Martial Arts Worlds

It was a dark day in Rodero as dark clouds came from over the mountains, and a heavy rain began to pour down on the town.

The marketplace stayed closed, with shopkeepers and vendors huddled inside their homes, waiting for the storm to pass.

In that moment, a resounding bell echoed from Rodero's bell tower, and it was the first time that both Kiernan and Aoi had heard it.

It was also the first time for most of the citizens of Rodero who had been living here since their birth.

The bell, when rung, signals a danger, and this time around, it warned the citizens of possible flooding.

Looking out of the window, Kiernan watched as the rain pattered against the window, and water began to pool in the streets.

"Cough… Cough…"

Sitting by the fireplace with a book in her lap, Aoi coughed against the side of her fist, then shook her head as if it was nothing, and kept reading.

'It sure is poor weather. It rains as if some god had become angry at citizens of Rodero and is planning to flood them all.'

At that moment, a lifeless-looking body floated in the street—there wasn't much water, but enough to move it around like in a shallow pool.

"What in the world?"

Kiernan put his raincoat on, put on knee-high waterproof boots, and opened the door.

"Where are you going?"

Aoi heard the sound of the door opening and immediately coughed with a slightly sickly voice.

It sounded as if she was about to fall ill.

"I'll be out for a while. I bought some chamomile tea yesterday, which could help your sore throat. Take a sip of that!"

Kiernan shouted, stepped out into the heavy rain, and ran after the floating body, which was drenched like a soaked sponge.

He turned the body around and saw those lifeless eyes, which could only belong to a corpse.

'Where did he wash? This person definitely didn't drown, and I don't see any wounds on the body either.

'It's as if he just happened to die.'

At that moment, the corpse's mouth opened slightly, as if to speak, and then a hoarse sound came out of its throat.

"Baah… Baah… Baah…"

It was a goat's bleat.

"The hell?"

Kiernan frowned, then saw the corpse turn silent again and didn't move an inch.

He checked the pulse just in case, and just as he expected, there was none, as if he was indeed dead.

He had come across corpses that had been moving even after their last breath, but he had never come across corpses that could speak.

Kiernan retreated back to the house, away from the rain, and watched out of the window to see more of the bizarre scene unfolding in the distance.

Corpses floated from the upstream river, their limbs thrashing wildly in the water. Many of them were missing eyes and some flesh, as if fish had already dined on them, and they were all saying the same thing.

"Baah… Baah… Baah."

Kiernan drew the curtains closed, took off his raincoat and boots, and sat down on the couch with a deep contemplation.

Aoi had gone and taken some chamomile tea for herself and was sipping on it while looking at the book and at Kiernan.

She had no idea about the bizarre things happening right outside, and maybe it was better as it was nightmare-inducing.

"Cough… Cough… Is everything alright?"

Aoi asked after a couple of coughs, and Kiernan heard the pain behind each of her coughs, and it didn't sound normal.

"Yes, but how are you feeling? Maybe you should go rest?"

Kiernan asked and pressed the back of his hand at Aoi's forehead—it wasn't warm—but she still looked quite ill.

"I don't know… I am not feeling that bad, but coughing hurts quite bad."

Aoi said, drank more of the chamomile tea, and felt its warmth seep through her throat, which made her feel slightly better.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

At that moment, someone knocked on the door with a bang, as if someone tried to punch through the door.

With a frown, Kiernan walked to the door and opened it.

There was a black raincoated man, holding a lantern in one hand. The hood of his raincoat was pulled up over his head, casting a shadow over his face.

He then lifted the lantern to cast a glow over his middle-aged face, and he asked.

"Sorry for the intrusion, but have you come across anything unusual or suspicious in this area?"

"Well, the floating corpses."

Kiernan looked over the shoulder at all those floating corpses that filled the streets and washed away.

"Of course, but… Have you seen anyone suspicious trot about?"

The raincoated man asked.

"No… I don't think so."

Kiernan said with a shake of his head.

"Cough! Cough!"

At that moment, a very loud cough sounded from over the living room, and then "bang" sounded as if someone fell over.

"Ao—Faye, are you alright?"

Kiernan shouted and didn't receive a response—his eyes turned panicky.

"Thanks for answering; I'll let you be."

The raincoated man tipped his hood, as if he planned to tip his hat but forgot that he wasn't wearing one.

It was clear that he was a type of man who liked to wear hats and tip them as a sign of greeting and goodbye.

Kiernan slammed the door shut, ran to the living room, and found Aoi lying on the floor, struggling to stay awake with ragged breathing.

She was red-faced, looked like she was struggling to breathe, and had a pained look on her face.

"Aoi!"

Kiernan crouched before her and put his backhand against her forehead, and it was steaming hot as if she were boiling.

'What is going on? She was fine just a minute ago!'

He put her into a carry, brought her to their room, and laid her gently on the bed, covering her with the blanket.

He picked up the medicine from the bedside table and poured her a glass of water. It was normal medicine from the local pharmacy.

Kiernan gave her the medicine and waited for her to turn for the better, but she didn't, and it just looked like she was getting worse and worse.