Faithless_reader

The Stone Mask is an action-packed dark fantasy set in a world where strength rules and the weak are crushed.

Katsu Blazewood, a rising Ranker with fire-based abilities, dreams of climbing the ranks and proving his worth. Under the guidance of the ruthless Simon Shepard, he faces deadly trials, powerful adversaries, and the harsh truth of what it means to be a Ranker. But when the government launches a brutal invasion in search of a legendary artifact—the Stone Mask—Katsu is thrust into a war far greater than himself.

The Stone Mask is said to hold unimaginable power, a relic from a forgotten era that could reshape the balance of the world. But as Katsu uncovers the dark secrets behind it, he begins to question everything: Who truly controls the Rankers? What does it mean to wield power? And most of all—what will he become if he survives?

The Stone Mask

The flames of Ember City burned brighter than the sun, consuming everything in their path. Screams of agony mixed with the laughter of bloodthirsty Rankers, and the streets ran red with the lives of the innocent.

But this massacre wasn't an act of chaos.

The government of Severthia had given the order.

Ember City was not just another city. It was one of the most prosperous and strategically valuable locations in all of Severthia, divided into four key districts:

•	Northern District – The heart of Ranker activity. A hub for adventurers, mercenaries, and travelers, it housed inns, supply shops, and quest boards. This was where Katsu, Simon, and Akiko had been staying before the attack.

•	Southern District – A center for technological and academic advancements. The brightest minds in Severthia worked here, developing new forms of energy, weaponry, and medicine.

•	Western District – The industrial backbone of the city. This district produced resources, managed transportation, and controlled factories that supported the entire nation's economy.

•	Eastern District – A residential area for the city's civilians. Families, workers, and common folk made their homes here, completely unprepared for the slaughter that had now begun.

At the center of these districts stood the Noble District, home to aristocrats, merchants, and high-ranking Rankers (J-10 and above)—those strong enough to potentially stop this massacre.

The government had ensured that every high-level Ranker in the city was conveniently sent away on missions days before the attack. Missions that seemed routine. Missions that seemed important.

But in reality, those missions were nothing more than distractions.

The Crimson Night, a ruthless organization of Mid-Rankers, had been specifically hired for the job.

Because Ember City held a secret beneath its foundations.

Deep beneath the city's soil, hidden from the knowledge of its people, lay something ancient—something that should not exist.

One of the many scattered clues across the world that led to the Stone Mask—an artifact older than time itself, said to be the very thing that created the world and shaped all of reality.

The clue would not reveal itself willingly.

The government of Severthia didn't hesitate. To them, Ember City was nothing more than a necessary loss—a means to an end.

The blood of thousands would be spilled to awaken the clue.

Simon and Katsu were completely unaware of this horrifying reality.

To them, this attack was senseless destruction—an invasion by unknown forces. They had no idea that the very government they served had ordered this annihilation.

As she stood alone on the burning rubble, watching Rankers butcher civilians, her calm expression never wavered.

The red glow of the Crimson Symbol in the sky reflected in her eyes.

Chapter 20: Ember City Massacre - Part 2