Was it because of the power of purification? Or because of being overworked by the terrible curse?
I’m out of strength. Her legs were shaky as she descended the stairs. She didn’t realize it was hard when she was climbing up, maybe because she was under hypnosis…
“…!”
At that moment, Dana almost collapsed.
The view from the window she looked at carelessly was too low. It’s too high. Dizziness rushed in, and her fingertips trembled. But Dana stubbornly pushed herself up against the wall.
It’s okay. Stay calm. So what if it’s high up?
During her time as Yeon Dana, there was a time when she nearly died from falling from a very high place. But that was all in the past, wasn’t it? Therefore, Let’s get a grip.
Dana steadied her mind and tried to move again. But then, step. She heard a sound. The sound of footsteps. Step, step… step. It was irregular, as if they were staggering. That sound was coming from downstairs. The footsteps didn’t sound like coming from a normal person. Either that person was completely drunk or…
“In a moment, the ancient priests buried in the tombs will awaken.”
Ignis, you b*stard. That damn terrorist. I should have killed him a long time ago…
Dana raised her gun in preparation. And shortly after,
“…!”
She came face to face with a stark white skeleton. The skull turned the corner of the stairs, coming up.
Bang! Dana immediately fired. The bullet hit the forehead, and the skull collapsed backward.
Did I take it down?
However, she didn’t. More skulls were coming up behind it!
Bang, bang, bang, bang! Dana fired her gun repeatedly without panic. Every shot hit the skulls that were coming up, making them collapse. But endlessly, new skulls crawled up.
Dana thought quickly. How many bullets do I have left? As she was thinking, the sound of an empty gun echoed. And just then, a skull that wasn’t taken down was rushing towards her. With unbelievable speed—
I’m going to die!
But right before the skull reached her, suddenly, a large hand grabbed the skull’s head. Dana abruptly held her breath. Under the grip, the skull started to crack. And then, with a clang, like broken glass, it shattered into pieces. The body without a head collapsed powerlessly.
Behind it, Dana swallowed as she saw the man’s face. It was Rumie. He tilted his head and looked at her.
“What a sight.” He chuckled, looking at Dana. “Even on the brink of death, you don’t scream?”
Dana slowly lowered her gun. She was so startled that her heart ached. As if making excuses, she muttered her words. “I was too out of it to even have time to scream.”
“Ah, I see. But how about screaming next time? That way, I’ll know if you’re alive or dead.” Rumie mocked her coldly but helped her up. “Better than me wandering around like a madman, not knowing if you’re alive or where you are, right?”
It was at that moment.
“Aaaaaack!”
A scream came from outside the tower, from somewhere. Then Rumie shrugged.
“Yes, just like that. Next time, scream loudly like that. Then I can find you faster.”
“Save me! Kyaaaak!”
“R-R-Run!”
“Aaaaack!”
“Oh god!”
Various cries surged. The screams of people, the passengers of the Daiana, the priests.
Dana’s face turned pale. There was no way.
“Are people… being eaten?”
“Yeah.” Rumie glanced around and continued. “I thought I had died and gone to hell. To see the ancient priests rising from their tombs and devouring people.” He then grabbed a red curtain and tore it off in one swift move. And then…
“Brother Rumie? What are you doing?”
He wrapped the curtain around her body, like bandages on a mummy, covering everything but her eyes, and then smiled contentedly.
“You look pretty, Dana.”
“…”
“The prettiest I’ve ever seen so far?”
What is he trying to do? Dana narrowed her eyes, the only part of her visible face.
“Those skulls, they react to the smell of flesh. If you’re covered like this, they can’t smell you well.”
“I see. But I can’t run away like this.”
“What’s the use of running away?” Rumie laughed as if it was ridiculous. “You’d be caught and eaten in two steps anyway. So, staying close to me is your only way to live, isn’t it?”
“…”
His casual remark was strangely sharp. As if he was really angry…
Thud! The ground shook at that moment. Dana, startled, looked outside. Thud, thud!
What was that? Something very large was moving. A figure as tall as the high tower. And that was…
“A giant…” A groan as if being strangled escaped her lips.
A giant, it was really a giant. Thud, thud, thud. With every step the giant took, screams spread.
“Aaaaack!”
“R-Run!”
People were being trampled like ants under those giant feet. Those who barely escaped were soon caught by the skulls, torn apart, and eaten…
Hell. Just like Rumie said, it was like hell.
“Dana.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t look back.”
Suddenly, Dana’s neck stiffened. Why? What was behind us that he said not to look?
Then Rumie sighed. “No, it’s better to see now. Want to turn around?”
Dana’s head turned jerkily. And at that moment, she faced the vast abyss filling the window.
“…!”
The skull of a giant. That very giant was looking at them through the dark hollows of its skull!
The moment they locked eyes, the giant pulled back its fist, probably to smash the tower. Realizing this, Rumie immediately grabbed Dana and jumped out of the window.
Rumble! The world collapsed with a thunderous noise, and the tower shook. Dana saw the walls, the stairs, and the floor she was relying on breaking apart like waves right before her eyes.
“…!”
And then they were falling. With the sensation of her insides lurching upward, Dana squeezed her eyes shut. I’m going to die. My body will shatter into pieces—
Thud! But she landed. Surprisingly, Rumie landed on both feet and then tightly embraced her.
“It’s better to keep your eyes closed.” He added as he ran immediately. “It’s going to be horrific.”
“…!”
He was right. It was a scene more terrifying than any nightmare. Everywhere were skulls. Cannibal skulls eating people, chasing skulls, skulls swarming like insects in every direction.
There are too many! More than she imagined. Hundreds—no, could it be thousands? Truly, all the priests from the tombs had come out!
“Kyak!”
Then, one skull jumped like a beast and bit Rumie’s shoulder.
“Brother!”
But Rumie did not counterattack. He didn’t even struggle. Because his arms were holding her, intending to use them only to protect her.
“Let go!”
His shoulder flesh was torn off right before her eyes.
“No!”
Starting with that, numerous skulls jumped in. Some successfully clung to him, to his shoulder, forearm, and back, biting down like leeches – crunching away.
“Brother Rumie!”
But Rumie did not try to shake them off. He seemed determined to use his arms solely to embrace and protect her.
“Please, Brother!”
It almost seemed as if he was willingly offering his flesh to save her.
“Let me go!”
Dana hated that. She really, really hated it.
“Let me go!”
“No.”
“Brother!”
Then Rumie tilted his head. “If I let go? What do you think will happen to you, Dana?”
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