[Bad Omen]

[On The Road]

"So, where are we going?" asked Aura, her curiosity breaking the silence.

They walked along the main path leading out of Griswald's domain. 

The sky was a blue tapestry with barely a cloud, and the heat was just shy of uncomfortable. 

As they distanced themselves from the mansion, the cacophony of nature reasserted itself, birds chirping and leaves rustling in the gentle breeze.

It was the first time he left that old mansion, and while he had seen all of this while playing the game, being there for real was another feeling.

"The demon realm's capital, Dustriver."

"And what then?" she asked.

"We'll hope giving Asmodael the ring will win his favor. DiveCore has moved fast. Those "Adventure Divers" are probably fixing the population problem."

"What population problem?"

"I see no reason to send that many adventurers to Griswald's domain. They just used you to help cull the population in nearby towns."

"How many came from your world?"

"From what I've heard, billions."

Aura arched her eyebrows. Billion wasn't a number used in everyday life. 

"So, DiveCore is our enemy?"

Mori stopped walking and grabbed her shoulder, sinking his fingers in.

"They're to be killed on sight."

"Yes. I got it. On sight," she replied.

He let her go, looking at his own hand confused.

"Let's just go."

They finally arrived at their first crossroad after walking half an hour.

They continued on the path forward. 

The nature wasn't changing much; they were surrounded by greenery and wildlife. 

A little further down the road on the horizon, he could see a carriage at a standstill.

"Can you see what's happening there?" he asked Aura.

She narrowed her eyes. "There's demonfolks attacked by an ogre and some humans. It's an impressive one too, two and a half meters tall."

"Are they winning?"

"No. Should we help them?" she asked, glancing at him.

He looked behind him; he was still wearing his chains that were dragging on the ground. 

With his thoughts, he reeled them in, hiding them under the cloak.

"We'll see."

As they drew closer, it became evident that the demonfolks were struggling. 

The humans, meanwhile, lounged back, watching the ogre's rampage with cruel amusement.

The ogre swung its enormous club, each strike sending tremors through the ground.

"It's controlled, look at its neck," said Aura.

"The metal choker?"

"Yes. One of them is most likely its master."

As she said that, she started massaging her own, inscribed on her skin.

"I'm not your 'master'. You're free to leave whenever you want," Mori reminded her.

She glared at Mori, who ignored her.

The humans' equipment was rudimentary. Basic leather and cheap metal plates. 

One wielded a sword, another a staff, while the last seemed unarmed.

"I'm telling you! With this, I'll have a nice promotion. I might become a DiveCore Manager before you," said the taller one.

"You're lucky your class lets you enslave monsters easily. All I'm good for is swinging this junk," said the swordsman.

"Just tell the ogre to stop playing. We don't have all day," said the third, a hint of impatience in his tone.

"There is this [Bad Omen] I've prophesied. If you move, it's death," Mori intoned, his voice resonating with a dark authority.

They spun around, their shoulders jumping from the surprise.

"What... are you?!" asked the first one looking at Mori.

He seemed to be stuck on his hair and eyes, and while they were barely visible, the chains under his cloak.

"That one's a vampire!" pointed out the other one. "Probably that bitch that keeps killing adventurers at Griswald's mansion! I thought she couldn't leave that place."

"Makes sense. That's next door."

They exchanged looks, uncertainty clouding their judgment.

"Hey, uh, you think we can handle a vampire?" whispered the swordsman.

He was trembling, barely holding his sword while cold sweat ran down his face.

"Uh, I don't know. Never tried. You just do it. Go ahead," said the unarmed man.

"A damn vampire, and during the daytime too?!" he muttered to himself.

He lifted his foot, but it froze mid-air, trembling uncontrollably. 

Panic overtook him as he collapsed, clutching his head.

"What are you doing?! Just keep going! Fuck it, OGRE, Come back here," yelled the tall man.

The swordsman shrieked, holding his head in his hands as if his eyes were going to pop out. "FUCK! FUCK! I can't do it!"

"What the fuck is your problem? And you wonder why you can't get promotions?! Alright, you're a mage right?" he turned to the one with a staff. "Just throw something at them, until the Ogre gets here."

"There is this [Bad Omen] I've prophesied. If you use magic, it's death," coldly said Mori.

They were all startled again.

The man didn't even lift his staff, he simply stood there frozen.

"Y'all getting scared cuz of his threats?!"

Mori started walking forward, followed by Aura.

"Deal with Ogre," he said.

"Got it," she replied, blurring past them.

"You keep blaming your friends, but you haven't taken a single step yourself," said Mori, a meter from the man.

The man's attempt to step back was futile. 

His pupils dilated, breath coming in ragged gasps, fingers twitching uncontrollably.

"What is it? Are you too scared? Do you feel shortness of breath? Do you feel impending doom? Are you having a heart attack?" Mori's voice was a cold, relentless whisper.

"F-f-f-f...." he stuttered.

"F-?"

"I-I ha-v-ve a f-f-family."

"There is this [Bad Omen] I've prophesied. If you don't stab this man, it's death." 

Their eyes darted around as they processed what they heard.

"G-guys! Don't listen to him, y-you can't-"

Panic set in. The one with the staff grabbed a knife, while the swordsman pointed his blade toward him.

The knife plunged into his stomach repeatedly, each thrust accompanied by a guttural scream.

Blood splattered, his cries echoing through the road. The swordsman joined in, their frenzied assault unrelenting until the man lay silent and still.

Mori watched impassively as they continued stabbing the lifeless body, a grim ritual to stave off their terror.