The brave protagonist, which is me, shuddered at the terrifying grin of the unknown man.
I took a stance, and separated my legs, bringing the right to the front while the left was rooted at the back. Bending my knees, I put forward my arms and fist, ready to defend my life and receive the enemy's attacks.
A thunderous laughter broke the deadly silence. The one laughing even punched his stomach several times as if wanting to take something out of his guts. After a soldier, I met a madman.
"AHAHAHAHA!"
The cheerful head slasher laughed like there was no tomorrow.
I looked as if I was witnessing a mentally depraved butcher losing his shits. My grip on the slippers on each of my hands tightened, and my eyes sharpened, trying to find the enemy's weakness.
My weapons are elastic and sturdy, but will it withstand the sharpness of the opponent's blade?
"Haha…Are you…Are you…wahahaha…kidding me, man?"
The young man panted for air; his eyes were swelling with tears from his exaggerated laughing.
"Ah…my stomach is hurting…"
Clang!
The sound of the sword hitting the floor made me jerk. I straightened my posture. My gaze landed on the sword that fell on the floor. The hilt was only a few feet away from me. If I grab it, perhaps I can escape alive.
"Don't think of it, man. Look at you, you're even injured. Did you fight with the monsters? Which monsters were them? How about your weapons? Did you kill them barehanded? What are your skills?"
The killer threw a barrage of questions, while I sweated profusely after my intention was caught. The man was sharp and observant, making the brave protagonist, which is, unfortunately, me, lose my cool.
My initial plan was to fight, but thinking seriously, who even fought a battle with flip-flops?! Only mothers could, but I'm not.
"Why did you kill them?"
My stupid mouth asked the killer even though I wanted to run away already. After all, what can an injured man do in the face of a psychopathic killer? What I need to do is to buy time, and search for an escape.
The escape system I had won't appear unless I'm at death's door.
It was a cheat given to a protagonist since the hero can't die until he hasn't fulfilled his role. Though it doesn't make sense when the original died just like that, I think that the guardians could only intercept if the story had begun sooner, to the time when the former protagonist was still alive.
How did the hero die anyway? Who was the Creator they mentioned? Is it the author of this story?
I dodged the object that was thrown at me.
I was glad that my senses became sharp and my eyes alert even though I was thinking. Finally, I am beginning to learn how to multitask. Maybe next time, I can try painting while watching TV.
The killer kicked another head and it rolled away.
The stench of blood was gut-wrenching, plus the sight of the entire house was revolting. It was like a slaughterhouse where the butcher chased the pigs before butchering them ruthlessly, throwing their parts and splashing their blood everywhere.
"I'm the one asking here, man. At least answer my question first!"
The man, whom I perceived was in his late teens because of the uniform he wore, grinned at me maliciously. Black pants and red vest over white long-sleeve polo. The white polo was now covered in blood, dyeing it as red as the vest.
I scrutinized the person before me: tall stature, lean physique, short hair, and young-looking face.
"Which school are you from?"
My question earned a glare from the boy. He bared his jagged teeth and spoke with oral liquid splashing around. I dodged as he listened.
"NONE OF YOUR F*CKING BUSINESS! ANSWER ME OR I'LL KILL YOU!"
The answer confirmed that the person was indeed a student.
He swung his sword skillfully, and I dodged every attack. My body was light, and my movements were agile. My speed can be even greater than a frog's tongue!
Because of my continuous dodging, the student became furious. He must have thought I was just playing with him. His attacks lost their rhythm, and I took the chance to block the student's hands.
I grabbed his wrist and twisted it without thinking of the sword's reach. Due to this, the sword slit my upper arm but I endured the pricking pain and kicked the student on his knee.
"Argh!"
"Students aren't allowed to possess sharp objects."
He gritted his teeth, and roared, "I'll kill you, just you wait!"
"I'm not really good at waiting, kid."
The student fell. Then, I sent my knees to meet his chin. My hand holding the student's right wrist slid to the blade before I sent another kick to his chest. It was lucky that the student's grip on the sword loosened, so when he flew away, the sword was left in my hand.
F*ck this! It hurts!
I gripped the blade even though it was sharp. My plan to unarmed the kid succeed, at the cost of my palm. I have to heal it quickly. A painter's hand is the most precious to him.
I walked to the kid and pointed the sword at his neck.
"Why did you kill these people?"
Now, there was no room for comedic stunts and senseless thoughts.
I was truly enraged and serious. My light brown eyes flamed with contempt and fury, boring to the young man's grinning face.
"I'm just cleaning thrash man! These people aren't awakened! What else are they going to do in this changing world? Survive? Hahahaha."
The student spit on me, the foamy and stretchy liquid landed near my foot.
He cackled, "Soon, they will all die anyway and become food for the monsters! They should thank me for killing them, I saved them from their impending suffering! Thank me instead!"
The student, whose name was written on the name tag, smacked the blade with my bare hands.
Luis Cole.
A passing character. Is he an extra? A supporting one? Or perhaps a villain?
I sighed. I've never killed someone. Even the thought of murder didn't pass my mind. But now, why do I think of cutting down a rotten branch before it spreads as if it's the natural thing to do?
I had no time to play with an immature kid who was taking lives as if he was just plucking flowers in his school's garden, humming a song while merrily throwing them anywhere, leaving them to decay on their own.
"What made you think you're doing them a favor? You killed people as if they were nothing but flies! How are you different from those monsters?!"
Without any hesitation, I stabbed the sword on Luis' leg.
"Argh! F*ck you, man! Why are you killing me?! I'm an Awakener!" He shouted. He tried to grab the blade and pulled it out, but I pinned it deeper on the ground.
"SO, WHAT IF YOU ARE?!"
Ah. I lost it.
I pulled the sword and stabbed it back on the other leg. Even though I was surprised at the strength I mustered, but still, couldn't bring myself to pierce the blade on the student's chest.
Luis screamed and glared at me. His eyes were brimming with murderous intent. Then, he smiled knowingly. The bastard realized I didn't have the balls to kill him.
Yet.
"You won't survive too," Luis said hoarsely. "You can't even kill me, how are you going to fight your enemies? You're going to pierce their legs with huge nails and leave them in their place? AHAHAHAHA…man, you've got no balls!
"You think I'm the only one who wants to wipe out useless humans?! You're wrong, man! There are plenty out there like me! Someone who thinks they are chosen and above humankind! They won't even bat an eye to kill these pests! Mwahahaha!
"Awakened people will soon rise and build a new world for the strongest! Ordinary people will have no space in the world anymore! They'll just become baits like worms to catch the monsters, so is it wrong of me to let them rest in peace already?!"
Luis kept yelling nonsense like a cult member preaching their morals and beliefs on the street, gathering and encouraging new followers to join their cause.
I shook my head. A thought dashed in it. So, trash like this can receive awakening as well. What are the requirements to become one, anyway? Were they granted the power as fodder for the story?
Suddenly, my thoughts snapped into reality as I felt something on my feet moving and slithering on my skin. I looked down and saw a string of red liquid encircling me like it was trying to tie itself to my foot.
I jumped in shock. But with the string of blood tied on my ankle, my movement lost balance and I fell on my butt.
"Hehehehe!"
Luis cackled. The blood trickling down my legs was moving and creeping up towards me.
"What the f*ck is this?"
Is he some sort of liquid bender?!
The blood that was scattered everywhere started to move in my horror. The blood on the walls retracted to the floor slowly and joined the pool gathering in the center. The once bloody-painted surroundings became unbelievably white and clean as new.
"This? This is my ability! Cool, isn't it?"
Luis laughed hysterically like a madman. He leaned his head on the wall and looked up, his eyes rolling on the back from his incessant laughter.
He's crazy.
I reached for my foot and untied the blood, but my hands were caught by another rope made of blood. It encircled my arms and forcefully twisted it back. I winced in pain, biting my lips to restrain an agonizing cry.
"…ngh…damn it!"
I used my free hand to push me upward and grab the sword. However, I failed to even touch its hilt as he was pulled back by the rope.
On the other hand, slowly, the puddle of blood gathered in the center began rising and taking a form like a human. Sticky and stretchy arms sprouted from its upper part, the end connecting to the two cords of blood.
The red fluid stretched like a slime, some parts were dripping down on the floor, but the drops then slid and slithered until they joined the larger pool.
The sickening creature was like a cycle of water. The circle of blood formed as its head stretched upward until there were strands visible as if it yawned. Two holes were created to where the eyes should be, and the void below extended as if the head grinned at me.
The blood on the mouth bubbled as if the bloody figure was regurgitating, and then it leaned its head back and threw a powerful spit.
I couldn't escape as I was pinned down, thus my body got covered in blood.
This feeling is disgusting. If I open my mouth to puke, some drops will enter.
The stench smelled stronger and my stomach lurched as I felt the liquid traced down my face. I wanted to cuss and scream at the student, but my fear of ingesting even the smallest drop of dead humans' blood kept my mouth shut. Rather, strength surged within me and I managed to pull my hand away.
Luis laughed harder witnessing my struggles and my disgusted face. He tried to move his wounded legs, but the sword was still pierced in the ground hard, with his flesh in between.
Snap!
The strands of blood were cut!
Without wasting time, I lunged at Luis, my right hand smashing his head on the wall while the other swiftly pulled the sword and sliced the thread of blood holding my feet.
"Argh! You old man! Why the hell are you acting like a hero?! So, what if I killed them? I didn't harm you! I even said I'd spare you! You f*cking old geezer! Leave me alone!"
Luis wailed as his hands grasped his flooding wounds.
I wiped away the blood on my face, pity and hesitation left my eyes. Then, I answered drily, "I guess some Awakeners are better off sleeping forever."