Chapter 82- A Two-Headed Dog

It has been two hours since this all started. It happened when I was outside mowing the lawn, saying hello to my fellow neighbors, thinking about what I'm going to eat for dinner tonight, and listening to the chirps and squeaks of birds and squirrels nestling on trees, truly it was just an ordinary, but beautiful day. After I finished cutting my backyard, I noticed something peculiar in the sky. Usually, I would've dismissed it as an airplane passing by or a blimp, but the dark red color in a sky of blue and white? I had to investigate further. That was when it happened… the sky turned crimson as if the heavens were bleeding. Dozens upon dozens of portals opened up, and that was when I saw an event so terrifying I found myself weak on my knees.

Monsters came pouring out not only from the sky but from the ground too. In a matter of minutes, the neighbors I'd greeted just moments ago were now inside the bellies of vile creatures. As quick as my fear could take me, I barricaded myself inside my own home, cowering away inside my bathroom, hoping that this was all a terrible dream that I would wake up from. Through my thick walls, I've heard screams of terror and the blood-curdling screeches and growls from monsters. Sometimes, I could hear banging on my front door, but I knew better than to get up and check. I stayed rooted inside my shower and waited until it was all over.

Many thoughts raced through my mind as I came to terms that this was reality and that I wasn't dreaming. Did a Dungeon Outbreak occur nearby? I know that we were told by city officials to evacuate ever since that gray portal opened up near the ocean, but nothing happened for a while so I thought it was safe to return. Did my own foolishness and naivety cause me to be in this predicament? Is this happening all around the world too? I couldn't check my phone or computer because of some interference. I was all alone, and not able to make contact with the outside world- but most of all, I was scared.

I don't know how long I've been hiding, but it must've been for a few hours. I would hear the occasional cry of a monster, but my curiosity got the best of me. I had been hearing fewer and fewer monsters around these parts. A spark of hope radiated out of me. Could the superhumans pushed back the monsters and were now cleaning them up? Maybe they're on my front steps right now, ready to check if there were any survivors! All I could think about was how I was finally saved from this nightmare as I crept closer and closer to my door. Like the idiot I was, I opened up the door, expecting freedom from the shackles of fear.

"…"

An eye so large, not even half of it was in view as I stood in the doorway. Its large, red slit pupil dilated as it stared me down. I was frozen in complete terror, unable to move a muscle as I could feel a wet spot forming in my underwear. What happened next, it all happened so fast. I heard crunching noises on top of me, which was actually the top of my roof being torn off like a band-aid. The last thing I saw was a colossal figure descending its large paw toward me menacingly. Just as I was about to be squashed like a little bug, I could've sworn my ears were playing tricks on me as I heard laughter, like an engine trying to turn on in freezing temperatures, as if this beast was mocking me with its snarls. And then all I felt was excruciating pain, though it was only for a moment…

****

Sophie and I caught up with Richard and the superhuman. Both were at the front lawn of the museum, staring straight ahead.

"Okay, so what's all the fuss about- WHAT THE FUCK!"

As I looked over to where they were gazing, I could only gasp at what I was seeing. Far, far away, a monster larger than any other has appeared. It had black fur with streaks of dark red that was wild, but smooth. Its bushy tail wagged back and forth as the two heads hung low, sniffing around the ruined buildings, searching for something. Its spear-sized fangs were gleaming in the light as globs of drool were dribbling down the corners of its mouth. Most frightening of all was not the two heads or teeth that could chomp through boulders in one bite, not its dog-like features, but its size.

"Holy crap! That thing is taller than five alligators standing on top of each other, upright!" Sophie screamed.

"That… is a terrifyingly accurate description, Sophie…"

The oversized dog monster stopped dead in its tracks and craned its head at the sky, sniffing it. After inhaling deep breaths, the dog immediately turned its attention toward us, its eyes gleaming orange like the fiery orange ball of flames that is the sun. Soon after, it opened its mouth wide and out came a howl so loud, all the buildings with glass shattered in an instant. Everyone had to cover their ears or else our eardrums would burst. I could even feel some blood seeping out.

After about five seconds of shrieking, the dog finally stopped. Then, with a speed that shouldn't be possible with its massive size, bounded toward us creating small tremors that had the ground trembling in fear. We all succumbed to panic as Clifford the big red dog sprinted toward our location, its large tongue flapping in the wind.

"Oh shit… oh shit! it's coming this way! We gotta haul ass!" I yelled out.

"We cannot! The civilians are still inside the building! It'll take forever for everyone to leave on time," Sophie replied, glancing back and forth between the museum and the dog.

"I have an idea! Isaac, you and I will lure the beast away while Officer Richard evacuates everyone! We'll buy enough time for everyone to get out!"

"…Oh, I see now! Good idea! Richard, you heard her!" I told the man. Instead of bumbling around and acting like he doesn't know what to do, Officer Richard bowed his head and ran toward the museum without another word, shouting at the top of his lungs.

"THIS IS AN EMERGENCY! INITIATE PLAN DELTA!" His voice grew lower the further he went inside the museum, leaving Sophie and I alone.

"Okay, I said good idea, but how the hell am I going to distract that thing?" I pointed at the dog. It was running through buildings like they were merely Legos, stomping on cars and trucks along the way, seemingly unfazed by what was underneath.

"You're a magic swordsman, right? You have a lot of mana inside of you, and it's strong to boot! Monsters are naturally drawn towards mana like how ants are attracted to foods left by humans. You'll attract its attention while we run as far away as possible."

The dog was rapidly closing in on us and would arrive in ten seconds. I didn't have enough time to think things over or else the people inside the museum will be eaten and trampled on. We'll think about what to do next along the way!

"Alright fine! Leave it to me! Grab on to me." I held out my arm, waiting for Sophie to take it. She stared at it blankly, unable to process what I was trying to do.

"Um, excuse me?"

"Screw it, no time to explain!" I wrapped my arm around her slender waist and pulled her close. My sudden action had her involuntarily let out a small shriek in surprise which kind of sounded cute. Wait a minute, this girl is pretty muscular… Her muscles feel hard as he- Why am I getting off track here? Stop thinking about these things right now!

After taking in a deep breath, I jumped as high as I could into the air and activated my [Energy Manipulation]. Instead of falling back down to the ground, we were actually levitating. By releasing bursts of energy, I can basically keep myself afloat, and even more. The downside though is that this consumes my mana quickly since I'm constantly releasing energy underneath me mid-flight.

"You can fly?!" Sophie latched onto me tightly as I flew away from the museum. I could feel some of the oxygen escaping from my body because of this woman's superhuman strength.

"Y-You're c-choking me…" I let out; my voice strained. The pressure I've been feeling has somewhat been alleviated as Sophie released some of her force… Key words being some and somewhat.

Sophie's face flushed as she averted her gaze. "Sorry, I'm kind of afraid of heights…"

"Don't worry about it. Just don't choke the life out of me again…"

"…Er, I'll try. No promises though."

Ah, well, good enough for me. While we were talking, Clifford has been following us this whole time, uninterested in those in the museum after it got a good whiff of us. Right now, Sophie and I were coming up with a plan as we cruised through the ruined city. There were some monsters I had to kill with an icicle spear, so we had to finish quickly, or else my mana will be drained.

"We'll have to fight this thing in a secluded area with minimal monsters and regular humans," Sophie explained, her breath tickling my right ear. I had to hold in my giggling as I was extremely ticklish.

"A secluded area huh…"

We scanned around the area, looking for a spot that fit both requirements. It didn't take long to find one since this city is massive, and we're also flying around so we have an eagle-eye perspective. There was a stadium a few blocks away from the museum, making it the perfect choice. Not only does it have tall walls since it's a stadium, but there are also little to no monsters too since it would be difficult to get in.

"That's a good spot, right?" I said.

Sophie followed my gaze and nodded. "Mhm. Take us down there."

Confirming that the dog monster was still following, I descended down onto the green turf, swiftly killing any stray monsters that could interrupt our upcoming fight.