NOVEL NEXT Chapter 34: 34:Did You Kill Them?
Hex moved cautiously through the woods, avoiding the chaos that had spread in the more crowded areas.
He wasn't interested in the screams or the panic. Instead, he headed in the opposite direction, towards the part of the forest that still seemed untouched by the flames. Every few steps, he scanned his surroundings, checking behind trees and under thick branches to see if anyone was hiding or if there were any groups around.
Seeing nothing, Hex took out a small flamethrower strapped to his back. With a swift motion, he pointed it at the dry forest ahead.
The flames shot out with a roar, igniting the trees in seconds. The fire blazed fast, eating up everything in its path. It didn't take long before an entire truck nearby was swallowed by the fire, its metal melting and cracking under the heat.
The fire spread like a wild beast. Branches snapped, leaves turned to ash in seconds, and smoke coiled into the sky.
The crackling sound of burning wood filled the air, growing louder by the second. Deep in the forest, screams began to echo—screams of terrified beasts.
Hearing this Hex felt a pang of guilt but he shook it.
"It's just hitting two stones with one arrow."
Some were roaring, some crying out in pain. The sound of thudding paws, wild flapping wings, and angry screeches echoed as beasts ran frantically, unsure of which way to escape.
Some of the beasts tried to fight the fire, striking at burning branches or slamming into trees.
But the fire didn't stop. Flames wrapped around them, and their bodies collapsed into the ground one after another.
Others turned and ran, only to find themselves cornered or surrounded by thick smoke and fire on all sides. They tried to leap out or dig through, but most of them were caught and burned alive.
Those few who managed to break out of the fiery trap didn't get far. As soon as they left the forest, they encountered humans.
Most of them were cadets, scared and tense. And with such an opportunity to score,they opened fire.
Blood stained the muddy ground. Some of the beasts fought back, but they were tired and confused, and most were quickly taken down.
The ones that tried to plead or show no aggression were still met with attacks. It was hard to tell who the enemy was anymore.
Hex kept walking. The smoke burned his eyes, and the heat stung his skin, but he didn't stop. He passed several groups of people running like mad. Some were injured, some were screaming names, and some just ran in silence, eyes wide with shock.
Being invisible,no one detected him.
"I wish I could have it in real..Alas.."
The fire kept growing, spreading deeper and wider into the forest. No matter how far Hex went, the blaze seemed to follow, moving like a living thing.
He sighed and wiped sweat from his forehead, feeling a bit tired. His legs ached, and his throat felt dry.
"Just how big is this forest..." Hex muttered as he looked around. "It keeps going and going."
His steps slowed. After some time, he came across a narrow stream, its water glistening in the dull light. He hesitated for a second. The water wasn't clean, and he didn't like the idea of drinking straight from it. But his throat was parched, and there weren't many options.
He bent down, cupped his hands, and was just about to scoop some water when something caught his eye.
The numbers above his head had changed by a significant margin.
Before, it had been around 200.
Now it showed 890
His eyes widened.
"Such a drastic change?" he whispered, staring at the numbers.
He took a few deep breaths and thought it through. The only answer he could think of was that the fire had killed dozens, maybe hundreds of animals. Maybe even a few humans got caught in it too.
He felt a sudden wave of unease in his stomach.
Shaking his head, he splashed water onto his face and finally drank. It tasted of dirt and ash, but he forced it down, clearing the dryness in his throat.
He stood up again and wiped his mouth, then began walking.
But he hadn't walked far when he froze.
His eyes locked on a scene ahead.
A horrifying scene unfolded before him, so sudden and grim that even he was caught off guard.
His body stiffened as his feet stopped moving.His face turned pale.
"...What the hell is this..." Hex muttered under his breath.
He stood still, unsure whether to move forward or turn back.
Hex took a step forward and paused.
In front of him hung a row of corpses, strung up between trees like a gruesome garland.
Creepers were wrapped tightly around their necks, their lifeless bodies swinging gently in the air. There were twelve of them in total, forming a disturbing line from one tree to another.
"It's barely the third day and already so many have been killed," he muttered, his eyes narrowing.
"Is this done by a group or the same person?" The way the bodies were displayed suggested a single killer, but it was hard to say for sure without knowing more.
As Hex examined the scene, a question crossed his mind—how had the cadets reached this place from the spawning zone so fast?
Or are there different spawning zones?
The corpses were already rotting and giving off a strong stench.
They didn't look like they had died today. Hex frowned.
"Just how strong is this guy to take care of 12 guys at once?" he wondered aloud.
But more than that,what kind of psycho monster has entered this place.
Not finding any other presence nearby, he let go of his invisibility and stretched out his hand.
"Let's just burn this place and move on." Flames burst from his palm, spreading quickly across the forest floor, catching on the dry grass and licking up the trees. The fire engulfed the area, consuming the corpses in a wave of heat and smoke.
Just then, he heard the sound of breaking twigs followed by footsteps.
Hex stiffened as his senses flared.
Someone was nearby. Without a second thought, he vanished again, stepping lightly to reposition.
But before he could move far, something zipped past him. He twisted his body just in time, barely dodging the attack. A sharp sting grazed his cheek. A piece of branch with a sharpened edge struck the trunk behind him with a heavy thud.
"Did you kill them?"