The entire Dock city reeks of fire.
The sky is no longer a sky—
everything is covered in a dense layer of black smoke.
Sunlight can't reach the ground.
Everywhere—only destruction.
Broken walls, burned wood, melted steel.
And—
people.
Bodies of all ages lie scattered across the ground.
In one place, a mother is collapsed over her child—
as if even in her final moment, she tried to shield them.
Somewhere, a small hand sticks out from beneath the rubble—
motionless.
Somewhere a father. Somewhere a child.
Somewhere—
an entire family lies together.
The fire still burns.
In some places, flames flare up suddenly, then fade again.
No screams.
No voices.
Only the occasional sound of wood cracking,
and the distant crackle of flames.
Even in this hell—
there is one place that stands apart.
Unnaturally so.
There is no fire there.
No smoke reaches it.
Even the air seems to have stopped.
Cold.
Silent.
Still.
At the center of that silence—
someone sits.
Covered in blood.
Unmoving.
Another person lies in his lap.
Iren.
And in his arms—
Asha.
There is a large wound on the right side of Iren's chest.
Deep.
Blood slowly flows from it.
His clothes are completely soaked.
But he doesn't notice.
His arms hold Asha tightly—
as if letting go would mean losing her forever.
Asha lies still—
unnaturally peaceful.
Her eyes are closed.
No trace of pain on her face.
As if she's only asleep.
Iren stares.
Unblinking.
The same way.
His eyes are red—
from being forced open too long.
Dark shadows have formed beneath them.
His lips tremble.
"…Why…"
The word breaks apart.
He places a hand on Asha's face.
Cold.
Unnaturally cold.
"Look at me…"
No response.
Rain begins to fall.
Slowly.
Then heavier.
Drops slide down his face.
Mix with the blood.
It looks—
like he's crying.
"Iren…"
No voice answers.
Only silence.
He lowers his head.
His forehead touches hers.
"I was… there…"
His throat tightens.
"I fought…"
But the rest never comes out.
The rain grows heavier.
The fires around them begin to die.
The world slowly quiets.
His eyes grow empty.
A memory rises.
A moment—
that will never return.
"How…"
His lips move.
"How did this happen…?"
Rain falls.
Time slows.
And inside his mind—
that moment begins to turn.
Seven hours earlier.
The air feels unnaturally heavy.
As if some invisible force is pressing in from all sides.
Iren stops.
His breathing grows heavier.
Sweat drips down his forehead.
"…Iren?"
Asha's voice.
He looks at her.
She's holding his hand.
"Iren, are you okay?"
He stays silent for a moment.
Then—
"I'm fine."
Asha doesn't believe him.
She steps closer, touching his cheek.
"Are you really okay?"
Iren takes her hand.
"I am."
Asha gives a small smile.
And then—
BOOM!!!
A massive explosion.
The ground trembles.
People are thrown aside.
Screams erupt.
"Asha!!"
The crowd tears them apart.
They reach out—
close—
then—
far.
Iren forces his way forward.
One step.
Two.
Three—
four—
five—
He catches her.
Pulls Asha back to him.
Holds her tightly.
Very tightly.
Asha rests her head against his chest.
"I'm here…"
she whispers.
After some time, they move underground.
There—
a mother is crying.
"Please… find my son…"
Asha looks at Iren.
"Iren… please…"
He stays silent.
Then—
"I'll go."
He leaves.
Above—
fire.
Smoke.
Dead bodies.
He searches.
Then—
a Blood Cult member.
Then—
more.
The fight begins.
Iren doesn't stop.
One—
two—
five—
ten—
His movements are fast.
Every strike precise.
No one can stand against him.
Blood splashes.
The ground is soaked.
He pushes forward.
Deeper.
Then—
he sees it.
A child.
Surrounded by Blood Cult members.
They're laughing.
Iren lunges.
One by one—
he eliminates them all.
Finally—
he takes the child's hand.
Cold.
Still.
Dead.
His chest tightens.
"…Trap…"
At that moment—
sounds from all directions.
Many.
Too many.
Blood Cult.
They surround him.
Iren closes his eyes.
Then opens them.
The fight begins again.
An explosion of speed.
Blow after blow.
Bodies fly.
The ground cracks.
He doesn't stop.
Finally—
silence.
He stands there.
One question echoes in his mind—
"Why… are there so many here?"
Then—
a voice.
Very close.
Very cold.
"Fool."
Iren freezes.
He turns—
no one is there.
His heart skips.
"Asha—"
He runs.
Doesn't stop.
He arrives.
Slowly—
his steps falter.
His hands tremble.
His eyes widen.
In front of him—
…
No sound.
Nothing is said.
Only—
an unfamiliar fear appears on his face.
And his hands—
shake uncontrollably.
Chapter End.