Chapter 1: What Lurks in the Alley 1

"You brat! Come back here!"

Hoarse and raspy voice of a man reverberated as he screamed with his lungs. Panting heavily while carrying a rusty knife, he ran after a kid with bloodshot eyes.

Chris narrowedly escaped death a while ago as he sneakily stole a piece of hard salt bread.

Though, no matter how sneaky he might be, a man with warry eyes for Dregrats will always be looking out for this possibility. So he ran as quick as he can while hugging a piece of bread that cost a piece of small bronze.

"Fucking brat! Don't ever let me see your face again!" The bakery owner roared as he stopped himself from entering the Dregs.

Chris just heaved a sigh of relief when he stopped in his tracks and looked at the man blocking his way.

Eyes glued to his hard earned bread, Chris instinctly hid the bread near his armpit.

"Kid give me that bread or I'll beat you to death."

Chris's eyes narrowed into slits as he watched how the man grabbed a plank that is covered in mushrooms. His eyes especially focused on the mushrooms that already matured in the plank.

"I'll give you the bread but give me that plank." He walked closer to man and stretched his hands that is holding the bread.

The man felt perplexed but no matter what, food is about to come his way. So without hesitation, he also walked towards Chris and when they are close to each other, he felt shivers in his spine and the next second, an everlasting pain run through his system.

"AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!"

Chris feeling elated tightened his grip at the man's genitalia. He even made a twist which made the man scream at his lungs.

It only took seconds before the man's eyes turned white as he lost consciousness.

Chris hurriedly grabbed the plank and ran towards his turf. It is a dark alley that was turned into a simple abode.

Rusty thin film of metal served as his roof and patched up woods and planks served as the foundation for his roof. His bed is made out of rotten rattan and some disgustingly dirty cloths.

"I got lucky this time!" Chris felt like he's in cloud nine as he looked at the mushroom covered plank and to his hard salt bread.

Chris quickly took the action as he tore the bread into pieces. Though it took him hours to do so which just proves how hard the bread he got.

The mushrooms were carefully hand picked and was set aside while he creates a makeshift stove which consist of pebbles and stones as foundation.

He carefully placed the rusty pot in the fire and filled it with murky water which came from the sky itself.

Chris just dumped everything inside the rusty pot and put on the lid until the soup simmered and the bread soften into a slimy mush.

After eating to his fill, he just slumped down to his bed and looked at the flickering flame of the fire he made out of the plank he procured.

"It's been a while since I felt this full."

Chris just blankly looked at the flame before his eyes closed and he fell into a deep slumber not minding the smell of rotting flesh around his area.

Meanwhile, in the other side of Dregs, four men in black clothings stood tall in the delapidated building while looking at the spasming body of what seems like a goat with insect legs in its neck.

"Seems like this place is becoming a go to place for these vile creatures."

One of them muttered as he took off his bloodied gloves. The others just watched him do his job and instantly, the creature vanished into thin air.

"It's not my first time but it's still fascinating. Such unique attribute from a Duwende." Another muttered in disdain and awe while he looked at his companion with envy.

"Yours is good too, you are our battle front after all." Said by another man as he fixed his belt.

"Enough with the idle talks. Have you already found the location of the Bungisngis that was reported?" The last one who's fiddling with some small bottles asked with stern look.

The others just kept their mouth shut which signifies their failure in locating the said creature.

"Tsk." The stern man snickered as he shot them with annoyed expression.

"Shaun, take back the Sigben's body to the base, we'll try to navigate the surroundings since it was reported that the fucker hid in some dark alley in the Dregs." He then shot a glare to the other two.

"You two will assist me in locating the damned thing."

"Roger!" The other three answered in unison before one of them vanished instantaneously.

On the other hand, Chris jumped in fright as he warrily stared inside the darkness. Fear crept up his body as his heart raced it's beat.

CRUNCH!

"HEHEHEHEHEHEHE!"

Goosebumps rolled over to his body as he heard the giggling sound coming after the crunches.

'There's nothing but fucking corpse in the deeper part of this alley.'

Chris never believed in the existence of Ghost but now that he's experiencing the paranormal, his whole being sent him a message to run away from his house.

However, his instinct tells him otherwise. He knew for a fact that once he turned his back and run away, that thing will definitely come after him.

He grabbed a rusting metal pipe that has been sitting in his bed for ages. It's his one and only weapon to ward off those who tried to steal from him.

"HEHEHEHEHEHE!"

Chris nervously raised his pipe but was immediately taken aback as soon as he saw his enemy's silhouette.

With it's height measured to be at two and a half meters tall, its figure is massive like a Grizzly Bear but with highly defined muscles of a body builder.

"W-what the fuck?!" He tightened his grip to the pipe as he saw the entirety of the creature standing in front of him.

A bald single-horned head with one big eye in the middle of its face. Its nostrils are disgustingly big and its widely grinning mouth let out a foul stench from eating the rotting corpse.

It has two protruding fangs almost akin to the tusk of a mammoth. Its body structure is as weird as it can be which resembles an imp that was mentioned in an old newspaper he read before.

"Leave my fucking turf!" Chris growled at the creature standing before him.

He decisively rushed towards the single eyed creature with a zigzag pattern. Chris swung his arm forcefully and give his all in attacking the widely grinning Cyclops.

He was agile enough to strike multiple times to different parts of the creature however, his strength is not enough to even put a scratch on the monster's body.

'What the fuck is with this monster?!'

Chris backed away as soon as he realized that he cannot damage it with just the pipe. The monster he's facing has higher defense than he thought which only leaves him with the one big opening.

"It has to be the eyes!"