Chapter 263 - Day CMLXII, Part II

It was kinda similar to ours. When some people realized that they might be dead the next day, their morality just vanished. Others found the heroes in themselves and tried to oppose them. There were a lot of conflicts, abuse, and other terrible events, but also beautiful ones of people sharing, and standing up for those who couldn't defend themselves.

She talked for hours, crying while remembering some of the events. She really got emotional, her hands were shaling, and all of that. When she finally was done, I felt like she was the one who beneficiated the most out of this whole conversation. She vented a lot by just talking, and on top of that got herself a nice meal. I, obviously, was buying.

- It's time to hide - she said finally. - It will start to get darker soon. Then they come. The night is the worst part though.

- They come from that direction - I pointed out on the only part of the horizon that was not blocked by the mountain.

- Yeah - she responded and chuckled a bit because it was a silly question.

- Then go and hide there - I pointed to the opposite direction. - If you do, they won't get you.

Her eyebrows just rose.

- W-why? Oh, right, because you will stop them here, or some other cheesy line?

- Exactly.

She just laughed.

- It was nice to meet you, Peter. We knew each other shortly, but I will remember you until I die.

I shrugged my shoulders.

- Yea. Cool guys don't respond to such words, do they? - she asked.

- Yep.

She shook her head and left. I don't know if she believed somehow in my words, or maybe she tried to honor me in some way by listening to what I said, but she ended up going in the way I proposed.

The others left with her, living me alone in the city center.  But not for long. Soon Slaven showed up with his men, and he even paid a bit of attention to me by stopping and looking for a moment, but then he proceeded with setting up a few bonfires from the one still burning.

He even yelled to me, as they went back to grab equipment:

- If you kill something, remember to hide after! Maybe we will welcome you among us tomorrow!

By that time it was already getting grey. Strangely it also got a little bit more chilly. It became kinda obvious that something might happen soon.

Slaven returned, with his armed group, this time without slaves. His men assumed their position in arrowhead formation. He then looked at me again.

- I would get up if I were you. You don't want any of those beasts to get you when you are already on the ground - he said.

I ignored him. I had plenty of time to get up, and on top of that several other options. He said something right after, but I didn't understand, nor hear him clearly.

- They're here! - somebody shouted.

So I looked at the line of buildings, focusing on my eyes, so the skill would enhance my vision. I noticed the shadows lurking in the alleys. I got curious, which made me stand up. I wanted to know what the creatures look like.

They came out pretty quickly. Strange beasts. They reminded me of big cats like tigers or lions, with broad paws ending with sharp claws. They didn't have fur, but thick skin similar to a crocodile. They also had long tails. Their heads were nasty. Imagine a pug with slightly longer snot, and protruding teeth, shaped like needles - that's how they looked to me.

- What a weird mind created those things - I mumbled to myself.

Just as the creatures started spreading, to cover more ground, and surround us. Even more, followed them from the alleys.

Slaven and his group were way closer to those things, so they got attacked first. Surprisingly not all of the monsters charged at once, but single units. They ended up being beat to death by the whole group.

That was a signal for me, to start moving, but I took it slowly, and just walked to the front lines. Meanwhile, hunters killed a few more.

- Pick the crystals and retreat! - shouted Slaven.

His men, assisting each other, started picking the stones. More of the creatures emerge from the shadows, but by that time I was already passing by the hunters, and the first beast charged at me. I waited patiently for the jump, and as the thing leaped, I carefully observed it flying, like in slow motion. Opening its mouth filled with sharp fangs, and swinging the paws to claw me as soon as it sunk those teeth in my body.

Just as it all was about to happen I let my lightning reflexes kick in, and just swung my fist. It was like a shoot from the double-barrel. I blasted that thing off with a single punch and kept walking.

The rest one by one charged at me, but they were so slow to monsters I was used to. I was just swinging, grabbing, and smashing. Ripping the creatures apart like cardboard boxes.

They swarmed me like ants, but couldn't reach me at all. There was a lot of squealing and cracking, as their skulls got shattered by my blows. From the side, it had to look very interesting, as they would turn to smoke, as soon as they entered my range.

I was done in a couple of minutes. Then I turned around, to witness a bunch of proud hunters with jaws dropped to the ground.

- H-how? - mumbled Slaven.

I ignored him for a moment, and picked few crystals, then finally answered:

- Let's talk tomorrow. I need some sleep.

I walked off, just like that, heading towards the same building I spend the night before, knowing that the next day is going to be a busy one.. I set up the barriers, just for a good measure, and called it a day, with stunned hunters still looking my way from the outside.