Sota tightened his grip around the iron rod in his hand as he stepped forward, forcing his trembling legs to move toward the monster.
The creature slowly turned its head toward him.
Its blood-red eyes locked onto Sota, glowing with a hunger that felt almost alive. Thick saliva dripped from its jagged mouth as it let out a low, distorted growl.
For a moment, Sota's body froze.
His fingers tightened unconsciously around the rod, but his feet betrayed him—taking a step back on their own.
The iron rod in his hand shook violently.
The monster lunged.
In that instant, Sota's instincts screamed.
He ducked down just in time, the creature's claws slicing through the air right above his head. The sheer force of the attack sent a chilling gust past him.
Sota didn't waste a second.
He scrambled to his feet and ran.
He didn't even dare to look back.
Behind him, the monster let out a sharp, furious growl. Its eyes darkened further, its hunger intensifying as it chased him like a predator locked onto its prey.
Sota rushed into a narrow alley.
But the moment he entered, his heart sank.
There was no exit.
The alley was dead-end.
Darkness clung to every corner. Broken crates, scattered debris, and thick shadows made it feel suffocating.
Without thinking, Sota rushed behind a large wooden crate and crouched down.
He covered his mouth with both hands, trying to suppress his breathing.
His chest rose and fell rapidly.
His heartbeat grew louder… and louder… until it felt like it was echoing inside his skull.
Thump… Thump… Thump…
It felt as if his heart would burst out of his chest.
Then—
Footsteps.
Heavy… slow… deliberate.
"Thammm…" "Thammm…" "Thammm…"
The monster had entered the alley.
Sota's entire body stiffened.
He pressed himself harder against the crate, as if trying to disappear into it.
The creature moved deeper into the darkness, its steps echoing unnaturally.
Its nose twitched.
It was sniffing.
Searching.
Hunting.
Sota's breathing became even quieter. He bit his lip hard enough to almost draw blood, forcing himself not to make a sound.
The monster came closer.
Closer…
Until it stopped right behind the crate.
Sota could feel it.
That presence.
That terrifying gaze.
It felt like something was staring straight through him.
His body went cold.
At the same time, not far from there—
A small child sat on the ground, trembling uncontrollably.
Tears streamed down his face.
"N-no… I don't want to die…" "Please… don't…"
From the other side of the street, a clown rushed forward with a group of children.
He noticed the child immediately.
Without hesitation, he ran toward him.
"Hey! Don't sit here—it's not safe!" he said urgently, his voice filled with fear and concern.
The child pointed with a shaking hand.
"T-that monster… it went that way…"
The clown looked toward the alley.
But there was nothing visible from his angle.
Still, he didn't take any chances.
He quickly picked the child up and moved away with the others.
As he left, his eyes instinctively lifted upward.
Above—
Medusa was still fighting.
High in the sky, the massive monster towered over the city, its grotesque tentacles lashing wildly.
Medusa moved like a shadow.
Dodging.
Striking.
Cutting.
Again and again, his blade sliced through the creature's tentacles.
But something was wrong.
The moment a tentacle was cut—it regenerated.
Again.
And again.
Medusa's eyes narrowed.
"What… is this?"
"If this continues… this monster will never die."
He raised his left hand.
A complex magical circle formed instantly, layered with intricate symbols glowing in dark energy.
Black lightning surged from it.
The energy shot toward the monster.
BOOM—
The attack landed.
A violent explosion of black and green gas spread through the air.
Without hesitation, Medusa charged forward again, sword in hand.
Meanwhile—
Back in the alley—
The monster suddenly lashed out.
With a powerful swipe, it struck the crates.
"THAMMM!"
Wood shattered.
Boxes flew everywhere.
Dust filled the air.
But Sota—
He had moved just in time.
He had slipped behind another stack of crates.
Using the chaos, he grabbed one of the crates and pushed it with all his strength.
"DHAMM!" "DHAMM!"
Multiple crates collapsed onto the monster.
For a brief moment, it was buried under debris.
Sota didn't stop.
He ran.
As fast as he could.
He reached the spot where the child had been—
But he was gone.
Sota's eyes widened.
"Ahh…!" "W-where did he go?!"
He looked around desperately.
Nothing.
No one.
Before he could think further—
A presence.
Cold.
Heavy.
Right behind him.
Sota slowly turned.
The monster stood there.
Its body had changed.
It was swelling.
Expanding unnaturally.
Flesh twisted and pulsed as if something inside it was growing… or breaking out.
A foul, unbearable stench filled the air.
Sota's grip tightened on the iron rod.
This time—
He didn't step back.
He raised the rod.
He stood his ground.
He took a deep breath.
One.
Slow.
Controlled.
The monster stepped forward.
Then—
It lunged.
Time slowed.
Sota focused.
His mind echoed with Medusa's voice—
"In a fight, many things matter… strength, speed, endurance…"
"You may not improve everything… but stamina… control over your breathing… that you can improve."
"Control your breath… and you can last longer."
Sota inhaled.
Steady.
Exhaled.
Calm.
And then—
He moved.
"AHHHHH!"
The monster slashed with its claws.
Sota sidestepped at the last moment.
The claws barely missed him.
He swung the iron rod upward.
CLANG—
The rod struck the creature's limb, leaving a shallow cut.
Sota immediately followed with another strike—
But this time, the monster pulled back.
Too fast.
Sota's attack missed.
His hands trembled again.
Fear crawled back into his chest.
"If I keep fighting like this… I…"
Before he could finish—
The monster pounced.
It slammed into him.
Sota crashed to the ground.
The air was knocked out of his lungs.
The creature pinned him down.
Its mouth opened wide.
Rows of sharp teeth glistened in the dim light.
It leaned closer.
Closer—
Sota's vision blurred.
His grip loosened.
His eyes slowly shut.
And then—
"KRCHHH…"
A wet, tearing sound echoed.
Blood splattered across the ground.