Single for Eternity
Chapter 56: Messed Up Town

Chapter 56: Messed Up Town

I didn’t know it could show me that.

’Why did you hide such features from me, System?’

[ System: Host doesn’t listen to the system. So, the system won’t make host’s life easy. ]

’You piece of literal mechanical shit.’

[ System: System is unaffected by such trivial taunts. ]

[<⁠(⁠￣⁠︶⁠￣⁠)⁠> ]

’Yeah, you literal thousands of years old hag.’

[ System: ... ]

[ System: #############################################...]

I blinked.

’Oh... so this fellow can get mad. Like, seriously mad.’

Amused, I ignored the system’s binary slurs and turned my attention back to the girl beside me.

"But I don’t understand one thing," I said, arms crossed.

She tilted her head in confusion. "What?"

"How exactly are we doomed just because I killed this guy?"

She inhaled deeply, her eyes darkening. "It’s because... for the past two months, I’ve started acting like them. I’ve watched them kill people in an instant. And if by some miracle, someone manages to kill even a single one, the others always come for revenge. Whether immediately or later, they always come."

I put a hand on my chin, considering that. "Then that could be a problem."

Her expression was grim. "It is. A big one."

"How many people are left in this town?" I asked.

She hesitated, thinking deeply before answering, "Around five thousand... after the purge."

’She did her calculations right.’

BAMMMM

A thunderous explosion roared in the distance, the sound of splintering wood and crumbling stone reverberating through the air.

I instantly turned to the barmaid. "That’s one of my friends, maybe. Let’s go."

Without waiting for her response, I grabbed her wrist and bolted out of the tavern.

...

The moment we stepped outside, I saw it—a house engulfed in flames, thick black smoke curling into the sky.

I sighed.

’That’s Flavia for sure.’

The fire crackled angrily, devouring the wooden structure with an insatiable hunger.

I turned to the barmaid. "I’m going to carry you. Sorry in advance."

Before she could react, I scooped her up in a princess carry and sprinted forward.

We tore through the streets, past merchants and haggling customers, past children playing in the dirt, past street performers showing off cheap tricks.

But something was wrong.

I could feel their stares.

For a moment, the distant, unfocused gazes of the townspeople sharpened—locked onto us.

I didn’t miss the eerie way they observed, how their empty eyes flickered with brief, unnatural clarity. But just as quickly as it came, they returned to whatever mundane task they were pretending to do.

’They don’t want to fight. Not yet.’

But now that they were reacting, it’s better to increase my guard against them.

I kept moving, ignoring the strange sensation crawling down my spine.

The girl in my arms was beet red, her flustered expression buried in my chest.

Finally, I reached the source of the explosion.

...

The scene was chaotic.

Burnt wood crackled, sending embers floating into the air. Smoke hung thick, obscuring visibility. And in the heart of it all—two figures fought against four grotesque monstrosities.

Flavia, her tangerine hair whipping wildly, hurled scorching fireballs, each one slamming into the creatures. Their flesh burned, turning to blackened husks—only to regenerate seconds later.

Mael, the blonde swordsman, dissolved into the ground like liquid shadow, reappearing behind his targets to slash at their backs. But no matter how many times his blade cut deep, their wounds closed instantly.

And then, I got a good look at our enemies.

Humans—no, not humans anymore.

Their heads had burst open, a grotesque flower blooming where their skulls should be. The petals were an amalgamation of sinew, writhing tentacles, and thick, pulsating pus.

A putrid, rancid stench filled the air. I almost wanted to puke because of it, but alas I didn’t even had that luxury after my encounter with the desert creatures.

I lowered the barmaid to the ground. "Go hide somewhere. I need to help those two."

She hesitated. "Please... take care of yourself."

With that, she scurried away, disappearing behind the ruined remains of a building.

I turned back to the battlefield, cracking my knuckles.

Mael was still darting through the shadows, attacking relentlessly. Flavia’s flames continued to scorch, but it wasn’t enough. The creatures just wouldn’t die.

I exhaled sharply.

’Hit the goddamn heads, you morons.’

They probably hadn’t seen zombie movies. I mean they hadn’t but still, hitting the goddamn head should be the first priority.

Not wasting another second, I kicked off the ground, my body rocketing forward.

Mid-air, I twisted, my leg swinging in a powerful arc.

CRACK—SPLAT.

My foot connected with one of the creature’s heads, bursting it open like a melon.

Black, putrid pus splattered against my leg, clinging to my skin like oil. I ignored the nasty sensation and spun toward the next target.

"HIT THE HEADS!" I shouted.

A split second later—

A spear crackling with white energy whizzed past me, piercing clean through another creature’s skull. Its body froze in place, unmoving.

I followed the trajectory.

Ben.

The giant of a man stood at a distance, panting heavily, sweat dripping from his brow. He must have run all the way here.

Taking my words to heart, Mael melted into the ground again, reappearing behind another creature. His blade slashed—SHING—cleaving through its grotesque, pulsating head.

The last monster lunged at Flavia.

She narrowed her eyes, raising both hands.

A massive fireball erupted from her palms, consuming its head in searing flames.

Its blackened skull crumbled to ash.

The battle was over.

...

Silence.

Only the distant crackling of flames remained. The air was thick with the foul scent of charred flesh and rot.

I exhaled, wiping the black pus off my leg.

Ben approached, rubbing the back of his neck. "What the hell were those things?"

Flavia huffed, placing her hands on her hips. "Hell if I know. But they’re nasty as shit."

Mael flicked his sword, sending flecks of black blood onto the ground. His usual cheerful expression was gone, replaced by a rare grimace.

"This town is seriously messed up."

I couldn’t help but chuckle. "You’re just figuring that out now?"

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