was another consequence for overusing her powers.


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">It should be easy¡ªbut, I''m struggling just to see a clear image, it''s no use...Kyoufu thought, standing up while she opened her eyes.


    "Got anything that could help?" Harlow asked, glancing at Kyoufu.


    "No..." Kyoufu said slowly. In response, Harlow leaned against the wall.


    "This is such a drag¡ªI really don''t want to search this entire¡ª<em style="box-sizing: border-box">stadium, or whatever this is, ugh...my head already hurts just from being here." Harlow said, a little grumpy.


    Kyoufu had also leaned against the wall.


    "Same." Kyoufu replied.


    Harlow continued to stare at the center of the arena, curious as to how strong this <em style="box-sizing: border-box">Bone Crusher guy really was. Then, from the corner of his eye, he saw a familiar figure ascend the steps that lead into the arena.


    Harlow couldn''t believe it. No¡ªit might''ve even been a mere coincidence. The same bulky one-eyed cyclops monster that he had once <em style="box-sizing: border-box">roleplayed with back at the detention center was now a contestant against Bone Crusher. Harlow smirked.


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">Now THIS is something I have to stay and see...Harlow thought, getting a little excited. Kyoufu noticed Harlow''s change in demeanor and was a little confused.


    "What? Did you find her?" Kyoufu asked, her eyes lighting up a bit.


    "Huh? Oh, no, but I found someone that I had role-played with once." Harlow replied.


    "Role-played?"


    "Yea, you see, I was <em style="box-sizing: border-box">so bored at the detention center that I used to role-play as Knight Blackburne from Gods Don''t Bleed. But, after everything went south, that all changed when I finally met someone who was able to role-play with me as a monster. I mean, the guy''s pretty strong in my opinion, but of course, since I''m Knight Blackburne, he pales in comparison." Harlow explained, his smirk widening.


    Kyoufu slapped him across the face.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">HEY?!" Harlow yelped.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">That''s for hitting me back then, and also, you''re crazy¡ªI mean, the manga is great and all, but didn''t people <em style="box-sizing: border-box">die at the detention center? You didn''t...I don''t know...help them? Wait...don''t tell me you were reading manga while those inmates were killed..." Kyoufu started, leaning in close to Harlow.


    Harlow gulped.


    "Uh...I was asleep...oops..." Harlow replied.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">EVEN WORSE." Kyoufu shot back.


    "But didn''t you kill everyone in the mall?"


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">That''s different...I wasn''t aware of anything during that event...but you have no trouble handling your powers while I''m over here struggling..." Kyoufu replied. She pouted.


    "Aww...are you jealous?" Harlow asked.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">No...I''m envious, dummy." Kyoufu replied, still pouting.


    Harlow patted her head, but this time, Kyoufu didn''t bother to push him away.


    "There-there, it''s okay to be jea¡ªI mean envious.." Harlow said, treating her like a pet. The wolves licked Harlow and Kyoufu''s legs, trying to get their attention.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">Shut-up..." Kyoufu said to Harlow.


    The wolves continued to bug Harlow and Kyoufu until they finally caught their attention. Standing in front of them were two bulky monsters with sharp claws and tentacles on their back.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">Are you two looking for a seat?" They asked.


    "Actually we were just looking for a woman wearing a blue robe...y''know, the one that looks like a human...like¡ªus?" Kyoufu explained, trying to be careful with her words.


    The monsters leaned in and sniffed them. The wolves moved back.


    "You mean the Tamer for the Mother? W-why are those wolves here? Are you¡ªno...no-no, <em style="box-sizing: border-box">no one is allowed to take the babies from the Mother¡ªthat is the grand rule in these tunnels...return them immediately or you will cause trouble for all of us..." The monster said.


    "But¡ªthey left their mother and followed me on their own..." Kyoufu started, stuttering a bit.


    The monster clenched his fists.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">I won''t repeat myself¡ª" He said.


    Harlow casually put an arm around him, trying to get his attention away from Kyoufu.


    "Why does everyone have beef with each other? Just let us be and we''ll return the wolves¡ªno need to get grumpy about it..." Harlow said.


    The other monster watched carefully, including Kyoufu.


    "Did I ask you to put your hands on me?" The monster replied.


    Before the tension could escalate any further, the speaker had made an announcement.


    <strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold">SPEAKER: <em style="box-sizing: border-box">Ladies and gentlemen, creatures of all shapes and sizes, welcome to the fight of the century! Tonight, under the roaring lights of the Colosseum of Carnage, we have a battle that promises to shake the very foundations of this arena!


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">In the red corner, standing at a towering 12 feet, with a jaw that could snap steel and fists that have ended more careers than retirement¡ªit''s the pulverizer, the destroyer, the breaker of bones, your undefeated champion... BONE CRUSHER!


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">And in the blue corner, the wall of flesh and fury, a monster who has taken beatings that would fell a mountain and still comes back for more. A single eye, but a thousand strategies¡ªgive it up for the titan... THE CYCLOPS BRAWLER!


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">Will Bone Crusher''s unmatched strength prove too much for even The Cyclops Brawler''s legendary durability? Or will the unbreakable withstand the unstoppable? There''s only one way to find out¡ªlet the carnage begin!


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">Monsters ready? Let''s get... UNLEASHED!


    Unable to contain his excitement any longer, Harlow casually moved off the monster and sprinted towards the arena to get a better view. He had easily managed to brush past the monsters in the crowd until he was at the edge of the arena.


    His eyes sparkled as he watched The Cyclops Brawler get ready for the battle.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">HEY!!! BUDDY!!! REMEMBER ME?! WHAT''S UP BRO!!! LONG TIME NO SEE! JUST LETTING YOU KNOW THAT I''M CHEERING FOR YOU!" Harlow exclaimed.


    The Cyclops Brawler slowly turned around, his one eye twitching at the sound of Harlow''s voice.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">NO...YOU''RE THE KID THAT BROKE MY DAMN JAW?! WHEN I''M DONE WITH BONE CRUSHER, I''LL MADE SURE TO RIP YOUR LIMBS OFF SLOWLY SO YOU CAN FEEL EVERY OUNCE OF PAIN IMAGINABLE!!!" The Cyclops Brawler shot back.


    Harlow shrugged.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">Sounds great bro! Just make sure to win this match!"


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">DON''T CALL ME BRO YOU RETARD¡ª" The Cyclops Brawler started, but his attention was brought back to the Bone Crusher as he watched him yawn.


    Harlow clapped his hands, and just like that, the match started.


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">This will be a piece of cake for him¡ªhe''s definitely strong, hehehe...but seriously, role-playing with him again wouldn''t be so bad, would it? Nah, I don''t think so.


    The audience roared: "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">BONE CRUSHER¡ªBONE CRUSHER¡ªBONE CRUSHER¡ªBONE CRUSHER¡ª"


    Harlow frowned.


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">Shut up you dweebs.


    In the center of the arena, The Cyclops Brawler got in a stance, ready to have the brawl of his life. Bone Crusher, however, raised his hand and absorbed all of the bones from the corpses that had been pushed aside in the arena.


    Everyone was surprised, as they had never seen Bone Crusher do this before. Even Harlow was a little intrigued. So intrigued that he had forgotten about Kyoufu and the others further in the back.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">DON''T LET HIM GET TO YOU MAN!" Harlow shouted.


    The Cyclops Brawler raised his eyebrows as he watched Bone Crusher accumulate all the bones he collected into one massive bone club.


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">Wow...so he really is "Bone" Crusher. Ha, what a silly thing.


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">HEY BRO¡ªmake to¡ª"


    "<em style="box-sizing: border-box">SHUT UP SO I CAN CONCENTRATE!!!" The Cyclops Brawler spat back. As soon as he turned his attention back to Bone Crusher, it was already too late.


    Bone Crusher smashed his <em style="box-sizing: border-box">club on The Cyclops Brawler''s body so hard that it split the entire arena in half and shook the tunnels.


    Harlow gasped, his mouth agape.


    <em style="box-sizing: border-box">B-bro?