Chapter 22: Covenant Beneath the Ashes and Echoes from the Blade

Ryu's astonished cry still echoed in the dark underground cavern. "You... Raven!" The appearance of the twin-gunned woman in such a place and situation was something he had never anticipated, causing his suspicion of the armed group before him to transform into a mixture of confusion and a faint glimmer of hope.

Raven stood with her arms crossed beside the scar-faced man who seemed to be the group's leader. She looked at Ryu with an unreadable expression before speaking in a flat but somewhat surprised tone. "Didn't expect to meet you in such a dingy place again... kid. You look even more battered than before. What did you run into this time?"

The scar-faced man, whom Ryu later learned was named "Kairo," narrowed his eyes, looking back and forth between Ryu and Raven, before asking Raven in a still stern voice, "You know him, Raven? Who is he and where did he come from, to be loitering in our territory?"

"Well... we've 'greeted' each other a bit, Kairo," Raven replied nonchalantly. "As far as I know, this guy definitely isn't one of the Nebula Empire's men, and it looks like he's on the run from them too... Maybe... he has some information we need."

Raven's words made Kairo and the other members of the group, who were still aiming their weapons at Ryu, relax slightly, though their wariness hadn't completely disappeared. Kairo nodded slowly before turning to Ryu. "Alright, kid. Since Raven can vouch for you somewhat, I'll give you a chance to speak... Tell us who you are, where you're from, and what you want from us, the 'Spark Faction.'"

Ryu swallowed the thick saliva in his throat. He tried to gather his wits and remaining strength before starting to tell his story as concisely as possible. He spoke of his journey from the distant Ashwind Post, his mission to gather information about the Nebula Empire, his encounter with "Fenril," one of the Seven Hunters, at the deserted warehouse, the help he received from Shadow Fox, and the crucial information he had obtained about the Seven Hunters' target list, especially... that an "Artificer" named Da Vinci, an important companion of his, was a primary target of the Empire. He also described the power of the golden brush that could "draw" things into reality.

When Ryu mentioned "Fenril" and the "Seven Hunters," the expressions of Kairo and some members of the Spark Faction changed noticeably. Their eyes flashed with tension and undisguised hatred.

"'Fenril, the Judgment Wolf,' you say..." Kairo murmured lowly, his scarred eye narrowing. "No wonder you're in this state, kid. Surviving his fangs is incredibly lucky."

A member of the group, a small man with intelligent eyes and metal-rimmed glasses that seemed out of place in the tunnel environment – "Tech," the group's mechanics and technology expert – added, "The information you have on the 'Seven Hunters' is extremely important. We, the 'Spark Faction,' have been trying to gather intelligence on them for a long time, but they move so secretly and ruthlessly that they're hard to track."

"But what's even more interesting is this 'Artificer' you mentioned... and the power you described," Kairo said, his eyes scrutinizing Ryu, a deep, thoughtful look in them. "Kid... what you're talking about might be much bigger and more significant than you realize."

He turned to a member of the group who wore a dark hood and had the calm demeanor of a sage or a chronicler of ancient legends. This man was named "Loremaster Elaron." "Loremaster... do you remember the 'Prophecy of the Blood Dawn' recorded in the ancient scriptures? Especially the part about those who would come to change fate."

Loremaster Elaron nodded slowly before reciting the prophecy in a resonant voice tinged with solemnity and an intangible energy:

"When blood soaks the earth, and the iron wheels of machines crush all life... 'The Awakened' from diverse paths shall appear... The wielder of blood-red flames shall lead with the light of dawn... The seer of tempestuous winds shall scout and carry the tidings of change... The controller of flora shall root the foundations of life and hope... And, the light of creation from a foreign land shall appear. The bearer of the Primeval Brush, that one is among 'The Chosen' led by fate, and shall be known as the 'Artificer of Wisdom,' bringing hope... or perhaps great catastrophe, to this crumbling world..."

"That's it!" Kairo exclaimed, his eyes gleaming as he heard the Loremaster's confirmation. "We, the 'Spark Faction,' and our network of allies, have long believed that the 'Artificer' mentioned in the ancient prophecy is a powerful form of 'The Awakened' who will appear when the world faces its greatest crisis. Their powers may resemble legendary magic or unimaginably advanced technology, but its essence is the 'awakening' to the dormant power within each individual. It is a power connected to the very core of creation... or, conversely, complete destruction, if the user has malicious intent."

He turned back to Ryu, his gaze serious and filled with immense expectation. "The Nebula Empire knows about this prophecy as well, and they fear the power of all The Awakened, especially the 'Artificer' and 'The Chosen' who can alter reality. They are a threat the Empire cannot overlook. That's why they dispatched the Seven Hunters, their strongest force, to hunt them down relentlessly. If they get their hands on the 'Artificer' you mentioned... it won't just be your small village that's in trouble... the fate of the entire world could fall completely into the hands of the Nebula Emperor!"

The atmosphere in the cavern instantly grew several times more tense. Ryu himself felt goosebumps all over his body upon hearing the prophecy and Kairo's interpretation. He had never known that his companion from another land held such importance, and that Da Vinci's incredible power was connected to the fate of the world and The Awakened to such an extent. The words "The Chosen," which he had heard from the assassin that day, now echoed clearly in his mind. They weren't just casual words but part of a prophecy far grander than he had ever imagined.

Raven, who had been listening silently, had a deeply thoughtful expression. The words "The Awakened" and "magic-like power" reminded her of "something" she had heard or experienced in the secret-filled underworld, but those images were still vague and unclear.

"My village... and my companion, Da Vinci... are in truly grave danger," Ryu said, his voice filled with worry and determination. "I must bring this information back to warn everyone as quickly as possible, and we must find a way to protect him!"

"Returning to your village now won't be easy, kid," Kairo said. "The routes outside are heavily guarded, and Fenril certainly won't let you out of his sight easily, especially if he knows you have crucial information about the Empire's targets and might have learned of your companion's importance."

Silence fell over the cavern again. Everyone pondered the critical situation. Ryu felt despair beginning to creep into his heart again. What could he do? His strength wasn't enough to fight a hunter of that caliber, and traveling alone was almost impossible.

Suddenly, Raven spoke, breaking the silence, her voice firm and resolute. "Kairo... I think we should help him."

Kairo turned to Raven with slight surprise. "Are you sure, Raven? Helping him means we risk getting directly involved with the 'Seven Hunters' and the Nebula Empire. It could affect our grand plan."

"I'm well aware of the risks," Raven replied, her voice still steady. "But if what this kid says is true, the Empire hunting an 'Artificer' according to the prophecy is no small matter anymore. And if they get their hands on that person... I don't even want to think about what would happen to this world." A glint Ryu had never seen before shone in her eyes. It wasn't just a warrior's bravado, but a determination stemming from the depths of her soul. "Besides... as I've said... I have a 'score' to settle with that mad dog Fenril myself."

Kairo frowned slightly, looking deeply into Raven's eyes. "That score... does it mean you've already clashed with him, Raven? And how did you escape? Fenril isn't one to let prey who dares to fight him get away easily."

Raven let out a long sigh, her face still showing traces of tension as she recalled the terrifying event. "Yes... after this kid escaped, he and I had another round... and to be honest, he's truly 'not ordinary.'"

Raven's thoughts flashed back to that death alley... the fierce battle, her using all her skills to survive, until Fenril unleashed that terrifying killing intent...

"...Suddenly! I saw a symbol, like a mechanical eye, carved on Fenril's armored vambrace. It suddenly glowed intensely red! Accompanied by a faint, low-frequency warning signal coming from his armor! Fenril's body convulsed violently! As if struck by an invisible electric shock! The sword he was about to bring down on me froze mid-air! 'ARGHHHH! What... what is this!' he roared in extreme pain and confusion! The blackish-red, brutal aura that had been wildly radiating around him moments before instantly dissipated! I could feel an incredibly cold and powerful psychic wave emanating from the symbol on his arm... It was like an emergency control system activated remotely!"

"Fenril seemed to be trying to 'argue' or 'resist' in his mind, but it only made him suffer more, until he coughed up blood and glared at me with resentment before saying, 'This time... you got lucky... but if we meet again... I'll show you what hell truly is!' Then he retreated quickly... I'm sure that was the 'Nebula King' 'cutting off the signal' or 'suppressing' his power through that 'mark'... Perhaps... his releasing too much true power in an urban area like this was 'revealing a trump card' or 'attracting unwanted attention' more than his master would tolerate. That level of power... it was truly terrifying. And the fact that they tried to 'hide' it is even more suspicious."

Raven recounted the event to everyone, her voice still tense. When she finished, everyone in the cavern fell silent, only the soft crackling of the torches echoing in the stillness.

"The Nebula King... intervened directly?" Kairo murmured, his face deeply contemplative. "This is... very interesting. It means this 'Artificer,' or perhaps even this kid Ryu himself, might be more important to the Nebula Emperor than we ever thought. Or maybe... there's 'something' they don't want to be revealed."

Other members of the group began to voice their support for Raven's idea of helping Ryu. The information Ryu brought, combined with Raven's story, made them realize the greater threat and the importance of protecting "The Awakened" according to the prophecy.

Kairo stood still for a moment, his eyes sweeping over the group before settling on Ryu with a look of decision. "Alright, kid... it seems fate has truly brought you to us at the right time," he said firmly. "We, the 'Spark Faction,' may not be a great army, and our power may not be enough to fight the Nebula Empire directly. But we are determined to resist their oppression to the end. And if helping you and your companion means protecting 'The Awakened' according to the prophecy and thwarting their evil plans... then we are willing to risk our lives for it!"

[End of Chapter 22]