《Mostro Exorcist》


 Chapter 1: Prologue

    Panting and huffing, the two young men in their early 20s entered a shadowy, narrow alleyway. Their bulging eyes swept across the dark surroundings, desperately searching for escape.


    "H-help!"


    "Please help us!"


    Their voices resonated across the alleyway as they ran aimlessly. But just as bad luck struck, the two ended up in a hard concrete wall.


    "Sh*t, we ended up in a dead end." The tall and lean one glanced at the wall, nervously sweating.


    "There''s no way I''m going to die here; there''s no way," the lanky one said, erratically moving back and forth.


    "Hold on, can you please shut your mouth for a sec?"


    "Shut my mouth? How could I shut my mouth in this situation?"


    "Ah, just do what I say, ok?"


    For a brief moment, the two quietly listen to the surroundings.


    "It seems like the mostro had left."This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    "Yeah, I think so."


    "Pfft, what a relief. I really thought we were going to die..."


    Snap! Splat. The tall guy quivered in fear, his eyes bulging as he witnessed the lanky guy fall, his head to the ground with his blood raining on him. "Rondey?" his voice barely made it out of his mouth.


    "K-Koa, did I die already?"


    Behind Rondey''s body reveals a towering humanoid creature that looks like a panther. Its eyes are as red as blood, and its saliva is dripping in its huge maw full of sharp teeth.


    "M-mostro," Koa murmured.


    Without any hesitation, the mostro grabbed Rodney''s body before loudly gnawing him with its huge maw. The crunching sound of bones and flesh was ground by the mostro''s white pointed teeth. In less than a minute, the mostro gulped as it completely devoured Rondey''s body.


    Koa''s complexion turned pale as he watched the mostro moving closer and closer to him.


    "You''re next." A deep and raucous voice comes from the mostro as he then grabs Koa''s neck, lifting him closer to its maw.


    Emerging from this maw is a long sticky tongue that resembles that of a frog moving like a snake toward Koa''s face. Sensing his imminent end, Koa shut his eyes. Only to be touched by a sickening sensation in his ears. Puzzled by what was happening, he gradually opened his eyes, and he furrowed at what he saw. The mostro''s tongue licks his ears, releasing its parasitic-like saliva that travels down to his ear.


    What follows next is an ear-splitting scream from Koa. Beginning from his head, his veins turned red gradually, traveling down to his body.


    Pleased as it smirked watching Koa grit his teeth in suffering in excruciating pain. The mostro tossed Koa''s body before it disappeared into thin air. Leaving Koa lying on the ground writhing in pain. "Argggh!"

 Chapter 2

    Beep! Beep! Beep! The black digital clock on top of the wooden cabinet beside his bed resonates throughout the room.


    Awoken by the alarm, Koa sat up, touching his head. "Argh, that dream again." He rose from the bed and made his way out of the room.


    While strolling straight to the bathroom, his eyes still look drowsy.


    Once there, he took his toothbrush and applied a blue paste all the way to the end of the brush. He brushes his teeth in a manner that looks like he is deprived of energy while looking at the mirror above the sink.


    After he finishes, he rinses his face with white body soap and tap water, which exits from the dripping faucet. Once done, he wipes his soaked face with a white towel hanging next to the mirror.


    Just as he exited the bathroom, a late sixties woman was making her way towards him.


    "Oh, Koa, it''s already 8; aren''t you supposed to have a class at 7:30?"


    "It''s only 8 o''clock, Grandma; nothing to worry about. I still have plenty of time, as long as it is not 7," Koa said, shrugging off his grandma''s concern.


    "Is it?" His grandma pursed her lips, her brow furrowed.


    With sudden realization, his eyes widened. "Sh*t! I''m late," he then speedily runs toward his room.


    "Tsk, tsk," her grandma shakes her head, looking at him. "That''s what you get for staying up late reading... What was that game again you read? Mango or web bovel"


    "It''s manga and web novel, not mango or web bovel. I already corrected you many times, Grandma," his voice resonates outside his room.


    "Umm... manga, manga, whatever, just hurry up so your dean won''t scold you again."


    "Fine, fine." Koa exited his room; he was dressed in a white, creased tank top, unironed black pants, and sky-blue long sleeves dangling over his shoulder.


    "Hold on, hold on, don''t tell me you''re going to come to work dressed like that. You don''t even have a sock on your left foot," his grandma said, crossing her arms and staring at his left foot.


    "Of course, I''m late already," Koa said, frowning at his grandma.


    "And where is your bag?" his grandma continued.


    "F*ck, I even forgot that thing."


    All his grandma could do was facepalm as she watched her grandson heading back to his room.


    ***


    Emerging from the bus''s automatic door, Koa speeds his way toward the ten-story vintage university building. On top of the university doors, a text is inscribed: "Tuna Island University."


    The university lobby is filled with different sorts of noise, from muffled footsteps to howling conversations from the students and faculty members.


    The lobby is broad. There is a long information desk next to the entrance, with staff answering the inquiries of both students and faculty. Across the hall, there is a bulletin board lining the wall, plastered with flyers advertising school activities. Several food stalls sell street foods and coffee. Finally, there is a modern and sleek escalator that has two sets for climbing up and down, allowing the steady flow of students and faculty up and down.


    In one of the several stalls, two middle-aged men sat on a bench next to each other sipping a cup of coffee.


    "Dray, I heard yesterday that the newly promoted professor from our college was scolded by our dean."


    "Who''s that, Greg?" Dray asked before sipping a cup of coffee.


    "Koa Fuegon"


    Dray raised his brows, glancing at Greg. "Oh, that lanky guy with blue eyes."


    "Yes, he is; he was late on the first day of his job as a professor."


    "What a shame; younger people these days lack manners."


    "Oh, speaking of which, he''s here." Greg shifted his stare at Koa, smirking.


    ¡°Good morning, sir.¡±Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ¡°Good morning.¡±


    ¡°Professor Fuegon, sir, good morning!¡±


    ¡°Good morning.¡±


    Each student Koa passed by lowered their head as they enthusiastically greeted him. While quickening his way out of the lobby, a familiar face appeared before him.


    "Oh, Dr. Hekkell, good morning." Koa dips his head slightly at the approaching man in his mid-60s wearing glasses.


    "What''s this, Professor Fuegon? You''re late again!" Hekkell said, frowning.


    "Sorry sir, the... the bus I ride was stuck in traffic." Koa averted his gaze.


    "Traffic? Isn''t it the same reason you said yesterday?" Hekkell''s voice rose a bit.


    Students passing and even faculty around glance toward Koa.


    "Dray, look how pitiful he is," Greg chuckles, looking at Koa.


    "Shh, lower your tone; Dr. Hekkell might hear us."


    "Don''t worry, Dray, I don''t think they might have heard us." Greg wipes his lips with a tissue.


    "If it happens to you late again tomorrow, I will personally report you to HR." Old man Hekkell''s frown deepened.


    "Go...got it, sir. I promised I wouldn''t be late again tomorrow, sir." Koa bit his lips.


    "You can go to your class now," Hekkell said before heading straight to the entrance.


    "Thank you, sir." Sh*t, that was embarrassing. Koa straightened himself.


    "Hey, Professor Fuegon, it seems like you started your day getting scolded by Dr. Hekkell. If you continue doing that, a day will come, and students will look down on us because of you." A smirk played on Greg''s lips as he raised his eyebrows.


    "What wonderful advice... given by an assistant professor to his superior. Thanks, Greg," Koa sneered as he passed near Greg.


    Greg, with a bitter smile, crushed the paper cup. "He''s been here for around a year, but he acts like he''s so ahead of us who''ve been here for nearly a decade." He throws his cup in a nearby trash.


    ***


    Koa stood before a long whiteboard, clutching a marker with one hand, pointing at the projector screen with the other, and holding a microphone with the other. His gaze shifted back and forth between the screen and the fresh faces of his undergrad students sitting in a wooden armchair, staring at him.


    The lecture hall is quite spacious, able to hold 70 or more students. Plenty enough to have empty spaces on either side of the student''s seated area that stretches till the end of the room.


    "Are there any questions?" His eyes swept across the array of distinct faces of his students, with lips pursed and gazes averted, silently pleading for the bell to ring.


    "Since none of you got any questions..." He took a glance at his wrist. "I think I''m going to let you leave early today, class."


    With these words from Koa, the drained looks from his students disappeared. Becoming livelier again as they quickly placed their bags on either their backs or shoulders.


    "As expected from you guys," he smiles. "Anyways, see you tomorrow, guys, and don''t forget about your assignment," he said. He then turns and rubs out the words written on the whiteboard.


    Hearing this, the student rose from their seat, chatting quietly amongst themselves as they ambled their way out of the wooden door.


    Koa took his phone out of his pocket, swiping and scrolling.


    My next class is at 10:30. His brow raised. I have time to grab some sandwiches at the canteen.


    While heading to his table, Koa abruptly fell to his knees.


    "Professor Fuegon, are you alright?" A female student who was on her way out asked.


    "Yes, I''m alright." Koa quickly gets on his feet, unsteady while clutching at the desk.


    "Are you sure? If you want, sir, we can accompany you to the clinic."


    "No, no, you don''t need to. I just, ah, I didn''t have a coffee this morning; that''s why," Koa explained.


    The female student then casually walks out of the room.


    Koa clenched his teeth, his left hand clutching his forehead, seated before a desk. "It seems like something ominous is about to come."


    After spending a few minutes of his time sitting, Koa stood. Still clutching his head, preparing to make his way out of the room.


    Ding! Koa took his phone out.


    "An emergency alert from the university," he whispered, gazing at his phone.


    With a few taps and scrolls, his eyes widened. "It''s an emergency evacuation," he said before hurriedly moving out of the room. But just as he exited the door, he met a group of students. They run aimlessly with their eyes etched in fear.


    "What''s going on?" His brow furrowed while asking.


    "The...the mostro...the mostro just appeared in the lobby," a male student responded, quivering in fear.


    "What?" Koa''s voice rose slightly.


    ***


    Mostro, a monstrous creature, first appeared way back seventy years ago. At first, people thought it was an entity from outer space. But then came a disease called "Manaflux.". Those who get infected suffer excruciating pain in their vein. Within just a couple of hours, the infected person mutates uncontrollably. Transforming into a grotesque and terrifying mostro. These mostros were labeled by the public as "Mostro"


    When news came to the government, they tried to belittle it. Saying it was a hoax, but in actuality, they are in panic mode, trying to cover it up for the public. However, the disease quickly spread, and then it became mainstream. The mostro not only consumes humans but also infects them. To combat this, the government strictly implemented a lockdown in the areas where this disease appeared. Alongside the military, who battles against these mostros.


    But then came what the government feared: the military gets overpowered pretty easily. Despite being armed with the latest technologies. A decision then came to use nuclear weapons as a last resort when the disease reached pandemic status. People all over the world are in panic and chaos here and there. Fake news spreading across the internet worsens the situation.


    While this was all happening, out of the blue, a group of mysterious elite people appeared. Armed with magical power and a blade, they swiftly restore the balance and peace within the world. These individuals were later called "exorcists."

 Chapter 3

    Students and the faculty scramble, running towards the escalator. With their eyes bulging in terror and mouths gaping for help. Regardless of where they end up, they only have one thought: to escape. With some tripping over each other or getting pushed by the others in haste. Their fate has already been sealed.


    Snatched one by one by numerous long four-finger sharp claws and lifted up in the air by an entity floating like an umbrella. With its maw having two sharp fangs, it bites and sucks up the blood of the victim. Rendering them unconscious before tossing the body to the ground. With blood still splashing, it landed on the floor of the lobby, joining a column of the other victims, including the school guards.


    This pack of entities resembles the head and body of a wolf. The wide wings and claws of a bat, and with a glaring eye as red as blood¡ªthe Batfang.


    "I don''t want to die; I don''t want to die."


    Swish! "Aggh! Get off me! Get off me!" The female student wriggles from the tight claws of the Batfang clutching her.


    "Gwarr!" The Batfang''s screeching growl at the girl. Splashing its sticky on the woman''s face as it moves the woman closer to its gaping maw.


    Swoosh! "Gwaah!" In an instant, an orange energy slash split the Batfang''s body in half, losing its grip on the girl.


    The girl shuts her eyes, her mouth gaping as she screams, echoing across the lobby.


    "Aggh!" Ha? Wait, what''s going on? Did I die already? Out of curiosity, the girl opened her eyes.


    What''s this? An arm... an arm of. Her eyes swept across the person carrying her. A woman?


    A slender, red-headed woman with blue eyes and pale skin. She rode in a floating silver Stingray made of fluid.


    "Y-you''re an exorcist, right?" The girl asked, glancing at the red-headed woman clad in an all-white uniform except for the black boots. From a long white trench coat to white a trouser. A sheathed katana was wrapped around her waist.


    The red-headed woman simply smiles as she lets the girl stand upon their landing on the third floor. Shen then rode back to the stingray and swiftly floated away.


    "By the way, thank...? She already disappeared." The girl''s eyes scanned around.


    "Haah! Flare Hack!" A wide L-shaped orange energy slash erupted from the blonde man''s longsword. Swoosh! "Gwaah!" A deafening cry from several Batfangs after getting hit by the slash resulted in their bodies being ripped. Swish! Another group of Batfangs gets sliced in half.


    "Hey! Kelby, what took you so long?" The blonde man asked. His appearance and dress closely resemble the red-headed woman.


    "I brought the girl to a much safer place, that''s why," the red-headed woman replied. She swings her sword against the Batfang she passed. Who huffs and is soaked with sweat after being surrounded by tiny silver bubbles and getting warmed by steam.


    "Safer place? Don''t tell me you escorted her to the police station?" The blonde man continued. Swoosh! "Gwaah!"


    "Just do your job, Oz, and stop whining like a kid; you''re just fighting a weakling Batfang," Kelby said, furrowing her brow.


    Swish! "What did you say?" Oz narrowed his gaze at Kelby.


    "Here we go again." Kelby rolled her eyes before striking the Batfang next to her.


    ***


    With the sun centering the sky, students and the faculty hurriedly exited the university emergency door. Gasping and covered with sweat, they desperately hail their arms for the buses and taxis passing by.


    "Agh!" Dray plunges to the ground after being shoved by none other than Greg, his friend. Who hurriedly joins the scrambling passenger of the already packed bus? "Greg! What the heck?"


    "Sorry, but I want to make it here alive," Greg said.


    Dray hastily stood, clenching his teeth, watching his friend leave riding in a bus.


    Thud! Screech! The bus halted more than a meter away from a towering, terrifying creature standing in the middle of the road. With huge wings capable of enveloping an entire car. Even with the three-fingered sharp claws, a raven-hardened body and muscular physique are evident. A gaping, drooling, huge, wolf-like maw filled with sharp teeth. Bat-like ears, twitching on top of a hairless head. Bulging, bloodshot eyes glared at the passengers.


    "Gwaar, where do you think you all are going?" A snarling voice came from the towering mostro.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    "D-did that m-mostro mutate? I''ve never seen anything like that before." The boy next to Greg whispered; his voice was barely made out of his mouth.


    Koa and Dr. Hekell had just left the emergency door when they came across the current situation.


    "What in the world is going on here? Another mostro had just appeared." Dr. Hekell clenched his teeth. He''s staring at the towering mostro who is slowly making its way toward the bus.


    What''s with this feeling I have right now? Koa pursed his lips, glancing at his right hand. It''s the same heaviness I felt way back a few years ago.


    Honk! Honk! Honk!


    "Is that all you can do, honking?"


    "Instead of honking, why not just drive the bus already?"


    "Yeah, if you let that mostro get here, we''re all going to die."


    The angry passengers complained, furrowing their brows, trembling in fear.


    "You all shut up! Get out of my bus!" the driver exclaimed, narrowing his gaze at the complaining passengers. "Did you hear me? I said..."


    The passengers froze, and their expressions were bewildered.


    "I-in front of you!"


    "Ha?"


    Crash! The lamented glass shatters and gets smashed by the mostro''s stabbing claws. Pieces of the shattered glass were sent flying towards the driver.


    "Argh... ha? Aggh!" Mostro''s large hands tightly gripped the driver''s torso as it dragged it out of the bus like a toy.


    "You''re going to be my first meal." The mostro moved the driver closer to its maw before devouring it in one go. Burp!


    Dammit, if only this hadn''t happened here at school, I should have been able to do something. Koa clenched his teeth.


    "Dude, there''s nothing to worry about anymore; we''re here," Oz said, patting his hand on Koa''s shoulder.


    The exorcist. Koa glanced at Oz and the tailing Kelby.


    "Thank God, the exorcist has arrived." Dr. Hekkell smiles, beaming with hope.


    "I advised you two to stay back here until we take down that mostro" Kelby noted, shifting her gaze at Koa.


    "Hey, Kelby, what are you waiting for? Let''s go, don''t just stand there staring at, hey dude what''s your..." Before Oz could even finish his sentence, he was kicked by the flustering Kelby, who quickly dashed toward the mostro.


    "Koa, Koa Fuegon is his name," Dr. Hekkell replied, grinning.


    Those bastard exorcists. Koa stared at the leaving exorcists.


    After rupturing the roof of the bus, the mostro throws away the roof like it was just paper to him. It then plunges its right arm inside the bus, trying to reach the passengers.


    "Agggh!" The passengers bulged their eyes and clung to each other in fear.


    "Flare Hack!" Oz swings his blade, projecting an L-shaped orange energy slash toward the mostro. Swish! The mostro''s right ear fell off the bus, splashing blood on the gaping wound.


    "Agggh, I let my guard down to this weakling exorcist." The mostro''s groan soared up in the air.


    "Don''t forget about me, Silver Vapor!" Riding in a huge silver stingray, Kelby summons another stingray, which erupts from her blade and quickly flies up the mostro. Upon getting closer, the stingray opens its mouth. Releasing a bubbly, swirling silver steam around the mostro.


    "Sigh, sigh, what''s this?" The mostro gasped, sweating heavily.


    Watching the mostro getting exhausted, Kelby smirks. "This is my power, the ability to summon steam in the form of a stingray." She sheathed back her blade. "With this, the water inside your body will slowly get evaporated till you die of dehydration."


    A taunting smirk suddenly carved on the mostro''s ghastly face. "Hahaha, do you think you''ll be able to weaken me with that kind of power?" A sticky, damp flesh rapidly regrows from the mostro''s gaping wound on the side of its head.


    "I''ve never seen any mostro rapidly regenerate like that," Oz said, raising his brows. "It is a Batking after all,"


    "I don''t care whether that mostro regenerates faster or not as long as I get to kill it." Kelby charges forward riding in a stingray. Unsheathing her blade before exclaiming a couple of words. "Silver Fever!"


    "Hey, Kelby, wait, you haven''t mastered that technique yet!" Oz voiced his concern.


    A fever of tiny silver stingrays made of liquid arises from the tip of Kelby''s blade. They quickly move towards the Batking. But upon contact with the mostro''s hardened skin, the stingrays dissipate into nothing.


    "Hahaha, what a disappointment. I really have a high hope for that attack." The Batking guffaws at the frowning Kelby. "Now it''s my turn to show what I''m capable of."


    "What the?" Swish! Bam! In a blink, Kelby was sent flying a few meters away after getting hit by a powerful blow in her torso.


    "Kelby!" Oz exclaimed. "You, bastard Batking! Flare Hack!" he raised his blade before projecting a large L-shaped orange energy slash up. Swoosh! Traveling at high speed, the energy slash collides with the mostro''s large wings, covering him before bursting. Boom!


    "Sigh, sigh, sigh." Did it work? Regardless, I should head towards Kelby now. Oz immediately dashes his way toward the lying Kelby, down the road.


    Zzzt! A swirling and arcing of violet bolts of electricity emerges from the palms of the Batking, who remains unscathed despite the explosion. The bolt swiftly plunges in the direction of the running Oz.


    "Argggggh!" A roaring agony from Oz as he fell to his knees, quivering from the bolts of electricity cloaking his body.


    Landing next to the lying Oz, the Batking seized Oz''s neck, lifting him in the air. "What a waste of my time." His three-finger claw tightens, choking Oz. "If you two had let me have my meal, this wouldn''t have happened to both of you."


    A few meters away from the Batking and Oz''s position, Kelby clenched her teeth with blood pouring out of her mouth. Frowning, she stabbed her blade into the ground as she got to her feet.


    Hopeless, she pointed her blade at the Batking. "S-silver... aggggh!" she held her hand on her abdomen.


    Hearing this, the Batking tossed Oz to the ground like he was a toy. It then casually heads its way toward Kelby''s direction, in a scornful expression.

 Chapter 4

    Sh*t, we''re doomed here. Kelby''s frown deepened.


    Swish! Bam! In a matter of a few seconds, the Batking is sent flying across the street.


    "Am I seeing it right?"


    "This is impossible."


    "A-another mostro just appeared."


    "If I¡¯m not mistaken that¡¯s..."


    The passengers of the bus were puzzled at the mostro standing next to Oz.


    A fearsome, towering creature with hardened crimson skin and golden, pointy claws. A gleaming golden eye and long white hair on top of the head. Finally, a golden beak-like mask wrapped around its mouth. "Raaar!"


    "It seems like something is odd with this mostro, don''t you think? Koa?" Dr. Hekkell asked, glancing to his side. "Koa? Koa?" His brows furrowed, scanning around, looking for Koa. "Where the heck did that kid go? He was here a long time ago," he murmured.


    "Agggh, I let my guard down once again." The Batking held its hand on its head. "Oh, look who is here," smirking as it glanced toward the crimson mostro.


    "CrimsonBeak?" Oz whispered, lying on the ground, barely able to stand.


    "Raaar!" A screeching roar by the CrimsonBeak, clutching its head as it fidgets.


    ***


    Breaking News! A mostro killed a fellow mostro. Mostro outbreak occurred at Tuna Island port, taking the lives of 4, including the exorcist who responded to the incident. But in a shocking turn of events, a crimson mostro saves the day, slaughtering all mostro who attack the port. Dubbed by the people as "CrimsonBeak.".


    Tuna Times Headline: For the second time, the CrimsonBeak mostro saves the day.


    Top Trending Today:


    #CrimsonBeaksavestheday


    59K posts


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    Whether it is in the form of traditional media or social media, the name of the crimson mostro has been at the top of the stories. Even in the streets, people talk about it.


    "Have you heard about the rumors?"


    "Rumors about what?"


    "The CrimsonBeak saves the pregnant lady from being attacked by a mostro"


    "Yeah, I heard. There''s even a rumor that he''s not a real mostro but a mostro killing machine."


    "Really? If that''s true, then the exorcist is no use."


    As the news about the heroism of CrimsonBeak quickly spread, so did the rumors of its violent side also spread even faster, like wildfire.


    Breaking News! CrimsonBeak had killed an exorcist. A video circulating about the CrimsonBeak had been going viral over the internet.


    Top Trending Today:


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    "I really thought CrimsoBeak was a hero, but he is not."


    "Yeah, me too, after that incident where he goes berserk and causes the train in the subway to collapse, killing a few people."


    "I guess it is a mostro after all.


    ***


    The Batking swiftly flew towards the unaware CrimsonBeak. Upon getting closer, Batking seized its neck and flew up into the sky. Once they are up there, Batking forcefully slams CrimsonBeak toward the nearby skyscraper.


    Thud! CrimsonBeak landed on the eleventh floor of the building. The glass crackles, sending fragments of it toward the occupied office workers.


    "Agh! A mostro"


    "Everybody run!"


    "Agh!"


    A sickening scream from the office workers scrambling towards the door.


    "Arggh," CrimsonBeak brushed off the fragments of broken glass on his body. It then rose from the wrecked desk and computers. But just as it did that, Batking appeared next to him. It grabbed CrimsonBeak''s head with one hand before dragging it out of the building. Once outside, Batking slammed CrimsonBeak to the ground. Bam!If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Batking then followed CrimsonBeak, who landed in the middle of the road. Its body is full of bruises and is lying in a mini crater created by the heavy impact.


    As soon as Batking''s feet touched the ground, it casually seized CrimsonBeak''s neck. Lifting CrimsonBeak in the air. "You''re such a waste of my time, CrimsonBeak, just like those weakling exorcists."


    Batking draws its palm closer to CrimsonBeak, but as he does that, CrimsonBeak grabs its hand. Slowly pushing it away before violently rupturing its hand.


    "Argh!" Batking immediately pulled its hand away from CrimsonBeak. Causing Batking to lose his grip on CrimsonBeak''s neck.


    "You b*stard" Batking clenches its fist, throwing a heavy blow.


    CrimsonBeak catches the punch, landing a blow on Batking''s abdomen, with blood pouring out of its maw. "Gwaah" CrimsonBeak followed its attack right away by throwing a left hook at Batking''s forehead. This sends him a few meters away.


    ***


    While holding her abdomen, Kelby clenched her teeth. Her weary body struggled to support the weight of her sibling Oz, whose eyelids were droopy in exhaustion. Together they stumble on a roofless bus with several passengers in it.


    "Is there anyone of you who would let me borrow their phone?" she asked.


    Greg immediately pulled out his phone from his pocket and handed it over to Kelby.


    "Hello"


    "It''s Kelby; we''re requesting support."


    "Can I get your location, please?"


    "We are currently at the rear of Tuna Island University, specifically in the middle of the road."


    "Ok, please stand by; the support team will arrive shortly after."


    "Click"


    "Here''s your phone, thanks."


    "You don''t have to; I got plenty of those," Greg said, grinning. "Besides, I''m happy to give something to someone who risked their life fighting against mostro"


    Kelby furrowed her brow, gazing at Greg. "Ha? I did not ask for a phone because I don''t have one; I just want to contact the Association for support."


    "No, no, I insist you take it," Greg continued.


    "Sorry, but as an exorcist, we are not allowed to accept things from the civilians." Kelby handed the phone to Greg.


    ***


    Batking spits blood out of its maw as it rises from the wrecked concrete wall. Its torso and arms are full of bruises. It flew straight, with its arm reaching forward in a snatching motion. "You, CrimsonBeak, you are seriously making me angry, Gwaar!"


    On the opposite side, CrimsonBeak charges forward. With its heavy footsteps, the ground quivers slightly as he passes. Its face has an etching diagonal mark of pointy claws.


    Upon meeting, Batking hovers past CrimsonBeak, evading the swinging claws. Batking then turned and came back to snatch CrimsonBeak on the shoulder. But CrimsonBeak outstretched its sharp claws and grabbed him before slamming him hard into the ground. Thud!


    CrimsonBeak leaps at the lying Batking, raking its claws at its back multiple times. After that, he walks at Batking''s broad wings, pulling them with full force. Ripping the wings from the body. What follows next is a burst of darkened blood and an ear-splitting sound of agony. "Gwaah!"


    Swoosh! CrimsonBeak leaps to his side, narrowly dodging a surge of wave-like azure energy that blasted past him.


    CrimsonBeak''s gaze narrowed as he stared at the approaching figures clad in white. His fist was also clenched.


    "Too bad it missed." A voice came from an orange-haired man sheathing his gladius back, his name is Bruno.


    "Hitting two birds with one stone, what an opportunity!" Matt seconded. A lanky guy wielding a rapier.


    Alongside these two are the three other men on their rear. Wielding distinctive sheathed blades wrapped around their waist.


    Zzzt! CrimsonBeak suddenly quivers in pain as an arcing of violet bolts of electricity envelopes his body. "R-ah-ah!" He then falls off the ground, revealing Batking, whose arm is stretched, palm facing as the bolts of electricity vanish from it.


    A damp, sticky flesh rapidly emerges from Batking''s back, recreating the already ripped wings. He flapped its wings a couple of times, splashing its sticky liquid across.


    One by one, the five exorcists unsheathed their distinctive blades.


    "Sorry, I have no time to deal with you," Batking said, his wings flapping, hovering above the ground. "What the...?"


    Glancing down at his legs, he spotted a couple of hands clutching his feet, slowly pulling him down. "CrimsonBeak?" His brow furrowed.


    With his muscles tight, CrimsonBeak forcefully slams Batking to the ground. Thud!


    "Hold on."


    "Why not?"


    "Let them fight for now, and once they''re both exhausted, we''ll strike them both."


    Bruno made a halting gesture to his comrades.


    Batking stood, baring his teeth. His wings flutter, rushing forward in a snatching motion. "You''re quite troublesome, CrimsonBeak, but this time I won''t..."


    CrimsonBeak quickly leaps forward, grabbing Batking''s arm and pinning him down. Clenching his fist, he throws a heavy blow at Batking''s forehead. With its stabbing beak, he pierces Batking''s neck, sucking his blood. This erupts a raucous scream that echoes across the area.


    "This is bad; he''s drinking Batking''s blood," Matt said, furrowing his brow.


    "Everyone, let''s attack," Bruno instructed, glancing at his comrades.


    Together the five exorcists yell a distinctive word simultaneously to their blade.


    "Thousand Dispatchers of Death," Matt raises his rapier before a murder of crows arises from the blade''s tip.


    "Roaring Azul Slash!" A wave-like azure energy erupted from the gladius blade wielded by Bruno.


    "Flaming Torch!" Yellow flame engulfs the katana of a long-haired exorcist.


    "Gravel Maw!" A bearded exorcist inscribed his saber in the air. Drawing a line that materializes a huge maw-like gravel before him.


    "Insecta Knight!" The eye-patched exorcist stabs its katana on the ground. The ground quivers, dirt, and rocks arise alongside a humanoid mantis clutching a dual saber.


    "Raar!" CrimsonBeak growls, stepping away from Batking''s body.


    Lifeless, Batking lay on the ground with its huge maw gapes. His eyes were as wide as they had ever been. And a darkened gash on his neck marked by CrimsonBeak''s victory over him. Suddenly his fearsome-looking appearance slowly transformed into an average mid-60s man. Dress in white tacked-in long sleeves and black pants.


    Fwoosh! The combined attack lunges toward CrimsonBeak, who goes berserk after drinking Batking''s blood. Upon collision, the air rumbles, creating white smoke, a mixture of dirt, brick, and feathers.


    As the blast dimmed, the five pairs of eyes narrowed, tracking anything that came in. Their hands tightly gripped their blade, and their posture was in the attacking position, showing their alertness for the imminent retaliation from CrimsonBeak.


    Thump, thump, thump. The sound of footsteps is coming from the fading blast.


    "Guys, don''t let your guard down; he''s coming out," Bruno noted, his voice resonating slightly.


    Swoosh... Swoosh... Swoosh... A sudden swirling vortex of red-white energy that looked like a storm was cast at the waning blast of the explosion.


    "It''s an impeto; everyone run!" Matt warned, his eyes bulging in fear.


    Swish...Boom! Just as the five exorcists leaped out of their position; the swirling energy was fired at them. Creating a huge burst of explosion. Doubling the size of the combined attack they projected earlier.