Cherreads

Chapter 28 - 27/The first disaster 4

Royal Capital.

The meeting had already dragged on for several minutes in the grand throne room of the royal castle. The walls, adorned with tapestries and crests, echoed with the voices of the counselors and nobles present. Outside, the kingdom's army, clad in ceremonial armor, had finished assembling in the vast outer courtyard, forming an impeccable and imposing formation.

"Let's not waste any more time debating, my king. We must march into battle and save our people!" Zem urged impatiently.

"You're right. We leave at once."

The royal army, after hastily completing its final preparations, now marched through the cobbled streets of the capital toward the majestic teleportation gate. The clatter of armor and the rhythmic march of boots resonated through the calm night, rousing some citizens from their sleep. Still half-asleep, they gazed with growing unease at the unusual military mobilization. They wondered what could warrant the king himself and his entire army to take to the field. The soldiers finally stopped before the teleportation gate, their grave expressions reflecting the importance of the mission ahead.

"Have you contacted the Adventurers' Guild?" Zem asked.

"There's no need. Offering a reward for their help would be a waste of money especially since we already paid them handsomely to close that dungeon. And apparently, they failed," the king snapped, his tone edged with frustration.

"With all due respect, my king, that is a mistake. I also doubt the adventurers are to blame."

"Are you questioning your king's words, Zem?!" the king retorted harshly, as blood began to trickle from Zem's nose.

"No… my king…" Zem replied, lowering his head.

"Then let us proceed."

The army crossed the teleportation gate only to be met with a scene of utter devastation. The city, once full of life, had been almost entirely razed. Even the teleportation gate itself was barely standing. The night, once pitch-black, now burned red, illuminated by the flames still raging through the ruins. The panorama resembled hell itself, with intense heat and shifting shadows casting an atmosphere of dread. Countless corpses littered the ground, silent testaments to the recent tragedy.

The soldiers stood frozen, stunned and horrified by the scene before them. Everywhere they looked, they saw bodies charred, mutilated, dismembered: fallen soldiers, women, children all victims of the barbarity. Their corpses lay twisted in grotesque, painful positions. The carnage was so horrific that even battle-hardened knights, veterans of many wars, felt their stomachs heave, unable to stomach the horror.

Suddenly, an unusual sound broke the heavy silence, putting every sense on edge. A figure slowly staggered toward them, silhouetted against the crimson glow of the flames. As the seconds ticked by, the shape grew clearer, revealing what approached.

A man in tattered armor, his body riddled with holes, gaping wounds, and deep burns, struggled forward. It was almost inconceivable that he was still alive, let alone able to stand. Each step was an act of sheer willpower, his heavy, halting movements betraying immense pain.

He dragged himself forward until he finally collapsed to his knees before Zem and the king's horses. Zem recognized him instantly, his heart clenching as he swiftly dismounted and rushed toward him. Catching the man, he held him in his arms, feeling how fragile the battered body had become. The moment carried an unbearable weight; the silence was broken only by the man's faint, ragged groans.

"No… Elias, what happened?" Zem asked, emotion brimming in his eyes.

It was obvious these two had known each other a long time. Elias, his face smeared with blood, his body pushed beyond the breaking point, stared at Zem with pain-clouded eyes. Every muscle in his face strained with the effort to remain conscious. He coughed violently, spattering blood across Zem's armor, desperately trying to clear his throat to speak. His voice, hoarse and barely audible, forced its way out, each word a battle against the weakness consuming him. Zem held his companion with desperate gentleness, listening closely, his gaze heavy with sorrow and silent resolve.

"A Lich… appeared…" he whispered, his voice weak and ragged.

Those few words struck like thunder among the knights. They exchanged worried and incredulous looks, their minds reeling from the shocking revelation. A Lich a fearsome, sinister creature—was a rank S monster, sometimes even higher under certain circumstances. Its appearance signaled a far greater threat than anticipated. The Perlaìs Dungeon, originally classified as rank B, should never have contained such a powerful and terrifying entity.

"I did everything I could to hold it back—her and the monsters, I swear it. My men gave their lives valiantly," Elias said, his face contorted, his breathing growing ever weaker.

"Stop talking… Someone bring a priest, now!" Zem barked.

A priest rushed over and began casting healing magic, but the wounds would not close.

"It's too late. I should have been dead long ago… I was just granted… a little time," Elias breathed, coughing up more blood.

He clutched Zem with his bloodied hands, tears streaming down his face.

"I'm sorry… I couldn't protect them all… our people… I'm sorry, Zem… I'm so sorry…"

"What are you saying? You've already done more than enough."

"No… I could have… done more… My brother, please… grant me one last favor…"

"Of course," Zem replied, tears rolling down his cheeks.

"Save… save… my daughter… and tell her… tell her her father loves her…" he whispered, his arms finally going limp.

Elias's face was wet with tears as the last glimmer of life faded from his eyes. Zem, feeling his brother's final breath, remained silent for a long moment, broken by the weight of it. With infinite tenderness, he closed Elias's eyelids and gently laid his lifeless body on the ground a final gesture of respect and peace. A heavy silence fell, broken only by Zem's trembling voice:

"You can count on me… Go join Veid without worry," he murmured, filled with sorrow and resolve.

As one life was tragically extinguished, others continued to fight desperately for their survival.

"Evacuate! Don't stop running!" Mélodie shouted, helping an old woman to her feet.

True to their promise, Mélodie's group was working frantically to aid the evacuation. They guided a mass of people fleeing the city as fast as they could. The townsfolk, witnesses to an apocalyptic scene, had seen a massive fireball reduce their city to ashes, followed by a colossal wave of flame rising into the sky. Panic and terror were etched into every face as the refugees pressed on to escape the horror pursuing them. Mélodie and her companions did their best to maintain order and lead the flight, fighting desperately to save as many lives as possible.

"Laurence, did you set your traps?" Mélodie asked, turning to another girl in the group a voluptuous young woman with long golden hair framing her face elegantly.

"Yes, we should know if the monsters" Laurence began before being interrupted by a deafening sound.

"Boom!"

"Don't tell me…" Mélodie exclaimed, worry on her face.

"Yes, that was one of my traps!"

Mélodie could see the horde of monsters in the distance, with the Lich leading them—its half-burnt body still terrifying. As Laurence's traps exploded one by one, scattering shredded monster corpses, a black mist revived the dead, sending them back into the hunt.

"Damn it!" Mélodie cursed.

Her growing anxiety fixed on the people desperately fleeing. Their movements were panicked and uncoordinated; despite their frantic efforts, it was clear the monsters were advancing far faster. They would inevitably catch up. The creatures' looming silhouettes already darkened the horizon, their relentless approach sowing terror in the hearts of the fleeing townsfolk. Mélodie knew there was little time before the situation turned hopeless.

"Mélodie!" Jack shouted, equally aware of the situation.

"I know!" she replied.

Before she could come up with a plan, immense bolts of lightning suddenly tore through the sky, striking the crowd with devastating force. The blinding, destructive flashes plunged everything into chaos and panic. Many were struck dead instantly, others were grievously wounded or hurled to the ground by the sheer impact. Cries of pain and terror filled the air, adding to the general confusion. The already dire situation had turned into a true nightmare.

"Ahhh! Mommy!" cried a little girl as she fell in the distance, her voice shrill with panic amid the chaos.

Her mother, struggling to regain her senses and overwhelmed by pain, cast a horrified glance at her legs. They were covered in blood, a deep wound making it impossible for her to walk. Lightning strikes continued to rain down on the terrified crowd, amplifying the despair. Amid the confusion, the young girl had been separated from her mother, her frail little body lost among the screams and stampede. Her beloved stuffed toy, her precious companion, now lay abandoned a silent witness to the chaos.

The mother's face twisted with anguish as she whispered faintly:

"Cinthia…" she said, reaching out a trembling hand toward her daughter.

She had never taken her eyes off her child. How could she? Her daughter was her everything. Even in the midst of panic and chaos, her gaze remained fixed on that fragile little silhouette, motionless amid the terrified crowd. She watched, helpless, as her daughter cried out her name desperately, her small voice drowned out by the tumult of those fleeing for their lives. Each of the child's cries struck her like a dagger to the heart, intensifying her sense of helplessness and terror.

Then she spotted her daughter's stuffed toy lying abandoned on the ground. With fierce determination, she reached out and grabbed it, clutching it to her chest. Ignoring the searing pain in her mangled legs, she began to crawl, dragging her wounded body across the ground. She moved with indomitable will, using her trembling arms to pull herself forward inch by inch. Each motion was a battle against exhaustion and agony, but nothing could deter her. Her sole purpose was to reach her daughter, no matter the cost. Her slow, painful progress was fueled by love and a mother's instinct to protect.

While Jack raised a massive wall to slow the monsters' advance, Mélodie had already thrown herself into battle, cutting down the creatures leading the pack. The rest of the group fought valiantly, struggling to hold off the Lich's attacks while helping the civilians escape. The situation was becoming increasingly desperate.

"Mélodie, we can't do more! We'll have to abandon the wounded and stragglers!" Jack shouted over the roar of combat.

"Jack, no! We can't do that!"

"You think I like it? We have no choice!" he retorted, his voice heavy with frustration and sorrow.

Mélodie hesitated, her torn gaze shifting to the monsters already battering the wall. She could see them clawing and slamming against the stone barrier, trying to break through. Finally, with heavy resignation, she nodded and began retreating with Jack, her heart weighed down by the necessity of leaving innocents behind. The decision was cruel but essential to save as many as possible.

"If that bastard were alone, we could finish him—he's injured!" Mélodie shouted in rage, glaring at the distant Lich.

Meanwhile, the mother's bloodied, battered hands finally reached her daughter.

"Mommy! Mommy!"

"Cinthia, I want you to run as fast as you can," she said, handing her the stuffed toy.

"I won't leave you here… Help! Help! Someone help my mommy!" the little girl cried desperately, her voice piercing the din.

She called out for help, praying someone would come. But deep down, her mother knew no one would. The chaos and panic were too great; everyone was fighting for their own survival.

"Cinthia! Listen to me, please! You have to run, my darling. Can you do that for me?" she said softly but firmly. Her eyes, filled with love and despair, sought to etch this final message into her daughter's heart.

"Yes…" the little girl whispered, resigned herself, realizing no one was coming to help.

Tears streaming down her face, the mother gave her child one last tender kiss on the forehead. She knew it would be the last time. Summoning all the love she carried for her daughter, she whispered softly and tearfully:

"I love you."

Those words, filled with boundless affection and sorrow, were her final farewell, a last message of love for her precious Cinthia. The mother hoped those words would remain engraved in her daughter's heart, a light in the darkness to come.

The young girl began to run with all her might, her trembling legs driven by desperate determination. Tears blurred her vision as she clutched her cherished stuffed toy the last tangible link to her mother and father close to her chest. Every step was a painful effort, fueled by fear and grief, but she pressed on, fleeing danger while leaving behind everything she knew and loved.

The woman, now alone, watched her daughter run, growing farther away.

"Farewell, Cinthia."

The monsters inevitably closed in, their terrifying shapes looming in the darkness. Feeling the end approach, she turned her gaze to the sky, away from the blood-red glow of the burning city. Above her stretched a magnificent starry sky, dotted with two shimmering moons, offering a striking contrast to the chaos below. A sense of peace washed over her despite the desperate situation. With a soft, resigned voice, she whispered:

"I'm coming to join you, my love."

As the beasts tore into her flesh, the woman strangely felt no pain. No screams, no pleas only an odd, encompassing calm. Her eyes, fixed on the starry sky, filled with tears not from physical suffering, but from the heartbreak of leaving her child behind. She herself was surprised to die without any pain, as if fate had granted her a peaceful end despite the horror. Above her, the sky's beauty was breathtaking the red moon, radiant and imposing, outshone the blue moon. This final moment of beauty and tranquility contrasted sharply with the brutality of her death, making the scene both tragic and strangely serene.

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