[You have slain a dormant human. Name: Unknown.]
[You have received a Memory.]
I raised my head from the corpse beneath me, adjusting my posture. Three days have passed since I was thrust into this Nightmare.
After visiting the church, I stayed there for twelve hours with only one goal: observing the guard schedule of the [Ascended Knight] in charge. Actually, I discovered something quite interesting. There are no other guards besides him; he is the sole protector of the Cathedral. Well, it's not like he's weak.
Once I memorized his routine, I left to begin the second part of my plan: increasing my power, or simply obtaining some useful Memories. Since then, I've been killing in the streets and stealing their coins while hoping for a decent drop.
So far, all I've managed to get is a pair of boots that make my steps silent and smoother, a transparent and durable rope, and a small knife. I couldn't help but feel cursed. I've killed 34 people and only received this junk.
Hmmmm. Only four days left before the Nightmare ends. That means I have two days until the scheduled time to kill the Cathedral's guardian. I sighed, realizing I wouldn't stand a chance against the Knight in this state.
Fine. It seems it's time to start killing the [Awakened].
After all, I noticed them starting to spread through the city to investigate the murders. Despite my efforts to hide the bodies, some were unfortunately discovered. I suppose this will work in my favor.
I brushed the dust off my clothes and left the alley quietly, hiding my face under a hood I had purchased. As I had done in previous days, I went to the church and sat on the same bench, pretending to pray. While "praying," I couldn't help but notice him.
That cursed fool.
The third-rate villain.
My arch-nemesis.
The Head of the Church.
The reason he was my enemy was quite simple: the Key. The key hanging around his neck. My senses as a descendant of the [Beast God] and the [Hunt] were screaming inside me that this Key was exactly what I wanted. Yet, that cursed man never left the church.
This means I must be the one to go to him. And that also means I must face the Knight. I harbored no childish dreams of entering the church and assassinating him without the Knight knowing.
Well, my time in the church was up. I left quietly, knowing exactly what I would do today.
Today, the hunting of the [Awakened] begins.
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In a dark street corner, my enhanced senses picked up a rhythmic sound of heavy footsteps. Footsteps carrying weight and power.
"Two Awakened," I thought, calmly analyzing the best strategy to follow.
I retreated into the depths of the alley, using my [Memory] boots which made my steps like the whisper of the wind. I activated my [Hybrid Blood] attribute and began accelerating the blood flow in my limbs. I felt no euphoria, no anger—just pure focus, preparing the machine I call my body.
When the two Awakened approached the alley, I made some noise to draw their attention. They tensed up immediately as they drew closer. They were wearing light leather armor and carrying bronze spears. They turned into the alley, stressed and ready for anything.
However, there was no one there.
They lowered their guard slightly, adjusting their stance as one of them muttered to the other with annoyance: "Who the hell is killing these people? Is it a monster that slipped in from the outside, or a lunatic from within?"
Before the other [Awakened] could answer, I had already launched the hunt.
Thanks to the [Beast Eyes] attribute, the world moved in slow motion around me. I directed a kick with all my might toward the first one's throat. The sound of crushing cartilage was his signal of both the beginning and the end. He fell without a cry or a sound.
[You have slain an Awakened human. Name: Unknown.]
I turned to the second one who tried to raise his spear, but I was faster. I threw the [Unseen Thread] around his wrist and pulled violently, shattering his balance. Before he could touch the ground, my small knife was buried in the gap of his armor under the armpit, piercing his heart directly.
[You have slain an Awakened human. Name: Unknown.]
[You have received a Memory: (Piercing Fang).]
I didn't say a word. I didn't gloat. I stood coldly, watching the corpses grow cold as my blood returned to its normal speed. Killing them wasn't enjoyable; it was just a necessary job to reach my goal and kill that [Ascended Knight] in the church.
I focused my gaze on the new Memory as the runes appeared before my eyes:
Memory Name: [Piercing Fang]
Memory Rank: Awakened.
Memory Tier: I.
Memory Type: Dagger.
Memory Description: [A dagger made from the tooth of a great beast. It is sharp, light, and possesses the ability to ignore thin armor.]
I gripped the new dagger; it was leagues better than the scrap knife I had been carrying. With [Piercing Fang] in my possession, my chances of piercing the [Ascended Knight]'s defenses inside the church became slightly better.
I searched their pockets and found some silver coins, then dragged the bodies behind some crates to delay their discovery. I only have four days left, and my sole target is that key around the Priestess's neck.
I left the alley quietly, heading off to prepare myself for the coming day. The hunt isn't over yet; I need more Memories before I step into the Cathedral to face that Ascended monster.