325 Dragon 5 (1/2)

'Something's strange.'

A man became alert as he made his way through the forest. The forest was so dense that the surroundings were dark even in the daytime. The man in front bit his lip.

”Hmph.”

'I don't see any danger…'

There was nothing visible that seemed to be dangerous, but his instincts told him something was wrong. That's when all the animals in the forest screamed.

The man stopped.

'I heard a Gering cry.'

Gerings were carnivorous two-horned deer-like animals that moved in packs. But the sounds the Gerings made were like death cries.

'What got it?'

Gerings were fast. If one was killed, then it was up against a faster and stronger animal. As they walked on, they came across an area with dead Gerings. The smell of blood filled the area, it was likely that the smell would attract all sorts of animals and monsters.

”We have to get away quickly…”

The man was shocked; there was no one behind him anymore. He quickly reached toward his waist, but something reached him faster.

”Argh!”

The man gasped, but his head was snapped sideways, breaking his neck and instantly killing him. When he fell, a furry hand moved over the man's face, pulling out two eyeballs that ended up in the monster's mouth.

Soon, weird-looking monsters appeared, each with a human body in their hands. It was terrifying to witness those monsters eating people, however, one of them seemed to be alive.

”P-please..”

Just then, an arrow whistled into the monster's eye. The human body was dropped as the monster died and fell with it. All the monsters who were eating became curious but returned to their food. Or tried to.

”Kaaaaaaaargh!”

A second arrow killed another monster and all the monsters began to scream. They then charged in the direction where the arrows were being shot at them. But each time, an arrow penetrated their necks or eye, killing them.

”Whoa!”

Graham gasped in amazement at Doral's rapid-fire of arrows. Tens of monsters were charging at them, but Doral didn't even flinch as he kept on firing arrow after arrow.

The monsters, called Gwandi, were humanoid and had fur all over. But their faces looked eerie, with two vertically long eyes that shone yellow. They were so strong that they could easily rip apart a human.

”I-it's dangerous…”

Just then, a Gwandi jumped towards Doral, who was shooting from up on a tree. Doral jumped back as he fired an arrow at the Gwandi that attacked him.

By the time Doral reached the ground, all the Gwandies around him were dead. Graham, who had been watching while hidden, was dumbfounded.

”Old man, are you surprised?”

”Of course! He's amazing! Killing Gwandies with arrows? I heard the Ainos are good at bows but… this is unbelievable.”

Graham gushed as he glanced back and forth between the Gwandies and Doral.

”Hey, this one's alive.”