Skyscraper

The shadows wash over the ruins as the sun sets and the moon rises.

Another campfire was made, this time they used the wood around the building the convoy took refuge in. Silence hangs heavy in the air, broken only by the occasional pop of the fire.

Annie breaks the silence. her voice tinged with nervousness.

"That was crazy! you are telling me i was walking around with that thing?!"

Myora throws a glimpse at her. Her voice expressing a hint of curiosity.

"Makes me wonder what hes missing"

Hao crouches beside Erley's unconscious body, poking at it with a mix of awe and unease.

"This guy is pretty scary isn't he? never would've expected that! It was so cool..."

He turns and points at Annie's broken spear lying on the ground.

"What are we going to do about that"

Annie frowns, but Myora answers before she can speak.

"We will take it back with us. Annie, you will use Erley's sword for now. The forger should be able to repair the spear when we return."

She pauses, her gaze shifting to Erley's unconscious form.

"We will resume our walk tomorrow, no matter if hes still unconscious, Moen can carry him."

Hao's eyes widen in surprise.

"You aren't going to leave him?!"

Myora's voice is cold.

"He might be useful in the future, why would i leave such a beast?"

Annie flinches, a frown appearing on her face.

"How did i forget? Where's Selth?!"

A heavy silence falls over the group. Selth is missing, and no one but Annie and Myora seems to have noticed.

Myora breaks the silence, her tone devoid of emotion.

"He's most likely dead."

The others turn to look at her, their faces pale. Most seem resigned, but Hao's ever-present grin falters for a moment.

'Shit. I cannot let this happen again.'

***

The convoy continues their journey through the ruins under the dim light of the sun. It's not bright, but it's enough for them to navigate without using their lanterns.

Moen carries Erley's unconscious body over one shoulder, his massive shield slung over the other. Annie grips Erley's crude sword, her discomfort evident as she adjusts to the unfamiliar weapon.

Myora alerts the convoy, her voice quiet but commanding.

"We are almost there. Ready your weapons we can't afford to die here."

They pass a river that cuts through the heart of the city, officially entering the center. The skeletal remains of the once-great city loom around them, a haunting reminder of the civilization that once thrived here. Old-style buildings stand alongside towering, ruined skyscrapers, their jagged silhouettes piercing the sky.

Annie glances around nervously

'This place is a death trap. Tall buildings everywhere, we're just asking for trouble.'

Myora stops the group in front of a towering skyscraper, its upper floors barely visible in the darkness. She tightens her grip on her weapon.

"We will have to climb this skyscraper, once we are at the top we should have enough signal to communicate."

Hao raises an eyebrow, curiosity flickering in his eyes. 

'So that's why we are here.'

Myora continues, her voice steady.

"After that we will continue a little bit down the road, there should be an abandoned military camp with cars, most of them should be working."

Hao can't help but ask.

"What if the military is still there?"

Myora's gaze is icy.

"This place has been abandoned for 2 years, we just have to hope the people of the camp died."

After a short pause she adds.

"If they are not dead, we'll kill them."

Hao shakes his head, turning to look at the skyscraper.

"Alright, but you could've told us the mission earlier, you know?!"

Ignoring his words, Myora leads the group towards the dark inside of the skyscraper.

*** 

The reception room is massive, its grandeur now reduced to rubble. The faint light from the broken windows reveals a scene of destruction—shattered furniture, dead plants, and debris scattered everywhere. The convoy moves cautiously, their lanterns casting long shadows on the walls.

Myora scans the room.

"Spread out, look for the stairs."

The convoy scatters to find the stairs faster, their lanterns bobbing like fireflies in the darkness.

Hao mutters to himself as he navigates the wreckage. He sees a lot of broken furniture.

"Theoretically it should be over here."

He was analyzing the layout of the skyscraper. He passes some broken furniture and a shattered fountain, his footsteps echoing in the empty space.

Myora's voice cuts through the silence, her tone sharp. She blinks.

"How are we stuck here? This floor is big, but it shouldn't be this hard to find some stairs."

She looks around, her expression shifting to one of alarm.

"Where did everyone go?"

Hao keeps walking and walking.

"Is there no end to this place?"

Hao stops in his tracks. He sees a some broken furniture, a broken fountain in the center

"Isn't that the furniture i just saw?!"

He picks up a chair and drops it, marking his path.

"Just in case."

He continues walking. he mutters, his unease growing.

"What the hell."

It was the same furniture again, the chair laying in the ground.

Moen keeps walking and walking. His voice echoing from the darkness.

"Uh... why the lights getting further?"

The lights were getting further and further. Moen yells.

"Where is everyone going! Hey! Wait a second where did Erley go?! ERLEY!!!"

Annie keeps walking and walking. Her nervous voice joins the chorus.

"Where the hell are these stairs?, i want to get out of here already!"

She pauses, her lantern illuminating the room. Her voice shaky.

"Wait... why are there five lights? Wasn't there only four of us?"

*** 

A distant feminine voice can be heard.

"It's not time for you to give up- Wake up Erley."

The voice grows louder, more urgent.

"Erley! Erley! wake up!"

The voice keeps getting louder. Suddenly a male voice cuts trough the feminine voice.

"Wake up Erley, don't be a disappointment."

Erley's eyes snap open, tears streaming down his face.