Ashen staggered back toward the village square, his body heavy, his soul empty. The air was thick with smoke and the screams of the dying.
He found Jax pinned against the ground, a monster straddling him, clawed hands tearing through his metal arms.
Jax roared, eyes wild, blood spraying from his mouth. "Get out of here, Ashen!"
Ashen's blood blades reformed, but they were thin now, weak and unsteady. "Jax!"
A clawed hand raked across Jax's throat, and the scream died in his mouth. Blood spurted, and Jax's head lolled to the side, his eyes glassy and unfocused.
Ashen's blood blades shattered, his knees giving way.
"Ashen!" Lyra's voice echoed through the square.
Ashen turned. Lyra was pinned against a wall, her clothes torn, eyes wide with terror. Three creatures surrounded her, their mouths open, jaws snapping.
"Ashen... help..."
Ashen tried to move, but his legs wouldn't obey. His blood was almost gone, his vision darkening.
Lyra's screams echoed in his ears, raw and desperate, as the creatures closed in.
Ashen's last ounce of strength carried him to the teleportation circle. He collapsed onto it, his blood pooling beneath him.
The runes flared to life, and the world twisted and spun, Lyra's screams fading into silence.
Ashen crashed onto the cold stone floor of the teleportation hall, his body convulsing. The room was empty, the air silent and still.
Ashen forced himself onto his hands and knees, blood dripping from his mouth, his arms shaking. Images of Nina's lifeless eyes, Jax's torn throat, and Lyra's screams flashed through his mind in a relentless loop.
The guild had sent them to die. The guild master knew what they'd face, and he sent them anyway.
Ashen's fists clenched, blood pooling beneath him. His eyes burned, jaw tight.
"They knew," he rasped, his voice broken. "They knew what they were sending us to."
He struggled to his feet, the world spinning around him. His eyes locked onto the exit.
The guild. The government. They did this. And they would pay.
Ashen's blood dripped onto the stone floor as he staggered away, his body broken, his heart hollow, his mind filled with nothing but vengeance.
The end
"Thank you for diving into the dark, twisted world of The nexus. Your support means everything, and I hope Ashen's journey left you haunted and craving more.
If you enjoyed this story, check out my other works and stay connected for upcoming projects filled with more intense, gritty tales.
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The nightmare is far from over. Stay tuned — Ashen's story is just beginning.
Thank you for your time, your reads, and your support.
Neon Quill