C-1_V2

  Stunned unable to think of what to do, I just was staring at the absolute monster who severed the head of a captain in literally less than a second.

  We couldn't even sense his presence nor his approaching sound.

  The beast even stood in front of us showing us his crushing abilities.

  The Cerberus looks just like the book description but way more horrifying.

  Somehow the beast appeared with smocky dark aura, his presence was ripping through its surroundings as if an image that got a piece of it cut off or erased in a messy way.

  I couldn't even see Cerberus's face... both faces.

  The beast was as big as a tiger if not bigger, with six limps only using four to walk, and holding the head of the dead captain in the other two.

  The beast had no furr, it had a very thick skin like a rhino.

  It's muscles were pronounced but infused in bundles.

  The beast has sharp claws as will as long sharp curved teeth.

  The tail ends with another head.

  Then after the beast showed off for a second, it was enough to give the soldiers the chance to open fire.

  But as the soldiers threw all their ammo, the beast already disappeared.

  ...Then as the soldiers started looking around in horror as they reloaded their weapons, one by one, their heads were getting severed without giving them the chance to even swallow the fear that fell on them.

  Until... well, I lost signal, or more precisely the man died.

  One of the things I remember taking a glimpse of is the underside of Cerberus, it seemed a little.. different.

  I woke up and looked at my feet, surprisingly it was working, but after just one second, extreme pain flowed through the bones of my legs.

  It took it more than ten minutes to cool down, By that time I was already on my feet getting as far from this place as possible.

  It was hard to walk on these legs, as well as being very slow... 'slow?' Hmmm.

  Well, that would be just crazy don't think of doing "that", but... hmm just maybe it'll...*sigh*.

  Hmmm, I'll just check, am not going to do it, I mean, who would attach a beast's legs to his body.

  Those rabbits were fast even an injured one was faster than I was.

  Still, it's a crazy.

  I thought of asking Ciphr but I already know his answer. He is crazy.

  Now then I was walking towards the spot where I left the dead body of that humanoid rabbit.

  The trip won't take long, and as I thought a while later I reached the spot.

  I saw the dead body in front of me still where it was, great.. or is it?

  I approached the corpse and started thinking everything over, is it a good idea.. obviously not.

  After pondering for a while, I guess living in these woods made me crazy enough to do something as psychopathic as this.

  Cutting his legs, the bones were rather way more solid and harder to cut than the human bones.

  After an hour of cutting through hard muscles and solid bones I was finally finished.

  But before I detached my legs to put new ones, I pondered for a while, thinking it through one last time.

  Sigh, I knew I am going insane, I used my knife to detached my legs and it was very much painful.

  Finally detaching both legs, I reached out to the beast legs, and as was attaching them a cold horrifying breeze carried menacing chuckles, it was enough to freeze my nerves.

  But I just went and attached the legs

  I felt deep pain piercing the my flesh and bones, but as it seems those legs held no memories.

  The feeling of those lege was as alian as it can be, the sensation was natural.

  After that it took half an hour for the pain to fade, and an hour until I managed to stand up, and two hours until I started walking.

  I started Unconsciously angling my knees to accommodate my new and different legs.

  Surprisingly I was managing to get comfortable walking on them pretty fast, but running was still out of reach.

  Now that I have legs, there is one way to go, to go away.

  That's what I was hoping for but, sounds of footsteps already surrounded me.

  ____

  2_C-2

  As I stood motionless, listening carefully there were about four surrounding me, hiding behind bushes.

  For now I already am thinking of running away but my new legs are still not functioning well.

  I drew out the gun and the knife in a second, prepared for what to come.

  Although... I wasn't really prepared to this.

  From each direction, on four limbs, the long-ears assassins were surrounding me, their faces were missing replaced by a caved in bloody flesh.

  They were infected, that's a problem, although their movements were less fluid, it seems as if the little parasites didn't have full control.

  At that second I already considered my options, to fight is an obvious suicide, despite everything they are still fast and have another creature inside them.

  More over my best weapon doesn't have enough bullets for all four, I have enough for two at best.

  But there was another way to kill them all.

  I rushed, forcing my newly hired legs into overdrive, I was clumsily jogging towards a specific direction.

  The four beast chasing me, with two in the front and another two way behind.

  Slowly but surely forcing my legs to run through the woods, a very sharp pain started biting my legs.

  But I kept running, as I was sweating and breathing heavily.

  It seems the parasite didn't know how to drive their new car, with their rigid movements, clumsiness, and lack of eye sight, the beast struggled as much as I did.

  Or maybe they just had some time for a little fun chase.

  Either way I managed to reach the spot I wanted.

  Now in front of me the waves sliding over the gray shore, a very wide lake with lifeless blue water, and a small wooden rusty fishing hut on the side, slightly raised ubove the water surface.

  There I just had to awaken some octopus gang to deal with them, or at least give me enough time to run away.

  As I kept running towards the shore followed by the beasts, I stop on the water, as just my feet is covered with water.

  The beasts are only few meters away, I just hope that the octopus will awake fast enough, But I guess it wasn't the best plan.

  Before the four reached me, I rushed towards the hut running along the shore.

  The four lunged diving to the water then changing course to chase me along the shore.

  Thankfully, the noise and mayhem was enough to awaken the invisible creatures, and they chose the ones that looked like their long lasting enemies the most.

  In mere seconds the four beast were held in the air by unseen tentacles.

  Resisting and twitching was useless, then the four seemed to give up.

  As this was happening I was already in the fishing hut hiding.

  As the four beast stopped resisting, their chests cracked open, pouring blood down the body.

  The parasite finally revealed themselves, the little creatures who were the size of a cat, clingged to the invisible tentacles and started biting them.

  But am not here to find out who is stronger, thus I was already back in the woods but this time my direction is back to the... *sigh*, back the city.

  I've faced a lot, but the Cerberus was too much, a baby parasite is already too much.

  Running through the woods, am starting to get used to running in these legs.

  Slowly, my speed is slowly increasing, I assume that I am running at fourth kilometers per hour at the moment.

  If I run for long enough time I'll reach the city wall today.

  In front of me was a wide river, I remembered this one, the first time I had to go through it, but this time I'll just jump over it's distance.

  As I rushed in my top speed, and the second I stepped on the edge I lunged in maximum force, I felt like I was flying, but sadly I couldn't reach the other end.

  Mud on my feet was annoying but I hurriedly clean it off and continued running through the woods.

  Unfortunately since I don't have a map I'll have to go through the way I came from.

  Even though I planned to go back to the city, I might actually just stay in the old house that I found the mysterious book at.

  It is a very big possibility and a better choice.

  As I was going up the cliff, there is was, the sound of stones abusing stones. The sound of hammering rhythm terrifyingly getting loudly as it gets closer to you.

  There in the upper part of the cliff, at the edge the Golem was running like a gorilla towards me.

  Now I am facing a new problem, how can I deal with this tank.

  ______

  2_C-3

  Approached by the ground shaking sound of stones slamming against stones I had to find a way out, I looked at the behemoth and lunged to the nearest tree.

  As I climbed the tree and got considerably high, the massive golem didn't even slow down, at that moment I realized what will happen and jumped at the last second.

  The stone headed tank just ran through the trees and absolutely decimated it.

  While I jumped to another tree, the sweat was already pouring down my face.

  After the Golem realized that I now am on another tree he just started running towards it.

  I jumped again but this time down to the ground because what I was doing was to no avail.

  Rushing as fast as I can deep through the dense forest, but unfortunately the behemoth didn't get slowed down that much, 'Shit SHIT SHIT' .

  After running for a while I calmed down enough to think straight, as I thought for a second I immediately remembered how the Golem didn't go through the river, so all I had to do to get away is to go through a river...*sigh*.

  Here comes the problem because the only river that I know have only trouble on the other side of it, which meant it's useless.

  As I was running and dodging trees ahead of me my speed kept increasing, the rush of dopamine started to effect how I think, it started to vive me some crazy ideas.

  The behemoth kept rushing towards me as fast as it can with its faceless stone head and weird gem on its chest.

  The trees bending like glass... mostly breaking.

  The Golem was assaulting the ground more than anything, It felt like sound was traveling through my feet and bones.

  As i got more and more tired and after glancing at the stone tank multiple times, an idea resounded in my head, but I'll have to figure a way to throw Golem to the water.

  ...well, I guess I'll just have to make it angry and he'll chase me blindly, and jump the river and let the heavy beast roll towards the river.

  As I was running I started grabbing stones from the ground and throwing then at the Golem, and it didn't take a lot of throws to make it rage.

  It started rushing faster and faster and faster, the trees now get torn off like sheets of paper.

  And now I just have to go in the direction of the river.

  After a few minutes of running I was close enough to the river to be able to see it through the dense trees.

  This is not the same spot I crossed twice.

  The behemoth seemed to be less angry so I had to throw more rocks at it.

  And just like the first time the beast started rushing through the dense trees as if rushing through a flower field.

  And then finally I reached the edge of the river, clenched all my muscles and jumped as high as possible.

  In less than a second I was already on the other side, I flinched a little surprised that I reached the other side, but then immediately looked back.

  And as I planned, even though the Golem tried to stop itself the heavy weight and it's speed were too much to stop in a fraction of a second.

  The stone tank found itself in the middle of the river, and started crazily moving all its limps trying to hold on to life for one more second, but these movements gave the rushing waters the ability to tear through the stones like pealing an onion.

  It didn't take long for the Golem to be torn to pieces.

  And as those pieces started flowing with the river the gem that was in his chest peaked my attention.

  I followed its movements and jumped to the water, grabbed the gem and got out of the water.

  It was rather hard to get out of the water because of its extreme currents.

  Eventually I managed to get out of the river, and immediately went up the cliff.

  I looked back at the river and I saw... 'oh no' I saw two faceless long-eared assassins, they were far enough but still it's rather problematic, it's as if The Cerberus is actively chasing me.

  I turned back towards the woods and took a deep breath, in those woods there is a bunch of walking corpses, a bunch of dead animals that I want to avoid but at the same time I'll have to go to them to be able to find my way back.

  Sigh... for now I'll check the mysterious book, as usual a new page.

  The title: [Stone Golem] 'heh, classic'

  The description isn't much of a "news" to me who dealt with it, most of it I already found out.

  The there was a section about the gem:

  "Giving life, giving motion, even the dead still can give devotion.

  Resting on a tomb and it'll awaken the dead, to protect the motionless gem.

  A stone wanted by the winged elves, the night rock of the dead"

  ...what's up with those winged elves, anyway I'll just go.

  After putting back the book, I went off to the woods.

  ______

  2_C-4

  Breathing heavily after that long chase, I glanced around the woods really never change, as usual there are no birds and not a single animal around let alone animal sounds.

  I got used to the atmosphere somehow, but some of the things in these woods are really horrifying.

  After a while of walking in a specific direction, I said in an audible voice-

  "Do you think I can deal with Cerberus"

  Just as always, Ciphr loves to take his time to reply, then the cold breeze carried his whispers which sounded more eerie and more uncanny than usual-

  "You'll d?e, naturally"

  Those whispers sent shivers through my bones more than usual not just because of his words, but those whispers sounded more scary.

  I didn't reply and kept walking, to be sincere was there anything natural in this place anyways?

  ...if I remember correctly the moon eclipse can occur at an absent moon and at a full moon, which means one week from now I might have to deal with another moon dweller.

  I don't even remember how I killed the last one, I was a running corpse and managed to survive by a thread.

  The gem in my hand seems to be the same as the one on the tomb(the small stone statue) and gives life to corpses.

  I don't think they're as strong as those rabbits or the Golem but I feel like they'll nor die easily.

  How annoying, hmmm, what I'd I took the stone instead will that work?

  Or should I run away on sight.

  Well, am already here in front of me is a group of animals, as dead as I remember them and walk just fine.

  There dead eyes, and damaged or injured bodies, and sometimes they don't even have head or limbs, all that just gives me chills.

  As I approached the group, in a second all of them turned their heads towards me without even changing their position nor their posture.

  Gazing at me with their dead eyes, and some with no eyes.

  It was annoying how everyone can see me even though I am invisible at the moment.

  As the bunch started hysterically rushing towards me, my knife was already in my hand.

  As I thought they are way more clumsy than I imagined, some even hit the trees and fall back but the majority are running clumsily towards me.

  It seemed as I'd they're missing some muscles.

  As they reached me I used my speed to either cut their heads or cause long injuries.

  One by one they fell to the ground, some birds tried attacking me but faced the same fate.

  After dealing with them I turned my head towards the gem that awakened the corpses.

  It was the same as mine, I took some steps towards it but then the gem glowed in bright red light, It was bviously trouble.

  I Unconsciously turned my head towards the corpses...!!!shit!

  They started rising to their feet as if nothing happened, the severed heads reattached and the severe wounds stitched back naturally and disappeared.

  THAT IS TROUBLE!

  I turned back towards the gem and lunged as fast as I can, I snatched the slowly dimming gem and ran towards a specific direction.

  The light of the gem now fully disappeared.

  I looked back but those damn corpses are still following me, I kept running and running even though I was way faster I had to keep my energy.

  After running for an hour I glanced back just to see two corpses already fell down.

  HAH, I just have to keep running, but in reality it didn't take even five more minutes for the rest to all fall down.

  I put the gem in my bag and slowed down, it was obvious that the gem alone can't do much, only on a tomb that it revive corpses, and on massive stones it seems it makes Golems.

  How much power is there in these gems? Goddammit.

  After walking through the woods for a while, I froze in place as I saw in front of me!! A massive grasshopper!!? It was the size of a car standing still few meters away from me.

  The creature seems to not move for a while neither will I.

  After a while the grasshopper just disappeared flying away with extreme speed.

  Just what was this thing doing here??

  After pondering for a minute or so I just kept walking forward, through the woods it seems I am very close to the house.

  My hopes are now up, I was getting excited until... I saw this.

  ____

  2_C-5

  Absolutely terrifying !...

  What's in front of me about ten meters away, a deer with a torn off face, as scary as it is what's actually terrifying is that Cerberus it and it seems he made it recently.

  The deer's seems too alive if not for it's face I would never realize it's true condition.

  So Cerberus made it a few hours ago, but why, what's going on?!!

  It's seems as if Cerberus is just playing with his prey, toying with it to make it as scared as possible.

  But this still doesn't make any sense.

  The dead deer stopped moving instantly the moment it realized my existence and turned it's head towards me.

  Flinched, I took out my knife, this time I want to try to kill a spawn of Cerberus without the gun.

  I stared at the motionless dead creature for several moments until the abomination took the first step, lunging towards me I didn't even flinch...this time.

  As the deer was rushing with its clumsily movements and flimsy limbs, the creature wasn't even as fast as a deer, the only redeeming quality is that it reached it's body's top speed in an instant.

  The second the deer got close enough I dodged to the side, testing my ability before I do something dumb...this time.

  The corpse just hit a tree at top speed, it's blood spilled onto the tree painting it in a terrible image.

  The dead deer turned around and jumped forward running towards me.

  I stood my ground as the abomination got close, the I dodged it before it reached me then I cut through the deer's chest and abdomen with one slice from it's side.

  The creature kept running but then stopped before it crashed it's...skull? Into another solid tree.

  It seems the cut isn't deep enough to provoke the parasite inside to show off.

  Anyway, the corpses just rushed again coming to me for another slice, and delivered.

  It was rather easy... wait?! Easy!!!

  Oh no OH NO.

  There must be something wrong... if there is a child of Cerberus here then Cerberus is here most likely watching in silence, witch possibly means that Cerberus is either entertaining himself or he is exhausting me to make it easier to ear me.

  A possibility since I'm fast and I have a gun.

  As the dead deer rushed again, I simply cut one of its legs and started running away towards the abandoned old house.

  The creature was way too slow and clumsy to be able to follow me.

  And I managed to lose it after running for only few seconds... or so I thought.

  After running for a while, I thought I lost it now, but then right in front of me is a faceless deer.

  I flinched then I saw about twenty faceless deers grouped in front of me.

  The bunch were motionless then in a flash they all turned their heads towards me.

  I trembled, I might manage one or two or even four, but this.. this is impossible.

  At that moment there was only one choice to survive... RUN!

  As the herd started maniacally running towards me, I had to run to the side instead of running straight through them.

  A bunch were already in front of me and rushing towards me, all I had to do is to jump over them.

  As I landed I glanced back just to realize that their numbers is way more than I thought, they are at least forty.

  I rushed forward continuing my way around the flock, as I glanced at the swarm a deer jumped towards me from the behindmy sight, the impact threw me to the ground.

  The second I got up there was already no distance between me and the faceless deers.

  Forced to it I jumped up and stood over one of the high branches.

  As I was up there watching them try climbing to no avail, after a few seconds a weird looking mutated and deformed deer with an inflated and transparent chest, I couldn't see what's inside it but I had a good idea about it.

  It's probably a Cerberus embryo, and by that I mean a stage between being a weird parasitic bug and a four legged killing machine.

  Because of the distance between this particular tree and other trees I was in a way trapped.

  Could it have been... planned? No no, no way, At least I hope it isn't.

  For now I'll have to think of a way out of this situation, my best way to kill the Cerberus embryo is by using the gun but what about the others?

  More over looking from up here I can see that there are more than fifty faceless deers, this is a shitty situation.

  A few seconds later as I was pondering a way to run away, I started hearing a terrifying sound sound and by that I meant the sound of claws scratching the wood.

  Looking down, I could see the embryo!!! Wait what is this!?? No no.

  Down there, I could see the body of the deer that used to have something in its chest, now it's on the ground with an open chest, blood pouring from it's guts.

  The sound of claws resounded again, much closer.

  I knew what that meant and I don't want to even check it.

  Soaked in sweat with a terrified expression, I jumped as far as I could.

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  _____

  2_C-6

  Landing exactly on the spine of a faceless deer, the Landing wasn't so clean in fact my weight was enough to make the deer roll over.

  Falling om my knees I was surrounded by so many faceless deers, it looked like a horror portrait with all these deers with no faces and just blood pouring slowly from what used to be faces.

  The second I was on the ground I didn't take more than a fraction of a second for me to immediately jumped as fast as possible.

  The image I took a glimpse off of as I touched the ground and glanced at the herd of deers, froze my sweat and blood in an instant, but I didn't have time to be afraid.

  As I landed on the far end of the flock of deers I took off in high speed, the deers obviously tried to follow me but they obviously failed.

  Looking in front of me, before I get too far, a dark small silhouette appeared out of a tree, slowly moving and it stood in front of me blocking my way out.

  The silhouette stood motionless in front of me, forced to stop running I stopped and took a closer look at it from a far.

  The creature seems the size of a dog, not a big dog, having four limbs, long claws, sharp black eyes, no hair except for the neck with short hair.

  The rest of its skin is covered with elongated silver scales that shined like a new piece of metal, and it had two heads one of them in its correct place while the other was at the tip of the tail, the front one seemed more predatorious while the other one seemed more humanoid even though it lacked everything except for a brain eyes and ears.

  Despite the young age of the this baby, it's body was muscular beyond even massive animals are.

  As soon as took the shortest glance of it, I lunged in another direction in a right angle of the beast.

  I ran as fast as I could, running fast enough to feel my muscles tear, my sweat flowed like a waterfall, my breathing speed up, even my vision blurred.

  But is all that enough to get away, after running and running and running for what seems like eternity I took a glance back.. OH SHIT!!!

  the beast was following me, but was running slowly as if waiting for me to fall tired.

  My eyes widened as I saw it, running towards me with a playful speed and effort, but the distance between us shortening second by second.

  'THINK, THINK, THINK'

  ...I got something, it's not a plan but it's something.

  As I was running I prepared the peerl-belt that I took off because it seems useless, I know it's still useless now after all this thing has four ears and an animalistic nose, I have no chance of hiding.

  I put the belt then I jumped as high as I could, reaching a top hight of five meters I fell on high branch.

  I stood there as I prepared my second tool, the gun.

  The second I pulled it out I heard the sound of claws abuse against wood, as I thought the second I landed on the tree branch the creature heard me, because I was invisible as I jumped he had to wait until I make another sound, but with his four ears am not so sure.

  The instant I realized where the direction of the sound was and how close it was immediately I jumped down, while am still invisible I could surprise this creature if I was smart enough.

  But as I just off of the tree I felt agonizing pain of my flesh getting torn, the pain was blinding and it was in my leg.

  As I was falling I glanced just to see the monstrous claws that glided through my flesh.

  I tried to fall down on my other leg and roll forward, hopefully surviving it, since those legs can handle great falls, but can I?

  Fortunately I managed to survive that fall, and immediately silencing myself, I pointed the gun towards the tree.

  I looked carefully but couldn't see a thing, the pain in my leg was getting greater and the blood that came out is enough to make me clearly visible to the creatures nose.

  I couldn't hold my breath longer so I let go and took a deep breath for the first time in a while, I hoped to hide my presence by making no sounds but now it's useless.

  Taking raspy hoarse and painfully tired breath after another, the creature seems to take its time or that's what I thought.

  I took a piece of cloth and wrapped my wound as hard as could, letting no blood out.

  That was my mistake because the second I was done wrapping my injury, the beast attacked me from the back, embedding his claws into my back and then pulling it off with a piece of my flesh.

  As that happens I tried to resist and fight back, despite the pain I directed the gun at its chest and.. pulled the trigger, five shots were fired each one implanted deeper than the other and more deadly all directed at its heart, each shot prevented the creature from attacking again.

  The creature seemd to stop moving, immediately I made enough distance to take a breath, just then that the pain from my back fell on me like an avalanche giving me no power to even think, the only reason this attack didn't cut my spinal cord and kill me instantly is because I still had my backpack on, which now is torn and covered with blood.

  I was trembling in pain and agony, with this amount of blood coming out it was certain that I'll die, my blood spread covering the ground for at least half a meter.

  Is that the end, will I die?

  I can't even think with all this ?gonγ.

  ______

  2_C-7

  The darkness was already covering the sky with infinite number of glowing stars, for some reason each one of them seemed quite lonely.

  Underneath this grim atmosphere a mortal human was getting abused by sheer pain and agony, the human was twitching and trembling on his own blood that covered the dirty ground.

  Two shining gems fell off of his torn of backpack and a mysterious book that seemed shiny today for an unknown reason.

  The human was under a pain so agonizing enough to make his brain stop thinking, now his head empty populated by screams echoing between his ears threatening to burst them open.

  His movements seemed to resemble a fresh out of water taking a breath that'll just kill it.

  The human shivered from side to side with each move giving him more pain, but also forces him to move more.

  One of the two gems shined with bright light but the human didn't stop his movements.

  A calming feminine voice sounded in his ears silencing his inner screams. The voice seemed ethereal almost existing from the east to the west, saying-

  "Don't die now, I have more for you, he-he-he, you are in my debt "

  As I heard that voice the pain and agony shivered and disappeared slowly leaving me in shock, unable to comprehend what happened.

  Slowly but surely I started to regain my ability to think, and the first thing that came to mind is "what happened?" How am still alive?

  I am still on the pudle of my blood still on the ground, I kept looking and gazing at the distance, the pain might have left but it left something behind, a scar.

  I rested my head on the ground, the blood is already cold, and my head spinning none stop.

  After a while I turned my head upward, at that second I saw that the moon had became less than half now already, It's going to disappeared soon.

  I rested my hand on my chest the!! What is that?? I felt something solid ingrained in me chest, planted and as solid as glass

  I perked up and too off my shirt!? Thar then I saw it, well the gem thar I have two off of, one of them is now in my chest, the skin and flesh surrounding the gem dark and wrinkled with deep grooves, it seemed like multiple deep injuries in my chest all leading to the center.

  I was surprised horrified and a little disgusting, I almost vomited.

  It looks like a tumor holding onto a gem, with the gem trying to plant itself as deep as possible.

  So... who said those words? Obviously not Ciphr and I don't think the gem could talk... could it?

  Well, if the gem could keep long dead animals alive than I guess... it could keep me alive.

  How terrifying to think about, so basically my life is connected to this stone...

  After pondering for a while I remember that the voice that seemed eerily human, said "you are in my debt" ...well, shit I guess, nothing good comes out of depth, especially not from an unknown entity capable of keeping someone alive.

  I glanced at the dead Cerberus infant it was as motionless as a statue, but it's mere presence is enough to give me chills and shivers, I am sure I already got PTSD from this encounter.

  But most importantly, if an infant was able to do me this badly what will the adult Cerberus do...

  I shivered unable to stop my muscles from tensing, it was rather impossible not to feel terrified.

  Each and every cell in my body is now ingrained with the feeling of fear and terror from Cerberus.

  I looked at my stuff that fell from the torn bag, a book some fruits a knife a broken gem! wait the other gem is broken?!

  I grabbed it's pieces inspecting it, after a while of looking at it with a surprised expression, at the end I found out nothing.

  What happened? It is possible that this one got shattered to keep me alive, while the other just became a connection.

  Either way I can't know for sure.

  After eating and resting and thinking about it, my plan to leave is just more and more vital than ever, I must leave before Cerberus stops playing.

  It is possible that those faceless deers and the Cerberus infant got made actually a long while ago, long before my first time going through the road.

  I grimaced, turned my torn off backward into a small bag, I then started walking in a hurry towards the isolated old house.

  As I was walking through the woods with careful and hurried steps, my brain started scaring me more and more, with the possibility that Cerberus is already there waiting, but... if you think about it is he actually not there watching me walking with horror in my eyes.

  Cerberus really have been tormenting me none stop, even Ciphr wasn't... well, at least Ciphr isn't a death sentence yet.

  With these thoughts abusing my cranium I didn't realize where I got, now in front of me is a river, a small one, that river is a special one because it leads to the old house, great am almost there.

  All I have to do now is to reach the house then from there I can find my way to the wall of the city.

  With that I set off while smiling, walking by the river side, and for the first time I didn't face any problem...

  ______

  2_C-8

  As I was walking along side the clear water of the running river, in the middle of the green woods under the growing light of the yet to rise sun, I was walking hurriedly with fear despite the smile on my face, the pain from yesterday was still carved deeply in my head, preventing me from even having an inner monolog, I merely was trying my hardest not to remember yesterday but that only made my head occupied more by it.

  After a while my steps slowed down a little, my head began to work again, anxiously thinking about useless scenarios of possible futures, the worst part is that I only was scaring myself by thinking about it, because I didn't even try to think of a solution in case any possibly happens.

  Either way the river side road to the old house, was rather peaceful and calming, almost like connecting to the earth itself.

  As I looked down I saw "my" legs and I flinched, with a grim, it was really irritating and horrifying to have unhuman legs attached to yourself, even though I probably survived because of them the reality remains the same, it was almost horror.

  I looked forward and!! What!?

  I froze the second my eyes fell on it. It was another massive locust!?

  That's the second time I encounter a big grasshopper, and just like the last one this one also was bigger than a horse.

  I stared at the creature with a frown, a second later the locust turned it's head towards me in a sudden movement stared for a minute than...

  Flew away.

  Sigh, what the hell is with these massive bugs??

  I looked up, in the distance horizon a few black dots were flying a hurd fast enough to challenge the fastest birds, the creatures seemed to have a specific destination, and even from this distance I could discern that those are a hurd of massive locust flying through the skies.

  What is their destination and why are they only passive?...

  I turned back to my way, I then resumed walked, and just like before I wasn't walking as fast as I walked in the beginning... and this will spill some blood.

  !!I heard a loud roar, matching that of no animal I know of, the roar was deep and sharp at the same time, sending shivers through my core bones.

  I looked at the direction with a careful frown, I started at the distance, my heart racing death itself.

  And... yes I saw it for the first time, in the far distance on top of a massive tree, a dark tiny silhouette of... well, Cerberus!!

  'Shit, SHIT, SHIT'

  Immediately, I turned back my head with terror tearing the expression off of my face. I started running as fast as I could, faster and faster and faster.

  My heart was clearly being abused as I forced my legs to run even faster that a motorcycle, the whispering winds started sharpening their tones and whistling as I cut through the air.

  Every second drained more blood out of my face than a fatal wound, turning my face to the color of ghosts and vampires.

  I am half sure that what Cerberus did was on purpose just to play a little game for fun.

  You know a creature is overpowered when the play with their prey.

  But as little hope I have of survival still I'll try.

  After that thought, finally I laid my eyes on the old house in the short distance, but my hopes just had to be crushed...

  My pale face cracked with horror as I saw a silhouette on top of the roof, as I trembled I saw the silhouette again clearly this time.

  With an abused heart I laid my gaze on the creature which jumped down anticipating me, it was just a faceless animal, but this one is a tiger.

  The blood was thick but still dripping down it's head, I could see his brain even from this distance.

  Yet something specific was different in the concave face that was torn off, this one still have an upper jaw or at least the part that holds teeth and fangs, while having no nose and no eyes.

  It seems Cerberus was experimenting huh!

  As I was gazing at the tiger, he chose to attack, rushing with full speed towards me, his movements weren't crocked nor clumsy, he charged with the precise movements of a real tiger but way more barbaric.

  As the faceless tiger lunged at me I jumped to the top of one of the trees, the faceless creatures can't see but they are too good at listening they can find me in a second.

  As I stood on a branch the tiger lingered around my scent then turned it's head towards the tree, lunging at the tree, then the tiger started climbing relatively fast.

  But instead of running away I pulled out my knife, jumped down, and sliced through the back bones of the tiger, as I slid down I got slowed down by some bones, I then fell to the ground and gave myself some space away fromthe tiger.

  The tiger roared in agony and fell to the ground, but since this is just a puppet it didn't care for the pain nor injury, what annoyed it really was actually that the tiger body is now isn't functioning properly.

  As the tiger rose from the ground it could only move its frontal limbs, while the other two weren't moving at all.

  The creature ignored the situation and started running forward on two... well, it was already dead meat the second I harmed his spine.

  After few minutes the tiger was on the ground dead, sigh, it took a long time to deal with it.

  But as the parasite started bursting out of the chest, I heard multiple sounds, the second I looked I paled, about eight Tigers appeared out of the woods, all faceless with only their upper and lower jaws intact.

  'SHIT' I now have to deal with a big bug and eight Tigers...

  ______

  2_C-9

  'Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit'

  The eight Tigers wasted no time, attacking me on sight not letting me even register the horrible situation.

  The bug was still slowly protruding through the dead Tiger's chest.

  As the herd rushed towards me with bloodlust, I had only one good idea in mind to survive.

  I lunged forward towards a specific direction like my life depends on it, a few seconds later I was in front of the old house I then opened the door, entered, closed the door behind.

  The monsters were very close to catch me but none of them was fast enough to challenge the rabbit legs.

  After closing the door I brought a heavy old wooden desk to the door and rested the desk in touch with the door, making it even harder to open the door.

  The sound of claws tearing through wood was growing loader and loader almost enough to tear my own two eardrums.

  I could hear twenty slashes every second, overwhelming my sense of safety making me Unconsciously take a step back.

  I grabbed my knife tightly, then started praying foe a few seconds.

  I turned my head to the left and saw a small window... 'oww perfect' I grinned.

  A few seconds later as the bunch of barbaric Tigers were helplessly trying to dig through the wood, well, it wasn't so helpless.

  Even though their claws are meant to tear flesh, and to grip wood while climbing and not to tear the wood, they were very close to going through the door.

  I lunged through the air piercing the chest of one of the Tigers, as the bunch registered my presence, on the other hand I was already running away in hurry back towards the window.

  The Tigers might be fast but not as fast as me, in their dreams.

  The Tigers roared in a cacophony none stop while slamming the ground with each leg, hoping to tear the flesh of the weak prey.

  The second I was close enough to the small window, I jumped through the already broken glass window.

  I then rested my back to the wooden wall exactly underneath the broken window, all for my hopeful chance of killing some.

  A fraction of a second later a tiger jumped through the window and as he went through, the broken glass of the window torn multiple wounds throughout the tiger body.

  While the tiger was flying through, i clenched my knife and sunk it into the chest of the faceless tiger giving it no time to react.

  After that the tiger flew to the floor like a rag-doll, with no wait another tiger flew through, I flinched and immediately did the same thing.

  And after the last one fell to the ground, the chest of the first one was already split open, despite the short time the parasite got enough time to break through.

  I panicking stuck in the same room as seven parasitic massive bugs froze my blood, I had to react fast.

  A fraction of a second was enough to pull me back, I turned to the window and jumped through it.

  And now that I am out I'll have to find a way to deal with those damn bugs, I glanced around and saw a big enough rock.

  After struggling to move it to the window, although the rock was only a little bigger than half the window still, it was larg enough to prevent any from getting out.

  A second later the bugs realized what happened, the herd of parasitic bugs started lunging at the window, desperately trying to get out at any cost.

  The herd of newly awakened bugs screamed as loud as their vocal cords allowd their screaming was sharp.

  I closed my ears and began to think of a way to distroy the herd... a few seconds later I got an idea, 'I'll burn the house' .

  I roamed around searching for the tools, since I already know how to make fire it won't take long.

  The bugs are still desperate trying to get out, without a host they won't live long anyway.

  'Got it' I brought the tools to the old house, even though I slept in that house for a day before, but I never held no sentimental attachment to it.

  More over I could sense eerie ghostly presence in this rusty shelter.

  I remember seeing ghosts while sleeping, but now that I've encountered ghosts I can recognize their presence better.

  'Done'

  The fire already started burning the weak wooden walls, the flames are eating it like a snake not even a real meal.

  I took a few steps back, the good thing is that the wooden house is far from trees, surrounded by stones with a river flowing close to it, it seemed like a perfect giant campfire.

  Watching the raging flames brought back some old memories from before I went through the wall, I ignored those memories easily as if those were nothing.

  The fire was yellowish with so much smock.

  The bugs were probably already dead.

  While the young man was watching the fire envelope the wooden house, something slithered through the branches of the trees, sneakily going from one branch to another from one tree to another, getting closer and closer.

  The young man sensed a presence but the bug was too slick and sneakly.

  ______

  2_C-10

  As the unassuming man was watching the burning house with a bright smile, a vile creature was slithering through the ground fast and sneaky.

  The man watched the raging fire for only ten safe seconds while not expecting anything bad to come so soon.

  The bug snuck closer and closer until it reached the right distance, lunging at the defenseless human !! With a knife to the skull, within one second the sneaky creature fell dead to the ground.

  It seems the human wasn't so defenseless after all, more over this was an obvious trap, but a creature that is not yet even an infant obviously won't be so smart, and more than that the human never let the fact of the ninth tiger slip his mind, making this just so easy.

  Now that am done with all of them am going to leave now, I still remember the direction back to the wall, all I need is to be fast enough reaching it before Cerberus finds me.

  With a frown I looked at the sky, it's almost evening, *sigh*, I gazed back at the old house and with consideration I could feel the ghosts fleeing away from the burning house, as if they themselves might burn.

  I turned away and started walking in the direction that I remember coming from in the first day.

  My steps were hurried as usual, the fear of this bastard doesn't subsides nor disappear just a constant continuously pushing me to run away.

  The eerie woods that I once walked through never lost their luster, just as a darkly existence with darker shades and shadows.

  None of those shadows followed the correct movements of their objects.

  But I ignored all of that and kept walking forward through it.

  ..."Hey, are yo- obviously you are listening, hmm is.. is Cerberus here" I said with a serious tone and a fake confident expression.

  A few moments have passed with no response, I waited for a few more seconds, then I repeated my question with more conviction...

  Then the winds carried the dark eerie answer, his tone as terrifying as always if not more-

  "He ?s closer than you th?nk... long ago~"

  Then he chuckled with an ominous tone.

  My blood froze and my heart sped up, my bones shivered and my muscles tensed.

  I rested my back to a tree trying to gain some of my consciousness back.

  My pale face held onto a dead expression, the thought of Cerberus being so close meant that I'm already dead.

  I might have nine minutes before sunset and the night is disadvantages so that'sa problem.

  The most important question is, why didn't Cerberus attack yet? Is he playing?!

  I stood back up weakly, after some clumsy steps I started running faster and faster, hoping to get back to the city.

  Every second while running took my breath, slowly but surely I was getting closer and closer, finally I started to feel like I'll make it and finally get back to safety, I might have to deal with the mysterious group but if they are as human as I remember then I'll choose them over this damn forest.

  ..Finally I can see it in front of me, the city wall just twenty meters away, it's expanse that surrounded the city is as impressive as ever.

  I cautiously approached the white wall taking a step after a step.

  ...then a breeze of cold air washed over my ears.

  The ominous feeling soaking my core making me shiver, then I heard the dark horror of his eerie whispers-

  "No"

  Then I blinked and as I opened my eyes!!

  I found my self in s horrifying world, screams breaking through my eardrums none of those screams came from human throats, but they all screamed in agony, the city wall and the city and the trees all disappeared leaving only mountains and hill of corpses expanding to the horizons, and the ground became an ocean of bugs twitching constantly and moving none stop, the clouds turned to black mists and the sky turned dark red and ominous.

  Eye balls flying through the air and they all look straight at my eyes, small drops of blood dripping down from them.

  And there were so many things that my brain couldn't describe.

  after just a fraction of a second I fell trembling to the ground in horror, there were things that my brain couldn't compromise.

  All the bugs flowed towards me climbing my feet and covering me, corpses rose from within the ocean of bugs trying to drag me down.

  I took one look at my hand and.. I couldn't see it it, as if it was eaten.

  I screamed with horror then...

  I blinked, I opened my eyes as fast as I closed them!! I was finally out of this nightmare, my face I'd as pale as snow and my chest moving none stop to try and take a breath, my lungs whisled as I took a few deep breaths.

  My hand are still trembling in fear, and my heartbeats I can hear it in my head.

  After a few minutes I finally calmed down a little bit, just enough to finally look up and see what's in front of me.

  The old house that I burned, is in front of me!! With no sign of ever getting burned, it didn't make sense... but what does, *sigh*.

  I clenched my fist and looked around in panic, left and right twice, well good there is no Tigers.

  I thought that maybe I went back in time, somehow this house is back.

  I stood up with a trembling limbs, the fear was imbued into my bones but... I'll calm down eventually.

  I went to the old house walking slowly with a pale face soaked in sweat.

  ______

  2_C-11

  As I walked weakly into the ominous house and opened the front door, what I saw was no different from what I remember.

  The same ragged women walls and the same dirty old floor, and the old but comfortable bed, and the scary bunch of bird skulls littering the corners of the hut.

  But there was something that I overlooked last time, very big words written with black ink on the wooden wall just above the bed.

  It says:- "Don't trust the book"

  I flinched as I read it, well I do remember it but never gave it the slightest attention until now, am not sure why, even though it seemed important.

  This place is really as eerie as I remember it, I got used to the feeling of not being alone but this place makes you feel like you are accompanied by.. well, many.

  There is probably multiple spirits reside here for whatever reason.

  I could vaguely sense there presence and the closer sunset comes, the stronger and the more precise this sense becomes.

  I can easily feel the presence of multiple spirits crawling around the wooden wall of this old house.

  *Sigh*

  I might end up having to live here, since Cerberus is chasing me ill have to run away but running away will surely end my life, either because Cerberus is faster or because I might encounter something as deadly as Cerberus.

  But if I live here then I must find a way to deal with Cerberus.

  I'm not sure but I have a feeling that this old house might have more secrets, I'll just have to dig deep enough.

  An hourlater... Well, I said that but no matter how much I searched I found nothing at all, as if the only good thing here is the mysterious book.

  This place is getting gloomy I guess it's already sunset, the place seems very small now, but the darker it gets the heavier the presence of spirits become.

  I can feel their gaze lingering at me, how creepy.

  I've felt worse.

  ! I flinched as I noticed a weirdly shaped spirit motionless in the corner, it looked a little like a bird but with many legs, only two touching the floor while the rest are off the ground menacingly with their sharp claws, the bird had multiple eyes situated in a similar fashion to a crown around the head, and with a very long sharp beak.

  I slowly got closer to the bird but it didn't startled it, well that's better.

  Getting even closer, the bird was silent, so I got even closer carefully.

  Then I sat right in front of the bird, and still no response, as if the bird just doesn't care.

  Then I noticed something underneath the bird, the wooden floor underneath the bird was slightly different with a square cut, seems interesting...

  I extended my hand towards the odd square of wood underneath the bird slowly, but the second I touched the wood !

  The bird screeched lunaticly, and turned formless like smoke, then clenched to my hands and turned more dense like liquid.

  I flinched and fell backwards and tried to get rid of it to no avail, the spirit slowly seeped in my right hand turning it blue, and taking control over it.

  More than that is not just the horror of seeing a spirit seep into your hand but the pain was the worst part, feeling like numerous needles endlessly going through my flesh and bones and getting out of the other side.

  The pain was so weird it can not be described as pain, it was more like an alarming sensation that doesn't stop.

  Slowly but surely the weird sensation disappeared but when I looked at my hand I was terrified!.

  Bird legs bird claws multiple bird eyes and bird skin, grew through my hands protruding out of it like cancerous mutations, even feathers and beaks grew on my hand turning it to a mutated abomination.

  My skin paled and my heart stopped foe a second, then I took a deep breath banting none stop in a panic.

  The growths wrapped around my hand, 'shit, damn it, helll'

  I just didn't know what the hell to do now, I was just panicking as I watched my hand turn to a mad-mans painting.

  Then after a few minutes of twitching in horror, finally the pain disappeared but... my hand still looks like a nightmare abomination.

  I tried to move my hand but no matter how hard I try I couldn't.

  I just kept looking at the horrible image of my hand, I was about to vomit.

  After a few more minutes I got up but I still couldn't move my hand, I then looked at the corner with the odd square of wood, and moved towards it.

  And looked at it for a little while then I tried to dig it open with a knife, it took some effort but in the end it broke open revealing a hidden box.

  I looked at it for a second then I lift it out, and put it on the wooden floor, I looked at it the box was olso made of wood but it had marks carvings and patterns. Making it a little more odd, not something you'd expect to see in this old wooden little house.

  I opened it with my left hand, my only able hand at the moment, inside it I found!! 'Shit' nothing, it was damn empty...

  ______

  2_C-12

  *Sigh* empty box huh, how irritating.

  My hand turned into a mutated abomination just for nothing, well 'shit'.

  I grabbed the box and threw it at the wooden wall, I obviously was angry why wouldn't I, huh?

  The night is just getting closer and darker, it's already an hour after sunset.

  I looked at my right hand with sorrow and agitation, it already gone too unrecognizable, far too deformed and transformed.

  resting my back at the wall, I gazed at my hand even more, for moments after moments.

  I tried to use will power to forcefully make my hand move yet it was to no use.

  I kept trying and trying and no matter how close I felt to finally do something, it just didn't work.

  .

  .

  .

  I opened my eyes and flinched, when did I.. sleep!? Well, I guess it doesn't matter, as long as I am still alive.

  While my only fear is Cerberus then as long as am still alive, it's okay.

  But... Cerberus isn't far, so why still not attacking, what does Cerberus wait for?

  The light of the windows falls on my face forcing my eyes to close, and another day without hearing the sound of a single (living) bird, "just great".

  I stood up shielding my eyes with my hand...! Wait what!?

  I flinched and looked at my stretched right hand, it looked normal !!

  How? When? ...well, thank God, I won't even question it.

  I kept looking at my hand moving it touching it, and I kept trying to just have my moment with my NORMAL hand.

  My eyes widened slightl, on the palm of my hand, a straight line of ink steadily imprinted across my palm horizontally.

  ... As long as my hand is normal now, but I already now that it'll turn back deformed when night comes, it's just how ghosts and spirits are.

  After a sigh I walked towards the door, I lingered for a second then I opened it.

  The same woods met my gaze, and as usual the woods gazed back at me, am used to it though.

  Ever since I saw what Ciphr can do, I avoided even thinking about him, the horrifying image doesn't leave my head it's imprinted to deep, even though I only saw it for mere seconds.

  It was truly an image of hell, remembering it is enough to do damage to my mind making it seem more like a virus than an image.

  My head is already trying it's hardest to erase it but only getting one result, it's brain damage.

  Sigh I don't want to do this but I'll try, I then said with a weak tone-

  "I know that Cerberus is here, why didn't he attack yet? And when will Cerberus attack?"

  I was only met by continues silence, thus I repeated my words but with a more firm tone.

  After a few moments I furrowed my eyebrows, but then a cold whisper from hell echoed in my ears-

  "How annoy?ng~.. the answer ?s s?mple, Cerberus ?s play?ng w?th h?s food, he'll attack ton?ght~ heheha"

  The whispers never lost their horror, their effects are as stark as ever.

  I never got used to the whispers, I only got used to the feeling of horror and fear.

  I sighed, well now I'll have to prepare for the attack then, my biggest problem is that Cerberus will attack at night and that's a problem because of my hand.

  Moreover I don't really have enough time to do much, I'll obviously prepare some weapons traps and a beginner shield just in case.

  And that's not all, Cerberus is smart so it's a giving that Cerberus is watching me, so it'll be hard to trick him.

  Moreover it is possible that Cerberus will come with company, how many? Who knows.

  I'll have to do a lot in one day but... I have a good fuel, it is fear, utter fear.

  I still remember how fast it was for Cerberus to kill the armed group, he even played with his food a little just for fun.

  I must find a way to pierce through his skin, that solid armor of his is very strong, capable of taking bullets.

  Cerberus is a problem, but he has the under side of his body which isn't as solid, that's a glimpse I remember from the vision, I suspect that it's a weak spot... but how weak?

  More over I could use his eyes as a weak spot.

  After that I went around the woods preparing some stuff, gathering some stuff and checking the area and memorizing it.

  As much as I can.

  The closer the night got the faster I got, trying my hardest to prepare everything I could.

  I used wood and cloth to prepare an armor, covering weak places of my body with wood.

  It was the best I could make and it looked like a hockey suit.

  As night got closer my hand turned red, thar didn't make sense for so many reasons but I had to ignore it, a slight pain rushed through my hand not from the palm but from the for arm, still I just ignored it as weird as it is.

  I also prepared multiple traps, most of them are just a few sharp sticks in the ground in a whole, hidden by bushes, and I obviously put marks that I can recognize.

  And I scattered multiple weapons that I can just lift off the ground and use if I need.

  ...unfortunately all these preparations are primitive as it gets, but I can't do much with my knowledge and experience, moreover I had one day.

  After all these stuff, the day already settled, about to disappeared, I then went to the old house ready to... whatever.

  At least as ready as I could get.

  ______

  2_C-13

  In the house, I sat for a while just pondering the possibility and the scenarios... unfortunately all of them seemed dark and bloody, I was truly unlucky to be the target of Cerberus.

  A monster that seemed to have the speed of the long-eared assassins, the intelligence of a human hunter and the power of a monster.

  Is it possible to survive, but, yet there is something I could count on, a chance a chance that the vision wasn't accurate but was exaggerated in some way.

  If that's the case then maybe my legs are fast enough, not just my legs but I also have the gem in my chest the night rock is capable of things beyond logic, could it give me some kind of advantage.

  As I pondered the sun started fully setting and disappearing, with it a sharp pain tore through my right hand, spreading through it, like Ling nails hammered deep into my own bones.

  I gritted my teeth, furrowed my eyebrows and closed my eyes as I grabbed my forearm.

  Somehow this time the deformation of my hand wasn't as fast nor as pronounced as yesterday, the bird limbs and bird eyes protruded slowly and a little less than last time.

  I forcefully tried to push against it even more this time, pushing with all my willpower against the abominable transformation.

  The more I try to resist the parasitic spirit the deeper the pain and the sharper it becomes.

  Then a loud cacophony of squeaks piercing through my own head, as if the spirit trying to attack my head to defend itself.

  Despite all that I forced through it, trying my best to expel the spirit but it kept pushing back, more and more pain rushed through my flesh until...

  A second of silence.. even pain subsided, I looked at my hand and my eyes widened in surprise.

  My right hand now turned entirely black, my skin looked like scales with short black feathers in the bony side of my forearm,my hand got a little bigger and my fingers got longer, my nails turned to sharp blades off of claws.

  I looked at it with surprise, but the second I let my guard down a sharp pain pierced my nerves, my hands started to be disfigured by the spirit.

  I gritted my teeth and tensed my muscles...

  Then few moments later my hand was back to a more... well, controlled form.

  *Sigh*

  As I had my back to the wall resting for a bit because it was already dark, I am not sure when exactly would Cerberus attack but I must be ready.

  My breathing got heavier enough to hear it clearly.

  Then a few moments ofter that I heard it, unlike the last time that I thought it was a roar from Cerberus, this time sounded like thunder but from the other side of a deep cave.

  I could feel it in my own bones shaking them, I shivered then took a deep breath.

  As I got outside the house after preparing my stuff, I felt his presence, I don't know how or why, but somehow I can feel the presence of many things now but is that really useful?

  As I held the knife with my left hand and tensed my legs, the presence of Cerberus disappeared.

  Without even doubting anything for a second, I considerated on whatever close and whatever is getting close to me.

  A second later I was in the air, I managed somehow to defend myself in the last fraction of a second, and Cerberus instead of slashing me, chose to hit me and throw me to the air.

  I fell to the ground and immediately stood up, and when I lifted my hands I ached as I saw blood dripping down my left hand, but I didn't have time to even flinch.

  I opened my eyes just to realize that I got shot back a few meters again, this time I defended with just my right hand, and I glanced at my left hand and saw that somehow my bleeding stopped but not the pain.

  Before I could ever have the chance to be surprised, Cerberus attacked from the front an obvious open attack is easier to detect, I immediately jumped to the side while Cerberus wounded the tree.

  My eyes widened as I was running to a specific direction full speed, Cerberus on the other hand only stopped for a second then dissappear from site, before I could gasp Cerberus reappeared just half a meter behind me, tore one of my legs with his sharp claws.

  For a second blood soaked my feet as I took my next step, but ignore the pain and changed direction on a critical spot, Cerberus probably knew where the traps are, but in a savage blood thirsty hunt like that this is enough to make him fall foe a trap.

  And as I thought, the second I changed course Cerberus's feel sunk deep into one of the holes, a few sticks broke without injuring his leg, but three implanted into his paw, Cerberus lifted his paw just shaked off the sharp sticks, not even one drop of blood fell despite the deep injury.

  This gave me enough time to get some distance and as I was running I realized something, the heavy bleeding of my leg somehow stopped my eyes widened, unfortunately I didn't have the luxury of pondering the reason for it even though it was apparent.

  Cerberus didn't waste time and caught up to me in a second, but I had a plan...

  ______

  2_C-14

  How the hell is Cerberus this fast?!

  I made a distance of at least twenty meters but he got to me in a matter of a fraction of a second? I couldn't even see it he just appeared close to me.

  While running Cerberus is slightly slower than me but he can dash a considerable distance in a fraction of a second, this is just cheating.

  I have to strain my muscles just to not get my leg actually torn off, this bastard doesn't stop, and I think he'll charge another dash, *Tsk*.

  I had to change course, as I did Cerberus managed to do the turn as well with just a slight delay, 'shit' but I chose this direction because there is two traps here, I grinned.

  In the next few seconds, I crossed one of them going over it, without making even the slightest deference in my movements, a second later Cerberus jumped exactly over it, avoiding it specifically.

  My eyes widened, just how does this bastard remember their spots, I had to find another way to counter him.

  I glanced over and saw a weapon I prepared and hid in a bush, although Cerberus is getting closer and closer, and he'll be able to dash forward and kill me, thus I must do something.

  My breathing was as heavy as someone who was drowning, as well as my heart beats, Cerberus looks like a grinding machine as he is running towards me with unbelievable bloodlust and speed.

  The bastard was tearing wounds into the ground, drawing scribbles of savagery in his trail.

  As I passed by the bush I swiftly grabbed what looked like a spear, then I twisted my entire body and turned to face Cerberus then!?

  He disappeared ! But where?

  I looked around with wide eyes in a hurry, unable to even sense his damn presence.

  Then- in a fraction of a second I managed to turn my body just enough to receive the..

  This time he attack from above, breaking my spear as I held it up to shield, his claws dove down caressing my face and chest, goodthingi had chest guard.

  I fell backwards, but held my weight up as I was bleeding, Cerberus was on the ground in front of me, even more careful than a human even though he knows that he is stronger, he is still careful.

  The bastard.

  As I held a broken half spear in my left hand and I stretched out the claws in my right hand, I took a step back.

  My bleeding somehow stopped again, Cerberus on the other hand was getting closer step by step, not giving me even the slightest chance to attack.

  Then, in a flash as Cerberus dashed forward, I used my right hand to attack.

  Thrown back a few meters I realized that Cerberus managed to slash my chest again, I gritted my teeth but then I saw Cerberus, which now have a claw mark on his damn shoulder, but despite the deep injury still it didn't bleed.

  Damn it.

  On the other hand I glanced at Cerberus just to realize the damn bastard disappeared again, I can't believe this how am I supposed to defend... wait, do I have to defend?

  Immediately I lunged forward running towards the far old house, I might find a way to... I don't know, survive maybe .

  This damn abomination just doesn't take chances.

  As I was running towards house, I could feel Cerberus following from hidden places, maybe from above I don't know.

  The chase just doesn't stop.

  I could handle simple bleeding but just few more slashes and I'll lose enough blood to die, I just didn't have good defense at all.

  Finally I reached the house, I immediately entered the house and closed the door and I even put the same wooden desk on the door.

  Hoping that this could slow him as much as it did to the Tigers...

  Then claws got implanted through the woodwidth of the door, their sharp ends can be seen from my side then slowly the powerful claws started tearing through the door.

  I started sweating and I took some steps backwards out of reflex, just then I realized something, looking to the side I saw it, just like last time their was a window, but I'll have to be fast.

  As Cerberus was struggling to tear the door in one go, he turned his head to the side and saw his human prey, immediately he started running towards him.

  I on the other hand was back inside the house as fast as I could, waiting for Cerberus to jump through so I could slash him from underneath.

  Just then in a blink of an eye Cerberus jumped through the window, the class shattered instead of injuring him leaving only shallow marks.

  I didn't have the time to slash him from underneath but I expected it.

  Instead I immediately jumped out, with a big stone by my side, I hurriedly close the window with the big stone, which I brought here before I lured Cerberus.

  And the fire already started inside the house starting from the direction of the door to close his only escape.

  A second later I stood in front of the burning house with a knife in my left hand, all my wounds already fully healed somehow, which I suspect because of the gem in my chest.

  A second later the entire house was devoured by flames, the fire was just too fast.

  But I kept hearing the sound of claws grinding against wood, after few seconds of it the sound stopped.

  Then the door shattered and something dark and burning came out.

  ______

  2_C-15

  The difference between animals and monsters is a very simple thing, animals have a more round skill set because they want to be able to survive any possible situation and adapt, they rarely considerate on a single thing in their biology, even humans aren't that intelligent, instead they have accumulative intelligence instead.

  Monsters on the other hand considerate on a single ability "to kill" nothing else matters, that's what makes them so fearsome and so fragile, just like a sword while it can easily kill you, a stone can damage it extremely.

  Monsters while capable of killing you easily, can't survive a situation like... a burning house despite their hard skin, actually that might end up being the reason why they easily die when burned.

  This is why when I saw Cerberus who is supposed to be a monster, come out alive after being cooked alive for thirty straight seconds.

  Either Cerberus has a round skill set like a human, or Cerberus was fueled by hatred, and somehow managed to survive just by willpower.

  'Shit'

  In front of me moving weakly like a starving cat, Cerberus with his entire skin burnt black, struggling to open his damaged eyes.

  His tail that ends with a head consisting only of a cranium and eyes, now is nowhere to be seen as if Cerberus got rid of it, the entire tail is gone.

  But that means one thing, it means that the only thing remains in Cerberus is predatorious instincts after losing the head of reasoned and intelligence.

  As Cerberus gaze at me his blood boiled with fury, every muscle of his body tensed as he immediately lunged at me.

  No matter how damaged his body is, am still in absolute danger.

  I instinctively just as hard as I could to avoid his attack, unlike previously when his dashes were nearly the speed of sound, now his attack was possible to see and avoid.

  Cerberus fell to the ground tensed and lunged again towards me, his attacks now lack strategy, thus it's possible to fool him...

  I just have to think fast enough while evading death.

  The problem is that he has six limps making the idea of attacking him while he jumps at me... well, impossible.

  But still, I have to be crazy enough, so as his one hundred kilogram body flew towards me, I tensed every muscle in one of my legs and lunged downward dashing beneath the monster, I then used my other leg to push me upwards as hard as possible.

  At the same time with my left hand, I dug the knife deep into the monsters torso between the two limps in the middle.

  As I did this Cerberus body started falling and every limp he had was moving to tear me apart.

  With the claws of my right hand I dug them into his belly and tugged as hard as I can, to make the knife go even deeper.

  At the same time my back got two slashes already, despite the regeneration, the pain doesn't disappear and the bleeding doesn't stop immediately, thus I had to change my plan.

  I used all my limbs to both push the heavy monster to the side and jump to the other side.

  As I did it I felt like some of my ribs are already broken and that my bleeding won't stop any time soon.

  I was breathing as heavy as you might imagine as I fell to the ground slightly away from Cerberus, covered with sweat and blood I was in a terrible condition, but Cerberus is in a worst one.

  The monster burnt lost its tail doesn't have an army at the moment and more then that, has a deep cut through his chest that definitely reached his heart.

  For the first time I saw Cerberus bleeding, his blood as yellow as fake gold is, and as dim and dirty as vomit.

  The bleeding monster struggled to stand up with such a deep injury, yet he stood with fury burning all the pain off his expression, leaving only bloodlust.

  The monster ran forward with his claws caressing the ground instead of the usual assault that leaves a trail of dust in the air.

  Now weak slow and injured he was definitely gonna die, but if I learned one thing from Cerberus is that you must never let your guard down.

  I started running away seemingly after, my bleeding back in front of his eyes to give the impression that am dying, yet am not.

  A few moments later the weak monster's paw fell deep into a trap, impaired by a few sharp sticks, Cerberus was clearly struggling and after managing to get them off, he continued running towards me.

  A new more moments and the tired bleeding burnt monster started to really struggle, even his vision starting to give up, a second later the bleeding prey he was chasing disappeared from sight.

  A moment later, a wooden spear went deeply through his chest from the side, the point of impairment was threw the weaker skin which is underneath.

  The blood started soaking the wooden spear, careful not to give any chances I kept my space, and Cerberus turned his head looking at me.

  I stared at him ready for a possible attack and moments went by yet no movement, I looked carefully at the body then realized that he died.

  I grabbed my spear and pulled it out, no blood came out, it seems Cerberus has a very little amount of blood in the first place, that's why he only bleeds when his heart is injured.

  Now he is just a motionless image of what used to be Cerberus, I am sure that Cerberus already died in the house when he lost his other head.

  I made sure that he dead then went back to the burnt house, made a resting place near it and prepared to sleep, just then cold breeze carried whispers of ominous misfortune...

  (End of V-2)