Dune placed his hands on Ned's shoulders, channeling green Neba he had into his brother. The faint glow pulsed weakly between them, offering a flicker of hope.
Ned shifted, pushing him gently away. "You barely have any green Neba. Save it for yourself."
"What's the point, Ned?" Dune muttered, frustration seeping into his voice.
"What do you mean?"
"What's the point of me having Neba at all if I don't have an animal core to use it? I'm useless," Dune said bitterly, shaking his head.
Ned sighed, his exhaustion palpable. "You're not useless. You can still enhance your body with Neba. You know that, right?"
Dune let out a dry chuckle. "Yeah, and what good would that do against monsters like these? I can't even touch them." He ran a hand through his hair, his eyes scanning the distant chaos. "I just want to leave. I hope Amanda gets here soon."
"Same," Ned murmured, closing his eyes.
[ On the Other Side of the City ]
Cadogan stood still amidst a battlefield of corpses. His white battle attire was soaked in blood, the crimson stains turning his cape into a tattered banner of war. Around him, everything was silent. Monsters and humans alike lay dead at his feet.
He took a few slow steps, his boots crunching over shattered stone, until he came to Derchis lifeless body sprawled on the ground. Cadogan crouched, his expression softening as he reached down and closed the man's eyes.
Standing again, he took a deep breath. The silence shattered as a massive explosion erupted in the distance. Red Neba surged high into the sky, tearing through the air with an unmistakable energy.
"This power..." Cadogan muttered. His eyes narrowed as recognition dawned. "Sky Serpent."
Without hesitation, he turned and bolted toward the city walls, his white cape trailing behind him.
[ At the West Exit ]
Dune stood, his gaze distant as he stared at the gathering crowd. "Do you think Atlas is here?" he asked.
Ned nodded weakly. "There's no way he's dead. Zero percent chance. He's probably out there somewhere."
"Yeah," Dune muttered, though he wasn't sure if he believed it. "I think so too."
The ground began to tremble. Dune's head snapped toward the city as the rumbling grew louder. Houses collapsed in the distance, their walls crumbling like sand under the weight of something massive. Then they appeared.
Hundreds of creatures, wolf-like beasts with sharp horns jutting from their foreheads, charged toward the crowd. Their glowing eyes flickered in varying colors, each representing a different type of Neba coursing through their monstrous forms. They stormed through the city, destroying everything in their path.
The air was filled with screams as panic erupted. Dune froze, his instincts screaming at him to run.
"Dune!" Ned shouted, his voice hoarse. "They're coming right for us!"
Dune grabbed Ned, hoisting his injured brother over his shoulders.
"You won't fight," Dune said sharply.
"I have to," Ned argued, his voice barely above a whisper.
"No. You're not using Zeten again. Not with your hands gone!"
"Dune, if I don't—"
"Shut up, Ned! You'll die if you push yourself any further!"
"I'd rather die fighting than watch these people get slaughtered!"
"Who cares about them?" Dune snapped, his voice cracking. "What good will it do if you kill yourself for them? I need you alive, Ned! I can't—" He broke off, his voice choked with anger.
But Ned wasn't listening. His cross-shaped mark began to glow faintly, red Neba stirring in his battered body.
"No," Dune said firmly, setting Ned down and grabbing him by the collar. "Don't. I'm not letting you use it."
"How are you planning to save us Dune?" ..
"Look at the crowd, Im going to use these people as covers for us"
"How can you say that Dune?" Ned gritted his teeth and didn't respond anymore . His body trembled as he tried to gather strength, but before he could release his power, Dune slammed a fist into his jaw.
Ned's eyes widened briefly before his body went limp. Dune caught him, his hands trembling as he lowered his unconscious brother to the ground.
"Idiot," he muttered, his voice thick with emotion.
The crowd surged around him, desperate to escape. Dune looked at the mass of terrified people and made his decision.
He stepped into the mass, using their panicked movements as cover. He was ready to use the crowd as a shield if it meant surviving. The wolves drew closer, their howls echoing through the city. Dune clenched his fists, bracing for the inevitable.
Then the sky cracked open.
A figure descended from above, landing with a deafening explosion. Ice spread out in waves, freezing the ground and trapping the advancing wolves in mid-charge. The monstrous army came to a halt, their forms encased in glistening ice sculptures.
Dune shielded his eyes from the blast of cold, his heart racing as he looked up. Standing at the center of the devastation was Cadogan.
His white cape fluttered as he surveyed the battlefield, his piercing gaze scanning the frozen wolves and the terrified crowd.
"Cadogan..." Dune whispered.
The man turned, his expression softening slightly as his eyes landed on Dune. "You're alive," he said simply.
"Barely," Dune replied, gesturing to Ned's unconscious form.
Cadogan stepped closer, his gaze falling on Ned. "Sky Serpent. I felt its power," he said, his tone even. "That was him?"
Dune hesitated, then nodded.
Cadogan knelt beside Ned, his hands glowing faintly with blue Neba as he examined the boy. "He's strong," he said quietly. "But reckless. Using that ability in his condition..." He trailed off, his expression darkening.
"Can you help him?" Dune asked.
"I can protect him," Cadogan said. "But regenerating lost limbs isn't within my ability. In Rendely, however, there are healers who can restore him completely." He stood, his voice firm. "I'll get you both there. No matter what."
Dune looked at him, unsure whether to feel relieved or afraid. But for the first time in what felt like hours, he let out a shaky breath.
"All right," he said.
Cadogan glanced back at the frozen battlefield, his eyes narrowing. "Stay close to me. It's not over yet."
"And Dune, do you know how to fight?" Cadogan asked urgently.
Dune nodded. "Yeah, but… I don't have animal Neba core yet."
Cadogan gave a small nod of understanding. "That's fine."
With a wave of his hand, he summoned a flurry of ice, which solidified into gleaming swords. They floated in midair, shimmering like diamonds, as Cadogan stepped forward and raised his voice.
"Everyone!"
His words boomed over the crowd, carried by an unnatural force that silenced the murmurs and cries. Standing atop an ice wall he had conjured, Cadogan made sure every person could see and hear him.
"Anyone who can fight, come forward! I'll give you weapons. If you want to protect your families, if you want us all to survive, we need you now."
A tense silence followed before men and women began to step forward, their expressions a mix of fear and determination. Cadogan extended his hand, letting the ice swords float down to each volunteer.
Dune hesitated for a moment, then reached out and took a blade as well. Its cold surface sent a shiver up his arm, but he gripped it tightly and positioned himself in front of Ned, who was still unconscious on the ground.
As Cadogan passed him, he paused and placed a hand on Dune's shoulder. "There's no way any of the monsters will pass me. If necessary i can hold them off for days, even weeks, as long as something too powerful doesn't come our way. If we're lucky, you and the others won't even need to fight. Trust me, I won't let any innocent humans die here."
Dune nodded, his throat tight.
"I'm giving you a weapon just in case," Cadogan continued. "Because we never know what might happen. Protect your brother."
"I will," Dune said, his voice steady despite the fear clawing at his chest.
Cadogan turned away, stepping into position at the edge of the crowd. His eyes scanned the frozen wasteland before him, his mind racing.
*Damn it, Amanda, where are you?* he thought, frustration and worry mixing. He recalled how he had sent Daniel ahead to Rendely to warn the city. Daniel's orange Animal Core, the Cheetah Steps, made him the fastest messenger they had. Amanda couldn't teleport him there, her power was needed here in Fein. And now Cadogan was left alone to protect the masses gathering behind him.
His jaw clenched as the weight of it all settled on him. *I can't let them die.* Then, movement in the distance caught his eye. A figure running toward the crowd. His heart stopped.
"Amanda," he whispered.
Without hesitation, Cadogan dashed toward her, his speed blurring as he met her just before she collapsed. Blood soaked her from head to toe, and one of her arms was gone, severed just below the shoulder.
"They're all dead," she said, her voice barely audible. She leaned heavily against him, gasping for breath. "No one survived."
Cadogan's stomach churned, but he forced himself to stay calm. "What happened?"
Amanda's trembling hand gripped his arm. "I'll teleport everyone to Rendely," she said, each word a struggle. "But I'll need time… just hold them off. And save your power."
Cadogan stiffened. "What are we up against?"
Her gaze locked onto his, and the fear in her eyes made his blood run cold. "It's not monsters," she whispered. "There's someone coming. I think he's a Zeten."
Cadogan's eyes widened. *A Zeten.*
"Okay," Cadogan sighed. "Go. Start the preparations. I'll buy you as much time as I can."
Amanda nodded, though she barely had the strength to stand. She stumbled back toward the crowd, her remaining hand glowing faintly as she began drawing the intricate patterns needed to open the teleportation gate.
Cadogan watched her go, his chest tightening. He knew what she was planning.
*Goodbye, Amanda,* he thought grimly.
Amanda's ability, derived from the yellow core Juby, was their only hope. Juby users were rare, able to create Neba portals capable of transporting people vast distances. But the ability required two gates, one at the point of departure and one at the destination. All their existing gates had been destroyed. The only option was to create both gates simultaneously.
It would take all of Amanda's remaining power.
And it would kill her.
Cadogan clenched his fists, his ice-covered knuckles creaking under the strain. He couldn't let her sacrifice be in vain. Turning back toward the horizon, he felt the cold rage of determination settle over him like a second skin.
Amanda finished drawing the portal, a vast and intricate web of glowing yellow Neba lines etched into the ground. It was a creation that would cost her everything. She looked up, her gaze sweeping across the frightened faces of the crowd, many of whom were clutching loved ones or whispering desperate prayers.
"This is it," she murmured to herself.
She knelt and placed both hands on the glowing diagram. Instantly, the lines blazed brighter, consuming the area in an otherworldly golden light.
Amanda's body shuddered as the portal began pulling every last fragment of Neba from her core. Her eyes and mouth emitted searing yellow light, and her skin began to harden. Her voice was a strained whisper as the transformation consumed her. "Go… live… don't let this be in vain."
With those final words, Amanda's body turned to stone, merging with the portal. Her statue stood at the gate's center, a silent sentinel that radiated Neba energy. The massive portal formed, a towering, glowing door of ten meters, shimmering with golden light.
The crowd froze for a heartbeat, stunned by the sight. Then, as the reality of salvation sank in, they surged forward in a desperate stampede.
Dune crouched over Ned, shielding his brother's battered body from the chaos. People shoved past him, stepping on his hands and legs as they rushed for the portal.
"Damn it! These idiots!" Dune growled, trying to push himself up while keeping Ned protected.
The crowd was relentless. Every time Dune tried to stand, another wave of people forced him back down. Frustration boiled inside him as he struggled to lift Ned's limp body.
Cadogan glanced back, his sharp eyes assessing the situation. Relief washed over him as he saw people pouring into the portal. "It's working," he muttered.
But his relief was short-lived. A distant explosion echoed across the city.
Cadogan tensed, turning his gaze back toward the source of the sound. *They've sensed the portal's Neba.* He tightened his grip on his ice-forged sword, his jaw set.
But instead of another wave of monsters, a lone figure emerged from the smoky haze.
The man strode forward with an air of unshakable confidence, his boots crunching on the frost-covered ground. He had red long hair and wore a battle uniform of black and crimson, with a flowing cape trailing behind him. A rose emblem, pierced by two crossed swords, was stitched onto his chest.
But what unsettled Cadogan the most was the mask. It resembled a human face with three horns but was inverted, the features upside down and distorted.
The man stopped ten meters away, his posture casual.
"Cadogan," the man said, his voice smooth and mocking. "Twenty-seven years old. Lord of Fein. Blue Neba. And one of the strongest warriors of Sanatria."
Cadogan's eyes widened. *He knows me.*
The man tilted his head slightly, the mask amplifying the unnatural movement. "Unfortunately," he continued, "we don't need you. You're too old."
Cadogan smirked, though his unease was growing. "What's your goal here?"
The man chuckled, the sound low and menacing. "I suppose I can tell you. You'll be dead soon, anyway." He extended an arm, gesturing grandly. "I am Matiane, the Apostle of the God of War. That name should suffice."
The title hit Cadogan like a blow. His pulse quickened. *A god's apostle? Here? He should be in Rendely, serving the king.*
"What are you doing here?" Cadogan demanded. "Does the king know about this?"
Matiane laughed, the sound rich with derision. "Cadogan, are you truly this dense? You sent your fastest messenger to Rendely hours ago, and he still hasn't returned. Why do you think that is?"
Cadogan's stomach sank.
"I'm here under the king's orders," Matiane continued, his tone almost playful. "My mission is simple, to send dangerous souls to the Trials."
"Dangerous souls?" Cadogan's voice hardened. "You mean the Zetens."
Matiane gave a slow nod. "Precisely. Cleaning this city of Zetens is my priority. Civilians are… irrelevant to me. They're just on the way."
Cadogan's fists clenched, ice crackling beneath his gloves. "And these monsters? They're not yours?"
Matiane sighed, his tone dripping with mockery. "Oh, please. Do I look like the type to use beasts for my work? These creatures aren't mine. You just got unlucky, being attacked by two different forces at the same time."
Cadogan's mind raced. *Two forces? If these monsters aren't his, then who…?*