Survive

Arthur's instincts screamed at him to run.

To dive through the window and disappear into the dark streets of Hamesborough.

But if he did that, he risked twisting his ankle and getting caught.

The footsteps downstairs crept through the lower floor. Sooner or later, they'd come upstairs.

Think… think, think!

For a moment, he considered that it might be a civilian.

Maybe one of Mario's friends.

But then he remembered the word the system had used:

[HUNTED]

That didn't mean a civilian.

It meant a Predator.

A serial killer.

Could it be Drowner?

It had to be. But how did he find me?

Arthur's grip tightened around his knife as he slipped into one of the rooms, searching for somewhere to hide.

Dressed in all black, he crouched low in the corner of a bedroom, letting the shadows cover him.

His heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might give him away. Surely, the man downstairs could hear it, too.

He held his breath and listened.

The footsteps moved slowly, methodically. Whoever was down there was searching everything, leaving nothing unchecked.

Then, something unexpected happened.

The front door opened again.

Another set of footsteps entered the house.

Arthur's fear doubled.

Two people now.

Two killers?

He almost bolted. Almost. But running was a stupid idea now. His odds were worse than before, and for all he knew, there could be a third waiting outside.

Is it over for me?

He tried to steady his breathing and focused on the muffled voices below.

Only one of them was speaking. His voice was deep and calm, a smooth rumble that seemed to shake the floor.

But it was too quiet to make out the words.

THUD

A crash from downstairs. Glass shattered. And at the same time—

[QUEST COMPLETED]

What?

What the hell just happened?

Footsteps started moving again. Steadily making their way towards their destination.

To the staircase leading to the second floor.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Only one set of footsteps.

Where's the other one?

Was he dead?

A chill ran through Arthur's body. Nothing was adding up.

Then came the voice again. That same deep, unsettling tone. Now it was much closer.

"If you make me have to search for you… God forgive me for what I will do."

Arthur felt his fear take control, like his body wasn't his anymore.

Like something wanted him to step forward.

The man's footsteps came to a stop at the top of the stairs.

"Ten seconds is all I'll give you."

Ten seconds. Not enough time to think properly, but enough for instincts to kick in.

Arthur ran through it all in his mind.

First, the quest said he was hunted. That had to be the first guy. Probably Drowner, the only known serial killer in Hamesborough. Ranked somewhere in the ninety-thousands on the serial killer leaderboard.

Then this second man came in.

There'd been a thud. The sound of breaking glass. And suddenly—

[QUEST COMPLETED]

Which meant… the hunter was probably dead.

And the system hadn't issued a new quest. Either this new arrival wasn't here to kill him, or the system wasn't treating it like a threat.

Either way, Arthur had made his decision.

With shaking legs, he stepped out from the shadows, emerging from the room.

And there, standing before him, was the one who had come to find him.

The man was nothing like what Arthur was expecting to see.

It was a priest.

The man was tall, and solidly built, even through his robes. His skin was almost onyx black, and around his neck was a necklace which would have once held the Iasus Cross.

However, instead, the Cross was held in the man's hand upside down.

It was made from a gold metal and had been sharpened into the design of a shortsword.

The blade dripped with blood, leaving a trail behind it.

Just from looking at the weapon, Arthur could tell that it carried properties that were not ordinary.

It must have been an artefact.

The man seemed to be in his forties, with a bald head, and a gruesome scar running from his sharp jaw to his nose.

The priest looked down at the body of Mario Cataño, who continued to bleed out onto the floor, and then, his dark eyes moved upwards to gaze into Arthur's soul.

It felt like he was in the presence of a greater being.

"Are you responsible for the death of this man?" The Priest asked with his deep voice.

Arthur swallowed at a lump in his throat. Words struggled to leave his mouth, so he simply nodded his head.

The priest waited for a moment as if he was considering things. The whole time, his cross-sword stayed loose in his grip.

"And have you sought out the lord for penance?"

Arthur didn't hesitate this time. He answered hastily.

"Yes."

It was a lie. Arthur didn't believe in the gods.

But he knew that this man was a priest. It was the right thing to do.

After all, he felt like this man would be capable of killing him with ease.

Hearing his response, the priest nodded his head proudly. "Good. That is good. The killer downstairs was not Iasuan like us. He had to be punished for his sins."

Arthur gulped, as the priest looked down at Mario's body again. Then, he looked back up at him.

"A Sinner, I presume?" The Priest asked.

Arthur nodded his head, once again playing along. "Yes. He was a... demonic man."

"Then all is as it should be." The priest said finally, remaining expressionless the whole time.

He then turned around and started to make his way back to the staircase.

"W-wait!" Arthur called, hoping he would not regret his decision.

The Priest looked over his shoulder with a raised eyebrow.

"What is your title? I would like to know properly who my allies are."

The words seemed to please the Priest.

He turned back and continued to make his way back down the stairs.

"I am God's Hand, rank 761... but you, my brother in Iasus, can call me Pure."