"Why did you tie them up?" one of the hunters asked.
I glanced at the five struggling monsters.
"Maybe we can turn them back."
The hunter frowned.
"Back into humans?"
I nodded.
A few of the hunters exchanged looks.
Then one of them laughed.
"If that were possible, monsters would've gone extinct a long time ago."
I didn't answer.
I just kept staring at the creatures.
Something about this felt wrong.
Then suddenly—
I dropped into a crouch.
One knee on the ground.
My breathing slowed.
The hunters looked at me in confusion.
"What are you doing?"
I raised a hand for silence.
"...Something's coming."
The atmosphere changed instantly.
"What?"
I closed my eyes.
Listening.
Smelling.
Feeling.
"There are..."
I paused.
"One."
A rustle came from the bushes.
"Two."
The sound of footsteps.
"Three attackers."
The hunters immediately prepared their techniques.
Then—
the bushes exploded.
Three monsters burst out at us.
Their claws tore through the air as they charged.
Before the hunters could react—
I was already moving.
I lunged at the first monster.
My hand shot forward and grabbed its jaw.
CRACK.
I twisted and slammed its face directly into the second monster.
Both of them crashed to the ground.
The third monster came from the side.
I caught it by the throat.
It struggled.
Roared.
Scratched at my arm.
I squeezed harder.
Then—
RIP.
Its head came clean off.
For a moment, everything went silent.
Then I swung the head like a ball.
BAM.
It smashed into the second monster's skull.
The monster dropped instantly.
The hunters stared in disbelief.
But then—
movement.
The first monster wasn't dead.
It scrambled to its feet.
Looked at me.
And ran.
The monster disappeared into the trees.
For a few seconds, nobody spoke.
Then one of the hunters let out a nervous laugh.
"Damn..."
He looked at the two dead monsters.
Then back at me.
"Nice one, Kyoren."
I licked some blood off my hand.
"Thanks."
But my eyes remained fixed on the forest.
Because monsters don't run.
Which meant that thing wasn't escaping.
It was going to tell someone.