Chapter 31 – Ember City Massacre - Part 12

The wind howled as Katsu walked through the burning ruins of Ember City. His scarf fluttered in the wind, its tattered edges trailing behind him. The flaming rocks still rained from the heavens, crashing into buildings and the ground with devastating force. Screams filled the air, but Katsu did not react. His expression was dead, his eyes void of emotion.

The Ember Tower stood far in the distance—70 kilometers away. Yet, he kept walking.

People ran past him—civilians, knights, Rankers. Some fought, some killed, some fled. A knight impaled a Ranker with a spear, only to be cut down by another. Further ahead, a knight abandoned his comrades, throwing down his shield before vanishing into the alleys. Screams of agony and desperation filled the air. 

Katsu saw it all. But he did not stop. He did not react. His goal was the tower.

⸻

Achtur gritted his teeth as he dodged a Ranker's blade, his body crackling with blue lightning.

"You won't get past me!" a Ranker yelled, lunging at him with a spear.

Achtur sidestepped at the last moment and slammed his palm against the spear's shaft. A jolt of electricity surged through it, shocking the Ranker's arms and forcing him to let go. Achtur spun and delivered a lightning-infused kick to the man's chest, sending him flying into a wall.

"Tch, there's too many," he muttered.

Three Rankers surrounded him. One swung a greatsword, another unleashed a fireball, and the last conjured an energy chain.

Achtur's body flickered.

In the blink of an eye, he vanished in a burst of lightning.

Reappearing behind them, he slammed both hands into the ground.

"Thunder Surge!"

Bolts of lightning erupted beneath the Rankers, shocking them into unconsciousness. Their bodies convulsed before collapsing.

Achtur exhaled, wiping sweat from his forehead. Then, suddenly—

A massive flaming rock plummeted toward him.

His eyes widened. He turned and grabbed the woman he was protecting, pulling her into his arms and leaping away just in time. The impact sent a shockwave through the streets, throwing Rankers aside like ragdolls.

As the dust settled, Achtur looked down at the woman. "Run!"

Without hesitation, she nodded and sprinted away. The remaining Rankers, realizing their disadvantage, also fled.

Achtur sighed in relief. He looked ahead. The Ember Tower—100 kilometers away.

"I better start moving."

As Achtur ran, he spotted Sir Endrick locked in battle with five Rankers.

Sir Endrick's body pulsed with the power of the earth itself.

A Ranker charged him, sword raised. Endrick stomped the ground—massive stone spikes shot up, forcing the Ranker to retreat. Another tried to flank him, but Endrick clapped his hands together, summoning a rock barrier that blocked the attack.

"Fools," he muttered.

He extended his arms forward. The ground beneath the Rankers shifted and cracked—then, suddenly, it pulled them in. "Stone Prison!"

The Rankers struggled as the earth swallowed them up to their shoulders, trapping them in place.

Achtur arrived.

"Need a hand?"

Before Endrick could respond, one of the Rankers broke free and lunged at him.

Achtur reacted instantly. "Lightning Arc!"

A whip of electricity lashed forward, hitting the Ranker in the chest and sending him flying into a collapsed building.

With the remaining Rankers defeated, Endrick and Achtur sat down on a pile of rubble.

"What are you doing here?" Endrick asked, catching his breath.

"I'm heading for the Ember Tower," Achtur said. "I think that's the cause of all this."

Endrick stood up, dusting off his armor. "Then let's go. We don't have time to waste."

The two took off running.

⸻

Simon wandered through the ruins, searching.

"Where the hell is she…?"

His search led him to the destroyed Rankers Guild.

Inside, sitting among the wreckage, Akiko and Shania sipped tea calmly.

Simon sighed. "Of course."

He walked up and grabbed a cup filled with tea. "I'm exhausted." He sat down on a torn couch and took a sip.

Silence.

Then he frowned. "I'm tired of tea."

He casually tossed the cup away.

CRASH. The cup shattered.

Shania twitched. Her face turned red with anger, and she nearly screamed—

"You bast—"

Simon interrupted. "Akiko, what should we do?"

Akiko took another sip before answering. "We go to the Ember Tower."

Simon narrowed his eyes. "And the blood message?"

Akiko smirked. "I'll explain when we get there."

She leapt onto Simon's shoulders, sitting comfortably.

Simon stood up, stretched, and waved to the furious Shania. "See ya."

Then he walked away, carrying Akiko.

⸻

Deep beneath Ember City, in the Mystic Ocean…

The flaming rocks fell into the water, boiling it on impact. Massive waves crashed against each other, killing countless sea creatures.

Then—

A massive rock slammed onto something below.

For a moment, the ocean stood still.

Then, the depths rumbled.

A roar erupted, shaking the entire city.

The ocean split apart as a monster rose.

Its body was colossal—taller than the Ember Tower. Its two massive hands clawed at the air, its legs crushed the seafloor beneath it.

It had glowing blue eyes, razor-sharp teeth, and the body of a kaiju.

As it took its first breath, it let out a deafening roar that shook the heavens.

The true catastrophe had just begun.

To be continued…