Lady Naga led the group through the chaotic streets, her mind racing as she kept Suguru, Kyoto, and Hanabi close. The roars of the Terradrakes echoed behind them, mingling with the cries of fleeing survivors. Despite the chaos, her focus never wavered. Every step away from the auction house felt like a small victory, but the weight of leaving Kaguya and Shikaku behind gnawed at her.
"Keep moving!" she ordered, her voice sharp and commanding. Suguru and Hanabi fired sporadic shots at the pursuing Terradrakes, their bio-weapons blazing against the darkness. Kyoto followed behind, dual bio-pistols at the ready, his sharp eyes scanning for any sudden threats.
But just as they rounded a corner, Lady Naga skidded to a halt, her eyes widening in disbelief. Standing amidst the fleeing crowd, looking small but resolute against the chaos, was Ashiro.
"Ashiro?!" she exclaimed, her voice cutting through the noise like a whip. Her mind struggled to process what she was seeing. He was supposed to be in the RV. How is he here?
Hanabi gasped, lowering her weapon momentarily, while Suguru's jaw tightened in a mix of shock and anger. Kyoto blinked, dumbfounded.
"Ashiro!" Lady Naga strode toward him, her expression a storm of fury and worry. "What in the world are you doing here?! Are you out of your mind?!"
Ashiro froze as Lady Naga's reprimand hit him like a physical blow. His cyan eyes darted nervously as he opened his mouth to answer, but no words came out. His silver hair, streaked with ash and sweat, clung to his face as he stuttered, "I-I… I heard the noise… I couldn't just… I wanted to—"
"Wanted to what?" Lady Naga's voice rose, her frustration boiling over. "Get yourself killed?! You have no idea how dangerous it is out here! Do you realize what you've done—"
"Lady Naga!" Kaguya's voice rang out, cutting through the harsh reprimand. Lady Naga and the others turned to see Kaguya, her enormous shield raised, shouting over her shoulder as she slowly backed toward them. Shikaku was at her side, his five bio-blades flashing as he struck down any Terradrake that ventured too close.
"Get everyone out of here now!" Kaguya barked, her voice carrying a rare authority. "Shikaku, do it! Cave in the entrance!"
Shikaku didn't need to be told twice. He spun on his heel, dashing back toward the auction house with terrifying speed. As he neared the crumbling structure, his bio-blades flared with a menacing glow. With a series of calculated strikes, he slashed at the building's supports, causing the already-weakened structure to groan ominously.
"Everyone, move back!" Kaguya yelled, planting her shield firmly in the ground as she braced herself.
With a deafening crash, the entrance of the auction house collapsed in on itself, sending a plume of dust and debris into the air. The Terradrakes closest to the collapse were crushed under the falling rubble, and the others let out guttural roars of frustration, unable to advance further.
The group stood frozen for a moment, staring at the now-sealed entrance. The chaotic noise of battle began to fade, leaving only the distant sounds of fleeing survivors and the labored breathing of those who remained.
Kaguya turned to the group, her gaze sharp and commanding. "That'll hold them for now, but we need to keep moving. There's no telling how long it'll last."
Lady Naga finally tore her gaze away from the collapsed entrance and fixed Ashiro with a look of exasperation mixed with lingering worry. "We'll talk about this later," she said through gritted teeth, before turning to the group. "We should leave now. Before those Terradrakes dig themselves out of there"
"Yes you are right"
"Thank the Gods, am saved... Sobs... Sobs..."
"Thank you... Thank you so much!!"
The survivors who had fled the auction house began to scatter in all directions, their fear evident in the hurried shuffle of feet and panicked glances over their shoulders. Lady Naga and her group stood nearby, taking stock of their situation. Dust still hung thick in the air from the collapsed entrance, but the distant, guttural roars of the trapped Terradrakes were an ominous reminder that time was not on their side.
"We need to leave—now," Lady Naga said firmly, her voice cutting through the murmurs of the group. She glanced at Kaguya, whose shield was propped against her shoulder, and Shikaku, who wiped dust from his blades with eerie calm. "It's only a matter of time before they dig their way out."
Kaguya nodded but suddenly turned to Ashiro, her usually composed face hardened with frustration. "Ashiro," she said sharply, her tone colder than usual, "why did you leave the RV? I told you to stay put!"
Ashiro froze, guilt evident in his wide cyan eyes. "I-I…" he stammered, looking down at the ground as though the answer might be there. "I'm sorry, Kaguya. I just... I couldn't sit there and do nothing. I was worried."
"Worried?" Kaguya's voice rose slightly, her anger tempered with the faintest edge of concern. "And what if you'd been killed? Do you know what it would've done to us to lose you? To lose you because you couldn't follow a simple instruction?"
Ashiro's lips trembled as he bowed his head even lower. "I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I really am."
Kaguya sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. Her expression softened slightly as she knelt down to his level. "Ashiro, I'm angry because I care. You—"
Her words cut off suddenly, replaced by a strangled cry of pain. Before anyone could react, the ground beneath her split apart, and a massive claw shot out, wrapping itself around one of her legs like a vice. In a heartbeat, Kaguya was yanked off her feet and into the air as a Terradrake, larger and more menacing than the others, erupted from the ground with an earth-shaking roar.
"Kaguya!" Lady Naga screamed, her heart lurching as the scene unfolded. Suguru and Kyoto instinctively raised their weapons, their expressions a mix of shock and horror. Hanabi gasped, her trembling hands barely holding onto her weapon.
The group watched in stunned silence as Kaguya struggled against the creature's grip, her shield falling uselessly to the ground. The Terradrake snarled, its jagged teeth bared as it swung its massive head toward the group.
"Kaguya, hold on!" Shikaku yelled, his bio-blades flaring to life as he prepared to charge, but even he hesitated for a moment, taken aback by the sheer size of the creature.
Ashiro stood frozen, his body trembling as he stared up at Kaguya. His chest tightened, his breath coming in short gasps. The chaos around him seemed to blur and fade, leaving only the sight of Kaguya's terrified expression and the sound of her strained voice calling his name.
"Ashiro!" she shouted, her voice breaking through his haze. "Get out of here! Now!"
'Kaguya....'
But Ashiro couldn't move. His legs felt like lead as his mind raced with conflicting emotions—fear, guilt, and an overwhelming desire to help. All he could do was watch as the Terradrake tightened its grip, preparing to strike.
And then, it occured.