The place where the monster burst out from was an area where the streetlamp had long since broken, and no other light sources were present. In contrast, the far-off glow caused the darkness to appear even deeper.
He Ao led Yoen across the road and into the even more secluded alleys between the buildings.
This alleyway blocked out all light, as if plunging into the depths of hell.
Merely ten steps into the alley, a faint stench of blood mixed with rot wafted towards them.
Yoen followed behind He Ao, the pungent odor made him feel uneasy, but having experienced the decay that spread after the monsters' death, he felt, perhaps, it wasn't unbearable.
The ground beneath their feet seemed somewhat sticky, and the scent of blood grew stronger.
"Hiss—"
A shadow on all fours suddenly charged out of the darkness.
"Ah!"
Yoen's body trembled; he looked ahead to He Ao and, with all his might, repressed the urge to flee.