A few seconds later, Kevin's voice rang out again.
"Sorry, I was just checking the map. We're in Corso County, we passed an abandoned old Church during the day! Are you a cop?!"
"An old Church..."
Jack picked up the map beside him, his finger sliding rapidly across the surface.
"What exactly is trying to kill you?" Jack asked, confirming once more.
Kevin screamed, breaking down: "Tell me, are you a fucking cop or not?!"
"Listen to me!"
Jack shouted: "I'm on Highway 9 right now, but I'm still some distance from that Church. It's going to take some time to get there."
Kevin yelled in despair: "You have to tell the police! Have them send people!"
"I'll notify them, right now."
Jack responded coldly, then switched off the radio.
He glanced at his eldest son, who sat beside him fully armed, and gave a silent nod.
Notify the police?
Those cops would either treat this as a joke or haul the monster's corpse away for research. But what he wanted was revenge, justice, not bureaucracy. He was going to tear the animal that took Billy limb from limb with his own two hands.
—--
Inside the RV.
Kevin jumped up in excitement, his face a mask of pure ecstasy.
"Great, we finally got through to help."
In the driver's seat, Minxie gripped the steering wheel with both hands, tears welling in her eyes at the news.
Scott, however, couldn't find it in himself to be happy.
He huddled in the back of the cabin with a somber expression, staring at Patty in the front seat with venomous eyes, his mind churning with unknown schemes.
Kevin was just about to say something to take credit.
Thud!
A massive bang echoed from the roof. The entire RV lurched downward before snapping back up on its suspension.
A section of the roof buckled inward instantly.
Before any of them could react...
Krrr-tch!
A black claw tore straight through the metal roofing. Five sharp talons pierced Kevin's head and dragged him out of the RV.
"Aaaah!!!"
Following one wretched scream, all went silent outside the vehicle.
Only a torrent of fresh blood poured down through the hole, flooding the radio he had been clutching in his hands.
The sudden turn of events plunged the interior into a deathly silence.
Minxie's pupils dilated. Her freshly cleaned face was once again speckled with droplets of blood.
The familiar scent of iron reminded her of the horrific sight of her boyfriend Brad being decapitated right in front of her.
Driven by sheer terror, she instinctively slammed her foot on the brakes.
Screeeech!!!
The RV pitched forward violently. The cabin, which had just been partially tidied, descended into chaos once more as liquor mixed with flowing blood and snacks scattered everywhere.
"What the fuck?!"
Scott was splayed on the floor like a turtle, staring up at the bleeding hole in the roof in disbelief: "Dammit! What happened?! Where's Kevin?!" Before he could even scramble to his feet.
"Bang!"
A hideous, terrifying face suddenly slammed against the front windshield.
"AAAAHHHH!!!"
Looking at the demonic face right before her eyes, Minxie nearly lost her mind from pure terror.
Her hands clawed frantically at her seatbelt until it unbuckled, and she scrambled toward the back of the cabin on all fours.
Was it that Ogre?! It wasn't dead?! Even its shattered skull had perfectly regenerated; it looked as if it hadn't taken any damage at all.
Patty's face went pale.
The Ogre was sprawled across the hood, looking at the people inside the vehicle with a mocking gaze.
Its eyeballs rolled as if it had thought of something fun, and a cruel smile spread across its face.
It extended a finger, tapped the glass, and gave Scott, who was still flat on the floor, a chillingly human-like wink.
"Me?!"
Scott pointed at his own nose. Seeing the monster nod with a smile, he began shaking his head frantically like a rattle.
"No, no, no! I don't taste good! I don't exercise, my meat is stinky! Don't eat me! Go eat Patty, or eat Minxie!"
The Ogre seemed amused. It tilted its head, staring at Scott as if lost in thought.
Then, its index finger slowly drifted toward Minxie, who had fled to the back.
Minxie's entire body went rigid, a chill running down her spine.
It was the feeling of walking down a dark road at night as a child, sensing something right behind you; it made her nearly unable to breathe.
She looked to Patty for help, hoping her best friend, who had been so formidable moments ago, could fire a few more shots and resolve this crisis.
Patty shook her head slightly, her grip tightening on the gun.
To deliver the finishing blow and ensure the monster stayed dead, she had emptied her only magazine.
She wasn't a real Devil Hunter, after all. Whenever she watched Dante kill demons, he'd just fire a few shots and be done with it.
How was she supposed to know that following that same process would lead to this?
Besides, what normal person packs a bunch of spare magazines in their bag for a road trip?
"Out of bullets?"
Minxie caught Patty's hesitation. She knew her best friend too well; she could guess the truth just from her expression.
"You... you already killed my boyfriend! Why are you still staring at me?!"
She looked at the monster outside the RV in despair.
Suddenly, a venomous thought sprouted in her mind.
Minxie lunged to her feet, pointed at Patty, and screamed at the Ogre outside the window, "It was her!"
"She's the one who shot you just now! Go after her!"
"Take her! We'll give her to you! Just let us go, okay?!"
Hearing this, the Ogre flashed that smug grin again.
It nodded in satisfaction and gave Minxie a thumbs-up.
These two pieces of food were quite clever. This kind of infighting was its favorite spectacle. For that, it would reward them by saving them for dessert.
Patty looked at Minxie in disbelief: "Minxie?! What are you say–"
"That's right! She's just a self-righteous bitch, acting like she's so pure! If you want her, she's yours! Take it all!"
Scott, standing nearby, jumped out as if grabbing a literal lifeline, his face twisted with venom.
If it hadn't been for his father repeatedly mentioning that Patty's background and origins were unique, ordering him to secure this woman at any cost...
And if Patty weren't a rare beauty herself, especially with that provocative figure...
Otherwise, with his family's wealth and status, how could he have possibly tolerated her cold shoulder time and time again?
Back at school, all he had to do was crook a finger and girls would throw themselves at him.
But now?
To hell with his father, and to hell with his status!
Who has the heart to worry about women when their life is on the line?!
If he couldn't have her, he'd send her to Hell! Throw this bitch to the monster; it was the perfect trade for his own survival!
"Patty! This is all because of you! If you hadn't shot this monster, why would it be targeting us?! Why would we even be in this mess?"
"Kevin died because of you, too!"
"Get out! Get out now! Don't drag us down with you!"
Scott roared, reaching out to drag Patty toward the exit.
Patty looked at her classmates, people who were once familiar yet now felt like strangers, as if she were seeing their true faces for the first time.
She found it hard to imagine that Minxie, who usually laughed and chatted with her, could say such things.
"Don't touch me."
Patty slapped Scott's hand away, her chest heaving as she forced herself to calm down.
She knew that even if she went out there, the monster wouldn't spare anyone. But rather than dying alongside these two pieces of trash, she would prefer to face the creature alone.
At least she could die with some dignity.
Without sparing them another glance, Patty walked silently toward the door.
Witnessing this, a flicker of guilt flashed in Minxie's eyes, but for her own survival, she felt she had no choice.
The Ogre greedily licked the glass, watching Patty step out of the vehicle.
Right then.
Vroom!
Two beams of light suddenly shot out from the road opposite the RV, catching the attention of both the Ogre and everyone inside.
(Translated by yourtl.app)