BW C86

Chapter 86

In one hand it clutched what looked to be a human leg, and in the other some organ or entrail. It tore at the flesh, bite after bite—first the leg, then the organ, chewing with wet squelches. Blood poured down in sheets between its thighs, drip, squelch, drip, squelch, mixing with the rain and spreading wide across the ground.

“….”

Hoeun stopped breathing. The monster was massive. From what he’d seen before, the bigger the beast, the stronger and tougher it was. Even Gilsang, for all his skill, had needed three or four strokes to sever the neck of such a one.

Which meant—there was no way Seong-im could kill it.

Not to insult her strength, but the reality was plain. They were not Military Gods, but only guides.

“….”

Hoeun tugged urgently at the hem of Seong-im’s robes, urging her to retreat before the beast noticed them. She turned her eyes to him.

Hoeun himself didn’t realize, but he looked near collapse. His pale face had lost all color, his lips were blue, and his thin shoulders trembled visibly. He was like a flower beaten down by rain, wilting, fragile.

“….”

Seong-im turned back toward the street. Her gaze flicked between the monster, the church, and the branching alleys. The alleys were pitch-black, depths unknown. To try detouring risked running into another beast.

She looked again at the monster. Its back was turned, engrossed in its meal. The night was deep, the storm loud.

At last, she gestured toward the church. Hoeun understood instantly. His eyes widened with shock.

“…You mean to go past it directly?”

Seong-im nodded.

“….”

Hoeun blinked rapidly, brushing rain from his lashes, hesitation flashing through him. But it lasted only a moment. He nodded firmly.

“Yes. I’ll follow you.”

He trusted her as Gilsang’s guide—if she chose it, it was the best path.

“….”

Lowering her sword, Seong-im pressed her back to the wall and moved, foot by foot, eyes locked on the monster. Hoeun followed.

The storm’s roar cloaked their steps fully. Earlier he had cursed the rain, thought the heavens had abandoned them—but now, it seemed, it sheltered them.

Step by step, they drew near to the beast. So close now the distance was less than six paces. The guttering sounds of its feast—crunch, chomp, slurp, chew—rattled against their ears. At its feet lay unrecognizable remnants of a crushed body.

“….”

Hoeun bit his lower lip. His heart pounded so loudly he feared the beast must hear it. Something streamed down his temple—sweat or rain, he could not tell.

Seong-im quickened pace. She stepped clear of the puddles that had turned deep as ponds, and Hoeun matched her exactly, stepping where she stepped.

And then—it was behind them. Ten steps, twenty, thirty. At last. Hoeun released a breath he hadn’t realized he held.

It was done. If they just kept quiet, just reached the church—

Then—

CLANG! CLANG, CLANG!

A metallic clatter rang sharp nearby. Instinctively both turned.

A metal bucket rolled toward them, jolting, bouncing. Likely one used to catch rain, carried off by the gale. It clanged off walls, crashed into a tree, tumbled wildly across the ground—until it spun to a stop right before them.

“….”

“….”

Both stared frozen at the bucket. Then, as one, they turned back.

And met the beast’s eyes.

“….”

Its burning red gaze blinked at them. It tilted its head left, then right, as if trying to discern whether these sudden figures were phantoms or prey. The hunk of flesh dangling from its jaws swayed grotesquely.

The world went deathly silent. Even the rain seemed to pause.

And then Hoeun whispered, almost a groan—“Ah…”

In that instant, Seong-im seized his wrist and bolted. Hoeun stumbled but followed. Their footsteps cracked through puddles—splash, splash, splosh.

KRAAAAAAAHK!

The monster dropped its meal and bounded after them on all fours. Each thunderous step shook the earth—THOOM, THOOM, THOOM.

“…Hhhk…”

Hoeun bit down groans as he ran. One hand clutching Jung-woo to his chest, he drove his legs with all he had. Behind him, the boy at last saw the beast himself, and burst into wails.

The cries, the rain, the beast’s screeches, the pounding of his own heart—all crashed together until Hoeun thought his skull might split.

He fixed his gaze only on the swinging tie of Seong-im’s hair ahead. Yet at one point, instinct dragged his eyes back.

The beast was gaining. Too fast. The gap closed impossibly, like a hawk swooping from the sky.

“Uhh…”

A raw breath tore from him. He was running with all he had, but still—closer, closer. The vibrations of its steps shuddered through the street. He could feel how near it was.

Then—

KRAAAH!

A rush of air—Hoeun flinched as claws lanced by the edge of his vision, near tearing into his head. Its breath seared his ear, hot.

“….”

His eyes froze wide. So this was it. Would he die here? Now?

His body stiffened in terror. But Seong-im suddenly swerved left, toward the path leading to the church. The abrupt turn nearly sent Hoeun sprawling in the mud, but her grip yanked him upright.

Behind—CRASH!

The monster had skidded on the sodden ground, its own momentum slamming it against a wall. For a breath the gap widened. It shook itself, then hurled forward again.

Hoeun’s mind cleared. Jaw clenched, he pumped his legs harder than before. His long hair ribbons whipped wildly behind him.

Each step, the church loomed nearer. And thank heaven, it was ringed in tall fencing of iron bars—narrow, but wide enough for their slim frames to squeeze through. No beasts outside. It was safety, near enough to touch.

Just there. Just a little further.

“Please… please…”

Hoeun ground his teeth, praying. The beast’s fury only drove it faster. Its breath scorched his neck, hot as flame. He refused to look back. Only forward—iron bars gleaming through rain.

And then—they were close.

Seong-im halted suddenly. She spun, using her momentum, and hurled Hoeun ahead, straight toward the fence.

He didn’t hesitate. He ripped Jung-woo free of the sling, thrust the boy through first, then twisted his own body sideways and forced himself between the bars. The iron gouged at his ribs, crushing, but he slipped through.

On the other side, he whirled and reached out.

“Come! Hurry!”

The beast lunged. Its vast shadow fell over Seong-im, claws descending to crush.

“Lady Seong-im!”

Hoeun cried wild, reaching. Seong-im stretched, their hands brushed—and he yanked her.

At the instant its talons scraped the crown of her head, she shot through the bars. The force of her body knocked Hoeun backward, sprawling into mud. She too collapsed to her knees.

And then—

BANG!

The monster slammed full-force into the fence.