Empty Beech-Forest

"Huh?? Twelfth??"

Asami's breath caught in her throat. Her mind reeled, trying to comprehend what he had just said.

"Just like every other time—during the 11th regression—I tried to save everyone," Ruga continued, his voice laced with bitterness. "But no matter what I did, it only delayed the inevitable... or made things worse. Now, thanks to her, I understand. Fate can't be changed."

From behind Ruga, a figure emerged—a beautiful girl with dark scarlet eyes, her face close to Asami's, a unnerving smile playing on her lips.

"Hi there," she said darkly, her voice dripping with malice. "So, you're Miss Asami, huh?"

The girl walked confidently toward Ruga and wrapped her arms around his, a possessive gesture. "I'm Ruga's partner, Kara Lafayette, meaning an empty shell that used to reside in a beech forest. Maybe."

Asami's heart sank. "YOU! What did you do to Ruga?!"

Kara smiled wider. "Oh, nothing much. I just helped him understand that the 'wheel of fortune' he keeps obsessing over? It can't be changed. Every attempt to resist only makes things worse." She giggled.

Asami's legs buckled beneath her. The horrifying truth hit her like a hammer — Ruga had given up.

He wasn't trying to save anyone. He was part of their destruction.

The Vajra closed in, pinning Asami to the ground. Their inhuman strength tore at her clothes and flesh apart together. The agony was unbearable, her bones broke due to sheer pressure. Asami screamed until her throat tore, but amidst the chaos, her cries were drowned out by the countless others. Her suffering amounted to nothing.

"Why... why...?" she whispered, her voice barely audible, as Takeda and Fujiwara shouted the same, their voices echoing in the dark. Tears streamed down her face as the world around her descended into hell.

"I've got some fun stuff to take care of," Lafayette said with a casual wave. "See ya."

"Oh, right," Kara paused, looking over her shoulder. "Make them watch from the cliff. The funny scenery that's unfolding as we speak."

After the slaughter, Asami—barely clinging to life—was dragged to the cliff. What lay before her was a scene from a nightmare. The city below was engulfed in chaos: blood, rape, and death everywhere. Humans were being toyed with, treated as mere playthings by the Vajra. Martial arts? Perhaps they could've fought back if they weren't poisoned by the miasma that had seeped unnoticed throughout the entire city, weakening even strong practitioners. Now? It was futile.

Ruga watched it all, detached, as though he had seen it a countless times before. His expression was as calm and distant as ever.

"...Why did this happen? What sins did we commit?" Asami whispered, her soul crushed by the weight of the destruction around her.

Takeda and Fujiwara, desperate to survive, turned on her. "Ruga, spare us! We'll follow you! We'll do whatever you say!" they begged, their eyes wide with fear.

"HUH?! YOU TOO ARE GOING TO??? BETRAY!!!" Asami cried with her torn voice.

Ruga barely glanced at them. "Sure. Release them."

Takeda and Fujiwara stood, their once-loyal faces now twisted with cowardice and desperation. Asami's heart broke further, devastated by what she saw in them. How low humans could sink.

The city had been attacked while they were lured to the mountain cave. And the most terrifying thing? It took mere hours— perhaps even just one hour — for the city to fall into ruin.

Ruga turned to Asami, Takeda, and Fujiwara, his expression unreadable. "They look just like humans, don't they? It was so easy to sneak them past the walls as 'refugees' from a far-off country. Their unique attire and unimposing build made them perfect for infiltration."

Asami's voice trembled. "No... no way... Those refugees were—"

Takeda's eyes widened in realization. "Wait... so the refugees from yesterday evening... they were Vajra?!"

Fujiwara, his face pale, whispered, "But... there were only 10,000 of them. Could just 10,000 destroy such a huge city?"

"They're just innately strong even though haven't learnt any martial arts. That's all" Ruga replied coldly. "How nonsensical. Do your brains even work? Our city had mostly weak practitioners to begin with as well."

Turning his back on them, Ruga began to walk away. "I'm leaving now. Hey, Takeda, Fujiwara—follow me."

"Y-yes," they stammered, their voices filled with fear. They exchanged nervous glances, unsure of what awaited them, but too scared to disobey.

"Take your blades," Ruga said, his tone devoid of emotion. "I'll show you the path of the Shura (Carnage). Let's see if you can really kill your fellow humans."