The moment she saw that figure clearly, Yuuri moved.
Flames burst from her palm and swiftly wrapped around the blade. The crimson edge traced a fiery arc through the air, and before the twisted figure could react, the blade struck precisely into the back of its neck.
Fire exploded violently from the blade, the searing flames rapidly entwining the monster’s body.
The sudden attack elicited a sharp, ear-piercing scream from the monster. It twisted violently, its claws ripping through the air straight for Yuuri’s face.
Yuuri leapt back, drawing her blade and quickly retreating to evade the monster’s counterattack.
The flames wrapped around its body burned ever fiercer, showing clear signs of reducing the monster to ash.
Under the onslaught of the fire, the monster let out several more shrill screams.
Not good… This commotion might attract attention. I’d hoped to let the flames burn it to cinders, but it seems I can’t wait. I need to finish this quickly.
She darted forward, the short blade in her hand tracing another crimson arc through the air. Facing what looked like certain death, the monster suddenly let out a sharp, piercing howl skyward.
“Ugh…”
That sound was so penetrating that Yuuri had to halt her charge and cover her ears. If she rushed forward like this, her eardrums might well rupture.
With the shriek, the black aura swirling around the monster surged forth, lunging at the flames that continued to burn its body.
In just a few short moments, the encircling fire was utterly consumed by the black mist.
Compared to the lower-class monsters she’d faced before, this twisted humanoid monster seemed noticeably stronger.
Still, if one strike isn’t enough, then I’ll just strike again!
A steely glint flashed in Yuuri’s eyes as she sprang forward. This time, the monster swung its claws and lunged toward her as well.
In the instant before their clash, Yuuri saw the monster’s face clearly.
Wait… what is this?!
The once-human features were now grotesquely twisted and deformed. The skin, corroded and corrupted, was pitch black and glistening, with black slime oozing intermittently from its body.
What once were human eyes had been wholly devoured, leaving only two hollow sockets. The split mouth no longer resembled a person’s, its jagged teeth still clutching remnants of flesh and blood.
She could barely make out the outline of what had once been a person.
Was this a human who had been assimilated by the Abyss?
Yuuri had heard before that the Abyss could corrupt and assimilate humans, just like those Silvermoon Wolves she’d seen that day. But this was her first time actually seeing a person infected and transformed.
And in a place like this.
Not good.
That moment of shock was enough for the monster to close the distance first.
Yuuri had no choice but to switch to defense, struggling to block the monster’s claws.
Tch… It’s even stronger than I thought.
If those claws even grazed her, it would tear her flesh open for sure.
She managed to block this attack, but the monster showed no desire to linger. After a feinting strike, it turned and bolted for the alley’s exit.
If it escaped, panic would be inevitable.
Not to mention, Alyosha and the other three children were still outside the alley.
Ignoring the stabbing pain in her left hand, Yuuri raised her left arm. With a sharp click, her grappling hook shot out and latched onto the monster’s left leg.
“Get over here!”
With a forceful tug of her left hand, the hook yanked the humanoid monster backward, slamming it to the ground.
Before it could rise, Yuuri rushed in, her short blade once again descending toward its neck.
Steel flashed, and the monster’s head was instantly separated from its body. The deformed head rolled on the ground a few times before slowly turning to ash.
The still-struggling body was soon engulfed by searing flames, which quickly reduced it to cinders.
Having finished, Yuuri didn’t linger. She returned the short blade to under her skirt and slipped out of the alley.
“They’re over there!”
That was fast.
Apparently alerted by the monster’s earlier shriek, the knights rushed toward the alley.
The monster’s corpse should last until they arrive; she’d leave the rest to them.
Yuuri definitely didn’t want to be cornered by knights and questioned endlessly, so before they could notice her, she hurried over to Alyosha.
Alyosha had sensibly led the children away from the alley. Seeing Yuuri approach, she immediately ran up to her.
“Big sis, what happened? Alyosha heard the monster scream.”
Yuuri’s heart sank. Even Alyosha, who was some distance away, noticed the noise—surely the other bystanders nearby did as well.
Not good… Once the knights ask around, they’ll know she dealt with the monster.
“It’s fine now. Big sis already took care of it, so let’s go.”
Alyosha blinked, wanting to ask more, but obediently followed her away.
Before the knights could catch up, Yuuri led the children swiftly away, moving to another street.
Thinking back to the encounter in the alley, Yuuri frowned slightly.
Abyssal monsters appearing here was bad news.
Though she’d already known the Abyss had invaded Anvil City, that had been in the sewers—much less threatening.
But now, the Abyss’s influence had spread to the surface, and even humans infected by its aura had begun to appear.
And this was only the one she’d found—who could say how many more lurked, yet to be discovered?
Right at this critical moment, the lord ordered the city gates sealed.
Why?
Could it be that an even greater threat lurked outside the city—something worse than the corruption within?
If there was nothing wrong with the barrier, the lord’s attempt to turn Anvil City into a tin can by sealing the gates made sense.
But the problem was, the barrier was already compromised, and the Abyss had infiltrated the city.
No matter how well the tin can was sealed, if you didn’t deal with the rot inside, eventually the whole thing would be ruined from within.
If she could find the source of the Abyss’s corruption in the city, maybe she could solve the problem and buy time for the barrier to recover.
But where was the source?
The sewers where she first found evidence of the Abyss’s invasion?
Yuuri had searched the entire sewer system and found no trace of the source. If it wasn’t there, then where?
Suddenly, she remembered something important.
When Brol died, she’d sensed a wisp of Abyssal energy drifting away.
The person behind Brol was Pegum, and behind Pegum was Lord Bartol.
Wait…
No, no, that’s too crazy.
Yuuri shook her head, dismissing the thought.
Even if that was their goal, it shouldn’t be possible. Besides, what’s the motive?
What benefit could possibly make it worth taking such a risk?
Still, the lord’s recent actions were undeniably strange. Looks like she’d need to go to Coreton and investigate.
But… Her gaze turned to Alyosha.
What about these children?
With monsters like that showing up in alleys, it wouldn’t be surprising if similar threats appeared near their lodgings.
Leaving the children there would surely be dangerous, but… in the current Anvil City, is there really any safe place left?