A Frightening Spectacle to Behold

After fleeing from the scene of battle, the party regrouped at an abandoned bus stop. In this fractured world, basic medical attention was a high priority. Up until now, there had been a complete and total lack of production of medical supplies and whatever could be scavenged was dwindling rapidly.

However, as with slaying wounds were a natural occurrence, and since there had yet to be someone to level up to ten and choose the priest class the only way to treat your wounds was the old way. Though there had been attempts to create healing poultices the results had been lacking.

Thus, the party expended what little medical supplies they had disinfecting their wounds, and sealing them shut. Though the wounds were not serious, if left untreated the infection could prove fatal. Only by leveling up could one's health status be instantly refreshed. At least until a priest showed up in the region.

They spent as little time as possible licking their wounds and then began to bolt for the airport. The earlier they arrived, the sooner they could rest easy. Who's to say in the next moment a more terrifying creature than the gargoyle would appear and rip them to shreds? They were quite lucky to survive against the onslaught of a gargoyle. If not for the creature's shock at their rapid progress they might not have come out of the exchange so unscathed.

Not far into the distance, a long howl could be heard, like a wolf serenading the twin moons with its bestial vocals. A shiver instantly appeared down Alex's spine, he did not understand precisely why, but his instincts told him such a voice could only belong to a destructively powerful creature beyond their comprehension.

The party instantly hid behind the wall of the building they were near and peaked over the edge. Though the wolf howl was loud, the cries of its prey were even more deafening. Down the street atop an old cathedral, a creature that could only be described as a werewolf was currently engaged in mortal combat with a pack of gargoyles.

However, these gargoyles appeared much larger, and bulkier in nature than the one Alex and his party had slain, almost as if the creature that plagued their nightmares was nothing more than a runt.

The white werewolf gazed menacingly at the pack of gargoyles that surrounded it, its blood-red eyes giving off a savage glare as it lunged at the nearest enemy. Before the mighty gargoyle had time to react it was lifted into the air with one paw and slammed through the roof of the cathedral. In doing so the entire roof collapsed beneath the monsters' feet.

While the other gargoyles flew in the air to avoid the collapse, the victim of the werewolf was not so lucky, it had been turned into meat paste by the impact, and the werewolf stood atop of it licking its bloodstained lips.

Seeing the alpha of the pack instantly destroyed by the werewolf the other gargoyles attempted to flee, however, they could not get far as the werewolf had scaled the walls and jumped upon its next prey tearing its throat out in an instant with its menacing fangs. Before the corpse of the gargoyle could fall it leaped to the next one and continued its slaughter in mid-air.

Despite the ability to fly, the gargoyles could not escape the pursuit of the vicious creature. Before long each gargoyle fell from the air its soul reaped by its mighty foe, like wheat to the scythe. Alex and his party witnessed the frightening spectacle with mouths agape.

Much to their horror, this werewolf had slaughtered over a dozen gargoyles in only a matter of seconds. Each much more menacing than the one they had encountered prior. If it had been them who had encountered but a single gargoyle of this pack they would have been doomed to death and despair.

They could not begin to fathom the power this werewolf possessed and did not dare move as they were afraid the slightest movement would catch the creature's attention. As such, they waited and watched the unholy feast that the werewolf engorged itself upon.

Only after it had licked its lips clean, and finished gnawing on the bones of the gargoyles did the domineering creature finally disappear into the night. Jumping from rooftop to rooftop as it ventured into the wasteland without a worry in its eyes. As if it were the apex predator of this nocturnal world.

Alex and his party stood frozen on the spot for some time before their nerves were finally calm enough to begin their journey towards the safety of the airport once more. Though after witnessing such a sight, they no longer believed in the security of the high walls in which the humans had erected around their stronghold.

The image of the werewolf's overwhelming power would become engrained in their minds, as they marched towards their destination, ever watchful of their surroundings. They dreaded the thought of encountering such a creature on their way back. It was only after they had traveled three kilometers from the scene of the slaughter did they began to feel at ease. Still, they could not prevent lingering thoughts from infecting their state of mind.

If such a terrifying presence existed in this wasteland, then humans could only re-evaluate their position in the world. Just when the party thought they could handle any danger presented to them, the cruelty of the world showed them the farce that was their hubris and dragged their self-esteem to a new low.

Alex was uncertain if he would ever be able to have another peaceful night's sleep knowing such a dangerous monster existed within the darkness outside of the human sanctuaries. If it was so inclined such a beast could single-handedly butcher the entire airport, and there was nothing humans could do to resist its overwhelming might.

Alex prayed internally that such a fate did not await the human settlements in the ruins of Vegas, but he could not shake the feeling that he and all other humans were living on borrowed time. Maybe they were, maybe they weren't only the gods knew what awaited humanity in this cruel new world humanity had found themselves in.