chapter 14 to ashes

The guards led us through the small barracks behind the wall. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and wood smoke, and the dim lighting from scattered lanterns cast long shadows across the dirt paths. There were a total of eight small, house-like buildings—each made of aged wooden planks with tin or thatched roofs. Some had hand-painted signs hanging crookedly by their doors. One was a bar, its entrance framed by flickering string lights, another a modest restaurant with the faint aroma of simmering stew wafting from within, and one was a church, its weathered cross barely visible in the evening gloom.

As we walked deeper into the settlement, I noticed the guards—fat, somewhat heathy-looking dressed in better clothing the complete opposite of the villagers. We were led to a small house toward the back of the community, partially hidden in the shadows of a towering wooden fence. The air here was colder, carrying a distant, metallic Tange.

I glanced at the guards, who were all staring at us.

So far, the gazes from the villagers had been awkward, to say the least, but understandable. However, the stares from the guards felt different—uncomfortable. Their eyes seemed to eat up every part of me, as if they weren't just sizing us up but stalking us like prey.

I shook off the unsettling thoughts as we stepped inside the house. The moment we entered, the air changed—dusty, slightly musty, with a faint scent of old wood and something metallic. The kitchen was to the right, a small family room to the left, its furniture sparse and worn. A single wooden table with mismatched chairs stood in the corner, and an old, tattered couch sagged against the wall. The dim light from a single overhead bulb flickered slightly. Down the hall, I saw three rooms, their doors slightly ajar.

The guy smiled and told us that if we needed anything, we should go to the blue-roofed building. Then, he left.

We shut the door and looked around the house.

"He didn't mention which of the three rooms was a bathroom," Mrs. Dean said, crossing her arms.

"So what? Who's sharing rooms?" Luca asked, raising an eyebrow.

"The kids in one room, while us adults take our own," someone said. We all exchanged glances.

"I trust you guys won't do anything... unseemly," Mr. Stone added as he passed by, heading into one of the other rooms.

We shrugged and went to our room. Inside, it was small and claustrophobic, the walls made of the same aged wood as the rest of the house, with no decorations or color to break the monotony. The four sets of bunk beds were shoved against the walls, their thin, creaky frames barely holding the worn-out mattresses. A single, dusty window sat in the center of the back wall, its glass smudged with dirt. Underneath it was a small wooden side table, its surface scratched and uneven.

"Home sweet home, I guess," I muttered, sitting on one of the lower bunks. The mattress sank under my weight, the springs groaning in protest.

"Could be worse," Madison said, plopping down on the bed across from me, sending up a puff of dust.

"Trust and believe, I've had worse," Luca added, jumping onto the top bunk, which let out an ominous creak.

I looked around. The room was as basic as it could get—just wooden walls, rough floorboards, and no signs of life beyond the furniture. Even the air felt still, like the room had been abandoned for a long time. My eyes landed on two guards walking past our window, looking directly in at us.

I stood up and closed the blinds.

"Anybody else feel like we're being watched?" I asked, annoyed at this point. "That's because we are being watched," Luca replied, his tone dry. "If living on the streets has taught me one thing, it's to assume everyone is watching you," he said with his back to us. "You just have to discern who's watching with the intent of doing you harm."

I took in his words. Well, he's not wrong. My only concern was whether or not I was strong enough to defend myself and my friends.

"Welp, regardless, we came here with a goal, so let's get cracking," I said.

"Sounds good to me," Luca said, jumping down.

"Let's ask my dad first," she said, heading for the door.

"Mr. Stone told me we can do whatever we want," I told her.

"My dad did? When was this?"

"In the carriage when we were up talking."

She looked surprised. "Oh, I'm shocked my uptight father would say that," she admitted. "He just said he would leave all the decision-making to us."

She smiled softly, her eyes trailing off.

"You okay?" Luca asked, concerned.

"It's just... he's changing for the better."

I grabbed her hand, and the three of us headed toward the gate.

The guards stopped us. "Where are you going?" one boomed.

"To the village," I said, emotionless.

"And do what, pray tell?" the other asked mockingly. "Don't you city kids know the folks out here are dirty?" He snickered. "Tell us what business you have with them."

"You guys wouldn't hide anything from us, right?" another grinned.

"We don't have to answer you!" Luca snapped.

Their faces twisted in anger. "Watch your mouth," one of them roared.

"Or what?" I asked, my voice steady but laced with power.

A sudden pressure filled the air. It was subtle at first, like the whisper of a coming storm, but then it struck with full force. A deep, thrumming energy pulsed from within me, crackling through the space like an invisible wildfire.

The temperature plummeted. Frost formed in spiraling patterns along the stone ground, crawling up the guards' boots. Their breath turned to mist, their chests rising and falling in rapid panic.

The weight of my magic pressed down on them like a crushing force. One of the guards dropped to his knees, his fingers clawing at his throat as if the very air had turned to lead in his lungs. The other stumbled back, his face pale and slick with sweat. His eyes darted around wildly, searching for an escape that didn't exist.

Then came the worst part—the pressure behind their eyes. A slow, creeping sensation, as if something dark and ancient had reached into their minds, coiling its fingers around their thoughts, whispering unspoken horrors just beyond the edge of comprehension.

One of them let out a choked sob. The other began foaming at the mouth, his entire body trembling violently.

I exhaled sharply, reining in my magic.

The energy snapped back into me, the air warming instantly, but the damage was done. The guards slumped forward, gasping for breath, their faces contorted in terror.

A few other guards rushed over, drawn by the commotion, their expressions shifting between confusion and alarm.

"Let's leave," I urged, grabbing my friends and turning away before anyone could stop us. We rushed away to the village.

"Dom, try not to reveal your magic too often," Madison scolded me, her voice sharp with annoyance.

"I didn't use my magic! I just released a small amount," I replied defensively.

"Besides, if she didn't do it, I would have," Luca said with a scowl, his expression dark as he clearly relived the event.

"You two need self-control," Madison sighed, rubbing her temple as if she were dealing with unruly children.

I shrugged and tightened my grip on my fanny pack. My worries were far bigger than being discovered—I had to make sure these stones didn't end up in the wrong hands. I couldn't be responsible for losing them... or worse. Hopefully, after we find the other guardians and defeat JoJo, I can finally relax.

The village came into view, small huts clustered together, their thatched roofs worn from years of exposure. Smoke curled lazily from a few chimneys, the scent of burning wood mixing with something foul in the air. I scrunched my nose at the stench. It was even worse outside the carriage.

"Ugh, what is that?" Luca gagged, waving a hand in front of his face.

"Rot," Madison said simply. "Something's gone bad."

I forced myself to ignore it, placing a hand on my bag as we moved through the village. The bag remained still—no shaking, no warmth, nothing like what happened with Luca. Maybe we were searching in the wrong place.

We spent hours questioning the villagers, moving from hut to hut, describing what we thought a Guardian would be like without explicitly stating what we were looking for. Most of the people we spoke to were confused or outright dismissive.

"Strong? Resilient? With a connection to something bigger?" one woman repeated, frowning. "I don't know what you mean. Everyone here is just trying to survive."

Some of the children were more open, eagerly describing people they thought were "cool" or "really good at fighting." One boy insisted the village butcher could lift an entire pig over his head. Another girl bragged about her older sister, who had once fought off a pack of wild dogs with nothing but a stick. None of it was useful.

We wandered from one end of the village to the other, checking every possible lead. The hours ticked by, the sun beginning its slow descent toward the horizon.

"Well, that produced nothing," Luca grumbled, kicking at a stray rock.

"It's getting late. We should probably head back," Madison suggested, her voice laced with worry.

I nodded, exhaustion settling into my bones. The three of us started toward the village outskirts when a voice called out to us, stopping us in our tracks.

"You three are outsiders, huh? What's your story?"

We turned to see a teenage boy standing near one of the huts, arms crossed. And not just any boy—the same one I had seen in the tree, staring at me earlier.

"It's you," I said, surprised.

Madison and Luca glanced at me, confused.

"You know him?" Madison asked.

"No, but I saw him earlier today. He was watching us when we arrived."

"We're here on business," Luca said cautiously. "How about you, friend?"

The boy scoffed. "I live here... for now, anyway."

"For now?" I repeated, narrowing my eyes.

"I'm training to get out of this dump," he said bluntly. His voice was rough from hunger, but there was a sharp edge of determination in it.

"What's your name?" I asked, softening my tone. Something about him made me feel sorry for him—really, for everyone in this village. Was there anything I could do to help these people?

"The name's Chris. Not that it matters." He glanced me up and down, unimpressed. "What about you?"

His dismissive tone rubbed me the wrong way, but I answered anyway. "Dominique."

Chris raised an eyebrow. "That's your name? Kinda long for a girl, don't you think?"

I blinked. "What?"

Madison bristled. "Excuse me?"

Chris shrugged. "I mean, girls usually have soft names. Dominique sounds like something you'd give to a warrior, not... well, you." His gaze flickered over me again, clearly unimpressed.

I clenched my jaw but didn't rise to the bait. "And what exactly is that supposed to mean?"

Chris smirked. "Nothing. Just saying you don't look like a fighter. Or a leader, for that matter. Your boyfriend here—" he jerked his head toward Luca, who made a disgusted noise, "—he looks the part."

Madison sighed loudly. "Oh, fantastic. He's one of those."

Chris ignored her, his eyes still on me. "So? What are you guys really doing here? You're not guards—you don't dress like them."

I rolled my eyes and turned away, already heading for the wall gate.

Chris followed, undeterred. "How long are you guys staying? Or are you running off because you're afraid?" His voice was dripping with condescension. "Not that I blame you. This place isn't exactly made for—"

He grabbed my arm tightly.

Despite his grip, I easily pulled away, the movement instinctual.

"What's your problem?" I snapped, my voice sharper than I intended.

Madison and Luca spun around, both startled by my outburst.

Chris merely smirked, hands raised in mock surrender. "Relax, sweetheart. No need to get all worked up. I was just curious."

I glared at him, my patience wearing dangerously thin. This guy was testing me. "Dom! What's wrong?" Madison asked, her voice filled with concern.

"Nothing is wrong; we're just talking," he said, answering for me, dismissing her worry.

"She said, 'Dom, are you okay? Not Wack job?'" Luca said, his tone sharp with frustration.

"If you're a guard, take me with you. I'm trying to be a knight," he said, ignoring both Madison and me as though we weren't even standing there.

"You're trying to become a magic knight?" Madison asked, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"Yeah, it's nothing a woman would understand," he sneered, a dismissive edge in his voice. The words stung, but the tension in the air was thick with the weight of his sexism. Even Madison, who usually took things in stride, glared at him with daggers in her eyes.

"If you can't even get me into the wall, I imagine you're not a guard," Chris taunted, his voice dripping with condescension.

"No, we're not. Can I go now?" I hollered, my patience finally wearing thin as I turned to leave.

"Figures, you must be a kept woman then," Chris muttered under his breath, loud enough for us to hear. The insult hit me like a slap to the face. My anger flared, and before I could stop myself, I swung my hand toward him. But from the corner of my eye, I saw Madison rush in and beat me to it, slapping him hard across the cheek.

"How dare you talk like that to her?" she screamed, her voice shaking with rage. But Chris didn't flinch or seem fazed by her violent outburst.

"Are women this emotional?" he questioned with a mocking tone, his eyes glinting with amusement. He was testing our patience, pushing every button he could. I was about to join in and take him down together with Madison when I saw his body shaking, his expression hard with the effort of holding back from retaliating and being weak from hunger.

I sighed, moving quickly to step between him and Madison, glaring at Luca to make sure he didn't take this as an opportunity to pounce on him.

"Let's go, guys. We're done here," I said, forcing the words out with as much control as I could muster. The air was thick with tension, and it took all my strength to push them away, urging them toward the wall to deescalate the situation.

I glanced back, seeing Chris clenching his fist, his stare like a challenge, maybe fear, or possibly something else as we parted ways. The two of them, now seething, continued to bark insults at him, but we didn't engage any further.

We reached our temporary house, where silence filled the air after the heated argument. The sounds of ranting had faded into the background, and the only thing that remained was the quiet hum of exhaustion. Eventually, the room was filled with the soft sounds of snoring as everyone settled in. I tried to sleep, but I couldn't get comfortable, tossing and turning in my bed.

Then, I heard it—the same voice I had heard a while back, faint but unmistakable, calling out to me in the dark. The voice was familiar, but I couldn't place it. I tossed and turned again, trying to shake it off, but it only grew louder. At first, it was muffled, like it was coming from far away, but slowly, the words became clearer.

"Ruby," the voice whispered urgently, calling a name like a desperate plea. I jolted awake, heart racing, but the sound faded as suddenly as it had come. A lingering sense of dread settled over me, and I couldn't shake the feeling that it was important—like the voice had been trying to warn me.

The noise of the guards bustling around outside the house woke me up fully. I groaned, still not ready to get up. I scanned the room and saw Madison and Luca still sound asleep. I sighed, getting up to grab my phone from my bag. Up until now, it had been mostly useless to me here, and I only used it for the time and date. It was seven in the morning, and the exhaustion from last night's tension was still weighing on me.

I grabbed some fresh clothes and went to bathe, hoping the hot water would help me relax. As I soaked in the water, I let my mind drift. I began to weave and control the water, letting the gentle movement calm my nerves and clear my thoughts. But the dream... the voice... I couldn't shake it. It was like something was pulling at me, trying to tell me something I wasn't ready to hear. It brought back memories from when I first discovered my magic. I chuckled, a bitter smile forming on my lips, because of course, I threw myself out of the tub. Now, I can control my powers much more effectively, but it feels strange, how quickly I've had to grow up. Funny, in a way, how far I've come in just a few months.

I sink under the water, the coolness embracing me, and I let my mind drift. What is it that I want for myself? The question lingers in the silence of the water, but it's hard to answer. I replay everything that has transpired so far—each choice, each mistake. I don't want to die by JoJo's hand, but I don't understand why he's so obsessed with me. I don't want to care either, but I do. The fear, the worry, it's all there, eating at me. If I show him even the slightest bit of mercy, not only will I die, but Madison and the others will too. The weight of that responsibility is suffocating.

I want to be happy, but what does happiness even look like to me anymore? Is it going back to Earth when this is all over, or staying here in this magical world where everything is so foreign and dangerous? Would I even be allowed to stay here if people found out I'm not from here? Could I adapt to living here, with everything so... unpredictable? And would I be able to return to Earth even if I wanted to? The uncertainty gnaws at me. I don't have the answers, and that terrifies me. What if I make the wrong choice? I don't want to make the wrong choice. I don't know if I can live with that.

I sit up and gasp for air, pushing back my wet hair and wiping my face, the tears threatening to spill but I refuse to let them. "Only time will tell," I whisper to myself, trying to convince myself that it's true. I sit still, meditate, and focus on my breathing. I repress my feelings and steel my heart. My goal for now, before I let myself think too much about my own happiness, should be to kill JoJo first and foremost. And there are still three more guardians to find.

I hop out of the bath, get dressed, and head back to the room. Luca and Madison are up, chatting, and their faces light up when they see me.

"Morning, beautiful," Luca says with a playful grin.

"Good morning, Dom," Madison utters sweetly.

I smile, feeling the warmth from their smiles, but the pit in my stomach doesn't go away.

"Mornin'," I greet back shyly.

"So, what's the agenda today?" Luca asks, hopping off the top bunk.

"Well, I was thinking we should check the village one more time," I announce while putting on my shoes. "And if we still don't get a reaction from any stones, we'll get the hell out of dodge."

They look at me confused for a second.

"Dodge?" they both ask in unison.

I throw my hands up in defeat. "It's an Earth expression."

They laugh at the culture differences.

"Regardless, leaving after two days? You sure?" Madison ponders curiously.

"Don't question her. Honestly, it's the best news I've heard since we got here," Luca says cheerfully. They get ready, and we all head back to the gate.

We lock eyes with the same guards from last time. They glare at us as we walk by, then start to laugh.

"Just you wait," one mutters under his breath as I pass.

I frown and keep moving, my thoughts heavier now. The village isn't far, but it feels like miles as we walk, the weight of our purpose making the journey feel endless. I clutch my bag of stones close, my fingers trembling slightly, hoping for even the smallest sign—something to tell me we're on the right track. As we walk through the village, I pass by families—babies, children, adults—and watch their lives go on, unaffected by what's happening to me, to us.

I even had some of the kids place their hands on the bag. Nothing. The silence is deafening.

"Great. Three hours wasted," I mutter, upset and frustrated. I sit down on a log by the outskirts of town, near the woods, my gaze fixed on the empty path ahead. What if this is all for nothing? What if we've missed something, or worse, what if we're running out of time?

"It wasn't wasted," Madison says, trying to comfort me, though I can hear the uncertainty in her voice. "Now we know for sure there's no guardian here."

"Yeah, and now we can leave—or rather, get the hell out of dodge," Luca says teasingly, but even his words feel hollow. I smile. "Let's head back and talk to Mr. Stone and Mrs. Dean." As we get up to leave, we hear rustling in the woods. We turn to see the boy with the red hair and black tips from yesterday. I roll my eyes, not happy to see him.

"I'm glad I found you guys," he says, his voice devoid of any real emotion.

"Do you lurk in the forest or live there?" Luca asks, annoyed.

"I live in a hut outside the village," he replies nonchalantly.

"Tck, so what do you want with us?" I ask, barely interested in his reasoning.

"I'm just going to follow you into the wall. Maybe they'll let me in if I'm with you," he says, offering no apology or explanation.

"Why should—" I start to dismiss him, but Madison interrupts.

"Just let him. It's better the guards reject him than waste our breath," she says, clearly irritated by his presence.

I sigh. At this point, it seems like the best course of action, especially since I assume he'd just follow us anyway. I nod, and we start walking back to the wall. However, the guards aren't there.

"That's weird. Where'd they go?" I ask, looking around.

"Who knows? Let's go find my dad," Madison says. As we walk, Chris dashes past us, heading for the house with the blue roof.

"Where is he going?" Luca asks, frowning with his hands behind his head.

"I couldn't care less," I groan. But that aside, the town seems strangely empty. Where are all the guards?

Chris's voice carries back to us as he runs ahead. "You know, I'd rather not be stuck walking around with you lot," he calls over his shoulder, sneering at the group. "But, then again, I don't expect much from a bunch of girls.

I feel my temper flare at his words, but before I can say anything, Luca mutters, "What a jerk."

As the sun sets, the eerie vibe intensifies. We rush into the house and find Mr. Stone and Mrs. Dean bound and gagged, with fifteen men standing over them.

"DAD!!" Madison screams, her voice cracking with panic.

"What the hell is going on?" I grimace, taking in the scene of chaos.

"Hahaha, rumor has it that the legendary guardians are alive and well," one man laughs, his voice echoing with cruel amusement.

"With that release of magic, we felt yesterday, you're either royals or the guardians," another mocks, grinning wickedly. "Either way you'll fetch a large price on the black market" he adds

"And there's only one way to find out," the next man says, stepping forward. He walks over to Mrs. Dean and places a sharp blade against her throat. "Well, Kiddo, what's it gonna be?"

"What exactly do you want from us?" Luca demands, his voice low and steady despite the tension.

"You stupid or something? Show us your magic," the man sneers, pressing the blade harder against Mrs. Dean's neck. "And don't try anything," he warns, his eyes glinting with malice.

If I use my magic, it will put us at a disadvantage, because I need time to create a pool for attacking. I glance at Luca, who meets my eyes and gives a slight nod.

"Go ahead, do it," I say, giving him a knowing look. Madison steps back and hides behind me, her eyes wide with fear. Luca walks forward, his jaw set in determination.

"That's close enough. Do it from there," the man orders.

"Okay," Luca says, his voice filled with calm intensity. He raises his palms toward the ceiling, and a large green magic circle materializes above him. The air begins to grow heavier, a gust of wind picking up around Luca. His eyes narrow in concentration as he summons the power of the wind.

A deep rumble fills the air as the magic circle pulses with energy. Luca's wind magic intensifies, creating a violent vortex beneath his feet. The tornado forms, swirling rapidly, its winds growing stronger by the second. The ground trembles as the tornado tears through the house, ripping apart the wooden beams and sending debris flying in every direction.

Furniture is torn from the floor, windows shatter with a deafening crash, and the walls collapse under the force of the winds. The men are flung into the air, their screams swallowed by the roaring winds. Mr. Stone and Mrs. Dean are thrown across the room, their bonds snapping as they land hard on the floor. Dust and splinters fill the air, and the house crumbles into ruins.

The tornado continues to whirl, its power unchecked as it lifts everything in its path, tossing men and debris into the sky. I shield my face from the flying rubble, and for a brief moment, everything is chaos—until the tornado slowly starts to die down, leaving the house a pile of splintered wreckage.

The air is still. It feels as if the entire world has paused, and the only sound is the distant crackling of collapsing timber.

Luca lowers his hands, breathing heavily but calm, his magic having wreaked utter devastation. I hold Madison, and we fall gently on a burst of wind Luca created. "Are you guys okay?" he screamed as he rushed over. A gust of wind carrying Mr. Stone and Mrs. Dean followed. Madison hugged her dad, and we all quickly took a battle stance.

"THEY'RE THE GUARDIANS!! CAPTURE THEM!" one of the guards yelled.

"THREAD MAGIC!! FIBER WHIPES!!" A long whip expanded out of her glowing hands, lashing out towards the guards. They pulled out their weapons, which glowed in various colors as magic surged through them. Some were slashing through her whips, while others were shooting lasers. Madison and Mr. Stone laid on the ground, trying to take cover.

"Luca, cover us, okay?" I yelled out as I rushed over to them. "Hey, run towards the gate and head for the village," I instructed. I followed close behind them as they rushed to the exit. We were being chased, but Luca blew the guards away.

"I'll catch up to you guys later, okay?" I told them as they escaped.

"Don't worry, I'll go with them," Mrs. Dean said, running over with Luca. "Can you two clean up here?" she asked frantically.

We nodded, letting her leave while blocking the gate. The guards crowded together, weapons pointed at us.

"You bastards!" one of them roared.

"ENOUGH!" someone yelled from behind the group of men. A man with tan hair and a different uniform walked forward, holding Chris at sword point. "Surrender, or your friend here dies," he commanded.

"That's not our friend," Luca announced. I mean, (I mean, he's not wrong... but is it right to let him die?)

"Is that so? Let's test that theory." He lunged to stab Chris, but Chris suddenly grabbed a knife from a guard's hip and threw it at the tan-haired man. The man easily dodged it, and Chris made a break for us.

"Kill him! He's of no use to us!" the man shouted.

The guards briefly turned their attacks towards Chris, stabbing and slashing his body as he rushed toward us. Blood splashed from his wounds as he collapsed at our feet. The men mock and laugh at their handiwork as Chris lies there, bleeding out. I drop down beside him, concern spreading across my face.

"I can't die here," he whimpers. "I know I'm meant for more," he says, his eyes starting to tear up. He looks at me, the flicker of fear in his gaze unmistakable. "Please, GIVE ME A CHANCE TO BE WORTHY!" he screams his voice raw and desperate.

My fanny pack starts to vibrate violently. I quickly open it, and the red stone flies out into his lap, glowing with a ferocious intensity. A brilliant red light erupts from the stone coiling around Chris's body like serpents of flame, wrapping in tendrils of energy, the heat rising rapidly. It's as if the world itself is bending around him. The surrounding area becomes unbearably hot, the wind shimmering with the force of the magic. The air sizzles, heat rising so fast my skin prickles. Even the ground seems to writhe beneath us.

"DOM, GET BACK!" Luca shouts, his voice urgent. He wraps wind around both of us, forming a protective shield just in time for the stone to merge with Chris's chest. There's a blinding flash, and the stone sinks into his skin, embedding itself in his chest as if it had always belonged there. A piercing scream of agony erupts from Chris as the magic takes hold. His body convulses, flames flickering across his skin like veins of fire.

Then, with a final roar of pain, the pillar of fire explodes outward.

"AGGHHHHHHH!" Chris screams, his voice a guttural cry that echoes through the air. The fire engulfs him entirely, his body consumed by the raw power of the stone. The flames dance around him, twisting and turning as though they have a life of their own, each flicker a manifestation of the destructive force now coursing through him. His form blurs as he becomes one with the fire, his eyes glowing with a fierce red light. Flames crawl across his skin like liquid fire, his veins glowing molten red.

Then, silence

After a moment, the fire dies down, leaving behind only Chris, standing tall amidst the charred earth. He faces the shocked guards, a look of absolute confidence in his eyes.

"This is it. Finally, I can use magic," he says, a smile creeping across his face as he looks at his hands, now glowing with an intense heat. The flames swirl around his fingers, leaving behind trails of fire in the air.

"Chris!" I yell from behind the wind shield.

"Be quiet, woman!" he retorts, his voice a mix of excitement and madness. "After all this time of living with a body that couldn't produce magic," he laughs uncontrollably, his laughter echoing in the chaos, "fate was on my side all along. Now I can be the man I always wanted to be." His fists clench, and the ground trembles beneath him as he glares at the group of men charging toward him.

"Burn away," he whispers, his voice low and filled with dark satisfaction. The moment the words leave his lips, a large red magic circle appears on the ground beneath the men and erupts in a violent burst of flame. The entire wall in front of Chris explodes in a massive fireball, sending debris flying in all directions. The shockwave of heat blasts outward, the air thick with the smell of burning flesh and scorched earth.

The guards are caught in the explosion, their bodies disintegrating in the intense fire. The heat is so overwhelming that their screams are drowned out by the roar of the flames. Some are blasted apart, limbs torn off and scattered like ragdolls, while others are consumed entirely by the inferno. The fire spreads like a living thing, consuming everything in its path. Pieces of the wall crumble and fall, crashing to the ground as the men are engulfed in the blaze.

We watch in stunned silence as Chris stands, his hands still glowing red with the power of the fire. The forest around us begins to burn as well, the trees igniting like kindling. The air grows dry and oppressive, the sky above us turning an eerie red as the flames spread across the landscape. It's as if Chris has become the embodiment of destruction, his pain and anger manifesting in the chaos that now surrounds us. Nothing is safe from the fire—nothing is left untouched. The very world seems to bend and burn under his will.

"OH SHIT!" we exclaim in unison, the sight before us overwhelming.

"We need to stop him. You ready?" I ask Luca, standing up, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Lead the way," he replies, his face grim as he watches the carnage unfold.