Chapter 30: Ember City Massacre - Part 11

The destroyed Rankers Guild was eerily silent, save for the gentle clinking of teacups against porcelain. Shania Kusaka and Akiko Shepard sat amidst the ruins, sipping their tea as if the chaos of Ember City was nothing more than a distant disturbance.

Then the ground began to shake.

At first, it was subtle—a faint tremor rippling through the debris—but within seconds, it escalated into a violent upheaval. The entire city quaked so fiercely that it made even the most intense earthquakes seem mild in comparison. Cracks ripped through streets and buildings, already weakened from the massacre. The teapot on the table tipped over, spilling its contents, but neither Shania nor Akiko flinched.

Akiko simply lifted her cup, watching the liquid swirl from the tremors.

Across the city, Simon, Quinn, and Bethalamoew were forced to halt their battle as the violent tremors shook the battlefield. All three fighters scanned their surroundings, their instincts screaming that this was not natural.

Even Achtur, locked in combat with several Rankers, stumbled, his footing unstable as the world beneath him seemed to tear itself apart. The combatants—both fighters and civilians alike—desperately tried to maintain their balance as dust clouds and chunks of stone fell from the heavens.

But nowhere was the impact felt more than in a small, quiet room where Katsu Blazewood lay.

The tremors jarred Katsu awake, his body aching from his battle with Caleb. His vision was hazy, but the moment his eyes adjusted, he froze.

Ashes.

The entire place was covered in ash, the air thick with the scent of burned flesh. And then it all came rushing back—Caleb's screams, the feeling of his fists slamming into flesh over and over, the sheer rage that had overtaken him.

Katsu clutched his head as memories flooded his mind.

The blood. The broken body. The way Caleb's life had been snuffed out in the most gruesome way imaginable.

His breath hitched. Tears welled up in his eyes, spilling onto the ash-covered floor.

"W-What… did I do?" His voice cracked, barely a whisper. His hands trembled as he stared at them, as if they still held Caleb's blood. His stomach twisted, the horror of his own actions suffocating him.

But then—

The tremors intensified.

Something massive was shifting.

His body snapped to attention, his instincts taking over. He turned his gaze toward the center of Ember City, where the massive Tower of Ember stood.

And then—it began to split apart.

The entire structure cracked down the middle, splitting into two halves as the very foundation beneath it shifted. Enormous stone slabs peeled away, crashing to the earth like mountains collapsing. Pieces of the tower tumbled down, crushing everything below.

Then—

A blinding light erupted from within the split tower.

It was so bright that even the crimson sky dimmed in comparison. No matter where one stood in Ember City, they could see it—an unnatural, ethereal glow that pierced through the blood-soaked heavens.

And then, from the light, came blood.

Blood poured out of the radiance, cascading down the sky like an inverted waterfall, the sheer volume impossible for any normal being to comprehend. It flowed so high that it touched the heavens, splattering across the city, painting it in a deeper red than it already was.

And then—

The sky cracked.

Flaming meteors began to rain down upon Ember City.

But amidst the destruction, a sign formed in the sky, written in blood:

「王や戦士,ランカーたちによってではなく,サンギュイン・パクトの子たちによってのみ主張されるだろう.」

The message hung above them all, an omen written in cursed , a prophecy none could decipher at first glance.

Many looked up, terror in their eyes. Some whispered in confusion. Others dropped to their knees in despair.

But Akiko?

She simply smirked.

"Interesting," she murmured, sipping her tea alongside Shania, both watching the end of Ember City with unwavering calm.

⸻

One Hour Earlier

Before the tower split apart, deep within its lowest chamber, Chad Kawasaki strode forward with purpose. His boots echoed against the damp stone floor, the scent of old blood lingering in the air.

He had reached a shrine.

The shrine's ceiling dripped with blood, the dark liquid trickling down into a small altar—or rather, a conduit.

Chad pulled out his communication device and made a call.

"I've found it," he said simply.

A voice, deep and deadly calm, answered. "Good. You've done well."

Then the call ended.

Chad smirked, stuffing the device back into his coat. He turned to face the altar once more.

"All that's left," he murmured, "is to feed this thing the blood of the entire city."

He glanced at the engraved markings on the walls—one of many clues scattered across the world.

Clues that would lead to the Stone Mask.

⸻

Present Time

As flaming meteors rained down, the death toll skyrocketed. Civilians. Rankers. Knights. None were spared. The city was drowning in fire and blood.

But amidst the carnage, three warriors remained standing.

Simon, Quinn, and Bethalamoew fought with relentless fury, dodging flaming debris as they clashed.

Simon was seconds away from ending Bethalamoew when—

Chad appeared.

With a single, devastating kick, Chad sent Simon flying into the path of a falling meteor.

Quinn, who had been watching silently, tensed, his stance shifting into a ready position.

His gaze locked onto Chad.

Chad's eyes flickered over Quinn's form. He could sense it—Quinn wielded Matter.

And Chad had no experience dealing with it. This would be a losing fight.

But before he could act, several Rankers under Chad's command rushed Quinn, seeking to overwhelm him with sheer numbers.

Quinn didn't hesitate.

He eviscerated them instantly.

By the time he turned his gaze back to Chad—he was gone.

Meanwhile, from the wreckage of the meteor impact, Simon groaned, pushing himself up.

He stretched his arms with a smirk. "Damn… that was the best nap I've had in years."

He locked eyes with Quinn.

But instead of fighting—he simply walked away.

"I need to find my team," he said over his shoulder.

Quinn hesitated for a moment. Then, with a glance at the sky, he too turned away.

They had bigger things to worry about.

⸻

Katsu stood, his body trembling, not from pain, but from fear.

He had killed someone.

And he didn't even remember how.

Tears blurred his vision, his mind spiraling into darkness.

Then—

A flaming meteor crashed down, nearly crushing him.

His body screamed in protest, still battered from his battle with Caleb. His flames were gone, his energy completely drained.

But he stood.

He glanced at his Rank Device—the screen flickered.

Rank: Y-7.

With a deep breath, Katsu ripped a piece of his clothing, tying it around his neck as a makeshift scarf.

Then, without another word—

He walked toward the Tower of Ember.

To be continued…