The first glimmers of morning light spilled over Ashenfall's jagged horizon, illuminating the massive structure that loomed in the northwest. Its ancient, decayed walls and twisted towers seemed almost spectral against the pale sky, a reminder of a once-proud civilization now lost. As Aira and Kaizen stood at its base, absorbing its sheer scale, the rest of Squad Three emerged through the fog in pairs, each making their way through the dark ruins and converging on the meeting point.
They gathered in a quiet alcove beneath the towering monolith, an eerie silence settling over them as they exchanged glances. Aira's usually vibrant energy seemed muted, weighed down by what they'd all seen of Ashenfall's horrors. Daichi's calm demeanor was tempered with unease, while Taiyou and Ryojin wore grim expressions, clearly feeling the shift in the atmosphere around them.
Eli broke the silence first, crossing her arms tightly against the chill. "So, this place… it's not just the aftermath of some battle," she murmured. "It's like something's still here, lingering."
Daichi nodded, his gaze intense as he surveyed the area. "We all sensed it. This isn't just a ruin—it's like a wound that's actively festering."
Taiyou tried to lighten the mood, his typical grin slightly forced. "Wound or no wound, maybe it just needs a good blast of sunlight and a strong will, eh?"
Ryojin rolled his eyes. "Not everything can be solved by your idea of 'good vibes,' Taiyou," he retorted, though there was a trace of a smile in his voice.
The banter was interrupted when Taiyou's gaze caught a movement in the shadows—a small figure, stumbling toward them. His sharp eyes narrowed as he realized it was a young boy, no older than seven, with torn clothes and grime covering his face. His skin was ashen, and he looked exhausted, as if he hadn't slept or eaten in days.
Taiyou, quick on his feet, dashed over, kneeling in front of the child before he could collapse completely. "Hey, hey, little guy! Are you alright?"
The boy blinked up at him with vacant, haunted eyes, too weak to speak. His lips parted, a dry whisper escaping. "Th… thirsty… hungry…"
"Ryojin," Taiyou called, urgency in his voice. "Can you summon some water and food?"
Ryojin hesitated, his eyes narrowing with suspicion as he glanced at the boy, but with a nod, he summoned shadow tendrils that reached into his bag and retrieved some bread and a small canteen. He offered them to Taiyou, who gently handed them to the child.
The boy ate slowly, taking small bites of bread and sips of water. As he ate, his eyes regained some clarity, and he looked up at the gathered group with a flicker of life.
"Can you tell us what happened here?" Aira asked softly, kneeling beside Taiyou. "Where is everyone?"
The boy's expression shifted to one of fear, his lips trembling. He murmured something almost inaudible, but Taiyou leaned in, catching his faint words: "Mommy and Daddy… gone."
The group exchanged uneasy glances. The realization was dawning on each of them that they might be standing amid the last vestiges of a society wiped out by chaos.
The boy stood up shakily, gesturing for them to follow him. He led them along a broken path, winding through what was once a village but now lay in ruins—crumbling buildings, shattered stone, and the skeletal remains of a once-thriving community. The weight of history and devastation hung thick in the air, amplifying the group's already tense silence.
As they ventured deeper, the boy led them to an area sheltered by what remained of a stone wall, behind which thousands of people were huddled. They were alive, but their expressions were vacant, their skin dull and gray, as if life had been drained from them. Their bodies slumped, eyes devoid of hope, they looked more like specters than living beings.
Eli clenched her fists, her voice a hushed whisper. "This… this isn't just devastation. It's like they're…" She trailed off, horrified.
A faint pulsing sound echoed through the air. Kaizen was the first to feel it—a raw, intense energy emanating from deep beneath the ground. He extended his hand, sensing the currents of chaos energy that crackled faintly around them.
The boy noticed Kaizen's curiosity and pointed to a small patch of ground where strange, dark symbols had been scrawled into the earth. When Kaizen touched it, he felt the pulse of chaos energy intensify. This wasn't random—it was deliberate, an unending wellspring of destruction that had been purposefully planted.
Suddenly, a voice called out, "Lyon!" The group turned to see a girl, no older than seventeen, sprinting toward the boy, her eyes wide with worry. She wrapped him in her arms, holding him tightly, before her gaze snapped to the group, and a look of cold fury hardened her face.
"Who are you?" she demanded, leveling a spear at them. Her posture was protective, her expression fierce and untrusting.
Taiyou stepped forward, raising his hands in a calming gesture. "Hey, we're just travelers here. We're not looking for trouble. Are you two the only ones left?"
The girl's face darkened. "Travelers, huh? If that's all you are, you're in the wrong place." She kept her spear raised, glaring at Taiyou and the others. "You have no idea what you're dealing with here. That demon… he'll be back soon, or his minions will, to make sure everything is 'in order.' If you don't leave now, you'll be swept up in it too."
Eli's eyes flashed. "The demon… is that who did this? Who drained these people of their life?"
The girl nodded grimly. "We're the last survivors in this timeline, those who still have a little life force left… but it's only a matter of time before even that's gone. The chaos will eat through all of us eventually."
A rumble echoed in the distance, and the girl's face paled. She gripped Lyon's hand tightly, pulling him close. "It's too late… they're here."
The squad turned to see shapes emerging from the mist—ominous figures draped in flowing dark robes, their forms distorted by writhing tendrils of chaos energy. At the forefront was a towering man, clad in black armor that seemed to absorb the faint morning light, his face hidden behind an ominous mask etched with chaotic symbols. The air crackled with his aura, raw power radiating from him like an unstoppable tide.
Beside him stood a shorter figure, equally menacing, but with a more controlled intensity. His movements were fluid, almost serpentine, and the chaos energy around him seemed more refined, as if he wielded it with precision rather than brute strength. His face bore a chillingly calm expression, his eyes dark and calculating.
The taller figure raised a hand, and his voice reverberated through the valley. "You are the ones I was informed of, the ones who dare encroach upon Ashenfall, the domain of chaos itself? Bold, but foolish."
Taiyou stepped forward, a glint of defiance in his eyes. "So, you're the one responsible for this… for all these lives lost?" His voice held an edge of fury, his usually carefree demeanor hardened.
The armored figure tilted his head, his eyes narrowing behind the mask. "Responsible? I am merely an agent of chaos. I am *Valanor*. This land was destined for ruin. I simply brought forth its true nature. "
Taiyou clenched his fists, his anger boiling over. "You call this 'destiny'? Destroying lives, draining people of everything they have—just because you can? It's disgusting."
Valanor chuckled, a low, mocking sound that reverberated through the mist like a distant roll of thunder. His voice was filled with a dark, unsettling amusement, as if he were privy to some hidden truth. He tilted his head, examining Taiyou with eyes that glinted with a mixture of curiosity and contempt.
"So... you must be the one they call Taiyou," he drawled, his voice oozing with derision.
Taiyou's fists clenched, his usual smirk replaced by a fierce intensity. "And how exactly do you know my name?"
Valanor's smile widened, a gleam of malevolence flashing across his face. "Oh, I know more than just your name. I know you... better than you know yourself, perhaps. But it appears you don't yet remember."
Taiyou's eyes narrowed, his confusion tempered by growing defiance. "Remember? Remember what?"
Valanor waved a hand dismissively, his expression twisting with disdain. "It hardly matters. The details are wasted on a dead man walking. But I'll indulge you this much—Lord Katsuragi has taken a particular interest in your demise. I am here to ensure that interest is... fulfilled."
"Katsuragi?" Taiyou shot back, his voice edged with frustration and curiosity. "Who the hell is that?"
For a moment, Valanor's smile faltered, and something darker crossed his face—a flicker of recognition or perhaps... pity? "Katsuragi is beyond anything your mind could grasp. But none of it matters now, Taiyou, because this time... you won't survive long enough to ask any more questions."
"'This time'?" Taiyou repeated, his voice low and steady, yet a chill ran through him at Valanor's words. The sense of familiarity, the eerie weight behind the statement, lingered, as though he were brushing up against a memory buried deep within him.
Valanor's smirk deepened as he watched Taiyou's reaction, savoring the effect of his cryptic taunts. "Yes. This time," he sneered, his eyes narrowing. "In another time, perhaps you might have been a match. But here... in Ashenfall... you'll find that fate has different plans."
You speak of morality in a world that has long abandoned such concepts. You are as naive as you are insignificant."
Taiyou's fists clenched, his body nearly vibrating with fury as he stared Valanor down. Every fiber of his being screamed to launch himself at this monster, to beat him into the ground for every innocent life he'd taken. The memories of the people drained of their energy, their lifeless eyes, burned in his mind. With a growl, he took a step forward, aether energy flickering around his hands.
"Enough," Ryojin's voice cut through the rising tension like a blade, and he stepped between Taiyou and Valanor, his expression sharp. "Don't lose your head now. This isn't the time."
Taiyou's eyes blazed, his jaw clenched tightly as he looked at Ryojin, defiance flashing in his gaze. "He deserves to pay! For what he did to those people, for everything! You expect me to just stand here?"
Ryojin's gaze remained steady, unyielding. "No. I expect you to think. Rushing in won't help anyone—and it'll only get you killed."
Before Taiyou could respond, Kaizen placed a hand on his shoulder, his grip firm. "Ryojin's right, Taiyou. Stand back and let Daichi and I handle this. Right now, we're the strongest here—Valanor's our fight."
Taiyou's knuckles whitened, but he fought back the urge to argue. The adrenaline pulsed in his veins, his fury almost tangible. But Kaizen's hand on his shoulder was grounding, a reminder of the discipline he was supposed to have.
Finally, he let out a frustrated exhale and nodded, though his gaze never left Valanor. "Fine," he muttered, barely containing his rage. "But only because you're asking me to. Give him hell."
Kaizen and Daichi exchanged a look, their eyes filled with grim determination as they stepped forward to face Valanor. Their energy pulsed around them, each carrying an aura of undeniable strength. Valanor's minions, who had been edging forward, paused, instinctively recoiling as they felt the vast difference in power.
Valanor's cold eyes watched them with an almost amused detachment, but his gaze sharpened as the tension in the air mounted. "Ah, so these are the champions you send against me?" he mocked, a dark smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Before either Kaizen or Daichi could respond, a new figure appeared between them and Valanor, materializing out of the shadows like a wraith. He was lean, dressed in sleek black armor with sharp, angular designs. His short, dark hair and cold, piercing eyes gave him an intimidating presence, and the air around him crackled with a refined chaos energy, controlled and deadly. His hand gripped the hilt of a blade that was almost unnaturally thin, its edge gleaming with a wicked glint. This was Saelis, Valanor's right-hand man.
Without a word, Saelis swung his blade in a vicious arc, aiming directly for Kaizen and Daichi.
But before the strike could land, another blade intercepted it with an effortless, single-handed block. Ryojin had stepped forward, his katana held with ease, as he met Saelis's cold gaze. "You might want to rethink your priorities," he said, his voice calm but laced with an edge. "I'm your opponent now."
Saelis's eyes narrowed as he pressed his blade against Ryojin's, testing his strength. The two warriors locked gazes, their intense focus a silent declaration of their impending clash. With a slight smirk, Ryojin pushed Saelis's blade away, and in an instant, the two were gone, their forms blurring as they engaged in a rapid, deadly duel, each movement precise and lethal.
In seconds, they had distanced themselves from the squad, their fight moving into the shadows beyond the main battlefield. Taiyou, Aira, and Eli watched them disappear, their eyes wide with the realization that only the three of them were left standing.
"Looks like it's just us now," Eli murmured, her eyes flicking around warily.
As if in response, two new figures emerged from the shadows. The generals of Valanor had finally stepped forward, each exuding an aura of menace that sent a shiver down Taiyou's spine.
The first was a towering, muscular man with a rugged, scarred face and wild black hair that flowed down his back. His bare arms were decorated with chaotic symbols etched into his skin, pulsing with dark energy. He carried a massive, jagged war hammer that seemed too large for even him, yet he wielded it effortlessly. This was General Zarek, a brute whose raw power made the air hum with tension. His eyes were a deep, unsettling red, glinting with a predatory gleam as he sized up Taiyou and the others.
Beside him stood a woman with an unnerving, almost graceful presence. She was slender, her movements smooth and calculated, with a long, flowing robe adorned with intricate patterns that seemed to shift and change as she moved. Her skin was a pale, almost ghostly white, and her long silver hair cascaded around her shoulders like a shroud. She carried a whip that crackled with chaos energy, the thin tendrils of power radiating from it like living snakes. Her name was General Lyra, a master of deception and agility, her calm demeanor masking a lethal ferocity.
Aira glanced at Taiyou, her expression tense but determined. "Think you're ready for your first real fight, Taiyou?"
Taiyou's lips twisted into a fierce grin, his fists clenching as he met her gaze. "Are you kidding? I've been waiting for this. Let's take these guys down."
Aira nodded, turning to Eli with a quick plan. "Eli, you and I will take on Lyra. Taiyou, you handle the big one."
Taiyou's grin only widened as he looked at Zarek, cracking his knuckles. "Gladly. I'm gonna kick his ass."
As Aira, Eli, and Taiyou stepped forward to meet their respective foes, the battlefield seemed to shrink, each confrontation charged with intensity and danger. Aira and Eli circled Lyra, who watched them with an amused smile, her whip slowly coiling in her hands as she prepared to strike. Taiyou, meanwhile, squared off against Zarek, who swung his massive hammer in a slow, deliberate arc, the ground trembling with each swing.
Across the battlefield, the other battles had already begun in their isolated spaces.
In the shadowed recesses, Ryojin and Saelis clashed, their blades a blur of silver as they moved with deadly precision. Ryojin's calm demeanor contrasted with the cold intensity in Saelis's eyes, their every strike a testament to their mastery. Their fight was almost silent, each movement honed to perfection as they exchanged blows with chilling focus.
In the heart of the ruins, Daichi and Kaizen faced off against Valanor himself. The Wielder of chaos stood amidst the desolation, his dark energy pulsing around him in waves. Kaizen's fists crackled with energy, while Daichi held his stance, his eyes locked on Valanor with unwavering focus.
"So you where you filthy animals without a drop of chaos energy have decided to try and challenge me" mocked valanor
"This filthy animals are the ones who are gonna kick you ass" retorted kiazen
"Let's do this kaizen" said daichi
They battle was about to begin
Further back, Taiyou charged at Zarek, dodging the brute's massive swings with agility and precision. Zarek's war hammer slammed into the ground with earth-shattering force, but Taiyou danced around each strike, waiting for the perfect moment to counter.
Aira and Eli engaged Lyra in a whirlwind of movement, their attacks flowing together seamlessly. Lyra countered with graceful precision, her whip lashing out with lethal accuracy as she kept the two warriors at bay. But Aira and Eli moved in perfect sync, determined to find an opening.
Each fight raged in its own corner of the battlefield, the distinct clashing of weapons and powers echoing through the ruins as the squad's strength was put to the ultimate test.