The hot air that cascaded over the city relentlessly blew over my face, stinging my eyes and causing me to squint them as I sprinted down the right path.
Huff- Huff-
As ragged and shaky as my breathing was, I still scrunched my nose in a slim effort to filter the poignant smell of blood and corpses.
…Still didn't help much, though.
–"No! N-no please.. please don't.. I don't want to di– arghh!!"
I paid no attention to my surroundings or to the agonizing screams.
I focused ahead, and my gaze never lingered too long on the devastating sights of monster massacres that I sprinted past.
Although the sight ahead of me wasn't any different.
Those hyena-like monsters ran around in packs, breaking into shops and houses, dragging and biting off the flesh of humans and stuff.
And there were many. Too many.
But still, I ran. Hoping that they might be stunned by my speed, and that moment might create a slim opportunity for me to run past them.
What a pipe dream. You're dead, Dustin.
And, it wasn't like I didn't want to scan my surroundings as I ran — although I actually didn't want to. I don't think anyone would want to deliberately watch the displeasing sight of people being massacred here and there — It was that I couldn't.
After all, a pack of those hyena-like monsters was hot on my trail. And they weren't giving me a second to breathe properly.
This 'universe' should've just let me die, man.
They had been chasing after me since the very moment I exited the jewelry shop and ran past them at full speed.
Huh?
I was approaching a really thin woman. Almost as thin as me. But she was taller.
Her legs were quick. And she ran faster than that old man ever did. But her composure was low-tier. She kept looking backward as she ran, and the terror painted on her face was incredibly vivid as her widened mouth remained open.
I really applaud her. It takes a fairly high level of mental fortitude to run that fast, even when obviously ridden with fear.
But…
She wasn't quick enough. Seemed like she ran out of a building where those monsters had broken in, and they chased after her at full speed. In fact, at that moment, they were…
–"Help!" She yelped as one of the monsters leaped with its maw wide open, wrapping its jagged teeth around her neck, "Somebody hel– argggh!!"
She fell, faint screams escaping her mouth, until the pack of monsters gathered around her body.
Her screams died entirely, and her feet stopped kicking.
I gulped.
Is that what's gonna happen to me?
I blinked, clenching my teeth and fists as I increased my pace.
Nah.
Huff- Huff-
If there's anything I'm good at, it's running.
I ran past the pack of dining monsters. Luckily they didn't detect me as they were too busy feasting on the corpse of the woman.
A real good thing that they were distracted.
Now, I just had to run past the monsters ahead with full speed as I planned..
But.. there is a limit to how fast I can run with the injuries all over my body.
My body ached and rebelled against me, making me flinch with every step I took.
Fuck.
The only good thing was the fact that I wasn't bleeding, so the 'injuries' weren't anything fatal.
But still, they reduced my 'ten times the speed of oldie' theory.
Turned out, right now, I was running six times the speed of oldie.
Which meant…
–Screech!
A disgusting screeching sound rang out behind me.
…Those hyena-like monsters hot on my trail would get me anytime soon.
My eyes narrowed.
A sudden urge hit me.
No. Don't do it.
Seriously, Dustin, don't. Don't do it.
I turned my neck backward to glance at the…
"Oh my goodness."
A nervous smile curved on my lips as sweat rolled down my forehead.
There were hordes of them, all running behind me.
–Screech!!
–HiHiHi..
Was that laughter?
…I didn't know.
They really are like hyenas.
But it did seem like it. The expressions they had on their faces were ones of joyfulness and excitement as they chased after me. Like predators having fun with their preys before killing them off.
The monsters had multiplied. The original pack chasing after me had joined with the pack that killed that woman, and they were all after my flesh!
And if I were to count.. There were about thirty of them.
Wasn't that woman enough to stall the other ones? What kind of eating speed is that?
Really, I felt like crying. What the hell kind of shit did I put myself into?
Then, something flickered in my eyes. And I blinked.
As I opened my eyes, I saw…
[Rethon. Tier 1 Dormant Grade Monster.]
Those same red status window-ish screens floated on top of all their heads.
My eyes remained wide. Hell, I almost froze where I stood.
I should be getting used to this.
I turned my neck immediately, facing forward once more.
And I ignored the pain that plagued my waist and the rest of my body.
Wait, not even 'ignored.'
It was like the pain totally disappeared from my mind at that moment.
I doubled my speed and increased my pace.
I am NOT dying again.
–Screech!
Huh?
Something felt odd.
That screeching sounded too close to me, not like–
Something touched my left arm.
Fuck no.
Hell no.
No way.
It felt liquid. No, not quite liquid.
Like jelly.
Like… goo.
The hell is that??
That black goo that drips off their bodies?
There was no way in hell I was going to turn my neck to confirm the horror of that thought.
Well, that was untill a sound like that of chicken being fried faintly bellowed.
The source of the sound was…
"Arrgggh!!!" I screamed aloud.
It felt like I dipped my arm in acid, or I put it inside fire.
I gritted my teeth immediately. Both my breathing and my heartbeat spiked as my chest rose and fell rapidly. And as I breathed through my clenched teeth, a whistling sound echoed.
I grasped the area on my left arm where the goo had touched. And I tore the area of my shirt off.
Didn't do much to cool the pain, but I kept running. Enduring the searing pain and not looking back.
Until a low snarl rumbled.
Way too close for comfort.
"Oh, come on!!"
The goo attack really slowed my pace.