I trembled with the rising murderous intent.
While running like mad, what I saw was burning farmland. And the sight of some farmers dying in agony as they burned.
I saw some fanatic bastards setting fire to the remaining farmland.
I rushed at them just like that.
Slash!
I rushed in at a speed they couldn't react to and bit off their necks one by one.
And I drank their blood.
Mercy? Minimal conscience? I don't have such things now.
Right now, I'm just a monster. So I simply kill.
I advanced like that, biting and tearing everything I saw up to the village entrance.
I hear the sight of the burning village everywhere and screams for help at the same time.
These crazy bastards were massacring the villagers.
I flew right into the middle of the enemies.
Thud!
As soon as they saw me suddenly appear in the middle, they started to go berserk.
The crazy bastards who were killing villagers and offering prayers become mad dogs who have found prey and rush at me.
As I exert my power, the blood scattered throughout the village answers my call.
And then I condensed it. More, even more deeply and thickly. And that blood became a sword.
"I'll kill you all, become my strength."
It's my fault.
It's because I was here.
The misfortune that started from me has infected everyone.
So, I'll become a monster and kill them all.
Awoo!
"!!"
This howl is Vincent.
He was still alive.
Looking in the direction the sound came from, it's the center of the village, the square.
I ran towards there.
I ran at full speed, crazily cutting down the fanatics blocking my way.
-Block it!
-Amen!
It seems they brought over 100 people just to catch me.
So while they might be sufficient in quantity, their quality was significantly low.
The ones blocking my way couldn't even block one of my sword strikes.
And when I arrived at the square, there was that crazy monster bastard standing in a prayer posture, and in front of him, Vincent was kneeling and breathing heavily with difficulty.
Swoosh!
Without saying anything, I charged and swung my blood sword at Michael.
Then in an instant, Michael's entire body was wrapped in golden flames.
Sizzle
I hear the sound of the blood sword evaporating as it's blocked by the flames.
But it doesn't matter.
The villagers' blood is spread all over the village.
I quickly reconcentrate as much as is consumed.
"You crazy bastard!!"
"I knew you would come. God's guidance is gracious! Oh behold!! This lamb will not escape now! For Your great glory! Uahahahaha!!!!"
Sizzle sizzle
I didn't stop the sword.
Michael just lightly blocks my sword with both hands.
I stepped back a few steps and supported Vincent to stand up.
"Vincent! Are you okay?!"
"You stupid... Why did you come..."
"That's not important right now! What about Meryl!"
"Trying to... protect... the children..."
Vincent couldn't continue his words.
I couldn't bear to hear the rest.
"You son of a bitch!! What did this village do wrong! Even innocent people..."
"Innocent, you say? Those heretics in that blasphemous village hid monsters like you! How deep a sin is that!"
"Those people didn't know...!"
"You're saying ignorance is not a sin? Ignorance is also a sin! That's why I ordered repentance! So they could pay for that sin with death!! They will understand that it's to burn monsters like you! Because they've all returned to God's embrace!!"
While Michael was spewing his crazy words
Vincent and I were surrounded.
Even at a glance, there seem to be over 80 or 90 people.
"Damn it! Vincent, can you move?"
"Huhu... huhuhuh! Arian, it seems this is where I'll die."
"What nonsense are you..."
"When I give the signal, run Arian..."
Vincent tells me to run away in a small voice.
"Damn it! Then I'll die here too! Kill at least one more of these bastards! Kill that crazy bastard too!"
As I vent my frustration, Vincent whispers in my ear in an even smaller voice.
"There are... villagers we evacuated. We need to get them far away from here..."
So that's what it was? Are there still survivors?
If so, there's no need to hesitate.
Even if the villagers survive and later resent us, no, me, they had to be saved.
"My body condition isn't as bad as I thought. But, if you break through the front and run, I'll take care of the rear and follow. Draw in many enemies, that's how we'll lead all the enemies out of the village."
"Okay, let's do it."
The conversation with Vincent ended in an instant.
What's left is to cause as much chaos as possible. Draw that crazy bastard towards me.
I looked at the cliff visible beyond the village. A suitable place to deal with them.
"Vincent!"
As I called his name, I left Michael and started attacking one part of the encirclement.
And Vincent follows behind me, dealing with the wounded enemies.
I glanced back in that state, but for some reason Michael didn't move, and instead showed a bright, broad smile.
'Crazy bastard!'
As I pushed forward, one part of the encirclement started to break.
I ran straight ahead without looking back. At a speed they could follow.
"Hahahahaha!! Hahahahaha!!! You're using cheap tricks!! It's fun! So much fun! Priests! Chase them! All of you! Everyone goes! Don't fear death! We are those who receive God's will! We are purifying the blasphemous monster with God's holy flames! Go!"
I could hear that crazy bastard's words even as I gradually moved away.
Of course, I thought Vincent would be right behind me...
He was watching me move away.
"Ee... eek!! Vincent!!!"
When I shouted, Vincent just raised his hand.
Vincent, who had been looking at me like that for a moment, turned his back towards Michael.
"Go!"
I hear Vincent's loud shout.
The church bastards at the rear stop and look at Vincent.
But when Michael gestures to them, I saw them leaving him behind and running towards me.
I had no choice but to run towards the cliff.
Because I had to draw all those enemies towards me now.
Awoo!!!
I hear Vincent's wolf howl from behind.
I could tell that howl would be the last one I could hear.
* * *
"Two remain."
Vincent and Michael.
Only the two of them remained in the burning village square.
All the remaining church personnel followed Arian.
Vincent's body wasn't well enough to follow Arian.
So, he had to do what he needed to do here.
"I know what you're up to. Monster."
"Tch! Whether you know or not doesn't matter, monster. I'll just be satisfied if I can land one punch on that annoying face of yours."
"Mm mm. Mm mm! Ex~~~cellent!!! Very excellent! I like that attitude very much! I'll accept it!!"
Vincent thinks he's going to die anyway.
Plus, Meryl is gone too. Vincent remembered her desperately taking the church's spears and swords with her body to protect the children.
Her face smiling faintly at him even in that pain.
Awoo!!!
Vincent howls as loudly as he can.
And even though his whole body was creaking, torn, split, and burst all over, he rushed in with all his might.
Just to land one punch.
Whoosh!
His fist flies towards Michael.
In that very short moment, Vincent thought. No, he was seeing.
He sees himself as a hunter who became useless in an instant when he lost one leg.
He remembers the face of his wife who cared for him and loved him unconditionally when he returned to his hometown after retiring as a hunter.
He also remembered witnessing his wife's death. No. He remembered himself in werewolf form, biting and tearing at his wife while growling.
He also remembers his wife's face as she caressed Vincent's face, saying she was fine and closing her eyes with a smile, asking him to live.
He had lived until now because of that one request to live.
His wife's words became a curse that kept Vincent alive.
Time kept flowing like that for decades.
Vincent's fist is about to touch Michael's face now.
Thud!
Michael didn't budge at all.
He just keeps smiling.
Seeing Michael like that, Vincent smiled too.
He laughed like mad.
Michael grabbed Vincent's wrist.
Whoosh!
Then Vincent's entire body starts to be engulfed by golden flames.
Still, he kept laughing.
As if satisfied that he had punched Michael in the face.
"Hey."
"?"
In tremendous pain, Vincent called out to Michael.
"You don't remember me, do you?"
"Why would I remember a monster like you?"
"Huhuhu... Hahaha!! Yeah, I thought so. I thought you wouldn't remember. Hahahaha!"
Vincent no longer felt pain.
His voice no longer came out.
He felt his body, his soul disappearing.
And as he does, he remembers.
The greetings he exchanged with Arian.
The children who excitedly followed him when he came back from hunting with meat.
The village youths and elders rejoicing over that year's good harvest while sharing a drink.
His comrades who fought fiercely together against the vampires.
And, Meryl's smile.
"..."
Michael was blankly staring at Vincent turning to ash and disappearing.
Should I say it was quite impressive?
To think he could smile so brightly in the face of death.
"It was an impressive punch. However, I really don't know who you are. In any case, I hope you'll be reborn as an excellent believer blessed by God in your next life. Amen."
For the first time, Michael prayed for a monster.
But his essence remains the same.
That monsters are evil that have no right to exist in this world.
Now he looks at the distant cliff.
Probably, the monster he must kill will soon show itself.
He felt like it was a fate given by God. When he first saw Arian, he strongly felt that that monster shouldn't exist.
As if he felt this was the reason God had given him the flames.
"Oh Lord, I praise You. I glorify You. The fate You have given me. This lamb will burn the monster! Amen!!"
As his prayer ended, Arian's figure appeared on the cliff as a tiny dot.
Michael smiled.
He smiled endlessly.
And his entire body started to emit even more intense golden flames than before.
* * *
Drip drip
When I arrived at the edge of the cliff, it started raining lightly.
I can see the village beyond the cliff.
Even from my view, I couldn't see Vincent.
I wonder how it was? His last moment.
If I hadn't helped him, if he hadn't come to ask me for help, maybe this situation wouldn't have happened.
Drip drip drip drip swoosh
The rain intensified.
The wind is blowing too.
Rumble!
Thunder strikes.
Perfect weather for dying.
It's such fantastic weather that it makes all the days I struggled to survive seem ridiculous.
I could feel them approaching.
One, two, and ten, dozens came to kill me at the edge of the cliff.
But I can't die to such low-level bastards.
Rather, I intend to kill every single one of them.
Now, let's begin.