In a place somewhere in Tokyo, the sound of gunshots filled the streets while a line of police officers was shooting at creatures Ryujin would immediately identify as goblins. The goblins heavily outnumbered the officers; there were at least 30 officers while the number of goblins reached hundreds.
It didn't seem like the goblins were attacking, though the police would shoot one from time to time.
"Sir, our men can't hold on much longer. Our supplies are running low, and everyone's on edge. It won't be long before even those who are loyal and dedicated decide to leave."
An older man looked wearily at his younger colleague. It has only been three days ever since the monsters appeared, and they've worked without a break, yet their appearance made it seem like they haven't slept for a month.
The higher-ups have ordered him and his men to retreat. The truth is that they were supposed to protect the government officials; however, he chose to disobey their commands to wait for the citizens to evacuate.
He expected his subordinates to leave, but contrary to his expectations, everyone chose to stay. They may have done it for selfish reasons, but that didn't matter to him.
The courage to stay despite knowing that they are facing enemies that even the JSDF couldn't handle was something the older man appreciates.
'They are all young men, and their futures are bright. If only the world began its plummet into chaos later, they would've been successful in their lives. The only thing I can do is pray to God that He'll be fair to these young ones.'
A sigh escaped from his mouth as he steeled his resolve. It was against his principles as a police officer to abandon those he swore to protect, but he couldn't sacrifice his men's life in vain. He felt a throbbing pain in his heart while the image of hundreds of people lynching him appeared in his head as he ordered his subordinates to retreat.
The young man gave a salute before running out of the office. Free from distractions, the old man's eyes traveled back to the screens on his desk. He could see a row of police officers behind a row of cars used as a barricade, and they riddled with bullets the monsters that got too close.
He wanted to be in the frontlines, but he was getting on in years, and they couldn't waste their limited amount of ammo. Only those with most accurate shots were allowed to fire unless the monsters besiege their defenses.
The image on the screen switched from the police officers to a group of monsters. He had a bad feeling about their inactivity, especially when he remembered their fierce attack last night.
They were barely able to fend them off, and it was only thanks to a bright officer that made a Molotov. If the creatures continued their attack that night, there was no doubt that every single police officer would have died that night.
He had a bad feeling as the old man continued to watch the creatures. Rather than being afraid, it seemed like they were waiting for something, and this made him feel uncomfortable, which is why he ordered his men to thin down their numbers, but it wasn't enough.
The old man had a hunch that if he continued to wait, it'd be too late for him and the rest, which is why he ordered a retreat.
He was just about to close his eyes when he saw the monsters' group part into two while looking down. He hurriedly switched the screens into the line of police officers to see their faces pale while shooting. The old man could see from the movement of their mouth that they're shouting.
Unable to take it any longer, he ran out of the room. Cursing the layout of the building, he continued to run before stopping a few steps away from the door leading outside.
The screams have faded, and he couldn't hear a single gunshot. His years of experiences and his instincts that have saved him multiple times were telling him to run and hide.
He took a deep breath as he felt his heart frantically beating. The old man was sweating bullets, and he steeled his resolve before he slowly walked outside. He was a step away from going past the door when something extremely fast flew past him before hitting a wall.
Taken aback, he slowly turned his head to the wall to see a disfigured human sticking on the wall, and its fear-filled eyes stared right at the old man before its trembling mouth moved.
'Run'
The old man had difficulties reading the movement of its lips, but he eventually understood. It was right then that what happened registered into his mind. He fell on the floor, trembling in fear and covered in blood before realizing that something was in front of him.
A creature with red and brown streaks on its green skin stood tall in front of him. He could see a grin forming in its lips exposing fangs that are at least 5 inches long.
Anger rose in the old man's heart as he reached for the gun; there was no need to aim because of the distance and the creature's massive frame. He emptied a clip to see it barely graze the monster's skin.
The last thing he felt was indignance as he watched the shadow of something massive approaching him.
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Ryujin stared at the little girl sitting in front of him at a loss as he wondered how he'd take care of her. Nothing came to mind, so he could only look back on how he found himself as the child's guardian.
After he found the little girl, the two rushed to the room where the woman was to see her with blood dripping down her lips. Seeing the weak state of her mom, the little girl ran and embraced the woman as she cried.
Screams filled with agony echoed throughout the house while tears continued to burst forth like a dam. A heart-wrenching wail came out from her mouth, which only got worse as she felt her mother's hand brushing her hair.
"Mommy, don't go… Please, I-I'm sorry I promise I'll be a g-good girl from now on."
Through her sobs, the little girl stuttered as she begged her mother. The woman showed a feeble smile as she pulled her daughter's head closer before kissing her on the head. And with whatever strength she had left, she spoke.
"W-will you give mommy a hug? Mommy's feeling cold."
Hearing her mother's request, the little girl wrapped her arms around her mother's neck, and she buried her head in her mother's chest. The girl couldn't see it, but Ryujin could see the woman biting her lips, trying to stop herself from crying.
The mother's eyes were turning red as she hugs her daughter tighter before looking at Ryujin straight in the eyes. With a beautiful smile unbefitting of a person dying, she said.
"Will you please take care of my baby?"
At this point, Ryujin couldn't take it anymore as he turned his head to the side, and with tears flowing down his cheeks, he nods. The woman smiled one last time as she saw him nod before closing her eyes forever, entering an eternal slumber in peace.
A child's heartbreaking cry filled the house once more, causing anyone who heard it to freeze in their place, helpless.
It's already been a day since, but he was still affected by that event, especially the little girl who has barely eaten anything. She hasn't spoken a single word, and Ryujin would often find her sleeping on the floor of the room where the woman died. She would use her mother's hand as a pillow and sleep in a sitting position, and Ryujin would carry her to her bedroom every time.
He could see signs of her crying whenever he carried her, and it always broke his heart. Ryujin considered himself lucky compared to her as he couldn't imagine the pain of watching a loved one die without being able to do anything about it.
At the very least, Ryujin was older, and he didn't have to watch his parents die.
Ryujin watched as the little girl played with her food with a deadpan expression. He didn't know how to console a child, but he couldn't take it any longer.
He sat beside her and gently took the chopsticks on her hand. He took a small portion of noodles before putting it right in front of her mouth. The little girl lifelessly opened her mouth and chewed with listless eyes.
He looked at her for a long time before he sighed and said.
"Look, I may not know you or your mother, but there's one thing I know, and that is your mommy loved you very much so she wouldn't want to see you sad and hungry. It's not bad to cry, but you don't want to make you mommy worried, right?"
"I'm not telling you to act happy, but you should at least take care of your body."
The words that came out of his mouth was straightforward and blunt, and some would even argue that it was inconsiderate. Ryujin wanted to comfort the kid, but he couldn't find the words to do it, he could only curse himself and pray that it wouldn't make things worse.
"Yui-..."
He was just about to take another portion of noodles when he heard the girl's high-pitched voice murmuring. Ryujin looked at the little girl once more with hopeful eyes, and he couldn't make out what she said, but there was no denying that the girl spoke for the first time.
Noticing his gaze, the little girl slightly felt bashful before she spoke once more in a clear high pitched voice.
"Yui… My name is Yui…"
Knowing that she was slightly getting better, a brilliant smile appeared on Ryujin's face as he introduced himself.
"Ryujin, my name is Ryujin. Nice to meet you, it's fine now you can cry in front of me."
He wanted her to open up and rely on him so much that he unconsciously hugged the girl. He realized what he had done, so he was about to stop hugging her when Yui wrapped her small arms around him.
"Ryuu... Uwaahh! Waahhhh!!"
"That's it, just let it all out. It's okay to cry when you're hurt."
Yui cried and sobbed, causing the initially dazed Ryujin to snap out of it. He whispered the words his mother used to tell him whenever he cried as a kid to comfort the sorrowful Yui.
At that point, the emotions Yui suppressed came all out at once and she cried for hours before she could calm down.