The mob of living corpses lunged at Sam with excessive brutality. Standing his ground, Sam swung the laser blade in a sharp, horizontal arc.
Slash.
The beam cleaved through the first man to reach him, splitting him from shoulder to hip. A spray of pitch-black, foul-smelling blood erupted from the wound.
Pounce.
Sam's summoned beasts intervened. With predatory speed, they tore into the defiled bodies, their razor-sharp teeth and jagged claws ripping through throats, erasing the attackers from existence. The bodies collapsed onto the grassy hill as the sun began its ascent.
From the window, the Archbishop watched. For the first time, a flicker of genuine fear touched his eyes. He had seen this image before. A man, a blade, and two hounds fighting with such ruthless efficiency. Slowly, his frantic confusion shifted into a chilling clarity.
When he scanned the treeline, the sniper was gone.
"Hahahaha... I understand now. Oh, my God... Hahaha!"
