Chapter 28: Ember City Massacre - Part 9

Caleb lay bloodied and broken on the shattered cobblestone, gasping for air.

But Katsu wasn't finished.

His body loomed over Caleb, flames writhing around him like a living nightmare. His eyes—once filled with emotion—were now just burning voids, reflecting nothing but rage and destruction.

Caleb tried to move.

A mistake.

Katsu's boot slammed down onto his hand, shattering bones with a sickening crunch.

Caleb let out a hoarse scream.

But Katsu didn't care.

He lifted his foot—and stomped again.

And again.

And again.

Each impact sent shocks of agony through Caleb's body. His fingers twisted unnaturally, blood pooling beneath them.

Crack!

Katsu's fist slammed into Caleb's jaw, sending teeth flying as blood sprayed from his mouth.

Crack!

Another punch—his cheek caved inward, his face an unrecognizable mess of bruises, fractures, and gore.

Caleb's screams turned into gargled, breathless sobs. His body convulsed, barely able to register the pain anymore.

Katsu grabbed him by the collar, lifting him off the ground.

He didn't speak.

He just kept punching.

Fist after flaming fist.

His nose shattered.

His ribs cracked.

His eye swelled shut, a mess of red and purple.

The pavement below was drenched in blood, pooling beneath them like a crimson lake.

Caleb's head lulled back, consciousness slipping away—

Until Katsu's flaming hand grabbed his throat.

He squeezed—tight.

Caleb gagged, his body twitching helplessly as Katsu's burning grip seared into his flesh.

His legs kicked weakly, but there was no escape.

Katsu was about to end it.

But then—

A presence.

"Hey! What the hell is going on here?!"

Eight Rankers—barely above fodder—had appeared at the alley's entrance, their faces contorted with shock as they saw Caleb's brutalized form.

One of them—a spear-wielding man—pointed at Katsu.

"T-That guy's killing Caleb!"

Another drew his sword.

"We should stop him before—"

Too late.

Katsu flicked his wrist.

A wave of flames erupted from his hand, consuming the closest Ranker instantly.

His body melted before he could even scream, charred bones crumbling to the ground.

The others reacted, weapons drawn—

But Katsu was already moving.

He raised his hand—flame spears materializing around him.

FWOOSH!

A spear shot forward, piercing through a Ranker's skull, the flames erasing his head entirely.

Three more.

They charged—Katsu exhaled.

"Infernal Burst."

A shockwave of fire exploded outward, the sheer heat boiling their flesh alive.

They screamed, their bodies turning to blackened husks, their weapons melting in their hands.

The last three Rankers tried to run.

Katsu snapped his fingers.

Flaming chains erupted from the ground, wrapping around their legs, arms, and necks.

SQUEEEZE.

The chains tightened.

Their limbs were crushed, their bones snapped like twigs.

Katsu closed his hand into a fist.

The flames erupted, reducing them to nothing but ash.

Silence.

The eight Rankers were gone.

Their deaths had been instant.

Katsu didn't even blink.

He turned back—

But Caleb was gone.

Well—not far.

A thick trail of blood led away, dripping onto the broken pavement.

Katsu followed it.

Each step ignited small embers, his presence alone scorching the air.

Caleb staggered forward, barely able to breathe.

His body was failing him.

But he had to reach them.

The Main Ranker Faction.

Alma Wilkinson, a ranker with healing properties.

She could heal him.

She had to.

One more step.

Then—

The temperature spiked.

Caleb's vision blurred, the overwhelming heat suffocating him.

Slowly—he turned his head.

And there—walking toward him through the smoke and fire—

Was Katsu.

Flames swirled around him.

His eyes burned brighter than the sun.

He wasn't human anymore.

Caleb turned back, trying to move faster.

But his legs wouldn't work.

His body was done.

Katsu strolled forward.

No rush.

No hesitation.

He reached Caleb.

Caleb collapsed to his knees, shaking.

Katsu grabbed his head.

His flaming hand seared into Caleb's scalp, filling his nostrils with the scent of burning flesh.

Caleb whimpered.

Katsu leaned in.

His voice was calm.

"Back to ashes you shall go."

And then—

FWOOSH.

Flames engulfed Caleb's entire body.

He didn't even have the strength to scream.

His flesh peeled away, his body crumbling into blackened embers.

And in seconds—

Caleb was no more.

Only a scorched Ranker badge remained, glowing red-hot from the heat.

Katsu picked it up.

Y-7.

He slipped it into his pocket.

Then, without a word, he walked to a pile of rubble and sat down.

His flames burned through the debris, reducing it to nothing.

And then—

His fire went out.

His vision blurred.

His body gave in.

And Katsu collapsed, unconscious.

To be continued…