At first, Clayton didn't know what to do. The loud banging on the door had caught him off guard. But for safety's sake, he quickly ordered his mini skeletons to go on full alert.
"Please! Sir, ma'am—anyone! Open the door, please!"
A hoarse, desperate voice rang out from outside.
Clayton frowned deeply. Once again, he found himself in a dilemma. Should he open the door or not? If the person was a threat, it could spell disaster. But if they genuinely needed help, could he really turn them away?
Before he could decide, a sudden explosion rocked the area—followed by a violent shockwave.
BOOM!
Clayton instinctively dove for cover, bracing himself. Rage surged through him. For a moment, he thought the stranger outside had set a trap. A part of him was relieved he hadn't opened the door.
But that thought quickly vanished when he realized the blast had come from the crowd—launched by someone he vaguely recognized. Clayton stared in shock at the devastation in the distance.