Chapter 34 – Ember City Massacre - Part 15

High above the burning ruins of Ember City, a colossal sky ship loomed in the clouds. Its black sails billowed ominously, adorned with a dark crest—an emblem with grotesque monster symbols inside. The ship's hull, reinforced with black iron, glided effortlessly through the stormy air.

Its presence was unnatural.

Slowly but surely, it advanced toward Ember Tower—the eye of the chaos.

———

Inside the ruins of a collapsed building, Chad Kawasaki leaned against a cracked wall, arms crossed, watching the smoke rise from the distance.

Beside him—or rather, in front of him—was Bethalamoew, now nothing more than a severed head and upper torso, his lower half completely obliterated from his fight against Simon Shepard and Quinn.

Bethalamoew groaned. "I need new parts."

Chad smirked. "Yeah, you're looking a little… incomplete."

Before Bethalamoew could retort, a voice cut through the air.

"Freeze!"

Chad turned, his smirk widening.

Standing in the opening of the ruined building was none other than Sir Endrick—sword drawn, earth element crackling around his body. His piercing gaze locked onto them like a predator cornering its prey.

"I knew I'd find scum lurking around." Endrick's voice was cold and unwavering. "You can either surrender or be executed where you sit."

Bethalamoew sighed. "We just can't get a break, can we?"

Chad stretched his arms and grinned.

"Well, well. A knight's honor, huh? I admire the effort." He cracked his knuckles. "But if you think we're just gonna roll over and die, you're in for a bad time."

Sir Endrick narrowed his eyes. The tension thickened.

———

A massive shockwave blasted through the streets as Simon Shepard and the mysterious man clashed at impossible speeds.

Simon dodged a thin, almost invisible string, slicing through the air like a razor. He grinned.

"Damn, Anime-kun, your power is pretty annoying."

The white-haired man sighed. "That's not my name."

"I'll call you Tuxedo Weeb, then."

The man's eye twitched. "…I despise you."

Simon laughed before blitzing forward, throwing a devastating punch. The air cracked from the sheer force.

But—strings shot from the man's fingers, attaching to nearby rubble, pulling him away just in time. He flipped mid-air, sending reinforced wires straight at Simon.

Simon barely dodged—but one of the strings curved, wrapping around his wrist.

"Got you."

Simon suddenly felt a massive force pulling him. The string tightened, yanking him straight into a conjured steel wall.

CRASH! The impact shook the ground.

The man landed gracefully, adjusting his white tuxedo. "That should keep you still."

From inside the rubble, Simon's voice came out muffled.

"…I'm not even stuck, dumbass."

The man barely had time to react before Simon's energy blast tore through the debris—exploding point-blank.

———

Flames clashed against bolts of lightning as Katsu Blazewood and Achtur Vilma engaged in a ferocious duel.

Katsu's fire fists met Achtur's lightning-infused blade, creating dazzling bursts of red and blue energy with every impact.

Katsu dodged swiftly, his movements controlled—too controlled. Every time Achtur attacked, Katsu chose to defend rather than retaliate.

Achtur noticed.

"You're hesitating." Achtur's expression darkened. "I thought all Rankers fought without remorse."

Katsu clenched his fists. His mind flashed back to Caleb. To the people who looked at him with fear.

Achtur surged forward, his blade crackling with electricity.

"STOP HOLDING BACK!"

He slashed, sending an arc of lightning toward Katsu.

Katsu barely evaded, rolling to the side as the ground erupted in sparks. He exhaled sharply, sweat dripping from his forehead.

"I'm not—" Katsu started, but Achtur didn't let up.

The knight's movements were relentless. Lightning-enhanced speed. Precision strikes. His attacks forced Katsu on the defensive, pushing him back step by step.

Katsu's flames burned brighter—but he still didn't counterattack.

"Damn it, fight back!" Achtur shouted, his rage fueling every attack.

Katsu remained silent—but deep down, something inside him was starting to burn hotter.

The battle raged on.

To be continued…