"GET THAT DEVIL!" roared a bulky man in a blue shirt with the word POLICE printed across it.
Bootsteps thundered through the narrow alleyways as several officers chased a white-haired boy. The kid was fast — far faster than someone his age should be — but the policemen were gaining on him.
Damn it… I can't shake them off. There are too many!
He vaulted over a bent pipe blocking the tight passage between two towering buildings. Trash crunched beneath his boots as he pushed forward, lungs burning.
Even from dozens of meters away, he could hear the bulky officer barking orders. Worse, he could hear four more sets of footsteps circling ahead, trying to cut off his escape route.
Five cops… just for me?
Wasn't today supposed to be busy for them…?
Oh.
I was lied to. Again.
The boy's breathing grew heavier as he turned the corner, his face grimaced when four policemen blocked the alley's exit. The one behind him finally caught up.
"No way to run now, huh?" one of the officers said, stepping forward. "Lie down and we might go easy on you, boy."
"Easy?!" the white-haired kid snapped. "You bastards don't know the meaning of that word!"
His gaze swept around, searching for any path to escape. Every route was blocked.
Fine… If I'm getting beaten, I'll take one of you down with me.
The kid focused, tracking the loudest heartbeat among them.
Their gazes locked.
The officer flinched.
Just as the boy's fist shot forward—
A violent gust of wind blasted through the alley, throwing everyone off their feet.
ROOOAR!
The sound ripped through the air — primal and chilling, planting fear into everyone who heard it.
"Agh… my head…" the boy groaned, forcing himself up. His body trembled, but he stood — something no normal kid his size should have managed.
His vision swam as he looked around. The policemen lay scattered across the ground, unconscious.
And then he saw it.
A towering figure loomed before him.
Oh… I'm doomed, aren't I?
A gate break? Seriously…? My luck today is amazing.
The monster stood nearly three meters tall, thick white fur covering a gorilla-like body. Spiked teeth jutted from its mouth, saliva dripping heavily onto the cracked pavement.
Growl.
The boy swallowed.
I can't look that tasty… I'm basically skin and bones…
Then realization — sudden and sharp — struck him.
Oh.
It's not me that it wants.
He turned and ran without hesitation, sprinting back the way he came. Strangely, the exhaustion from the earlier chase had vanished, adrenaline flooding his limbs.
He glanced over his shoulder — and froze.
The beast swallowed the unconscious officers one by one. No pause. Blood dripped from its maw as it let out a satisfied rumble.
The boy snapped back to reality and ran harder, ducking under pipes, leaping over trash piles, weaving through tight corners.
Still… it was catching up.
Think! I need a plan!
Shout for help? No one would hear him over the chaos.
Then it hit him.
I've been running the wrong way.
The alley ahead widened — a dead end for hiding. If he could dodge the beast and return to the narrow side, he might lose it.
He skidded to a stop and turned, facing the monster head-on. Their eyes locked.
High above the rooftops, a middle-aged man with messy hair leapt from building to building, scanning the streets below for remaining beasts.
Just as he prepared to leave, something caught his eye.
"A kid?!" he exclaimed, surprised.
"Shit… I won't make it in time," he muttered, accelerating forward with everything he had.
Back in the alley, the beast hesitated.
It tilted its head, almost… confused.
Why isn't it attacking…?
The thought barely formed before the creature lunged.
Fast!
The boy rolled aside at the last second, the monster's claws slamming into the ground where he had stood.
Growl.
Before the creature could ready another hit, the kid ducked quickly and grabbed a handful of dirt and trash.
"EAT THIS!" he shouted, throwing it straight into the creature's open maw.
As the debris struck its mouth, he sprinted toward the tighter alley. Just as he was about to reach it, his foot stepped on loose trash and he tripped, crashing hard onto the ground.
The creature caught up instantly, raising its arm to crush him.
Then he heard it.
The sound of wind being sliced apart — something sharp flying toward him… no, toward it.
A spear layered in fire slammed into the creature's arm, jerking it away just inches from his face.
Took you long enough…
Relief hit harder than fear as exhaustion flooded back into his body tenfold, and he collapsed onto the ground.