I Am The Only Witch Hunter-Chapter 331: Shadow Creature

Siderius entered the outskirts of the town. In the real world, the town connected directly to the forest.

But in Profunda, they were separated by a large bottomless pit with only one flimsy rope bridge in the middle.

Siderius squatted down and checked the wooden poles on either side of the bridge. He dusted off the dirt right beneath them, revealing a white skull with its mouth wide open. The wooden pole was hammered into the mouth of the skull.

Siderius tapped lightly on the skull. Green fire flashed in its two eye sockets then quickly died down.

The rope bridge stretched then turned into a solid stone bridge.

"As expected," Siderius mumbled.

States of matter in Profunda wasn’t stable like the real world. It constantly changed and transformed. If you knew enough about this place, you could easily manipulate it to your will.

Siderius summoned Silver Hawk and carved a message onto the wooden pole, hoping that anyone coming after him would be able to see it.

The hunter then proceeded forward into the town.

The town was much bigger in Profunda. Its structures were also stone based, not wood based like the real world. From Siderius’ point of view, the town looked like an ancient stone fortress that was abandoned, not an ordinary town.

There was a large gate in front of him with no way to get in. Siderius looked around and noticed a destroyed part of the wall. The top was broken, making it much lower than the rest.

Siderius used Silver Hawk to carve out an arrow to that direction. Then he climbed onto that low wall and climbed inside.

The houses inside were similar to what they were in the real world. But they were the enlarged versions of the original with everything turned to stone. Siderius couldn’t detect the Dreamless Walker.

"Well. I guess I have to do it manually."

Siderius approached the first house. It was the house of the same family that the group had investigated previously.

The witch hunter kicked the door open and looked inside. The father was still there but he had been corrupted by Profunda.

Dark smoke enveloped his body. Barbed wires were going in and out of his skin. His eyes were hollowed, like he wasn’t there.

The last victim Siderius saw. His soul was damaged but he managed to stay sane. This one, however, had completely turned into a shadow creature.

Siderius sighed and summoned Silver Hawk again. The silver sword appeared on his back as he grabbed it.

"Let me grant you peace." Siderius muttered under his breath.

The shadow creature heard him and turned to his direction. It bent its back and growled at him. Then it rushed at Siderius in a very unnatural running pose.

Its back stayed bent while its hands were close to its body. It ran like a chicken with barely noticeable footsteps.

Siderius raised the sword and swiped horizontally, cutting at the creature’s face when it was close enough. He continued his attacks by connecting the blows seamlessly.

The creature was dissected like a fish on a plate. Its face was cut into an unrecognizable state before Siderius decapitated it.

The two parts of its body fell to the ground and dissolved into black smoke.

At the same time, in the real world, white foam flooded out of the man’s mouth. His eyes turned white and his body went into a seizure. Then he died.

Siderius went into the bedroom, where the mother and her child were supposed to be. The witch hunter pushed the door open but it didn’t budge.

His incredible hearing caught a gasp inside the room that was quickly shut off. They’re inside and they’re sane.

"My name is Nyx. A swordsman of the East. Please open the door." Siderius whispered loud enough for the people on the other side to hear.

God knew how many shadow creatures were in the town. It was best to not draw too much attention.

No one answered.

Siderius tried again.

"I’ve killed the man out here. He was corrupted by the darkness. I didn’t have any other choice."

"You killed Cob?" The door clicked open.

Behind the wooden door was the mother and the child. They looked exactly like they were in the real world. Only a bit more ragged and tired.

"Are you okay?" Siderius said.

The child rushed to his mother side and she placed her hand on him for comfort.

"We’re alright... Cob. He suddenly turned mad... I..." The mother sobbed quietly.

"This place corrupted him. Unfortunately, I couldn’t save him." Siderius said.

"Stay here, alright? Mommy’s going to take a look?" The mother told her child.

The child nodded.

She went out to check the living room. Siderius stood to the side and allowed her.

"Where is his corpse?" The mother said.

"It is in the real world. I only killed his corrupted soul."

"Soul..." The mother widened her eyes. She turned to Siderius with desperation in her gaze. "Where exactly are we, kind sir? Why did the people go mad? Why has everything changed? Are we in hell?"

Siderius nodded, "Unfortunately. We are in a hell."

The face of the mother wrinkled. "What did we do to deserve this? What did my child do..."

"You didn’t do anything. There is an evil being that pulled you to this place. I am here... I am tasked to kill it. Have you noticed anything different before you wake up in this place?"

"Anything different..." The mother closed her eyes and rubbed her temple.

"There is that well."

"A well?" 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

The mother nodded. "The distance between us and the nearest river is quite far. So the elders of the town decided to dig a well.

But when it was finished, black water flooded out from beneath. It was a stinky, sticky black water."

Siderius’ brow furrowed. He didn’t remember any well in the town. Whatever they dug, its root wasn’t in the real world.

Creatures from Profunda wouldn’t just show up without a reason. It needed a gate or a pathway to come to the physical plane. That well may very well be the gateway.

"Did anything get out from under the well?" Siderius said.

The mother shook her head. After seeing the black water, I came home with my child. I didn’t see what happened after.

"I see. Don’t worry. I will take care of it. You and your child should go back to the room and lock the door tight. Barricade it with the bed if needed. Remember to not open the door under any circumstances."

The mother nodded.

"I have a few allies wandering around. If you see them, tell them I was here and nothing else. Do you understand?"

"What with all the precautions?"

Siderius smiled gently. "Because the creatures of this hell can shapeshift."