Second Chance

Ruga shot up from his bed, sweat clinging to his skin. Death... it truly was the most agonizing experience.

"I'm... back again?" He thought.

"I wonder how many"

"..."

"nevermind"

Just like before it was two days before the Vajra would rise from beneath the earth. Without hesitation, he rushed to the family hall where his closest friends had gathered—

Asami Hayabusa, the eldest daughter of the Hayabusa clan, one of the three great families overseeing the city.

Takeda Nagehide, the second son of the Nagehide clan, also one of the three great families.

And finally, Fujiwara Maebusa, the third son of one of the seven branch families of the Hayabusa main clan.

The four of them, all the same age, had known each other for five years and had just reached adulthood. Despite their individual family struggles, they remained Close

"Listen to me!" His voice was sharp, filled with urgency. "Listen! I know this will sound unbelievable but we have to prepare for an attack. In two days, everything will change. The city is going to get attacked by Vajras."

His friends exchanged wary glances. They had known Ruga for years, but this sudden claim seemed unreal.

"Are you serious, man? Vajras are monsters from a children's fairy tale. You think we are gonna believe that?" Fujiwara asked, his brow furrowed in disbelief.

"More serious than I've ever been," Ruga replied, his gaze unshaken.

"Yeah? Then when do they attack?" Takeda asked.

"Tomorrow at midnight. We need to leave or take refuge somewhere disconnected from the city as soon as possible."

Asami's sharp eyes met his,

"Let's say that's true. But then, what of the city?" she asked, her tone resolute.

"If what you say is really true, what about the people? How can you prove that what you claim will really happen?"

Ruga clenched his fists. He had tried before—warned the city lord, told the generals about the coming storm—but no one believed him. They laughed and ridiculed the idea that an ancient race could rise from the depths of the earth.

"The city won't listen," he said, his voice dropping. "But I'll save who I can."

"As for proof, Asami, you had an older brother who died protecting you when you were little"

"W-What?? How did you know?" said Asami

Ruga further added, "And Takeda used to like Asami. Also, Fujiwara, you once attempted to kill me 4 years ago during the battle with the Shura."

Fujiwara and Takeda- fell to silence

What Ruga just said were things they never even told anyone. Which, in return, at least made them believe a fraction of Ruga's claims.

Ruga asked them to check out an unknown cave together. The cave is supposedly located in between the 4 mountains beside the city border. As Ruga asked them to, they followed him to a massive cave nestled at the center of four mountains, a space large enough to shelter roughly 5,000 people—about 10% of the city's population.

The cave was cold and damp, hidden beneath the mountain like a secret refuge. Ruga led his friends and 93 other companions, friends and servants, from their faction into its depths.

They reached the heart of the cave.