CHAPTER 24: DEFEND THE CITY (3)

It was silent all around the city, except for some idle chatter amongst the hunters. This was my chance to scout around for any sign of the boss monster that approaches.

"Ghost I need you to look around for the boss as well. I’m sure you’ll know it when you see it." I say while looking straight ahead.

"Got it. I’ll let you know if I see anything." Ghost replies before heading off in a different direction.

I’ve never been the bravest when it came to fighting monsters... Not once since they appeared did I have it in me to fight against them. After everything that happened with Minami it felt impossible for me to even consider it.

But ever since I managed to get ghost up and running something triggered inside of me, courage that I never knew existed within. I wouldn’t have attacked a whisperspawn period if Ghost wasn’t in the picture.

Usually I just blocked them out while sleeping through the night or something. The hunters would handle them at some point or another.

That’s just how it was for me until she activated... But now I can’t help but feel the need to keep her safe from harm.

STOMP. STOMP. My thoughts were interrupted once again as I looked ahead to see another new monstrosity. It was a combination of black sinew with dozens of mismatched limbs throughout its body.

Some sort of weird obsidian like plating covered certain parts of its body... Except for the giant eye in the middle of its body. Blinking repeatedly as it laid its gaze on me.

Whispers began to form all around me as I continue to stare at this thing before me.

"Rokuro come closer." A familiar voice calls out.

"Yes, don’t leave us hanging." Minami’s voice chimes in.

Similar to the whisperspawns huh? My family has been dead for a long time now so it’s kind of hard to fool me with such a trick. These monsters will never understand how it works for the strong minded humans.

Everything around me seemed to be swallowed up by darkness as I continue to stare at it. Slowly I begin to move towards the monster, my blood boiling more and more with each step.

Use your anger against this piece of filth. How dare it mock us with dead family members.

I’ll never fall for such a stupid trick. Mimicking my sisters voice.... That really does piss me off quite a bit.

I couldn’t help but gaze down at my arms once again, the scales had burned through the bandages covering them. My heart was also loud as hell, it was all I could hear while staring at the monster.

The darkness around me didn’t seem to matter with how my whole body was starting to feel.

"Shut up! Just, shut the hell up!" I shout before charging in towards it.

I’m tired of hearing voices of those I lost so long ago... I don’t need to relive those memories because some monster thinks it’ll reel me in.

I felt my speed pick up rather quickly and before I knew it, I was standing before the boss. There was no reason to hesitate against this thing, it deserves to die for everything it’s done.

None of the monsters are innocent so why would I ever need to hesitate for even the slightest second.

My fists started moving by themselves as I felt each impact against its hard body.... But the shockwaves were extreme. Some even hit against buildings behind the boss.

"Surely you are the child it seeks." An unfamiliar voice echoes.

I want to turn to face the direction of the voice but this monster needs to die before I shift my attention anywhere else. It’d be dumb for me to give in to any distractions right now.

Everything here needed to end in order for the city to be free from danger for the time being. But will I even be able to conceal this power after this fight?

Blood begins to drip onto the floor from the monsters chest but it wasn’t the monsters blood whatsoever. It was sizzling with each drop that hit the floor.

POW! One final punch sent the monster back a few feet which was more than enough for me to look down at my fists. Blood was covering them all over, was this too much for me to do all at once?

I was positive that the power was giving me enough strength to withstand the kind of plating that thing has. Was I wrong from the beginning about how strong its body really is?

I was thinking to myself that the power I have should be enough to take it down but it’s still standing strong.

Drip. Drip. Sizzle. Blood was still hitting the floor and it was all I could focus on.

"Dumbass!" Lukas shouts while dashing past me.

Within an instant I could see a flurry of lightning flashes hit the monster before it exploded into pieces. Lukas had destroyed it after the amount of hits I put into it, was it really that weak or did I damage it enough?

"My strength wasn’t enough, was it?" I ask quietly. Not expecting someone to answer that.

Lukas had appeared before me once again after the boss was defeated. "Nah you did just fine but you can’t space out. Leave the thoughts for after the fight. I appreciate you weakening that shithead." Lukas responds with a big grin on his face.

He hasn’t even said anything about my arms or about anything with my appearance period so maybe it isn’t that bad. He’s absolutely right with what he’s saying too.

Some thoughts are best left for after the battle is over so that I don’t cost anyone their lives or my own life.

"Rokuro you need to cover up." Lilly says from behind me.

"Yeah I know." I reply while looking down at my arms.

My hands are still bleeding so I’ll probably have to bandage them as well if I plan on doing anything else. I wouldn’t want blood dripping all over the place, nor would it be normal for it to sizzle like it does...