In a corner of the city, the streets lay dark, lit only by the faint, dim glow of the crescent moon overhead.
Behind the street, weeds covered a broad stretch of vacant land. Sewage flowed all around it, and heaps of assorted rubbish rose like mountains.
A filthy stray cat darted out, carrying a freshly caught mouse in its mouth. In moments, it leaped onto a wall, ready to find somewhere safe to feast.
Suddenly, it stopped and listened warily.
The stray cat seemed to have noticed something. It crouched low, a threatening growl rumbling in its throat.
Not far away, a figure staggered along, his eyes vacant.
Behind him followed several people in much the same state.
These people were all among the city's poor.
Most were refugees from other towns or villages. With no property and no particular skills, they struggled to find steady work. They could only huddle in the slums, occasionally venturing onto the streets to seek whatever work they could manage to keep themselves fed.
Their clothes were ragged and their bodies gaunt. Beneath the moonlight, they resembled walking corpses.
The stray cat watched them for a long time. Only after confirming that these humans had not noticed it did it jump down on the other side and hurry away.
The people, however, kept moving until they encountered guards on their night patrol.
"The death energy readings are coming from here. These people have been infected with the undead plague. Stop them, quickly!"
Blades rang out as they were drawn from their sheaths.
The guards advanced, hacking and slashing amid surges of holy light. A priest from the Church of Light among them helped by casting divine magic to banish evil.
Before long, the figures fell one after another, writhing and struggling with defiant cries