Meanwhile, among the townsfolk, Kaen, the Sha'karr feline, helped the residents out from beneath the rubble and collapsed buildings.
Dust filled the air while cries and coughing echoed throughout the ruined streets. Despite the chaos around her, Kaen moved quickly from one survivor to another, her tail flicking anxiously behind her.
"Come here! Go there!" she shouted, pointing people toward safer paths while helping an injured elderly man to his feet.
Her ears twitched constantly at every distant explosion, the battlefield beyond the town growing louder with each passing second.
A child cried nearby, clinging tightly to their mother as Kaen lifted a broken wooden beam with a strained grunt. Sweat rolled down the side of her face before she tossed the debris aside.
"You're safe now. Move, quickly!" she ordered.
BOOM!!!
A deafening explosion suddenly shook the entire area. The ground trembled violently beneath everyone's feet as chunks of stone and dust burst into the air.
Several townsfolk screamed while Kaen instinctively covered her head, her feline ears flattening against her hair.
In the distance, the town's cannons erupted into flames before being completely destroyed. Fire and smoke spiraled upward into the darkened sky while shockwaves rippled across the streets.
The two individuals were still battling relentlessly.
Kaen immediately turned toward the commotion, her sharp eyes widening.
Without hesitation, she leapt across shattered debris and sprinted through the damaged streets, weaving between collapsed carts and burning wreckage.
Her breathing grew heavier as the sounds of clashing power echoed louder and louder.
When she finally reached an open area, her eyes locked onto the terrifying sight before her.
Ashley was facing Akka.
The sheer pressure radiating from both of them distorted the air itself. Every collision between their attacks sent violent gusts across the battlefield, kicking up dust and broken stone around them.
Ashley stood firm despite the destruction surrounding her, while Akka carried that same monstrous presence that made Kaen's fur stand on end.
"Nya… where's Master when you need him…" Kaen muttered nervously under her breath as her ears lowered. Anxiety tightened inside her chest while she stared at the battlefield unfolding before her.
Akka soon overpowered Ashley, sending her crashing onto the shattered tiles below. The impact cracked the ground beneath the dwarven queen as dust scattered into the air. Ashley groaned in pain, struggling to push herself back up while gripping her weapon tightly.
"Pathetic… Queen of the Dwarves," Akka said coldly as she stepped forward, her katana resting against her shoulder. Her voice carried pure disdain while her eyes narrowed down at Ashley.
"A dwarven queen such as you cannot possibly be this weak. Hiding yourselves from the world all this time… cowardly and fragile." A cruel smirk slowly spread across her face. "I bet the Founder would be rolling in his grave."
Ashley gritted her teeth angrily, trying to rise again, but her body refused to respond fast enough.
Akka slowly raised her katana high above her head, the blade gleaming under the burning light around them. Killing intent flooded the battlefield as she prepared to strike the finishing blow.
Then suddenly—
Kaen lunged forward out of pure instinct.
"The fuck?!" Akka quickly turned as Kaen slashed toward her with clawed gauntlets. Sparks burst upon impact as Akka barely deflected the attack in time.
"A Sha'karr?" Akka gasped, genuine surprise flashing across her face for the first time. "What is a feline mutt doing in Járnheimr?!"
Kaen immediately landed in front of Ashley protectively, lowering herself into her feline battle stance. Her sharp claws extended while her tail swayed aggressively behind her. Her ears flattened as she bared her fangs toward Akka.
"Ksshhh…"
A low threatening hiss escaped from her throat.
"Hoo…?" Akka tilted her head slightly before grinning. "Such a naughty cat."
In a single swift movement, Akka vanished.
"Nya—!"
Kaen's eyes widened in shock.
Too late.
Akka suddenly appeared behind her and drove her knee violently into Kaen's stomach.
THUD!!!
The impact forced all the air out of Kaen's lungs as her body folded instantly from the sheer force. Her eyes widened in agony before she was launched backward like a ragdoll.
CRASH!!!
Kaen slammed hard into a stone hurdle, shattering part of it upon impact. Blood burst from her mouth as she collapsed onto the broken ground, coughing violently while trying to breathe.
"Ghh… kh—!"
She vomited blood onto the rubble beneath her trembling hands.
Akka slowly walked toward her, boots crunching against debris with every step. Her expression remained calm, almost amused, as if she were merely playing with prey.
"Heh… your race was strong during the Heavenly War," Akka said while twirling her katana lightly in one hand. "Too bad your kind was stripped to only your specialty." Her grin widened cruelly as she continued approaching Kaen at a slow, deliberate pace.
"Puahh… what do you mean…?" Kaen asked weakly, blood dripping from the corner of her mouth as she struggled to stagger back onto her feet. Her entire body trembled violently from the impact, yet she still forced herself upright, claws digging into the rubble beneath her.
"Hm?" Akka tilted her head slightly before realization crossed her face. "Oh… a new generation. No wonder." She casually rolled her shoulder while staring down at Kaen like prey cornered before a predator. "Fine. I'll explain."
Akka slowly pointed her katana toward Kaen.
"Your beastmen clan, the Sha'karr Tribe. During the Heavenly War, your kind was feared across the battlefield. The fastest race alive. Your speed rivaled even the Alderman's themselves." Her grin slowly widened. "But tragedy struck."
Kaen's ears twitched weakly.
"One of the Commandments specialized in curses. During the war, they placed one upon your race." Akka's tone darkened. "Speed. Your greatest gift was stripped away."
Kaen narrowed her eyes angrily despite the pain.
"True, your race is still fast but…"
In a blink—
Akka vanished.
Kaen's eyes widened.
Suddenly, fingers tangled violently into her hair.
"GYAHH—!"
Akka lifted Kaen straight into the air by her hair alone.
"Not fast enough."
Kaen gasped painfully while clawing at Akka's wrist, but the difference between them was overwhelming. Akka's speed was monstrous. Not even Kaen's instincts could react in time.
"You really pissed me off," Akka muttered coldly, her smile slowly turning sadistic. "Now I shall play with you until my heart's content."
And she did.
Akka brutally tortured Kaen without mercy.
She smashed her into walls.
Crushed her against broken stone.
Kicked her across the battlefield like discarded trash.
Every impact echoed sickeningly throughout the ruined streets while Kaen's cries of pain grew weaker and weaker. Blood stained the rubble beneath her as her body trembled helplessly.
Ashley could only watch in horror, barely able to move from her own injuries.
Then came the final straw.
Akka suddenly grabbed Kaen by the tail.
Kaen's eyes widened in terror.
"N-No…!"
RIIIPPP!!!
A horrifying scream tore through the battlefield as Akka brutally ripped Kaen's tail clean from her body.
Blood splattered violently across the ground.
"AHAHAHAHA!!!" Akka laughed maniacally, holding the torn tail like a trophy while Kaen collapsed onto the rubble, convulsing from unbearable agony.
"MASTER!!!!!"
Kaen's desperate scream echoed across the heavens.
Then suddenly—
CRACKKKK!!!
Thunder roared violently above them.
Lightning split across the darkened skies.
The atmosphere itself changed.
Akka's laughter slowly faded as she looked upward, her grin disappearing for the first time.
"What is going— ACK!!"
CLANG!!!
A brutal chain suddenly coiled tightly around Akka's neck.
Before she could react—
BOOOOM!!!
She was violently yanked backward.
Her body smashed through hurdle after hurdle, tearing through debris and shattered buildings as the chain dragged her mercilessly across the battlefield.
Stone exploded everywhere from the sheer force before Akka was finally slammed back into the exact same spot she once stood.
Dust erupted around her violently.
Akka coughed before slowly looking upward.
A figure stood there silently.
Cradling Kaen gently in his arms.
"Master…" Kaen's voice trembled weakly, tears mixing with blood across her face. "I… I tried…"
"Shh…" the figure answered softly. "You've done well. I'm proud of you, Kaen."
Despite the fury surrounding him, his voice toward her remained calm.
"Lustia will take you to the Shadow Realm and heal you up."
Kaen weakly glanced upward and saw her master.
Dante.
Or rather—
Maladeva, as she knew him.
A shadowy feminine figure slowly emerged beside him.
"Lustia," Dante spoke quietly, though darkness lingered heavily behind every word. "Take her and heal her the best you can and—"
Dante suddenly stopped.
His eyes lowered.
There was no tail behind Kaen anymore.
His gaze slowly hardened.
He quickly checked her back and saw the horrific wound where her tail had been violently torn out.
Silence.
A suffocating silence.
"Lustia," Dante said again.
This time, his voice was cold.
Terrifyingly cold.
"Bring him out. Fix her until I come check. Understand?" Dante handed the tail he just found and handed it to Lustia.
"Yes, my liege."
Lustia bowed respectfully before her shadowy form consumed Kaen entirely. Within seconds, both of them vanished into darkness.
The battlefield became silent once more.
Akka slowly stood back up, wiping blood from her mouth while tightening her grip on her katana.
"Who are you…?" she asked cautiously.
"Me?"
Dante slowly glanced upward.
Then—
FLASH!!!
A weapon appeared instantly within his grasp.
The moment it materialized, the atmosphere itself became heavier.
Akka felt it immediately.
A monstrous presence.
Ashley felt it too.
Deep within Dante's subconscious—
"AHAHAHAAAA!!! KID, YOU REALLY ARE MAKING ME PROVE MYSELF RIGHT TO BOND WITH YOU!"
Kilamahi, the Goddess of War, burst into manic laughter upon seeing Dante's new weapon.
Years ago, when Dante first arrived at the academy as a child, he had received a mysterious slab.
Now—
After finally arriving in Járnheimr—
He had completed it.
His very own forged weapon.
Twin chain blades.
The chains rattled violently as Dante slowly raised one of the blades toward Akka. Lightning crackled around him while his cold eyes locked directly onto hers.
"I'm your Yama."
Death itself stood before her.
---
Chapter 54 — End.