Welcome to This Grimdark World

Chapter 28 27. Welcome to this grimdark world

Barbarus, northern mountains, frontline wasteland.

Now.

The setting sun cast a yellowish-brown hue across the world.

Barren trees stood solitary in the wilderness.

A Pus Hound sped past, kicking up a cloud of dust. Mist and dirt danced together, blurring the lines between heaven and earth.

Herrela's vision was tinged red, blood flowed, attracting predators from afar.

She raised her gun and fired again.

The targeted hound abruptly crouched and leaped forward, its lean body compressing into an unbelievable shape in an instant—

—Heavy claws tore into the earth, sending soil flying—

It dodged!

Herrela took a deep breath and quickly reloaded, her fingers slipping on the bullets slick with her own blood.

She fired again!

Two shots rang out.

The hound repeated its trick, leaping twice and dodging again with agility, but its companion beside it fell straight to the ground, twitching—

The first bullet aimed at it was merely a feint. The second bullet, aimed at its companion, was Herrela's true target.

The Pus Hound, its face twisted in rage, growled lowly. Its already rapid speed increased even further!

Herrela aimed again, firing three shots in quick succession, but the hound deftly avoided them all.

Damn it!

Helpless, Herrela had to temporarily abandon the hound and turn her gun to aim at the two behind it.

The bullets whistled through the mist, faithfully hurtling toward the rapidly running hounds.

They pierced flesh and burst out the other side, splattering blood! Machinery was merciless, flesh weak!

Two more hounds whimpered and fell, the sudden stop at high speed sending them skidding forward with inertia!

Two more down.

Only one hound remained, but Herrela didn't relax for a moment—

The earlier, highly agile hound had now approached the tree where Herrela was hiding, reaching an extremely dangerous distance!!!

Herrela quickly opened fire, bullets raining down on the hound. In an instant, it leaped up—

Straight toward Herrela in the tree!

Herrela's eyes narrowed sharply, but her hands didn't slow down.

After quickly emptying her magazine, Herrela held the gun in one hand and drew her dagger from her waist with the other.

The Pus Hound bared its fangs, thick, foul-smelling saliva dripping between them, and charged at Herrela—

Herrela assumed a defensive stance, gripping the middle of the rifle with one hand and using it to block the gaping maw, while stabbing at the lunging hound with her dagger in the other!

With tremendous force, the hound knocked Herrela off the branch—

The two of them plummeted from the towering branch, falling straight toward the open, solid ground.

"Rattle"

The branches creaked, the deadwood trembled.

"Bang!"

Dust flew up. Herrela felt a burning pain in her back, and a numb ache spread through her chest.

The two-and-a-half-meter-long Pus Hound landed on top of Herrela, its full weight pressing down on her, its maw lunging for Herrela's neck!

"Crack"

The massive force difference shattered Herrela's rifle!!!

Herrela, gripping the broken end of the rifle, jammed it into the Pus Hound's throat—

Her entire forearm went in! The broken end of the rifle pressed firmly into the hound's throat. Unable to bite because its throat was blocked, the hound struggled desperately.

Its limbs flailed, its long, sharp claws digging into Herrela's abdomen, its hind claws sinking deep into Herrela's flesh.

"Cough!"

Herrela stabbed her dagger into the Pus Hound's abdomen with her other hand, and with sheer willpower, began to twist it. The hound's pus-filled lungs slid out of the wound.

The two struggled desperately, blood and flesh flying, each fighting for their life! Herrela felt her consciousness fading, her eyes bloodshot.

No! She couldn't die!

She had to deliver the documents!

Herrela, with her last breath, violently shoved her hand deeper into the Pus Hound's mouth!

The stalemate broke, and the Pus Hound spewed blood mixed with corrosive, acidic stomach fluids.

Herrela maintained her grip, desperately bracing with both hands.

The vast earth was turbid yellow, and a deep black slowly crept across the land—

Evening was approaching.

On the empty earth, a withered tree stood blankly in the mist.

The two figures beneath the tree gradually lost their vitality.

After an unknown amount of time, the Pus Hound's figure swayed—

Thud

The massive corpse of the Pus Hound toppled over.

Herrela, covered in blood, breathed weakly, her eyes wide open, staring at the misty sky.

No, she had to complete the mission.

If she didn't complete the mission, she couldn't die!

The Death Guard were known for their resilience.

Herrela gasped for breath, slowly clearing her mind.

--Ribs broken, right hand corroded to the bone from being deep in the hound's throat, abdomen pierced, left leg fractured.

Fortunately, the abdominal wound hadn't damaged any organs; her intestines were spilling out.

As long as she reached headquarters before bleeding out.

Herrela felt for the documents in her breast pocket—thankfully, they were intact.

Herrela stuffed her intestines back in, haphazardly wrapped her abdomen with bandages, grabbed a tree branch under the tree to use as a crutch, and struggled to her feet, starting on her way.

A trail of blood flowed behind her.

Her consciousness began to blur, the scenery turning black and white, large patches of static filling her vision.

Almost there. Almost there.

No, why was it so far?

Why was it so far?

Herrela, keep going, you can do it.

You swore you'd protect this place.

Herrela could no longer feel the pain, large swathes of black engulfing her vision.

It's too dark, she thought, and Herrela took off her gas mask and tossed it aside.

Still so dark, why was this happening?

Herrela suddenly felt afraid. What if she couldn't complete the mission?

She... she suddenly became that helpless child burying her head and crying again.

She was too weak. She couldn't do anything.

No, no, no, Herrela, you can, you can, you can!

A scarecrow stood alone in the field.

Herrela recognized it. It was the scarecrow standing in the outermost field. Seeing it meant that human settlements were near.

She smiled, Herrela felt her face barely move.

Even if she collapsed here, she would be found.

Even so, Herrela's numb body continued to walk mechanically.

She had to complete the mission. She swore to protect everyone.

Huh?

Did she feel like there was someone ahead?

Herrela wasn't sure. Her vision was blurred, filled with large patches of black and white.

She wasn't sure.

"Herrela!!!"

"Herrela!!!"

"Herrela, hold on!!! Don't die!!!"

Ah.

That was Hades' voice.

Herrela felt herself smiling, her cheeks were hot, were those tears?

Finally, I've completed my oath.

Hades, look, I did it!

I'm a powerful Death Guard now.

Herrela can protect everyone now.

And, we've finally met again.

Herrela couldn't hold on any longer. She collapsed.

Here's a dying Barbarus girl.