It was already midnight, the moon casting its splendorous silver light across the earth. Buildings towered over the lit up city, with citizens still going about their business.
In the cover of the dilapidated alleyways, three teenagers—two boys and one girl—moved in practiced fashion, their silhouettes sneaking through the darkness. Their looks gave away their ages, somewhere between sixteen and eighteen at most.
Grey suddenly froze in his tracks, his brows furrowing in confusion, forcing the two siblings to halt as well.
"What the hell is it now? Your nose not working as it's supposed to?" Aella voiced with clear displeasure.
Aron just stared at him, his gaze frigid. It didn't take a genius to know he was pissed too.
Grey didn't seem to care as he warned urgently, his tone edged with wariness. "I really think we should go back. Something isn't right. This trail… something is wrong with it. Almost like it's different. I can't explain, but I can feel the danger it breeds just from a glance!"
"Tch! Not only are you a dog, you're a bitching one at that. You said the trail was a curse, and we all know Dad and Mum cleared the city before leaving. Any remnants would just be small fries…" Aella objected quickly, her amethyst gaze flashing with contempt at Grey's cowardice.
She sneered inwardly. Tch, if we encounter a curse, I'll make sure you get hit by a few stray attacks. That'll teach you.
Aron nodded at Aella's reasoning. "Aella is right. What are you saying? Dangerous? We are cursed hunters—we eat danger for breakfast. You wouldn't understand. Just lead the way now, or I'll make you choose."
Again with the threats. What a scum! Grey cursed mentally, his eyelids twitching as he gazed at the distinct ethereal trail only he could see.
Cursed energy trails left behind by curses or wraiths usually varied in color based on their rank. Red for low rank, third grade curses and wraiths. Purple for second and first grade. The thickness of the color determined their strength.
And finally, blue for special grades. That was the color of the last high ranked curse he had tracked for his foster parents.
But this trail? It wasn't any hue he knew. This one was black.
Though unfamiliar, he didn't need to be a genius to know it reeked of danger.
He glanced at his foster siblings, aggrieved. These fuckers are going to lead us to our deaths. For a moment, he thought of misleading them through random paths until they gave up. It actually sounded like a great idea—until something darker within him, an evil side he never knew he possessed, clicked.
What if I lead us all to our deaths? Depressing, yes—I die. But these fuckers die too… His eyes flickered ruthlessly. That would mean the end of his miserable existence. But if he could drag these two with him… he would be satisfied, dying with a grin on his face.
He feigned a helpless sigh and shrugged. "Fine, let's go…"
And so their movement continued, Grey at the forefront, trying his best to suppress a heartfelt, depraved laughter. His eyes remained glued to the vile trail as he followed it faithfully.
They trailed it up to the back of what seemed to be a wide, empty parking space at the side of a Walmart.
Grey frowned suddenly as he stopped once again. Something wasn't right. The trail ended here.
"What now! You'd better not cook up another stupid excuse. Don't tell me you led us off trail on purpose." Aron lost his temper. Halting and still not sensing any curse or wraith in sight, his fists clenched, ready to plow Grey into a pulp.
Grey suddenly noticed something wrong—very wrong. His expression twisted as he was about to curse, but it was too late.
A dreadful atmosphere descended from nowhere. Stifling, oppressive, dreadful—the air itself seemed to choke them as fear sank into their bones.
Even Aron and Aella, who had been fuming moments ago, were suddenly overcome with bone rattling primal terror, one that stemmed from their very souls.
The smell of death was thick in the air. It was hard to breathe, hard to move, hard to speak. The only thing left mobile were their pupils.
Clack!
Clack!
Clack!
Slow, steady footsteps resounded, each step hammering frigid terror into their bones.
"Oh? What do we have here?"
Their pupils swerved frantically, tracing the source of the voice. When they saw the figure, their souls went cold, sweat seeping from their pores in torrents.
A pair of twisted, ram like horns. A figure so tall, with eerie long arms reaching its knees. Its legs bent unnaturally, like hind limbs. Shadows obscured the abomination's full form, but they could tell what it was right away.
It was a creature that would cause even their parents to retreat on sight. A creature that promised so much horror, any human in their shoes would choose death ten times over.
It was a demon.
Not a curse. Not a ghost. A freaking demon—the royalty of hell.
"Oh, Cerberus… it seems some cubs tracked us through you…" The demon's voice was unpleasant. Try as it might, it was like broken shards scraping across the ground, producing a chilling screech warped into human words.
Grrrrrgh!
As though the terror of the demon wasn't enough, a cursed monster stepped out from the shadows into the moonlight, its figure now in full view.
Th That's… that's Cerberus. A freaking Titan grade cursed beast! Aron trembled uncontrollably at the realization.
Even their almighty parents were only special grade hunters, capable of dealing with special grade curses or wraiths. Titan grade? Only a saint grade hunter could stand against that.
Aella seemed to realize this too. Her gaze went bleak, tears gushing from her eyes as she trembled uncontrollably. Sweat soaked her as she struggled, but she couldn't break free from the oppressive force clamping down on her figure.
Even if their parents arrived, death was certain today.
Aron shivered, regret flooding him. Why didn't I allow Grey to turn back? Why did we have to hunt without our parents' approval or presence? I was so stupid.
By now, the foul stench wafting from the cursed three headed horror clouded their nostrils. The beast crept forward at a deliberate, slow pace, as though savoring the show.
A warm current flooded Aron's groin as he concluded, We are fucked!
But unlike the others, Grey just stared at the air in a vacant daze.
[Awakening: 100% / 100%]
[Congratulations! You Have Awakened The Divine Exorcist System!]
Am… am I dreaming?