part1 · 024-ep24

Episode 24: Anomaly

He was getting used to life on the second floor, little by little, too.

Every day, Ren walked his set routes. Secured water. Searched for food. Observed monsters. Stayed away from dangerous places.

That was how he lived, day after day.

But that day was different.

Walking his usual route, Ren suddenly stopped.

"...?"

Too quiet. The monster cries he'd normally hear from far off weren't there.

Ren gripped his spear. He scanned the area.

"...Something's here."

The moment he thought so. He noticed huge footprints left on the ground.

Ren crouched down.

"...Big."

Clearly different from any monster footprints he'd seen. And fresh.

Ren stood up.

"It's close."

　　　　　◇

Staying alert, Ren tried to leave the area.

That instant—

behind him, something kicked off the ground.

"!"

Ren leapt sideways on reflex. A gigantic shadow pounced on the spot where he'd been standing.

A foreleg swung down, grazing the rock behind him.

—Skrrch!

Sharp claws shaved the rock's surface, scattering fragments.

"...!"

Ren recovered his stance and put distance between them. The moment it landed, it turned to face him. Body low, eyes fixed on Ren.

Only then did he see its form head-on.

"...A wolf?"

It had the shape of a wolf. But it was nothing like any wolf he knew.

It stood chest-high to Ren. Its body was nearly three meters long. Gray-black fur covered it from head to tail, and that pelt was unnaturally thick.

Its forelegs were thick, and the claws extending from them were longer than Ren's hand. Open its jaws, and huge fangs lined them.

And above all—

it was fast.

For such a huge body, there was almost no waste in its movement.

The monster sank lower.

"...It's coming."

The next instant. The monster seemed to vanish.

"...!"

Ren threw himself sideways. A heartbeat later, claws swept past his face.

—Crash!

Deep gouges were carved into the rock wall.

"...!"

Cold sweat ran down Ren's back.

Take one of those head-on, and it would be over in a single blow.

　　　　　◇

The monster came at him again. Ren readied his spear. His target: the chest.

The monster lunged.

"Now!"

Ren drew it in to the last possible moment and thrust the spear out.

—Slash.

The spear's point tore through the pelt.

But—

"Too shallow...!"

Blood flowed. But the spear had been stopped by the thick fur; it hadn't gone deep.

The monster turned. A roar of fury echoed.

Ren put distance between them at once.

"Tough... and fast."

Different from any monster he'd fought. Dodging its attacks, he could just barely manage. But his own attacks weren't getting through.

Like this, he couldn't win.

The monster broke into a run again.

"!"

Ren fled. Into a narrow passage. The monster followed.

Fast.

The gap kept shrinking.

"Kh...!"

Ren ran harder.

But—

A rock wall ahead. A dead end.

"...!"

Ren whirled around. The monster closed in, slowly.

No way out.

Ren gripped his spear again. His hands were shaking.

He'd faced frightening monsters before.

But—

this time was different.

It was clearly stronger than him. Fight it head-on, and he would die.

The monster growled low. And leapt.

"...!"

Ren tried to throw himself aside. But he couldn't dodge it completely.

Sharp claws ripped across his shoulder.

"Gah...!"

Blood flowed. Ren's body tumbled across the ground.

He tried to stand. But his body wouldn't move the way he wanted.

The monster drew near.

"...Not yet..."

Ren gripped the spear. Forced strength into his legs. Stood.

He couldn't escape.

Then he had no choice but to fight.

The monster lowered itself again. Ren fixed his eyes on it.

And—

from deep inside his body, a heat he had never felt before began to spread.

"...What... is this..."

His heart pounded hard. His wound burned. His breathing changed. His vision grew sharper, bit by bit.

The monster's movements—

clearer than a moment ago.

Ren didn't know. What was happening inside him right now.

Only—

to survive.

Ren's body had begun to change, greatly, for the first time.