The battlefield reeked of burnt flesh and broken hope.
Bodies littered the ground—limbs scattered, screams echoing into the night. The once-fortified South Corridor had collapsed under the overwhelming force of Grigor's army. Over 140 soldiers had already fallen. Blood soaked into the dry soil as fires danced across tents and weapons alike.
Kaizen stood at the edge of the burning outpost, breath ragged, arms trembling, his veins glowing faintly. Ayaka had just dragged him from another near-death encounter. Her arm was slashed, blood trailing down to her elbow, but she didn't flinch.
"Kaizen! You're pushing yourself too far!" she shouted, blocking another incoming Bist with a swift slice of her dual blades.
Kaizen's vision blurred—he could see twisted figures running toward him. Bists. Too many of them.
A monstrous figure, taller than anything they'd seen so far, emerged from the smoke—four arms, a crown of bone spikes, and eyes glowing a sickening yellow.
"That's one of Grigor's warlords!" shouted a squad member—Taro, the youngest in Squad Umbra.
Within seconds, Taro was impaled—two of his comrades ran to him, only to be caught in a crushing grip and ripped apart mid-air.
Three deaths. Just like that. Their screams echoed deep into Kaizen's mind.
"NO!!" Kaizen roared, something inside him snapping loose.
Flames erupted from his skin—not normal fire, but black and crimson tendrils that danced like cursed spirits. His eyes turned pitch black with a ring of gold inside them.
Ayaka stepped back, stunned. "He's... changing again."
Kaizen charged the warlord, dodging its massive arms with unnatural agility. The warlord struck the ground, sending shockwaves—but Kaizen countered with a burst of energy that obliterated the warlord's left side.
It wasn't just a fight—it was a massacre.
Squad Umbra watched in horror and awe as Kaizen tore through Bists, flame claws extending from his fingers, his body radiating death itself. Every step he took scorched the earth.
But then...
Kaizen collapsed. Blood pouring from his mouth, his flames flickering out. He had gone too far.
Ayaka caught him. "You idiot… you'll die at this rate…"
Just then, a distress call came through the comm crystal. "North Gate is falling—repeat—North Gate breach confirmed! Survivors… barely any…!"
Captain Rurik looked around. Only 20 of the 100 stationed here still stood.
"We stay," Rurik growled. "We hold what we can. Or humanity ends tonight."
Kaizen stirred weakly. "We… stay. We fight."
The last shot zoomed out from above—fires across the land, bodies burning, hope bleeding out. And among the rubble, stood Kaizen—half-conscious, barely alive, but still willing to burn everything for the future.