Celeste's POV
*****
I almost couldn't believe my eyes. But then if I couldn't believe those, I may as well believe the familiar, bone-chilling pressure that came with being stared down by fucking Vein Beasts.
How was this even happening right now?
Since the emergence of these beasts twenty years ago, they've been stuck in areas close to towns and cities. Never directly within these settlements themselves.
Given a few still stalked into cities at night, hoping to capture an unlucky person or two off guard… they rarely ever appeared in so many overwhelming numbers.
Because that's what the hoard of glowing red eyes in the alley's darkness felt like.
Overwhelming.
Gritting my teeth, my head swung down to the little girl holding my wrist. Only to realise that there was no little girl—I was standing at the entrance of the alley alone.
Panic and confusion gripped me. "Was… was that an illusion? Can these beasts cast those now?"
That didn't make any sense.
