The crimson Gate had disappeared, but the silence it left behind felt heavier than the chaos that had surrounded Plush City moments earlier. Reiji stood in the middle of the destroyed street, staring at the empty space where the creature had vanished. The scales that had appeared across his arm were slowly fading, leaving his skin looking normal again, but the sensation they had caused remained.
The first man.
The words continued repeating inside his mind.
Ander.
Earth.
The disappearance of men.
The sanctuary.
Reiji clenched his fist before looking toward the military headquarters. The entire building had been partially destroyed, and soldiers were scattered throughout the surrounding streets. Some were injured, others were helping civilians evacuate, while military Awakeners searched the ruins for anyone trapped beneath the rubble.
The A-Rank female Awakened walked toward him.
"You need medical attention."
Reiji glanced at her.
"I'll survive."
"You don't know that."
