"And this so-called ogre, since it specifically feeds on humans, must be an even more formidable prey." Andrei nodded in agreement.
The two quickly found a branch and swept away their footprints, covering them with fallen leaves.
Then they moved forward on tiptoe, constantly watching for changes around them, moving like cautious cheetahs.
They circled around tree trunks, keeping to blind spots, and crouched as they followed the bushes for over two hundred meters before Andrei immediately reached out to stop Ivan.
Without a word, Ivan froze at once, his expression wary.
Andrei pointed ahead. Following his finger, they saw a corpse lying in the wasteland twenty meters away.
It was a curly-haired young man in a brown T-shirt, lying on his back. Blood from the back of his head had stained the ground dark red.
A rolling-pin-thick iron rod had been brutally driven into his mouth, pierced through the back of his skull, and nailed his head to the ground.
With just one glance, Ivan knew the man was thoroughly dead. Even if Nikolai Pirogov came, he would not be able to save him.
At the same time, he noticed footprints leading from the corpse deeper into the forest.
The two hid behind the undergrowth and observed quietly for five minutes. After confirming there was nothing unusual around them, they slowly approached.
Andrei looked at the young man's pierced mouth, his gaze settling on the handy iron rod. After some thought, he did not touch it. Instead, he searched the fallen young man.
He pulled a switchblade from the man's pocket.
Andrei's expression was grave. "Ivan, this young man didn't even manage to draw the knife from his pocket before he was killed. The opponent is no simple matter—at the very least, beyond an ordinary person."
Eva nodded and