The Zomdog launched forward.
ROOOAR—!!
She dashed past broken walls.
Leapt over scattered corpses.
THUD—!!
Slid under hanging metal sheets.
SCRAAAAPE—!!
She rushed into the abandoned redevelopment site at the edge of the slums.
Half-built concrete pillars stood like skeletons around her.
Loose cement bags tore under her steps—
Puff—!
Dust burst into the air as she kicked through scattered gravel and broken bricks.
Rusty scaffolding rattled in the wind.
Clank— Clink—
The mutated Zomdog jumped high—
Its massive shadow covered her.
Am I… going to die…?
I don't want to die…
"Save me… Ren…" she murmured, shutting her eyes tight.
Then—
BOOOOM—!!
The Zomdog slammed into the ground behind her.
Concrete cracked.
Before it could bite—
CLANG—!!
Metal chains rattled from above.
SWIIING—!!
Something wrapped around her waist.
She felt her body lift.
Wind rushed past her ears.
Am I dead…?
She slowly opened her eyes.
They were in the air.
Ren was swinging through thick iron chains attached to rusted structures.
"Are you okay?" he asked with a bright smile. "That was a close call."
CLANK— CLANK— CLANK—!!
The chains groaned as they swung.
It really feels like Tarzan… he thought. Damn, swinging with bare hands is harder than it looks. My grip is slipping.
She clung to him tightly, tears forming in her eyes.
"Where were you?! Why are you always late?!" she cried, hugging him.
He blinked.
Looks like I made her cry… my bad.
They descended—
THUD—!!
Landing hard on another rooftop.
He gently patted her head.
"Sorry about that."
She was still holding him tightly, trembling.
He awkwardly looked away.
"…You really look hot in those black undies" he added casually.
She sniffed. "This is not the time to compliment about my undies you prevert…"
Both of them flushed slightly.
He cleared his throat.
"You should go now."
She nodded, stepping back.
"…Don't die," she said before running off.
He clicked his tongue with an irritated smile.
"Why say that out loud? You do realize that's a death flag, right?"
She disappeared behind the structures.
Silence.
The massive mutated Zomdog let out a furious roar.
ROOOOOOOAR—!!
Ren stretched his arms.
A twisted, excited smile spread across his face.
"Now… time to play with the big pup."
The mutated Zomdog dashed toward him.
BOOOOM—!!
It leapt, jaws wide.
SNAP—!!
Ren slid forward.
SHHHH—!!
He passed beneath its body just in time.
He stood up smoothly.
"Are you a dog or a grasshopper? I can't even tell anymore."
The Zomdog snarled.
GRRRRRR—!!
Teeth grinding—
KRRRK— KRRRK—!!
Ren widened his eyes in mock surprise.
"What? You don't want to play? That hurts."
The Zomdog charged again, claws slashing downward.
SWOOOSH—!!
Ren blocked with his short sword.
CLAAANG—!!
The impact sent him skidding back.
SKRRRRR—!!
"You really don't want to play, huh?" he said. "Why are you acting like a dog in heat—oh right. You are one."
He smiled innocently.
The Zomdog roared and chased him.
Ren ran—
TAP TAP TAP—!!
Suddenly he pivoted.
Cut sideways.
SHRAAAK—!!
A chunk of rotten flesh flew off.
SPLAT—!!
"Huh… feels like cutting a pig more than a dog," he muttered. "Whatever."
The Zomdog howled.
AWWWWOOOO—!!
"Calling your pack?" Ren mocked. "Not going to work."
He grabbed a rusted metal rod from nearby scrap.
Threw it—
WHOOSH—!!
THUD—!!
It stabbed into the creature's side between bone and flesh.
But it barely reacted.
Ren's face went cold.
"Useless…"
He picked up another rod.
"But…"
This time he threw it upward.
CLANG—!!
It struck rusted metal chains hanging above.
High above them was an old construction loader crane, its hook holding a massive concrete engine block used as a counterweight.
The chain snapped loose.
KRRRRAAAK—!!
The heavy block swung violently.
Then dropped.
WHOOOOOOM—!!
The massive weight crashed directly onto the mutated Zomdog.
BOOOOOOOOM—!!
The ground trembled.
Dust exploded outward.
Metal bent.
Concrete shattered.
Silence followed—
Only the echo of collapsing debris.
Ren lowered his arm slowly.
"…Let's see if that was enough."
Silence
Then—
Through the smoke—
ROOOOAR—!!
The mutated Zomdog burst forward.
Before Ren could fully regain his stance—
It slammed into him.
Sparks burst from torn electrical wires along the broken wall.
Ren was suddenly blown backward.
CRAAASH—!!
His body smashed into a half-built concrete wall.
The wall cracked.
He slid down slowly.
Skrrrkk—
"—Kh…!"
Blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.
He coughed.
Cough—! Cough—!
Warm iron filled his throat.
Why… am I getting a déjà vu…?
His vision shook.
His head rang.
Pain screamed through his ribs.
Damn… that actually hurt…
For a moment, darkness tried to pull his eyelids down.
But he forced them open.
Don't you dare pass out…
Through the settling dust—
A massive silhouette stood.
The mutated Zomdog.
One of its legs was gone.
Torn off.
Crushed under the concrete block.
Black blood pooled beneath it.
Yet it still stood.
Balancing on three legs.
Breathing heavily.
Grrrrrrrrr—!!
Ren blinked.
Then smiled faintly.
A bit disappointing…
"That wasn't how this was supposed to go."
He wiped blood from his chin.
"But whatever."
His smile twisted slightly.
"Like I even care."
He pushed himself up.
Bones protested.
Crk—!
The Zomdog lunged again.
BOOM—!!
Ren rolled sideways.
SHHHK—!!
Claws tore through the wall where he had been.
He grabbed an iron rod from the rubble.
Spun.
Threw it.
WHOOSH—!!
THUD—!!
It stabbed into the creature's shoulder.
The Zomdog howled.
ROOOAR—!!
Ren dashed forward.
Short sword flashing.
SHRAAK—!!
He carved across its chest.
Rotten flesh split open.
Black blood splattered.
But the beast didn't slow.
It swung again.
SWOOOOSH—!!
Ren ducked.
Slid under it.
Picked another rod mid-slide.
Stabbed upward.
STK—!!
The rod lodged deep into its abdomen.
He let go and rolled away.
The Zomdog twisted violently, rods sticking out of its body like spikes.
KRRRRAAA—!!
It charged blindly.
Ren grabbed another piece of scrap.
Threw it at its face.
CLANG—!!
It struck one eye.
The creature staggered—
But still attacked.
"Seriously?" Ren muttered, breathing heavily.
It slammed down.
He jumped back.
BOOM—!!
Ground cracked.
Ren rushed in again.
Slash.
Dodge.
Stab.
Retreat.
SHRAK—!!
THUD—!!
SKRRRT—!!
Iron rods kept piling into its body.
Its movements slowed—
But its rage grew.
Ren exhaled slowly.
Blood still dripping from his chin.
Pain screaming through his ribs.
Yet—
His eyes were sharp.
Excited.
"Come on," he whispered.
"Don't die on me yet."
Ren ran toward it.
"Alright… now time for a real explosion."
Ren wiped the blood from his chin.
A twisted, excited smile spread across his face.
"I don't like dragging things out."
The three-legged monster roared and charged too.
Ren's eyes sharpened.
"Active—"
He raised his hand.
"Thunder Zap."
The moment the words left his mouth—
His body trembled.
A violent surge of energy flooded his veins.
ZZZZT—!!
Blue light flickered around his skin.
His muscles tightened.
His heartbeat spiked.
W-What's happening—?
Before he could finish the thought—
His body moved.
On its own.
BOOOOM—!!
The ground cracked beneath his step.
He vanished.
In the next instant—
He appeared in front of the Zomdog.
BAM—!!
His kick smashed into its face.
Lightning burst outward.
ZAAAP—!!
The creature was hurled backward, electricity crawling over its body.
Ren landed lightly.
His eyes sparkled.
"That was so cool."
The Zomdog struggled to rise, rods still sticking out of its torso like metal spikes.
Ren grinned wider.
"But not enough."
He crouched.
"Okay then… let's try what I planned."
He dashed again—
Faster.
This time he jumped—
And landed directly on the iron rods embedded in the creature's body.
The moment his hands touched the metal—
ZZZZZZZAAAAAAP—!!
A massive surge of electricity exploded from him.
The rods glowed bright blue.
Energy traveled through every piece of metal stuck inside the beast.
Its entire body became a conductor.
KRRRRRRAAAAA—!!
The Zomdog screamed in agony.
Lightning tore through its rotten flesh from the inside.
Cracks of light burst from its eyes and mouth.
BOOOOOOM—!!
For a split second—
The entire area flashed white.
Then—
Silence.
Ash drifted down like black snow.
Where the monster once stood—
Only a smoking pile remained.
Ren slowly stepped back.
His eyes widened.
"What…?"
He looked around.
"Where's the explosion?"
He frowned.
A little irritated.
"That wasn't what I imagined."
Suddenly—
TING—!!
A translucent blue screen appeared in front of him.
A message popped up.
---
Title Earned:
Alpha Zomdog Burned Barbeque Killer
Strength: +3
Luck: +1
Agility: +3
Electric Element: +1
---
Ren stared at the floating blue screen.
His eyes widened.
Then—
A huge grin spread across his face.
"Hell yeah! That's what I'm talking about!"
Then blinked.
"But… what's the Electric Element?"
He waved his hand casually, a carefree look on his face.
"I'll figure that out later."
He cracked his neck slightly.
"For now, we can move. Just wait for me,
P—"
He suddenly paused.
A thin line of drool slipped from the corner of his mouth.
"Heheh…"