A humanoid monster that looked like it was crawling on the ground rushed in, but it had no skin, and what was exposed was entirely flesh.
Its face was twisted, resembling both a dog and a rat, with sharp teeth and gums fully displayed.
The face looked like torn, ragged cloth draped over it.
Its claws were long, with a faint chill glistening on them, exceptionally sharp.
Facing the charging Ghoul, Alyris struck its head with the hilt of her sword in a backhand move.
A heavy blow knocked the Ghoul to the ground. Alyris gripped her sword and plunged it down forcefully.
The sharp blade plunged into the enemy's head, pinning it to the ground.
With the momentum of drawing the sword, she rolled to the side.
The following Ghoul missed its attack.
The roll put intense pressure on her broken leg, and the excruciating pain made Alyris widen her eyes instantly, gritting her teeth to endure it.
This moment of pain amplified her exhausted state, making her miss the opportunity.
The sword swung backhandedly did not sever the enemy's head but struck its waist and abdomen.
A large amount of foul-smelling liquid, like blood or pus, spilled out.
The blow hadn't hit the vital point. Alyris immediately propped herself up with one hand, not intending to get up, but rather used force to move her body forward a bit.
She wanted to quickly pierce the enemy's head with her sword.
The combat experience along the way told her these kinds of monsters felt no pain unless their heads were cut off instantly, otherwise, they were incredibly troublesome.
The roof shattered, and a lot of splinters fell down in front of her, impeding Alyris's movement.
She could only raise her hand to block the debris falling from the ceiling.
A monstrous bat descended from the roof, folding its wings, and its claws precisely stepped on Alyris's body.
With its wings retracted, its body pressed down violently, opening its huge mouth, and it bit directly toward Alyris's neck.
Alyris could already smell the stench.
It was over.
If it weren't for the continuous battles and fatigue, if it weren't for her body covered with wounds.
Even if the leg were just a little more agile.
But, alas, there were no such ifs.
However, the pain did not come.
A shadow jumped down through the broken section, thunder rumbling.
The light shone on the figure's face.
A sharp blade glistening with a chilly light in his hand pierced through the back of the giant bat's head, protruding through its open mouth.
The force of the jump pulled down sharply after the piercing, slicing off half of the giant bat's head.
Thick, foul-smelling liquid spilled out.
The giant bat howled, its wings flapped wildly in the room.
Kana, gripping the hilt with his mouth, crouched down, wrapped his arms around Alyris's arms, and dragged her out from under the giant bat.
Her face was already covered in plenty of fresh blood, but her gaze lingered on Kana.
"I'll support you, let's go quickly. The noise is too loud; all the monsters around are bound to gather."
Supporting Alyris, Kana quickly ran out through the breach.
"Boom!"
The light from the lightning lit up the small town once more.
Kana looked at the well in the square of the small town, and the small clock tower about three stories high next to the well.
This place is... so this is it.
He hadn't had time to think when Alyris's voice rang in his ear: "Watch out."
He turned sharply, and a Ghoul leaped down from the roof next to him, crashing directly into Kana, knocking him flying.
It made him feel once again the frailty of this body's constitution.
Before the flying Kana could adjust himself, the Ghoul pounced on him, its wide open mouth lunging straight at his neck.
He hurriedly raised his sword to block the monster's maw.
What great strength.
Monsters that could be easily cleared in the game are so troublesome in the real world.
If only this were in the game.
But unfortunately, this is not a game; this is reality.
If you don't fight with all your might, you'll turn into monsters like them.
A new Ghoul means there is another squad.
A Blood Race reconnaissance squad is classically paired with one giant bat and two Ghouls.
In mid-air, the giant bat descended, its claws reaching for Kana.
At this moment, on the spot, Alyris's one arm had already been bitten by a Ghoul, dragging her fiercely.
In addition, another Ghoul that she hadn't killed was only hit by rubble from the roof, covered in injuries, also bit onto another leg of Alyris.
In the current situation, Alyris had no time to manage anything else, her eyes fixed intently on Kana just a few meters away.
The giant bat was about to descend.
Ignoring the ghouls beside her, she unhesitatingly threw the sword blade.
A silver glow sliced through the night.
"Whoosh!"
The sword blade pierced straight through the giant bat's head, with more than half of the blade coming out from the other side.
The enormous force tilted its entire body, crashing down right next to Kana, with its flapping wings hitting the ghoul on top of him.
But the ghoul on him paid no heed.
Though its mouth was blocked by the sword blade, the ghoul's sharp claws had already pierced his body.
Even if he survived, it wouldn't be by much.
"Die, you filthy creatures!"
A roar sounded nearby, and a long spear harshly stabbed into the ghoul on Kana, pushing it away.
The attack came from the soldier captain.
He had appeared here without anyone noticing.
Kana felt a weight lift off him, yet he had no strength left, his vision beginning to blacken.
An intense pain shot through his chest, his breathing like a broken bellows.
"Cough, cough~ bleugh..."
With the cough, a mouthful of blood surged from his mouth.
The darkening vision surveyed the surroundings.
Alyris was being torn apart by two ghouls biting her arm and leg.
Without a weapon, she furiously grabbed the ghoul's jaws on her arm and forcefully tore the ghoul's head in half.
Yet the other ghoul was gnawing on her only good leg, and even if she killed both ghouls, she wouldn't be able to escape.
The soldier captain, who rushed over for unknown reasons, was tangled with the first ghoul, covered in wounds himself.
Exhausted beyond measure.
Even though the ghoul was ambushed with a long spear piercing, it still was difficult for him to kill it.
Howls echoed again, filling his ears with ringing.
Another squad was coming.
His vision grew darker, and then Kana saw his chest was already in tatters.
The previous ghoul that grappled with him had almost pierced his chest with its sharp claws.
"Cough cough..."
Another fit of coughs, expelling a lot of blood.
The vision was nearly pitch black.
The only thing visible was Alyris, having taken down both ghouls with her bare hands.
Clawing through the dirt with both hands, crawling towards him.
Kana's condition made Alyris's eyes filled with madness.
Truly worthy of you, Alyris.
Damn it, just for such injuries.
Simply being pinned down by a ghoul, a couple of scratches, and it claimed his life.
If it were a game, at most it would take a quarter of his health.
Even with the current attributes.
The result was such a light scratch, piercing his chest, meanwhile also seeming to have harmed his lungs beyond the decaying state of his chest.
Even breathing was painfully strenuous, filled with pain, weakness, breathlessness.
In the face of these monsters, was the flesh truly this fragile?
If only he had a game-like datafied body...
If only...
The nearly black vision seemed to ripple like an old television with static, flickering and distorting the picture.
As if shadows with flickering light danced within his eyes.
The vision displayed images doubled over.
His mind was woozy, bereft of the ability to think, eyelids drooping towards eternal rest.
Eternal... rest?
Huh?
It hurts!
But the fatigue had dissipated, the weakness of spirit was gone.
The sharp pain in his chest jolted his eyes wide open.
His vision fully restored, only to reveal chaotic data appearing, seemingly arranging itself.
[Personal Interface]