Cassandra jolted awake to the sound of distant screams. Her body, still sore and bruised from the chaos at Clemonte's estate, protested as she leaped from the bed, her pulse quickening. For a moment, she thought she was still dreaming, still trapped in that ballroom filled with blood and terror. But the walls of their underground chamber trembled, dust falling from the ceiling, and the sound of crashing stone filled the air.
Rainne, lying in the bed next to her, stirred, groaning as she tried to sit up. "What's… happening?" she asked, her voice groggy from sleep and pain.
"I don't know," Cassandra said, pulling her sword from the bedside and racing to the door. Her body screamed in protest, the lingering injuries from their last mission still aching, but her mind was already racing. "Stay here. I'll check—"
A deafening crash echoed from above, cutting her off. The ground shook violently, nearly throwing Cassandra off balance. A scream from down the hall sent chills through her veins, followed by the unmistakable sound of stone collapsing.
"They've found us," Rainne whispered, her eyes wide with fear as the realization set in. "The creatures… they're here."
Cassandra cursed under her breath. She'd barely had time to recover, barely time to think after their last brush with death. And now, it was happening again. But this time, there was no time to plan, no time to strategize. It was pure chaos.
"We have to move. Now." Cassandra rushed to Rainne's side, helping her to her feet. Rainne was still weak, her side bandaged from the attack, but there was no time to worry about that now. They had to get out before the entire guild was leveled.
As they stumbled into the corridor, the walls were already beginning to crack, dust swirling in the dim torchlight. The once-quiet catacombs were filled with the sounds of battle—clashing weapons, screams, and the guttural growls of the creatures that had torn through the city.
Guild members rushed past them, some dragging the injured, others shouting commands, but it was clear the fight was already lost. The beasts—those horrifying, otherworldly creatures that had nearly killed Rainne just days ago—were tearing through their ranks like they were nothing.
Cassandra's heart pounded as they weaved through the chaos, her sword drawn and ready. She caught glimpses of the creatures in the distance—hulking shadows with glowing red eyes, their claws slashing through stone and flesh alike. One leaped from the ceiling, crashing down on two assassins ahead of them, its claws tearing them apart in an instant.
"There's no fighting them!" someone screamed nearby. "Run! Get out!"
Rainne gripped Cassandra's arm, her breath coming in ragged gasps as they ran. "The forest… we need to get to the forest."
Cassandra nodded, her mind racing. The only hope they had now was to escape, to flee the city and lose the creatures in the wilderness. The underground catacombs had once been their sanctuary, but now, they were a death trap.
The guild was falling.
They turned a corner, just as part of the ceiling collapsed behind them with a deafening roar, sealing off the path. Cassandra's heart leaped into her throat as the dust and debris filled the air, choking the light from the torches.
"This way!" she shouted, pulling Rainne toward the nearest exit. The creatures were everywhere now, their growls echoing through the corridors, their glowing eyes appearing in the dark like nightmares come to life.
By the time they reached the hidden exit that led to the city streets, Cassandra's legs felt like lead, her lungs burning. But the sight that greeted them when they emerged into the open made her blood run cold.
The city was burning.
Massive creatures, larger than the ones they had seen before, were tearing through the buildings, their enormous claws rending stone and wood as easily as parchment. Fires raged, casting a hellish glow over the night, and the once-proud spires of Liconermo crumbled under the assault.
People were fleeing in every direction, but the beasts were relentless, their red eyes glowing in the dark, cutting down anyone in their path.
"We can't stay here," Cassandra said, her voice tight with fear and urgency. "We have to go."
Rainne, her face pale but determined, nodded. She was struggling to keep up, her injuries slowing her down, but there was no time to rest. The creatures were closing in, their roars growing louder as they leveled entire city blocks.
They ran, dodging through the debris, past the bodies of those who had fallen. The heat from the fires seared their skin as they pushed through the city streets, their breaths coming in ragged gasps.
Ahead, the forest loomed, dark and shadowy at the edge of the city—a sanctuary of sorts. If they could make it there, they might be able to lose the creatures in the dense woods.
Cassandra didn't look back as they ran. The sound of destruction, of stone falling and screams dying in the air, followed them. The creatures' growls were growing fainter, but Cassandra knew better than to think they were safe.
As they reached the treeline, Rainne stumbled, her strength nearly gone. Cassandra caught her, pulling her upright.
"We're almost there," Cassandra said, though her own legs felt like they would give out at any moment.
Rainne's breathing was labored, her face ashen. "I… I don't know if I can keep going."
Cassandra's heart clenched. She could feel Rainne's weakness, see the pain in her eyes. But there was no choice. They had to keep moving.
"You can," Cassandra said firmly, gripping her tighter. "We'll make it. Together."
They plunged into the forest, the darkness closing in around them. The sounds of the city's destruction faded behind them, replaced by the eerie silence of the woods. But the sense of dread remained, the feeling that the creatures were still out there, hunting them.
After what felt like hours, they finally stopped, collapsing against a large tree. Rainne slumped to the ground, her chest heaving with exhaustion.
Cassandra knelt beside her, her own body shaking with fatigue. She glanced back toward the distant glow of the burning city, her heart heavy with the knowledge that they were the only survivors.
The city was being leveled and they were the last last to see it.