Chapter 40: Ember City Massacre End

As Simon and Katsu look upon the destruction caused by Aenedleah, they are flabbergasted—shocked.

Aenedleah turns to Simon and says,

"So you're not unconscious, huh?"

He sighs.

"I didn't want to kill anyone today. It's my brother's birthday."

In an instant, he appears before Simon and unleashes a barrage of punches.

Simon barely manages to raise his guard, but groans of pain escape his mouth. Aenedleah continues his onslaught, punch after punch slamming into Simon without pause.

Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood.

Blood spills everywhere. All from one person—Simon.

Katsu watches as Simon is pummeled with relentless force. Each punch cracks the ground beneath them, the air pressure alone shaking the battlefield.

Katsu charges at Aenedleah, tiny patches of flame igniting around his fist.

"Leave Simon alo—"

He collapses mid-charge.

The attacks Aenedleah landed on him earlier finally take their toll. Katsu's bones feel like lead. Blood drips from his body.

"Hey!! Aenedleah!! We don't have much time left! The meeting will begin soon!" Leonardix V yells from atop the flying ship.

He waves his hand and calls out again,

"Finish them off immediately,"

before disappearing inside.

Aenedleah halts his assault on Simon and glances toward where Achtur had been lying unconscious.

All the men in white surrounding him are out cold—Achtur is gone.

Aenedleah smirks.

"I knew I smelled another rat somewhere."

Then, he vanishes.

Simon gasps for breath and shouts,

"Akiko, run!!!"

Aenedleah appears in front of Akiko, who is inside a collapsed building east of the flying ship. She doesn't have time to react—he swings a powerful kick at her head.

The building explodes outward from the force.

But Akiko remains—standing, untouched.

The kick never lands. It's stopped mid-swing by something invisible.

Aenedleah stares, stunned, then smiles. He steps back.

"Why are you all going through so much trouble for this kid?"

Akiko doesn't respond immediately. She looks up at him and smiles.

"No... why are you going through the trouble of taking him? Aren't you and Leonardix V supposed to be at the ********** ********** meeting?"

Aenedleah's eyes widen. He glances toward Chad, who stands on the ship deck, silently watching Simon struggle to stand.

"How do you know that?" Aenedleah asks.

Akiko doesn't answer. She simply smirks.

Aenedleah exhales deeply.

"Haaaaaaa... something seems to have come up. I'll be taking my leave."

As he turns to walk away, he speaks with his back facing her,

"Oh... and next time, I might—no, will—destroy you and everything next and beneath you. Even if it's a city."

He glances over his shoulder with a smirk. But the air around him says something else—menacing, almost suffocating.

Aenedleah boards the flying ship. The wind and air around it swirl violently as it lifts off.

The ship's body shifts, adapting camouflage-like skin, and it vanishes into the sky.

The Levaicrypt moves toward the Ember Tower, stepping onto it as it heads for the sunrise.

The crimson sky begins to clear.

Dead, bloody bodies lie everywhere. Destruction stains every corner of the city.

Katsu remains unconscious.

Simon sits quietly, gazing up at the sky. His arms are broken, ribs exposed beneath torn flesh. His face is drenched in blood.

As Akiko approaches, carrying Achtur in her arms, Simon smiles.

"So... why did we go through all this trouble for this kid anyway?"

Akiko answers with a soft smile,

"He's a needed piece to my plan... and your dream—to find the Stone Mask."

Simon grins and pushes himself to his feet. His coat is in tatters, pants barely hanging on.

"So, what about Shania?" he asks.

"She's heading to Ionspire Country. There's a Rankers Guild there with high pay," Akiko replies.

Simon moves toward her, intending to help carry Achtur, but she raises a hand to stop him.

"I can do this on my own," she says.

"How about helping me with Katsu?"

Simon looks down at the unconscious Katsu and sighs.

"Fine... but why do you get to carry the light one? I'm the injured one here."

Akiko ignores him.

She places Achtur onto a wheeled hospital bed—probably salvaged from the ruins nearby.

Simon lifts Katsu and lays him next to Achtur, then begins pushing the bed.

"So, where to?" he asks.

Akiko studying a map in her hands.

"Fogmore Sidecleave."