Reborn as a Prophet in a Horror Movie

#013Reader Mode

Trigger Warning Graphic Violence: May contain scenes of violence that are graphically depicted, which may upset sensitive viewers.

#013

Airi attempted to step back, but the sight of intestines spilling from the mutilated corpse caused her to falter. Even for someone as nimble as Airi, the floor, now a treacherous expanse of blood and fat, proved too slippery to maintain her balance.

Her eyes, wide with horror, fixated on the blood stains that had splashed onto her body, their vividness a stark contrast to her dazed expression. Her heart pounded a rapid, anxious beat within her slender chest.

The surreal scene held not only Airi but everyone else in its grip of shock. After a beat of stunned silence, William’s desperate cry to his lover shattered the stillness.

“Airi!”

He lunged towards her, but another presence, swifter and more unexpected, emerged from the dense underbrush – a massive, grotesque monster.

With a speed that defied its hulking form, it bore down on Airi, who found herself once again in the clutches of danger.

“What is that…” Seojun’s voice was a mere whisper, his words filled with disbelief. He blinked hard, hoping the nightmare would dissipate, but the horror remained, unrelenting.

Countless times, Seojun had mentally rehearsed this day, imagining every possible scenario. Gas Mask, the weapon in his grasp, the desolate Hamon campsite terrain that favored serial killers, and even the man-eating Monster X were all part of his predictions.

But perhaps the influence of movie visuals had been too strong. His imagination had painted them as shabby puppets in costumes, killers in clunky masks, or dusty animatronics from low-budget horror films.

He realized how wrong he had been. He should’ve delved into films about deep-sea creatures instead.

The monster was enormous, the size of a small bus, its approach steady and menacing. Yet, even as it drew closer, its exact appearance remained elusive, a grotesque blend of a well-cooked octopus and an undercooked omelet.

Its slimy surface glistened with an unnatural white sheen, punctuated by several orifices that served as breathing holes. Each time those orifices pulsated, a foul-smelling liquid oozed out, the sight enough to turn the strongest stomach.

Despite its seemingly cumbersome form, it moved with a sense of purpose, its underside lined with suction cups that provided traction. Its tentacles, extending from its central mass, held an ensnared person.

Could that be its hand? Seojun stared blankly at the person it held, the thought an absurd distraction from the horror. The person, or rather, what remained of them, was incomplete. Only the upper body of the corpse remained, the pain and terror of their final moments forever etched on their face.

Then, with a swift motion, the monster hurled the bisected body through the air. Seojun’s eyes locked onto the lifeless gaze of the corpse, its face swollen and tinged with blue. The familiarity of that expression wasn’t a pleasant realization.

Under the cover of darkness, the monster’s aim was impeccable. Whether by intention or chance, the flung torso crashed into the cabin, its exposed entrails—heart, liver, lungs, and kidneys — spilling out in a disgusting display.

Thanks to that, the weight of the severed corpse that landed in Bobby’s arms was now significantly lighter. But relief was the last thing Bobby was feeling.

“AAHHHH!”

With the upper half of the body unexpectedly in his grasp, Bobby unleashed a scream that seemed to contain the entire world’s despair. He tried to shake off the corpse, but it clung to him, cold and sticky, like drenched seaweed.

Even so, his scream served a purpose. The raw, guttural shriek jolted William out of his daze. He rushed towards Airi, his movements stiff but filled with urgency and desperation.

However, the monster, perhaps due to its lack of a skeleton, was faster. It shot out a sinewy appendage, vaguely resembling an arm, a leg, or maybe a tentacle. The way it twitched gave the impression of an insatiable hunger to grasp onto something.

One thing was certain: the monster had numerous such appendages. And Airi—much to her horror—was the first to truly comprehend their purpose.

“Sa-save me, aah!”

A tentacle, swift and brutal, coiled around Airi’s waist, hoisting her upwards. She flailed in sheer terror, her legs kicking at the empty air below.

“Willy! Willy!”

Her clothing was flimsy, leaving her lower body exposed without any protective gear.

“Airi!”

Before she could fully register the horror of her situation, a searing pain engulfed her. The pressure against her skin, flesh, and organs caused Airi’s face to flush deeply.

“No, Airi!”

Besides Bobby, still struggling with the ghastly half-corpse; Christina and William all scrambled into action. Driven by desperation, William seemed ready to confront the monster with his bare hands. Johan, too, pushed Seojun back, shielding him protectively. However, Seojun knew that a fleeting moment of safety wasn’t a guarantee of survival.

So, he reached into his pocket and his bandaged hand closed around a round object. Without even looking, its potent scent was unmistakable. Amidst the stench of death, he allowed himself a moment to breathe. But there was no time to relax. With each passing second, Airi’s life slipped further away.

Grasping the bloodstained axe, Seojun got to work.

“Jun?”

Sensing movement, Johan turned, his eyes widening in disbelief. It couldn’t be helped. Seojun’s next move was that baffling—He was using the axe to slice… a lemon.

Seojun’s gaze locked with Johan’s, the latter’s face a picture of astonishment and confusion. Unfazed, Seojun continued, the fruit yielding to his pressure, its tart juice splattering the axe blade. A splash of the juice landed on Seojun’s wrist, and he licked it off, the tangy flavor lingering on his tongue.

“Now, Johan…”

“Me? With this?” Johan gestured towards the axe.

Seojun handed the axe to Johan, then grabbed his wrist, leading him out of the cabin. They hurried past the lifeless body, past Bobby, past Christina, and finally, past William.

Exiting the cabin, which held the warmth of so many people, they were met with a chilling stench of decay rising from the lake’s depths, mingling with the crisp night air.

As the night’s bizarre events unfolded, clarity returned to Seojun’s mind. They were up against a deranged serial killer and a monstrous entity beyond human comprehension. Such was the nature of this world. Even if Seojun tried to avoid it and run, these entities would always exist here.

So, Seojun decided to use what was available. He grabbed Johan’s forearm, feeling a slight tremble in the muscular arm. Was Johan scared too? Seojun looked up at him, searching for an answer, but Johan’s blue eyes met Seojun’s unwaveringly. If it wasn’t fear causing the tremor, what was it?

Seojun’s fleeting curiosity vanished as quickly as it had come. They couldn’t delay any longer; Airi’s spine was at risk of snapping. Seojun pressed down on Johan’s shoulder and said,

“Johan, throw the axe.”

Johan looked at the axe he had received from Seojun with a hint of unfamiliarity. But despite his uncertain gaze, his grip was firm. Johan gave a slight smile, a silent grin that suited the young man’s demeanor.

“Just leave it to me.”

Muscles bulged from Johan’s outstretched arm. His mouth tightened, and his broad chest expanded. Then, without hesitation, Johan threw the axe with all his might.

The sound of it cutting through the air was sharp and piercing. The blade of the rotating axe gleamed in the moonlight. Seojun looked at Johan, thinking,

That’s definitely the arm of a quarterback.

Thwack! The fiercely thrown axe sliced through the monster’s leg. A bright purple liquid sprayed out, even visible against the dark night sky. The liquid, sparkling brilliantly, drenched Airi’s face. Ironically, only the area tightly gripped by the monster’s leg remained clean.

“We did it!” Christina cheered.

The severed leg’s grip on Airi visibly weakened. But there was no time to savor the moment. The severed leg meant Airi was free, and few would enjoy liberation while suspended in mid-air.

“Ahh!” Airi screamed as she plummeted to the ground with the severed tentacle.

“Airi!”

William rushed up to her. He didn’t care that her falling body felt heavier than usual, and he caught her just in time. Fortunately, Airi landed on her legs first, but her impact with William’s collarbone sent both of them flying.

William held her tightly despite the pain of ripped skin and battered muscles. They finally came to a stop after tumbling several times.

“Ugh…”

“Ah… Willy.”

Airi groaned, her voice a strained whisper as she struggled to get up. A dark bruise encircled her waist, a haunting reminder of the monster’s crushing grip. Though she wasn’t coughing up blood, indicating her organs were unharmed, the eerie discoloration of her skin showed the pain must have been immense.

“Airi, are you okay?”

Christina rushed to support her, and Airi leaned gratefully on her friend’s shoulder.

Amidst this emotional scene, Seojun stood apart, a sense of perplexity washing over him.

Did that… actually work?

He stared at the severed tentacle, disbelief etched on his face. He knew lemons were supposedly effective against Monster X, but he had acted more out of hope than certainty. Even while applying lemon juice to the axe, Seojun had been skeptical.

Even if Johan had thrown the sharpest axe, it wouldn’t have been able to slice through the monster’s leg as easily as tofu if it hadn’t been coated with lemon juice.

The absurdity of it all left Seojun feeling hollow rather than overjoyed at the success of his plan. A carnivorous monster weakened by a lemon? If anyone wondered why “The Murderer of the Bloody Lake” failed, they just had to see this scene.

Moreover, Seojun didn’t use the precious lemon to save Airi out of mere sympathy.

I need to act strategically.

Although Seojun wasn’t clear on the nuances between tactics and strategy, he knew action required it. In typical horror movies, tragedy often accelerates with the death of the female lead’s close friend.

In essence, Airi was akin to a starting point. While there were exceptions, Seojun chose to base his thoughts on a common stereotype. In this world, where horror movie tropes ran rampant, the lifespan of the female lead’s best friend was often shorter than that of ankle socks.

So, what would happen if the female lead’s close friend didn’t die?

Seojun observed Airi, the protagonist’s dear friend. Her right knee was swollen, and her waist bore dark bruises, but at a glance, she appeared to be alive and well.

Unless the monster’s touch brought with it a deadly poison or radiation, immediate death wasn’t a concern. If the lemon’s protective properties combined with Airi’s survival could act as a safeguard, it would be perfect…

T/N: Why are William and Airi so cute? Don’t die cliche horror movie couple!!

( ;´ – `;)