The atmosphere around Sein was thick with tension.
"Where am I?"
"Ted, where are you?"
"Mom! Mom!"
"What's happening?"
Confused voices filled the air as people found themselves in an unfamiliar place, their faces pale and eyes darting in panic. The unease spread quickly, with no one able to make sense of their sudden displacement.
Sein stood still amidst the chaos, his mind calm but alert. He reached into his beast space and summoned Kuro, his loyal companion. Kuro emerged with a low growl, its piercing gaze scanning the surroundings as if sensing imminent danger.
"Ahh!"
"Help!"
"Save m—!"
Suddenly, panicked shouts erupted from the crowd as grotesque red creatures began to emerge from the ground. Their jagged, monstrous forms lashed out at anyone within reach, sparking chaos and terror. Chaos erupted as people scrambled to flee, but the creatures were relentless.
Sein turned toward the source of the screams, his body instinctively tensing to act. Before he could make a move, however, Kuro transformed into his true form—a massive black hound adorned with striking silver patterns across his sleek, muscular frame. His claws glinted like blades, and his teeth were razor-sharp. With a powerful leap, Kuro tackled Sein, shoving him several feet away from where he had been standing.
The ground where Sein had just been standing erupted violently. A monstrous mouth with jagged teeth emerged, snapping shut with a deafening crunch. The air around it was thick with an eerie, crimson rain as a massive creature began pulling itself out of the ground.
Sein steadied himself, calming his racing heartbeat and quelling his fear. Quickly regaining his footing, his sharp gaze locked onto the rising beast. It was enormous, its grotesque form dripping with blood-red liquid, each movement radiating raw, primal ferocity.
Kuro stood protectively in front of Sein, his eyes blazing with ferocity and anger. Acting on his innate ability of future sight, Kuro had reacted instinctively—otherwise, Sein might have been swallowed whole by the monster's gaping maw.
A low growl rumbled from Kuro, his emotions clear as he telepathically urged Sein to give the order to attack.
"Go on," Sein commanded firmly.
In an instant, Kuro vanished, using his space-jumping ability to appear directly in front of the massive beast's face. With a devastating swipe of his razor-sharp claws, he tore the creature's enormous head into shreds, blood and viscera splattering in all directions.
Although the massive red spawn appeared menacing, its Master-level power was no match for Kuro's overwhelming strength as a Grandmaster at his peak.
The moment Kuro dispatched the towering beast, he immediately turned his focus to the remaining red spawns nearby. With swift space jumps, he closed the distance, crushing their heads with ruthless precision, tearing their bodies with his razor-sharp teeth, or ripping them apart with his claws.
Kuro moved like a precise, unrelenting predator, dispatching every red beast that dared to cross his path. Each strike was swift and calculated, his efficiency unmatched, as he methodically dismantled the chaos surrounding him.
His relentless onslaught eased the burden on the others. Among the crowd were Awakened individuals, each fighting with determination to protect themselves and those nearby. Together, they mounted a coordinated resistance, gradually pushing back the tide of grotesque creatures.
After some time, the red spawns finally began to dwindle, their emergence from the ground coming to a halt. The weary group, their faces marked by exhaustion and relief, let out a collective sigh as the immediate danger receded—at least for now.
The people quickly surrounded Sein at the center, their voices brimming with gratitude. Some even cautiously approached Kuro, the massive black hound standing at around 3.5 meters long. Despite their initial fear, they hesitantly thanked him, their appreciation evident.
Most of the red spawns had been killed by Kuro, and everyone understood that without his intervention, the situation would have been far grimmer. Even if they had managed to survive, many lives would have been lost.
"No need, no need," Sein said, waving them off quickly, visibly uncomfortable with the attention.
A middle-aged man stepped forward, his thick beard and sturdy frame giving him an air of authority. His battle-worn demeanor and commanding presence marked him as one of the strongest among them—a Master-level Awakener who had slain the most red spawns after Kuro. "Little brother, what do you think we should do now?" he asked, his tone steady and direct.
Sein paused, taking a moment to scan the group. He saw weary faces—ordinary citizens, frightened children, and a handful of exhausted Awakened fighters. After a moment of thought, he replied, "For now, we've cleared this area, and no more of those monsters seem to be appearing. It's best to stay here, rest, and wait for help. Moving now could attract more of those creatures."
He continued, his voice calm but firm, "Even though Kuro can handle them, and we have skilled Awakened among us, the risk to ordinary people and children is too high. Staying put is the safest option. Reinforcements from the Nethyr country should arrive soon, or perhaps the forces within Ravendale will take control of the situation and secure the area."
The middle-aged man nodded in agreement. "Hmm, I was thinking the same," he replied, his tone steady.
With that, the Awakened worked together to usher the group into a nearby large shop, spacious enough to accommodate everyone. The middle-aged man and the other fighters cleared the area of any lingering threats, while Kuro swiftly and efficiently eliminated the remaining red spawns inside. Once the shop was secured, Kuro returned to Sein, shifting back into his smaller pup form and leaping into his hand.
Once all the people were safely inside, Sein approached the middle-aged man, his expression calm yet determined, prepared to discuss their next move.
"Are you sure?" the middle-aged man asked, his voice tinged with concern.
"Hmm," Sein nodded, his expression serious. "I have to leave. There are people I need to check on and save."
The middle-aged man sighed, a knowing look crossing his face. "Hah, I and the others have no right to stop you. Don't worry, I can handle things here for now."
Sein gave a grateful nod. "Thank you."
After the middle-aged man explained the situation to the others, they quickly came forward to bid farewell to Sein.
Sein nodded in acknowledgment, then swiftly left the shop, his figure gradually fading into the distance.
"Good luck to you, little brother," the middle-aged man muttered under his breath.