Killing Intent

"Let's calm ourselves down and think this through okay," Charlie tried to hide his fear by calmly talking, "Surely the creature that left this mark is no longer here. After all, he had already wiped out his prey."

[But there's still you as prey, Master.]

"Shush!" Charlie harshly retorted, "You are absolutely not helping."

[…]

Charlie looked around some more. However, this time, his steps are careful and always wary that something might jump at him from somewhere.

Upon closer inspection on the 'scene of the crime', he noticed a few other things aside from blood. There are also some torn off flesh and clothes.

Seeing that, Charlie was about to puke in disgust but he put all effort to stop himself from doing that. Just imagining how the scene in front of him came about sent a shiver down his back. It further bolstered the idea in his head that there are some vicious creatures in this outside world. After all, the scene in front of him is not something a human can do.

[Master, what do we do now?]

Liam asked when he saw that his master fell into deep thoughts for a while.

"I don't know. It isn't as if I can go and hunt down the predator who caused this scene," Charlie frustratingly said, "All I want to do is to find some people. I want to know where this place is and what exactly is the current state of the world."

[That's a good idea.]

"But the problem is how do we find people? Do you have any idea?"

[…]

After not hearing a response from his companion, Charlie heaved a sigh. It seems that Liam, who was more knowledgeable of worldly affairs compared to him, have no idea how they should proceed from this point.

"I guess all that we can do is to move forward," Eu Jin said.

He sidestepped the puddle of torn flesh and blood in front of him, trying to find a place that may seem to lead him somewhere. Since he didn't know where he should go, he plans to aimlessly walk around until he finds something that may resemble like human civilization.

Suddenly, Charlie perked up and alertly surveyed his surroundings.

[Master, what happened?]

Liam's confused voice suddenly rang in his head. He was unable to understand why his master suddenly went on alert mode.

"I sense a sharp aura cutting through the air and it seems to be directed at me."

'Sharp aura?' Liam thought to himself.

"It's like something is pricking me with needles, making my hairs stand on their ends," he continued to look around to see just what it is that's emitting that kind of hostile feeling toward him.

[Is it killing intent?]

Liam blurted suddenly as if a bulb has been switched on inside his head.

"This is killing intent?"

[It is probably that, Master. Be careful, an attack might be coming next!]

Just as he heard Liam's words, he felt something coming closer to him fast from the back. A hot ball of energy with high destructive power whizzed past him as he minutely dodged to the side at the last minute. The large, sturdy tree a bit farther away was hit by the energy ball which caused it to have a gaping hole, evidence of the destructive power of the assailant's attack.

Charlie turned back to look at where the attack came from. As soon as he turned back, he heard Liam gasp before his brain could register what he is seeing. His eyes then widened in shock upon seeing his attacker, not noticing that his body has automatically tensed up in defense mode.