[Tale] The Odd-Eyed One Who Transcends Time and Space <Chapter 2>

The woman in white robes atop the wall dissolved like mist as the morning sun grew stronger. Yet the chill terror lodged in Dali's spine remained.

A low, threatening growl escaped Gom's throat, which had been calm moments before. This was different from the warning directed at the innkeeper. It was far more primal, a warning steeped in deep-seated dread.

Dali instinctively raised his head. At the dead end of the alley where they had taken refuge stood a small, dilapidated shrine. Its door had been torn off, revealing only a dust-covered altar within.

But to Dali's odd-coloured eyes, it was different.
From within the shrine, something black and viscous, like smoke, was oozing out.

It was a vile, wicked aura, incomparably more potent than that of the woman in white robes seen earlier on the wall. The black smoke writhed as if alive, then began to creep slowly towards the two beasts.

The air around them froze instantly. Gom-i backed away, baring his teeth.
Dali couldn't move. Within that black aura, two fiercely glowing red eyes were staring straight at him.

That gaze was saying:
'You, you do not belong here.'