Gulp!
The young lad, taking a deep gulp of saliva, stood resolutely, trembling with fear while breathing heavily. Summoning all his courage, he cautiously turned around to face the entity he had been dreading.
Perched atop a heap of rubble, not far from the exorcist, stood the possessed—a being unlike any ordinary possessed. Normally, a possessed's skin was pale, reflecting the fact that its body once belonged to the deceased. This possessed, however, had an eerie green, wrinkled complexion.
It lacked a full head of hair, with only a few sparse strands emerging from the back. Its mouth was parched and creased. To complete its grotesque visage, it had unnerving amber eyes and no external ears, only small, rudimentary ear holes.
It bore no claws, only a pair of human-like digits, albeit green and wrinkled, with nails extending about six centimeters in length.
Dressed in tattered leather trousers and a ragged cloak, it wielded no weapon. The creature was indeed a monstrous sight.
Staring at it, breathing heavily, the young exorcist gripped his katana, prepared to draw it at any moment.
"This isn't a typical possessed. I'm certain of it. Its aura is unlike anything I've ever felt before. It's even more formidable than... him." He thought, recalling his encounter with Eddy.
At this point, the possessed had yet to notice the exorcist, who was insignificant in its eyes. Its only movements were slow glances as it surveyed the horizon, taking in the scenery.
"It hasn't seen me. Good. I can still escape."
Gradually retreating, step by cautious step, the exorcist began his escape plan.
"Please, don't make a sound."
Step
Step
Step
The exorcist continued his deliberate retreat, praying that the possessed remained unaware of his presence.
Unfortunately, while still surveying the horizon, the possessed spotted his movement and slowly turned towards him, eyes widening in surprise. They locked gazes, both motionless. The boy was once again trembling in fear, but the possessed appeared merely confused. Lowering its gaze, it noticed the exorcist's previous victim and raised its eyes once more, recognizing the culprit.
This time, its gaze was not one of confusion but of deep vexation. It snarled, revealing a mouthful of sharp, pointy teeth.
In that fleeting moment, the exorcist understood the gravity of his predicament. He had only two choices:
"Run... or... fight."
Without hesitation, the exorcist turned and fled, pouring every ounce of strength and adrenaline into his escape. As he sprinted through the debris, his pace was abruptly halted. He whimpered in terror as he found himself face-to-face with the very entity he was fleeing from. The possessed, now closer than ever, rhythmically moved its fingers, amplifying the lad's fear.
"He caught up to me? Without breaking a sweat?! If I can't run... I'll have to—"
In the brief interval between heartbeats, the possessed, once meters away, lunged toward him with lightning speed, its nails poised for an attack.
Perhaps driven by sheer adrenaline, the young exorcist saw the attack coming and narrowly evaded it by leaping backward with all his strength.
Swush!
He had dodged the attack. Gaining some distance, the exorcist unsheathed his weapon, his breaths coming in sharp, ragged gasps as his body, fueled by adrenaline, threatened to collapse.
"He's faster than any normal possessed." he thought, his anxiety escalating as the threat loomed before him.
Glancing down momentarily, he quickly assessed himself and then refocused on the possessed.
"Was I hit?... No. I dodged it just in time. If I had hesitated even a millisecond longer, I would probably be headless now."
Gulp
Taking a deep breath, he steadied his trembling arm, tightening his grip on the katana. Assuming a ready stance, he prepared for battle.
"I have too much left to accomplish. No matter the obstacle, I won't die here—"
But then, a sudden change occurred.
Cough!
Cough!
The exorcist coughed violently twice, covering his mouth with his hand. When he withdrew it, it was stained with fresh blood, and his mouth was similarly tainted.
Suddenly, his knees gave way, collapsing under the weight of an unseen burden. His body grew unbearably heavy, the fatigue surging in a way he could scarcely comprehend.
Falling to the ground, he managed to catch himself with his hand. As he pushed his upper body up, he began to cough again, vomiting more blood.
Cough!
Cough!
"What's happening to me?! I was fine moments ago. How could—"
It was then he noticed a fresh droplet of blood trickling down his slightly cut upper left cheek. The pain from the wound was sharp. Wiping the blood away with his forehand, he examined the crimson stain on his jacket.
"I was... hit? It barely qualifies as a scratch. How did I—"
Once more, he erupted in a torrent of blood. His coughing intensified as life ebbed from him. Finally, his hands gave way, and he collapsed onto the floor, motionless, his gaze fixed on the blurry rubble around him.
Stomp
Stomp
Stomp
The rhythmic thuds of footsteps reverberated in his ears. The possessed advanced slowly, taking its time as it approached. Upon reaching him, it squatted, its unholy eyes fixed on its fallen prey.
With the last vestiges of his strength, the young exorcist raised his gaze to meet the monstrosity's eyes. Tears streamed harmoniously down his face as he stared at the possessed. The creature then diverted its gaze, rising to its feet. Moving behind him, it seized one of the exorcist's legs and dragged the nearly lifeless body forward.
***
Slash!
Thud!
A possessed's head ricocheted off a rubble and fell to the ground. The growls and snarls of famished possessed echoed through the area. As the possessed charged towards him, Eddy swiftly sliced it in half. Cutting through the oncoming possessed with precision, Eddy continued his battle with the encroaching horde. Finally, he dispatched the last of them. Surveying the scene, he saw not a single possessed left standing, only the littered corpses of possessed, humans, and fallen exorcists.
Seeing this, he sheathed his katana and began to search for any remaining remnants of the possessed.
Navigating through the remnants of the neighborhood, he observed the exorcists, some catching their breath while others wept for their fallen comrades. Examining their faces, Eddy noted the palpable trauma they bore. They were mere novices, thrust into a battlefield with scant experience. It was undoubtedly an unfair scenario, but the generous monthly stipend they received had its price.
"Not everyone can handle this. Just because you possess rinn doesn't mean you're fit to be an exorcist. It's a pity they had to learn the hard way," Eddy mused, surveying the scattered exorcist corpses.
His thoughts were interrupted as he came to a halt, standing motionless while contemplating deeply. The thoughts gnawed at him, a source of significant concern. He glanced at a possessed's corpse not far from him and pondered.
"These possessed were too weak to be worthwhile. Compared to Jeremy, dealing with them is child's play. If that's the case, they must be newborns."
He stroked his chin, continuing to scrutinize the corpse.
"Over a hundred newborns congregated in one place. Was it mere coincidence?... Perhaps."
His eyes widened as he recalled a chilling phrase he had earlier dismissed.
"'Rejoice, peasants, for you are alive to witness the greatest game of the century. The Thanksgiving Massacre.'"
He remembered the phrase and, almost in disbelief, lifted his head, shaken by his realization.
"If these possessed are newborns and incapable of speech, then they are unintelligent. Unintelligent possessed have never been known to write. If that's the case, then the massacre isn't—"
His thoughts were abruptly halted by an intense, spine-chilling aura. The other exorcists also sensed it and stood paralyzed. For a few seconds, all remained stationary, gripped by fear and confusion.
Eddy stood still, staring blankly at the ground.
"W... What is this feeling? This aura? It's... malevolent. It's coming from—"
Gasp
A swift gasp escaped him as he looked up to see the same green beast that had defeated the exorcist. The possessed, dragging the exorcist's lifeless body by the leg, halted its advance. With a single motion, it flung the corpse toward the exorcists.
Thud!
The body fell in front of Eddy, emitting a foul stench that made all the exorcists recoil. Eddy, examining the corpse, finally recognized the partially decayed face. It was the cowardly exorcist he had reprimanded just an hour earlier. Now, he was barely recognizable, a sack of rotting bones and flesh.
"My name is Decay." the possessed declared in a deep, resonant voice, tinged with pride.
Raising his head in terror, Eddy stared once more at the possessed.
"It's intelligent?!"
"Please, do not fear me. I mean no harm to you. I am merely a prophet of the god I serve—a god who has decreed the death of every soul present here." the possessed added, narrowing its eyes as it surveyed the exorcists.