Chapter 29
A loud explosion rocked through the city.
People fled in every direction, screams tearing through the streets as buildings collapsed behind them. Far in the distance, the city itself was being torn apart by a beast unleashed upon the human world for one purpose only.
Destruction.
Agony filled the air. Sobs. Cries. Desperate prayers that went unanswered.
Many had already died the moment the creature landed. Many more would follow if they did not escape the ravaging city fast enough.
Inside the ruins, a massive creature stalked forward.
Seven feet tall. Azure scales glistening under firelight. A bestial form wrapped in twisting dark mist that crawled around its body like living smoke. It resembled a giant lizard, but only a fool would mistake it for one.
This was the demon that turned a once vibrant city into a graveyard.
Crimson eyes scanned the surroundings.
It smashed through the remains of already crumbled buildings, rubble exploding beneath its claws. The demon moved past a large boulder, then stopped. It lowered its head and sniffed the air for several seconds before continuing forward.
Behind that same boulder, a young human boy clung to the shadows.
Brown hair soaked with sweat. Breath shallow. His throat worked as he gulped again and again.
The strange thing was not his fear.
It was the golden glow radiating faintly from his body.
Normally, someone like him would have been exposed instantly, glowing like a beacon in the dark. But he was not.
His aura made him unassuming. Almost invisible. So subtle it bent attention away from him entirely.
That was his Azura.
The brown haired boy swallowed hard.
He knew he was special. He had known for years. He had even used that power before for things he did not want to remember. For a long time, it had felt like a blessing in disguise.
Right now, with a grotesque monster hunting him, that blessing felt very much like a curse.
He glanced around.
No matter where he looked, there was only ruin. Broken streets. Collapsed homes. Bodies buried beneath rubble.
Destruction.
He sucked in a shaky breath.
This was because of him.
The demon had done all this while searching for him.
For a moment, he considered surrendering. Stepping out. Offering himself in exchange for the lives of others. Maybe that way, the killing would stop.
His eyes hardened.
Then fear crushed the thought instantly.
Peaceful negotiation was a lie. If he got any closer to that monster, he would be ripped apart and devoured without hesitation.
For those who had already died in this chaos, he clenched his fists.
I swear I will avenge you. When I am strong enough.
Slowly, carefully, he moved away from the demon.
Ten meters.
His muscles tensed, ready to sprint at any moment.
Just a little farther.
He could escape. He had to.
His saliva moved as he swallowed again.
Then it happened.
Pah.
His foot crushed down on a half broken piece of glass.
It shattered.
The bottle broke into several pieces, glass scattering across the ground like a gunshot in the silence.
James froze.
His eyes locked onto the broken bottle, the thing that had ruined his life, the thing that had just sealed his fate. Slowly, he lifted his head, praying to every god he had ever heard of that the lizard beast would not notice him.
His prayer went unanswered.
The creature turned.
Deep, glowing red eyes locked directly onto James.
His blood froze. His heart skipped, then slammed violently against his chest. Fear flooded his body, sharp and paralyzing, but he did not hesitate.
He turned and ran.
He bolted with every ounce of strength he could muster.
Three minutes later.
"Oh crap, oh crap."
James cursed as he slid between two half collapsed buildings. He burst out through another entrance and leapt forward just as a massive explosion tore through the structure behind him. The sound of stone and metal crashing down followed immediately.
He rolled hard across the ground, barely avoiding the falling rubble.
Then pain exploded through his back.
A massive chunk of rock slammed into him, sending him tumbling several meters before he hit the ground and skidded to a stop.
James groaned, forcing himself up.
He ran.
He had to. If he stopped, he died.
He had clawed his way through too much, survived too long, to end here crushed by debris or eaten by a monstrous lizard.
For a brief, desperate moment, he wanted to believe the creature had been buried under the building.
Then boom.
The ruins exploded outward.
The lizard beast burst free, landing heavily before licking its lips. Its crimson gaze locked onto James, drawn to the golden glow emanating from his body.
The chase continued.
James survived only because he knew the city. Ruined or not, it was still his home. He had no fighting skill, no special training, but he used the terrain, twisting through alleys, vaulting debris, forcing the monster to smash its way through obstacles.
Still, it was not enough.
His body finally slammed into the ground with a thunderous crash.
James groaned as blood dripped from the corner of his mouth. That was not the worst part. His body refused to move.
He forced himself to sit up.
Footsteps echoed behind him.
His heart thundered wildly.
He tried to stand, but the gash in his back tore open, blood spilling freely. He cried out and collapsed to his knees.
It hurt. It hurt like hell.
Worse than the pain was the certainty.
He was going to die.
The demon approached slowly, unhurried, savoring its cornered prey. Its long tongue slid out, licking its lips.
James broke into a cold sweat.
He swallowed hard.
"Don't eat me," he whispered, his voice trembling. "I promise I'm not sweet. I'm bitter. Really bitter. Don't come closer or you'll die."
He shouted the last part, trying to sound threatening, even though he knew it was useless.
The demon stopped in front of him.
Towering over James, it grinned savagely, malice gleaming in its red eyes. Sharp claws lifted, ready to end his life.
Then a voice spoke beside his ear.
"Do you want to live or die?"
Could it be the demon talking?
The thought flashed through James's mind, wild and desperate. No. That voice did not sound like the demon in front of him. Then it had to be a hallucination. He was too scared of death. His mind was breaking. That had to be it.
But even if it was just a hallucination, he still answered.
"I want to live."
Nothing magical happened.
The demon did not fall dead. He was not teleported away from the city like in the fantasy stories he used to read. No miracle. No escape.
The claws were still there, hovering right above his head.
Then they swung down.
James's heart stopped.
The strike came in an instant, fast enough to split the air, fast enough that he could not even scream.
Then the voice spoke again.
"Okay then. You live."
The claws smashed into the ground instead.
The earth cracked violently, rubble flying everywhere, but James was still alive. When he realized it, the truth hit him hard.
His wish had been accepted.
He was saved.
But he was not safe.
He was still in the city, only a few meters away.
"Kids like you, with the will to live burning so bright, that's a good thing."
James turned.
Standing beside him was a man dressed in black. Golden hair shimmered faintly under the ruined city's light. He spoke calmly, like a sage, but his face betrayed him.
Behind those black eyes was something deep and unfathomable.
Madness.
His lips curled slightly into a grin as he spoke more words that sounded wise but meant almost nothing. Two swords were strapped at his sides, yet he did not even acknowledge them.
His attention shifted to the demon.
The lizard beast roared in fury, enraged that its prey had been stolen.
"Oh well," the man said casually. "Let me ask you this."
He looked straight at the demon.
"What about you, big guy. Do you want to live or die?"
The demon answered with a deafening roar and charged.
The man sighed and shook his head.
"Well. You've chosen."
His smile widened.
"And I guess it's death then. A gift I'd gladly give you."
TO BE CONTINUED.