With a swing of his blade, two large-headed monstrous infants were instantly decapitated, earning him another 400 Cursed Soul Points.
"Help… help me!"
"I don't want to die… someone, please save me…"
"Get out of my way! Don't block me!"
Shinji lifted his head and saw a group of 'refugees' desperately fleeing.
Behind them was a massive, blue creature, easily over ten meters tall, with a body resembling a dinosaur.
The blue monster wasn't just huge; it had two rows of sharp, sturdy teeth that sent chills down one's spine just by looking at them.
Its limbs were strong and muscular. Though each had only three finger bones, they ended in hooked, razor-sharp claws. Like blades, a single swipe could pierce the chest of an unlucky person lagging behind, tossing them into its mouth to chew and swallow in two bites.
Its spine was covered in long, soft brown fur—Shinji couldn't help but wonder if it used some kind of conditioner.
Despite its enormous size, the creature ran surprisingly fast, moving with incredible agility.
Within moments, it had already bitten and killed three or four people.
If it weren't for the creature using this method to evoke fear and despair in its prey—feeding off those intense negative emotions to grow stronger—everyone would probably have been dead already.
Its actions weren't mere cruelty.
They were also a way to make its victims more "nutritious" and flavorful!
Especially when humans, struggling to survive, turned on each other—backstabbing, scheming, and fighting for scraps—the scene displayed humanity's worst traits in vivid detail.
Shinji held his Executioner's blade, hiding in the shadows.
If he hadn't just used his Piercing Shadow Strike, he would have had full confidence in instantly killing the creature.
But now, he had to consider the size difference. After all, he wasn't nearly as tall as it—was he supposed to "trim its nails" with his Executioner blade?
"Move!"
A man wearing a Leaf Ninja Village headband kicked someone beside him to the ground, letting them fall and be immediately devoured by the monster.
As a Chūnin, he had tried escaping before.
But once all his comrades were dead, he hesitated.
Daily struggles for food, blending in with crowds at night while the monsters hunted—it was how he had survived repeatedly.
He realized that the monsters weren't simply killing for sport or food; they seemed to enjoy witnessing humans at their worst.
The more despair, fear, and resistance humans showed, the more pleased the monsters were, eating with satisfaction.
Once he discovered this, during every 'hunt,' he actively played along, creating tragedies.
The more he could provoke hatred and rage among his fellow humans, the better he could survive.
He wasn't sure if his theory was completely correct—but it worked.
Just last night, during a hunt, he had hit a snag, targeted by two other Chūnin, defeated, and thrown in front of the monsters.
He thought he was done for.
But at the last moment before being eaten, a humanoid monster intervened, stopping the others and even letting him go back into the crowd.
That was when he realized—he was not wrong!
These monsters were intelligent and needed him to do this.
As long as he cooperated, creating more fear and despair, he could survive while others were devoured.
And the results proved it.
Earlier, he had even risked staying until the end, yet the monsters' first targets were still not him.
So he no longer hesitated, blending into the crowd and dragging others behind—anything to stay alive.
Yes, for survival—nothing more, nothing less!
He convinced himself with almost no effort.
Suddenly, he noticed someone running ahead.
It was the same person who, along with another, had almost caused him to be eaten by the monster.
Though he had inadvertently benefited, that grudge could not be ignored.
He decisively began forming hand signs.
"Fire Release: Fire Serpent Technique!"
A fire serpent with an open mouth shot forward at incredible speed, aiming to bite.
The Leaf Village specialized in studying and adapting techniques from other nations, so its ninjas wielded a wide variety of jutsus.
Feeling the heat behind him, the long-haired man immediately realized he was under attack and leapt aside without hesitation.
The attack missed, which didn't surprise the Leaf Ninja. He closed the distance while continuing to form hand signs.
He didn't need a high-power jutsu to kill—just enough to stop the target from escaping, buying time for the monster to catch up. Then it would all be over.
The long-haired man glanced back, both surprised and frowning.
"Of all people… you disgusting bastard! You're still alive?"
"Heh, today you die!" The Leaf Ninja sneered.
"Fire Release: Demon Lantern!"
Countless ghostly flames surged from all directions at the long-haired man.
Their individual power wasn't impressive, but their sheer number delayed him—and by now, the monster was nearly upon him.
The long-haired man's expression changed drastically. Dodging while yelling: "That monster's almost on me! Stop! I don't want to deal with you right now!"
The Leaf Ninja sneered but remained silent, intensifying his assault.
"Damn it! If you die, don't drag me with you!" The long-haired man seethed, panic rising in his chest.
Seeing the monster close, he had no choice but to force his way out.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Several ghost flames exploded around him, blackening and scarring him, but he pressed on and escaped.
Yet the Leaf Ninja didn't seem willing to let him go.
"Water Release: Water Whip!"
The long-haired man, focused on escaping the ghost fire, failed to notice the ground beneath him. By the time he realized the danger, it was too late.
A water whip wrapped tightly around his right leg!
"Now let's see how you run!"
"Are you insane? The monster's right behind you! If you don't run, you'll die!"
"I may be insane, but I won't die! Only you will!"
Insane—this guy was truly insane!
The long-haired man regretted not dealing with this menace earlier, allowing a life-long grudge to fester.
"Fine, let's see if you die or not!"
The long-haired man thought he still had a chance. After all, the monster was closer to his opponent; if the Leaf Ninja died, he might escape.
But what happened next was completely beyond his understanding.
The humanoid monster glanced at the Leaf Ninja and then… ignored him entirely, rushing enthusiastically toward the long-haired man instead.
"How is this possible?!"
The long-haired man's mindset collapsed. He could not comprehend why the monster would bypass the Leaf Ninja and attack him instead.