I turned around quick, scanning the ruined street behind me, half expecting to see that glowing bastard of a demigod still floating there laughing. Nothing. Just smoke, broken wood, and people picking through the mess.
The blue system window was still hanging in my vision like it owned the place.
Where the hell did that demigod class thing go? I asked it again in my head.
«Target has moved beyond current radar scan range.»
I let out a long breath through my nose and shook my head. Of course. Just shows up, wrecks everything, then vanishes. Typical.
No point standing here staring at nothing. I rolled my shoulders, feeling the ache already settling in from earlier, and went back to hauling broken beams out of the way so folks could start rebuilding. Every house looked worse than the last. Walls caved, roofs gone, personal stuff scattered in the dirt like trash. Made my stomach twist just looking at it.
I was dragging a half-split log toward the pile when I heard fast little footsteps and a high voice yelling.
"Chief Ragnar! Chief Ragnar please!"
A small girl—maybe seven or eight—came running straight at me, face streaked with dust and tears, dress torn at the hem.
I dropped the log and crouched so I was closer to her level. "Hey, slow down. What's wrong?"
"Our house is gone," she said, words tumbling out. "It fell and—and my brother's trapped under the rocks. He's not moving much. Please come save him!"
My chest tightened. "Okay. Lead the way. Fast as you can."
She turned and started running, but her legs were short and she was already crying hard—too slow. I scooped her up without thinking and swung her onto my shoulder like a sack of grain.
"Hold on tight," I told her. "Point me which way."
She grabbed my hair with one hand and stretched the other arm south. "That way! Past the broken cart!"
I took off.
The wind roared past my ears as I pushed hard, boots kicking up dust and gravel. Felt like the whole street blurred for a second. People jumped out of the way.
Less than half a minute later we reached what used to be their house. Just a pile of stone, splintered timber, and broken clay tiles now.
I set the girl down gently. "Stay right here."
I dropped to a crouch near the biggest slab and listened. There—faint whimpering, shallow breathing coming from underneath. Still alive. Thank the ancestors.
I planted both hands under the edge of the rock and pulled upward.
Nothing. Barely a tremble. The damn thing was heavier than it looked—way heavier.
I could hear the boy's breathing getting weaker. No time to find more help. No time to think smart.
I growled low in my throat, bent my knees deeper, and pushed with everything. Legs shaking, back screaming, arms burning like fire. For a second I thought it wouldn't move at all.
Then it shifted. Just an inch. Then two.
I roared and kept going, veins popping in my neck, until the slab finally came up high enough.
"Kobold! Here! Now!" I bellowed at the nearest worker I saw.
One of the smaller guys sprinted over, eyes wide. He didn't hesitate—dropped down, wiggled in, and dragged the boy out by the arms. The kid's legs looked bad, bent wrong, but he was breathing.
I let the rock slam back down and stumbled a step, hands on my knees, sucking air. Relief hit me so hard I almost laughed.
The girl threw herself at her brother, grabbing his shoulders, sobbing into his chest. "Tobi! Tobi you're okay!"
I stared at them—two scared little lizards in the middle of all this ruin—and something just… broke inside my chest.
I couldn't leave them like this. Not after today.
I straightened up, wiped sweat and dust off my face, and walked over. "Hey. Both of you. I've got you now, alright? I'll take care of it."
The girl looked up at me with huge wet eyes. I tried to give her a small nod that said I meant it.
Then I turned and started back toward the new chief's hut—my hut now, I guess. My legs felt like lead, but I kept moving.
When I pushed the door open, Kalia was already inside sorting through some salvaged blankets.
"Kalia," I said, voice rougher than I meant. "Where's the village treasury kept?"
She looked up quick, saw my face, and stood straighter. "Why? What happened?"
"Kid's hurt bad. Broken legs. I need supplies—bandages, splints, whatever healing stuff we've got. And I need you to come with me."
She didn't ask anything else. Just reached into the pouch at her chest, pulled out a heavy iron key, and pressed it into my palm.
"Underground," she said. "Right under this hut. There's a trapdoor behind the big storage chest. Stairs go down."
I nodded. "Thanks."
We moved together—her grabbing a lantern, me shoving the chest aside. The trapdoor was right where she said, old wood, iron ring. I yanked it open.
Cool, damp air came up from the dark.
I glanced at Kalia. She gave me a tight nod.
We started down.