He continued cupping his hands and listened to the blaring sirens in the distance.
After around a minute, the sounds stopped flowing through his ears.
"A villain siren?" he muttered silently.
But now he knew the reason why the town was barren.
Then, he sensed some small disturbances in the essence that surrounded him. He concluded that whoever that was, it was strong enough to affect the essence from so far away, but it also meant that he himself was also far away from the villain, giving him time to think things through.
Obviously, he couldn't break into a private residence to charge his phone, his knighthood wouldn't allow it.
So all he could do now was scatter around to look for anything that could help him with directions.
Perhaps a map of the town that might give him his approximate location. Or even a sign.
A sign... Ferris arrived at a conclusion and immediately rushed towards the abandoned car.
The license plate! Arriving at the abandoned car, he ignored the numbers and letter that were prominent in the license plate and instead looked at the text surrounding it.
License plates always came with where they were issued.
City 11
"I'm that far away?" Ferris couldn't believe what he was seeing.
Unfortunately, only the city number was provided. For now, Ferris's only action left was to somehow deal with the villain. But given his physical state, he wasn't stupid enough to fight it.
Especially the fact that the whole town was evacuated, even though the villain was so far away.
Shiver.
Ferris froze as if he was hit by a tranquilizing dart. That essence just now?
A disgusting wave went through his body—for him, it felt like showering in trash bag juice.
Ferris drew a look of concern on his face, but he gained important insight. He could tell where that wave came from.
Now that he knew the approximate location of the source, he could simply use that to move away in the right direction, away from the source of such putrid essence.
There's no way I could beat whoever that is.
Ferris began walking back to the highway. Thankfully for him, its direction moved away from the source.
At the start, he began jogging at a decent pace.
However, after a dozen minutes had passed, Ferris couldn't help but notice the essence around him shake more and more.
Another dozen passed, and the presence of the putrid essence from before was quite apparent.
He turned around, only to find nothing but a mountain range in the distance.
But he couldn't help but get a bad feeling, and so, he picked up his pace.
. . .
I feel like it's getting closer... is it even a villain?! Ferris was now freaked out more than ever.
With the empty highway stretching endlessly ahead and an unseen presence that seemed to be drawing nearer with every step he took, the atmosphere felt like a strange apocalypse scenario.
. . .
He turned around again, finding the same mountain range.
"I can't see anything." Ferris's voice became a bit shaky. Who knew that being chased could actually double the fear factor.
This time, he looked even closer but he still found nothing of note.
Stomp...
. . .
Stomp...
A large quake began to come closer and closer to him. Even his body wasn't spared from the shaking of the ground beneath him.
This time, Ferris looked back again and was determined to see what the source truly was. He saw the grass fields that surrounded the highway from both sides, and the mountains that were behind the road.
Ferris narrowed his eyes. He was certain the putrid essence lingered right in front of him, yet no matter how hard he looked, there was nothing there.
Until, he finally noticed something off in particular.
The mountain ranges? Ferris spotted an abnormally shaped mountain or rather.
That's not a mountain... Ferris continued watching and focused his eyes even more while he was still jogging.
Mountains can't move!
A titanic creature slowly walked towards his position. Back then it was far enough to be mistaken as a mountain, but now that it was a bit closer, Ferris could actually somewhat make out its details.
He couldn't tell what size it truly was but it definitely wasn't small.
In this world he lives in, villains aren't the only ones that cause calamities.
There are also mysterious beings called Aberrants that appear almost randomly, and they are classified under the same villain designation system.
Unknown beings who come in different forms, they seemed to possess no intelligence and usually relied on their instincts.
They usually come in as disaster level Ogres.
And it was an extremely rare event that they came in disaster level Dragons.
***
Felix, 6th layer Knight.
They were tasked with exploring some underground ruins in search of some ancient weapons they could use against Jörmungandr.
It was a deep abyss that stretched down for eternity, even Yaromech, who was usually outgoing, was unnerved.
Noticing the flicker of unease in his teacher's expression, Felix couldn't resist poking at it for his own amusement. After all, the expedition was quite boring since they were simply hiking in reverse.
"Sir Yaromech," he said with a sly grin, "wanna hold my hand?"
"You brat!" Yaromech raised his fist. "Damnit... it was a bad idea to split the main group into different teams, that was so stupid, that fucking captain!" It was already as clear as day that Yaromech might have a panic attack at this rate.
"Sir, don't start cussing like it's some sort of rehab," Felix replied, slightly chuckling. But he couldn't help but worry a little. "It's not like Jörmungandr would emerge tomorrow, we got plenty of time to explore this place—
"No, don't convince me!" Yaromech solidified himself. His image as a Knight and a teacher to his student were on the line!
"As Knights of the Prophecy we must..."
Chitter.
From the shadows, six pitch-black eyes—glossy and gleaming—emerged, catching the faint light as they locked onto their silhouettes.
Moments later, several hairy limbs unfolded from the darkness, bracing against the crumbling ruins to hoist the creature upward onto the ceiling. Its fangs twisted unnaturally as it moved, creating a skin-crawling spectacle.
Its size was also no joke. Everything about it was completely unnatural. Something like this wouldn't spawn even in the depths of the ruins.
Despite its sudden appearance, it remained perfectly still as if it was waiting for Felix and Yaromech to make the first move, like it was a predator waiting in ambush.
Is that? No way! Felix gripped the handle of his sword but the putrid essence that this massive demon was emitting was terrifying to say the least.
A spawn of Jörmungandr.
They came in different forms and strength levels.
They heralded calamity itself, but to think they are already emerging ahead of the prophecy was unexpected for Felix and his teacher.
Aren't they supposed to come in a year?! Is it because we're deep underground? Ferris tried pulling his sword out, but even as a 6th layer stage Knight, he couldn't find the strength to do so.
Yaromech stumbled on his own words. "As Knights of... Prophecy... we..."
"Haah..." His teacher dropped his head down and clenched his fist. He then called out to his student who was in fear. "Heed me, and listen very closely."
His teacher took a deep breath before speaking with a determined tone. "Felix, what I'm about to show you is a secret technique that has been passed down through my family for generations..."
Secret technique. Felix had his hopes regained. His teacher was a maximized 5th layer Knight. If this secret technique is truly so important...
Then would it allow his teacher to perform moves that only a 4th layer Knight could do? As expected of Sir Yaromech!
This was one of those rare moments that Felix was actually proud to be his student.
Yaromech patted his legs. "This technique requires the usage of your leg muscles, so be prepared, Felix. This is a move you will never forget. Burn it through your retinas!"
Leg muscles? Felix used all of his training and lessons to understand his teacher's words. He instantly concluded that it was a one-time gambit attack that Fighters usually use as a last resort.
Something like the thunderous ground-cleaving slash? Or the white sun-clan's shadow steps of illusion? Or maybe something similar to the Mountain Piercer technique that was taught to us by the Dragons!
Felix held his breath still, and he could finally gain the confidence he needed to pull his sword out. We can do it!
He waited for his teacher to perform his ultimate finishing move so he could also jump in and attack.
. . .
Yaromech slowly crouched his legs, his face seemed to be full of determination and raw fighting spirit.
. . .
"RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!!"
Whoosh.
Not even a second passed and Yaromech already flew by Felix like a blur.
The Knight's Creed.
A Knight must never cuss.
"D-Don't leave me behind, you motherfucker!" Felix also screamed.
SCREEEECH!
The spawn of Jörmungandr began screaming as it tried to pounce on the two running Knights.
***
It was truly a move that Ferris will never forget.
Just like before, when faced with an unbeatable enemy—
You have to run with your life!