章 4: Low Sanity
Fearing for more unprecedented events, Azura made a run for it.
He already had enough, he wanted to go back home and sleep over these shenanigans.
But as he was running, passing through the thick greeneries of the woods, the restlessness still remained—probably because of the screen that followed his vision everywhere and had writings that troubled him.
[250 dark mana points and 10% sanity will be deducted]
[Not enough dark mana points!]
[Allocating to the second payment method...]
[30% sanity has been deducted to store the Grade B Ghoul gene in the gene pool]
[Expiry date: 1 month]
Since when did I say yes? Why is it being deducted now?
Azura didn't know what these writings meant, but he felt somewhat uneasy.
Since his night has been eventful, realizing that monsters that were supposed to be fantasy turn out to be real, a magical screen floating in his vision doesn't seem to be too surreal. He is quite sure that something healed his torn arm and wounds.
Moreover, being buried was also an unnatural situation.
It would be stupid to think that the monsters were real, but all that happened were not.
He could only think of this screen as the one responsible for this.
Just what did I get myself into...?
As he thought of that, his expression contorted, showing signs of gradual pain.
Like earlier, his eyelids started to get heavier, and it was hard for him to keep his eyes open while running through the dark woods. Azura could feel that he was going to pass out once again, but he shouldn't.
Not when he is already near the camping site.
At the very least, if he had to pass out again, it should be in the safety of the camping site.
Many people were there, so it would be way safer than the woods.
Pant...
Pant...
I need to keep... going! A little bit more!
Despite fighting back the will to pass out relentlessly, the pain in his mind already reached a point that exceeds his limit. Azura didn't even realize that he had already started walking for the last fifty meters instead of running, it was dizzying to keep on going.
Exhaustion and pain devour his mind from within.
In the next moment, Azura succumbed to the pain and he eventually lost consciousness.
He stopped walking and stood rooted on his spot with his head tilted downward.
If he had really passed out, any second his body would've collapsed to the ground—however, instead of that happening, his body defied gravity and remained standing. Eerily, the corner of his mouth soon curled into an unsettling smirk.
Meanwhile, inside the camping site office, the old man was still standing behind the counter.
Nobody was inside except for him.
All of the visitors were probably already asleep in their tents.
Unlike any other night, he decided to stay awake way past his sleeping hours.
Looking at the time on his watch, the old man frowned, "It's already late, where is that kid?"
Since Azura was still out in the woods, the old man was waiting for him to come back before he went to bed to rest for his own peace of mind. Moreover, he was also the one who settled on contacting Azura to tell him about the request from the rich guy.
Knowing that he needs money, the old man even deliberately tells only him about this matter.
Thus, if anything happens to Azura, the old man would feel responsible.
Extremely worried, the old man quickly got his jacket and hunting rifle before heading out.
Along the way, he passes by the campfire.
Sitting next to it was a middle-aged man who had his eyes lit up when he saw the old man.
"Oyy, Mr. Rodney, where's the moose I asked for?" the rich man asked cheekily.
Upon hearing this, the old man smiled wryly before he slightly bowed, "Going on a night hunt is certainly hard, so I'm afraid it's not going to be possible to get the moose. But don't worry, next thing in the morning, you can definitely have it,"
"Huh...? I asked for it right now, didn't I?" the man's expression contorted angrily, he stood up and approached the old man. "I have some business to take care of tomorrow, so I don't have any time for tomorrow morning. I fucking told you that I want it right now, I'm even being kind enough to promise $10,000, which is certainly a lot for someone like you"
"I was supposed to leave two hours ago, and you say that it's not possible?" He squinted.
Despite the insulting words, the old man kept his smile, "I'm deeply sorry"
Eventually, a woman came and calmed the man down.
"Let's go, don't waste your time on this kind of people, babe," the woman said lightly.
Upon hearing this, the man clicked his tongue in displeasure.
It would only be a waste of time to insult the old man, so he could only exhale roughly.
Glaring at the old man's apologetic face, the man's irritation intensified, prompting him to spit at the old man. Though the old man flinched, he remained silent. "What a lowlife. I'm finished here, and don't expect a dime for your shitty hospitality,"
Until the end, the old man remained silent.
Going into the woods in search of Azura, he decided to go to the usual hunting spot.
Knowing Azura for quite some time and even gone hunting numerous times, the old man was aware of his preferred hunting spots. Azura, in particular, likes to hunt on the riverside for its advantageous vantage point, offering clear views of unsuspecting animals.
Because of that, the old man decided to go and check there first.
Approaching the hunting spot, the old man abruptly stopped when he heard a loud wail.
It came from an animal, and he instantly recognized this sound.
"A moose? It sounded hurt too!" the old man muttered out loud with a brimming smile.
The old man's mind instantly suspected that it was Azura's doings considering that he was the only one inside the woods. Making haste, he quickly went to the source of the sound— eager to congratulate Azura on his apparent success in hunting a moose.
Even though the rich man was probably already gone, it was still fine.
He could even buy the carcass albeit it wouldn't be as much as what the rich man offered.
Reaching the source of the sound, the old man peeked over a tree.
But it was then that his shoulders slumped, seeing that it was a herd of moose.
A pair of moose locked in a fierce confrontation.
"Just where did that kid go...?" the old man thought aloud, scratching the back of his head.
Meanwhile, the man and his girlfriend head to the parking lot, preparing to leave early.
Judging from his face alone, he was still pissed for not getting the moose he wanted, but he couldn't do anything about it, "Go and wait in the car, babe, I'm going to take a leak. Start the car for me,"
"Okay, don't take too long, babe," the woman replied and took the car key.
Going to the side, the man went ahead and took a leak near a tree, dozing into the distance.
As he did that, his ears picked up the sound of a wailing moose.
Upon hearing this, his eyes flickered in excitement as he took out his revolver. Even though the camping site's policy stated that firearms from outside are not allowed, the man didn't heed it and brought a gun of his own.
Not even hesitating, he headed in the direction of the sound excitedly.
Soon, he saw the moose he was looking for.
However, the man saw that there was a figure in front of the moose. His back turned toward the man. Had the old man been present, he would have instantly recognized this individual, as none other than Azura just from his stature alone.
Azura was facing off against a moose that towered over him.
But the man could tell that the moose was wounded, yet it still remained standing, eyeing the person in front of it with palpable fear. Naturally, the man was excited. He decided to rob the moose off of Azura.
Smirking, the man pointed his gun at the moose, intending to take the kill from Azura.
However, he halted when he realized the wounds on the moose were odd.
Not one looked like a gunshot wound.
Most of them were clean-cut open wounds, the type that was created by a blade.
Perceiving something amiss, the man cast another discerning glance at Azura, and he noted a bloodied knife in his hand. Puzzled, a cascade of questions flooded into the man's mind as surely Azura wouldn't dare to confront a moose armed only with a knife.
It was unbelievable, but no matter how much he tried to deny it, the evidence was there.
'That's impossible, it's a moose for crying out loud!' the man exclaimed inwardly.
As he thought of that, a maniacal laugh reverberated throughout the canopies of the woods.
"Hahaha~!!"
Looking at the fear inside the moose's eyes as it limped back, Azura laughed out loud as if he were possessed. He turned the knife to hold it in a reverse grip before he dashed, aiming the moose's neck with crazy eyes.
Under the weakening of the injuries, the moose couldn't outpace Azura anymore.
In retaliation, it desperately swung its antlers to defend itself.
Despite its best attempts, Azura could easily maneuver over the antlers and stab the moose repeatedly in the neck. Blood sprayed over his face, but even then, Azura continued his gory assault like a madman.
Even when the moose was already dead, he kept repeatedly stabbing it gruesomely.
Stab!
Splash
Giving everything he had into one last stab, Azura smiled in satisfaction.
He pulled the knife out of the moose's neck before he backed away, visibly panting hard.
But then suddenly, his body stiffened before he slowly glanced over his shoulder.
Sensing that someone was near, Azura and the man—who was entranced by the sight of him killing the moose with a knife—made eye contact. Looking at his face, the man could tell that Azura was extremely dangerous.
He could sense extreme danger, especially when he saw Azura's eyes were glowing silver.
Even the expression Azura was wearing was unsettling.
It was a person, but at the same time, the man's guts were telling him that it was not.
A cold shiver ran down the man's spine when Azura smirked with his blood-stained lips.
Unconsciously, the man started backing away.
However, with a blink of his eyes, the man's entire being shivered in fear.
In place of Azura, now stood a gray wolf with the same exact silvery eyes. Faced with such a horrifying sight, the man's mind came falling down under the sheer weight of the inexplicable situation, unable to comprehend what was happening.
'H- He's not a human!' the man screamed inside his head.
Due to the fear, the man didn't waste any time turning around and started sprinting back.
Fueled by adrenaline, it didn't take long before the man reached back into the parking lot.
Rushing to his car, he went inside and grabbed his phone, intent on dialing the police. He felt that this incident demanded immediate reporting as Azura seemed dangerous. But because of the panic, his thumbs were faltering to press the phone password.
As he did this, he kept looking around, fearing that Azura would break into the car.
But it was at that moment, the door was opened abruptly.
Surprised, the man shouted in absolute horror but found that it was only his girlfriend.
"What's wrong, honey?" the girlfriend asked.
Rubbing his chest in relief, the man waved his hands, "Shut up for a second, babe"
As the man's attention was focused on dialing the police, he could see that his girlfriend was sitting in the passenger seat in silence. Despite his jumbled mind, a frown etched across his face, and he drew in a sharp, cold breath.
"H- Honey...?" He stammered, his body tingling with goosebumps.
His girlfriend calls him babe, not honey. He likes it like that so she never called him that ever.
It was only then that a hand suddenly grabbed his phone and his hand tightly.
Upon seeing this, the man whimpered in fear.
He lifted his gaze slowly to meet his girlfriend's eyes, now shimmering with a silvery glow—exactly the same color as Azura. Suddenly, the truth hit him like a bolt of lightning, he only now realized that the woman beside him was not his real girlfriend.
"Pay close attention, honey," Azura whispered, smiling wickedly. "or you'll miss me"
"RAARGGHH!!!"
Splash!
The next moment after the scream, blood sprayed the inside windows of the car.
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