As the man emerged from the smoke, Ren stared down at the cracked ground, his body trembling, struggling to withstand the crushing weight of his mana.
Heavy footsteps echoed closer. The man spat on the ground, each step radiating a suffocating aura. His cold voice cut through the silence.
"It's about to die, demon."
Ren twitched at the sound, slowly lifting his head. His bloodshot eyes fixed on the figure advancing toward him. Planting his hand on the ground, he lunged forward with explosive force. The stone street caved in, forming a crater beneath him.
He shot through the air in a massive leap, glass windows shattering as the shockwave blasted through shops. Mana surged to his hands, condensing into jagged claws. Midair, he slashed downward with monstrous power.
The strike collided. A thunderous shockwave tore the street apart, dust and smoke rolling outward. Screams echoed as people were thrown to the ground.
When the haze cleared, Ren's claws were locked against a shining blade, and neither moved. Sparks and mana flared where claw met steel. The man smirked—until his gaze met Ren's face. His grin vanished, replaced by cold realization.
'It's a human kid… damn it.'
Ren leapt back, landing hard, and immediately lunged again. The man met him with steel, sparks flying as claw clashed against sword. With every strike, Ren grew faster, his blows heavier. His aura surged, evolving before the man's eyes.
Around them, buildings groaned and collapsed, the ground splitting with each clash. The man gritted his teeth.
'He's evolving with each strike. If this continues, I'll be the one overwhelmed. I need to finish it now.'
He sidestepped Ren's slash and countered with a swift swing. His blade sliced clean through Ren's arm. The severed limb hit the ground, blood splattering and sizzling as it melted stone. Before Ren could react, the man drove a brutal kick into his chest.
Ren's body flew backward, crashing through the street and rolling through rubble. He lay in a crater, his arm gone, blood pouring freely.
But he rose.
Clutching his wound, Ren threw back his head and screamed—a sound ancient and primal, shaking the entire city. His remaining arm glowed as mana spiraled wildly. Water lifted from the streets, wells, and even droplets from the very air. It swirled violently, forming countless blades around him.
With a roar, he unleashed them.
A storm of water blades tore through the streets, shrieking toward the man. He swung desperately, his sword shattering under the onslaught. One blade ripped across his armor, leaving a deep gash.
'Damn it… I'll have to take him up close.'
He surged forward, weaving through the barrage, each movement precise and desperate. He leapt, driving his fist forward with deadly intent.
At the same time, Ren's severed arm began to regenerate. Bone sprouted, muscle wrapping around it, skin knitting together as if time reversed. As the new arm finished forming, Ren threw his fist to meet the man's.
The two punches collided. A shockwave erupted, a deafening blast flattening everything nearby.
But the man slipped past Ren's strike, twisting his body. His glowing fist slammed into Ren's face, sending him skidding across the rubble. Ren caught his balance, rage burning in his eyes, and thrust his arm skyward.
Mana surged, dragging every last drop of water toward him.
Outside the walls, survivors and soldiers watched in horror as wells, barrels, and even cups drained themselves into the sky. A girl froze as the water lifted from her wooden cup, droplets streaking toward the city. Knights shouted in confusion as rivers twisted through the air.
Above Ren, the waters formed a massive sphere. The man's eyes widened.
'What is this kid? Such immense power… I have to stop it now.'
The sphere compressed violently, releasing shockwaves of raw energy. The air melted around it as the water condensed into a colossal shuriken, equal to Ren's size. With a roar, he hurled it forward.
The man charged, his arm glowing with golden mana. At the last instant, he placed his hand on the spinning edge, golden light rippling outward. With immense force, he diverted the shuriken skyward.
As the punch landed, Ren was lifted into the air. 'Time to sleep, kid,' the man muttered, before slamming him down into the ground. A massive blast erupted on impact, followed by a storm of dust and a shockwave that rippled outward. Thick smoke rose and spread, swallowing the city street by street, until the entire city was drowned in a choking cloud of dust.
From far outside the walls, people watched in horror as the smoke consumed the city.
Moments later, the shockwave struck, and knights, survivors, and even horses were thrown to the ground.
As they staggered back to their feet, the girl pointed toward the horizon. "Look! Something is rising into the sky!"
All eyes turned upward. A blazing shape ascended high above the ruined city, and then an explosion of unimaginable scale erupted. It expanded to the size of the entire city, a colossal sphere of searing heat. The shockwave thundered outward once more, tearing the dust cloud apart and scattering it across the land.
A knight screamed, "Down! Everyone down!"
The shockwave thundered outward, flattening trees and tossing horses aside. Men and women tumbled like leaves.
Then, silence.
Where once a city stood, only ruins remained. Buildings were torn apart, burned, and melted to slag. The underground caves had collapsed, sealing everything beneath mountains of stone.
Fin's body lay crushed under rubble. Slaves trapped in cells clawed at the sealed entrance as air grew thin. Edric clutched his companions with a trembling smile, tears in his eyes.
'At least… at least I'll die with you all.'
On the surface, Ren's body smoldered, his hair fading back to black. He trembled weakly, steam rising from his battered frame.
A rumble shook the debris. A massive slab of stone shifted aside. The man stepped out, armor scratched, but his body unscathed.
Then, a shadow eclipsed him.
A dragon descended from the sky, vast wings whipping the air, scales glowing red like molten iron. Its claws dug into the ground, breath blasting hot winds across the battlefield.
A woman leapt from its back. Crimson hair streamed behind her, ruby eyes blazing, dragon-scale armor gleaming. She landed gracefully, her gaze cold.
"So, Eldric," she said. "Did you kill the demon?"
Eldric cracked his neck, pointing toward Ren's fallen body.
"I defeated it. There's your demon."
The woman knelt, pressing fingers to Ren's throat. Her eyes narrowed.
"This is no demon. Just a boy… a mana rampage, likely triggered by trauma. His mana awakened violently."
She looked up.
"He's alive."
Eldric sprinted to her side, lifting the boy into his arms.
She frowned. "What are you doing?"
"Thalira… we need to save this kid."
She gave a sharp whistle, and the dragon stepped closer. Thalira mounted swiftly, Eldric following with Ren in his grasp.
"Then let's move. To the mansion."
The dragon's wings beat the air, and they shot skyward. Wind roared past as the ruins shrank below. Thalira glanced back, eyes narrowing.
"What happened down there?"
Eldric looked at the unconscious boy in his arms. His voice was low as he began to explain.
Meanwhile, two miles from the walls, survivors huddled in a hastily built camp. A knight approached a man astride a horse.
"Shall we move toward the city, Sir Alric?"
Alric's stern gaze lingered on the ruined horizon.
"Have the people settled?"
"Yes, sir. The camp has been secured."
"Good. Then half the force remains here. The rest—follow me."
The knight shouted orders, splitting the men. Alric led his group toward the shattered gates.
As they entered, silence fell. The walls leaned, ready to collapse. Inside, rubble stretched endlessly. Alric's throat tightened.
'The entire city… ruined.'
The knights gripped their swords, unease gnawing at them.
They marched until Alric halted. His eyes widened, sweat running down his face.
Before them stretched a massive sinkhole, where the underground had collapsed into nothingness.
The sight left them pale, speechless.
Alric swallowed hard, his voice breaking the silence.
"What the hell is this…"