The Destruction of The Underworld

Flames rose above the screaming crowds. Hovering drones descended in silence as their targeting optics activated with unsettling red glows that pierced through the steam and smoke.

Before Sayane could push herself up from the ground, the firing started.

Some drones fired large artillery concussions that burst forward in clear cyclones. Just as before on the surface, the shots were almost silent. All Sayane could hear was the electric hum of the bursts charging before they roared out from the coiled rods. Every burst sent out a concussive blast that was as large as a house.

The drones fired at everything. Buildings, walls, shops, people, all were struck and shredded in seconds.

Then the execution drones began their work. Each drone’s top lifted to reveal a circular mechanism lined with dozens of open barrels.

“Oh gods, no…” Echo whispered.

There was a horrifying metallic scream and every drone began to spin. Neon red bursts of raw energy shot out from every barrel, sending scorching heat in every direction. As the shots struck their victims, the heated blast tore through them with ease like warm knives in butter. Limbs were severed instantly. Chest cavities were ripped open.

Sayane screamed in terror and instinct finally took over. She leapt to her feet and grabbed Attis then grabbed Echo.

More concussions struck the walls, shattering the stone supports and bringing down entire chunks of the bazaar.

Sayane watched in horror as several bazaar patrons were crushed instantly.

All around her, stone shattered, fires burned, and red beams of death flung across the air. It was as close to Hell as she had ever seen.

“We have to get to the tavern!!!” Attis screamed.

Echo tried to grab an elderly being that was trapped under rubble, but a hissing red beam struck her in the face, cutting it in two. Her hand fell limp as she died instantly.

“Gods. Gods have mercy…” he begged.

But no mercy appeared. Instead, more barrages began. As the three of them ran towards the path to take them to Azag, a massive concussion struck the ground before them, hurling their screaming bodies backwards. When Sayane struck the ground, she saw drones screech by overhead and down the path towards the tavern.

“NOOO! AZAG!” she cried out.

Beyond their sight line, glows of red lit up the walls and an explosion was heard. Fiery orange light appeared and soon the top line of a blaze appeared from the direction of The Shattered Stone.

“No! Y’AAKU!!!!!” Echo screamed as he clawed his way up.

There was another explosion, then another.

Horror pulled every thought and word from Sayane as she watched the flames rise with vicious intensity. Everything seemed to be vanishing in less than a minute. Looking at the blaze that now severed her from the only safe place she knew forced Sayane to feel nothing but despair.

Then, Esca appeared through the blaze. She burst forth, covered in flame, eyes glowing red like an enormous mechanical demon. Her metal roar shook Sayane’s ribs with its force. As her feet landed on the stone, the ground around her cracked.

“Azag!!” Sayane cried out in relief.

Esca held two drones in her hands. In one swift motion, she slammed the left on the ground with a howl, crushing it instantly. Doing so caused a massive explosion to consume her arm, but she didn’t stop.

The right hand gripped the drone as the left hand latched on to the drone’s base. Esca pulled it into two pieces with ease before throwing the firing gunnery into the air towards three other drones. Wild firing beams struck the three of them and shredded them. Explosions burst in the air and shells fell like murderous firework remnants.

All that was left were the two concussion drones. Esca was already rushing towards them, glowing arm blade extended.

“Azag!!!! No!!!!” Attis cried out.

A concussion burst forth, but Esca jumped over its blast, once again activating its burst mode. Her leap covered the distance between her and the drone, and she landed on its body with thunderous force.

The drone spun in desperation, but Esca’s weight was too much. They crashed to the inferno below, but Esca rose instantly with the drone locked in her vice grip. Shaking power threatened to snap the drone as it charged one final shot. Horror built in Sayane’s chest as she feared the blast would strike Azag.

But Esca turned the drone just in time, and the enormous blast screamed through the air and struck its counterpart, shattering it into hundreds of pieces. Esca roared in success and ripped its prey in two, severing its weapon away instantly.

The attack was over. Azag had saved them.

Esca fell forward as flames licked the metallic edges. Sayane scrambled to stand as more stone fell beside them.

“Azag!!!” she shouted.

“Y’aaku?! Where is Y’aaku?!”

Echo cried out as Esca crawled towards them.

All around them, people were screaming. Dead, destroyed bodies lay silent. Buildings collapsed. The stream and smoke was so thick, it was becoming harder to breathe.

“Sayane! The air!! Try to push this smoke away!!” Azag shouted from within Esca’s pilot chamber.

Sayane stopped and planted her feet, praying he was right. Without pause, she breathed in and let out the most violent, powerful scream she had ever released. Her fists clenched at her sides as her head looked upwards. A vortex of wind appeared around her and exploded outwards.

It grew in magnitude, rushing in every direction. The steam and smoke were banished upwards and back into the open chasm.

It worked. Now Sayane could fully see the destruction. But she had no time to pause. Esca’s chamber opened, and Azag’s hand appeared with a violent scream. Something in his voice terrified Sayane. As she rushed forward, she saw why.

Azag fell half-dead from the chamber, cradling a small, lifeless body. As he struck the ground, he turned to shield the child from impact and forced his shoulder to absorb everything. He collapsed onto the stone with a shout but he still did not release the body.

“Y’AAKU! Y’AAKU!!!” Echo screamed in horror as he rushed forward.

“Spirits, no,” Attis whimpered as they approached.

There in Azag’s hands was the dead body of Y’aaku. Holes the size of fists riddled her face, chest, and left leg. Azag wept in shock but let out a roar of pain as his free hand clawed at his mask.

Getting to them, Sayane could now see that all of Azag’s Metal bracings were glowing red from searing heat. His own protective gear was now burning him alive.

“Help him!!! Help him!!!” Sayane screamed.

“Y’AAAKU NOOOO! NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!” Echo howled as he grabbed his daughter’s corpse and pulled it close.

Once she was out of Azag’s arms, he turned wild. Just as Sayane was reaching out to help him, he flipped over in a violent lurch and threw his body from her sight. As soon as his face was hidden, he ripped the mask from his face and broke the braces on his leg. Metal fell around him as he ripped everything from his body in hysteria. Roars of animalistic wrath burst from his exposed face as his mutilated hands clawed at his skin.

It was a terrifying sight. Tears fell from Sayane’s face as she reached out.

“Azag… you’re hurt. You’re hurt very bad…” she cried.

“STAT AWAY FROM ME!!!” Azag howled as he swiped to keep her away.

“GO HELP THE OTHERS!” he commanded as he coughed up a thick black liquid that Sayane assumed was his blood.

Sayane knew he was hysterical, but his mind was still sound enough to remember his self loathing. She conceded and turned away. Beside them, Echo was now screaming in absolute shock. Tears fell uncontrolled from unblinking eyes that were staring dead ahead at nothing. All the rose color was gone from them. Attis was beside him, holding out his hands over Y’aaku in prayer.

Cries of pain and shouts of deafened confusion echoed across the hollowed stone walls. Survival drove Sayane forward to the heaps of bodies that lay around the open area. Bruised ribs stabbed her lungs like icy knives. Only when she reached out to help someone did Sayane realize her right thumb and forefinger were dislocated and bent out of alignment. Shock overwhelmed pain and she yanked each of them back into socket with a shout of pain, but she never stopped.

More and more bodies rose and began to join her as she pulled survivors from the rubble and flame. Minutes passed, and Sayane managed to retrieve over a dozen wounded. Then a broken whimper stopped her in her tracks.

Buried in a pile of stone and metal, a single paw reached out in a frail plea for saving. Even from afar, Sayane knew who it was.

“Oh, gods, no. Please no,” Sayane wept as she rushed forward.

It was the blind cat-girl who she had quietly grown quite fond of. Colossal rocks lay over her body, crushing her legs into pulp. Sayane heaved with all of her might and managed to pull one of the stones out of place. Streaks of sorrow ran down her face as she labored in vain. Beneath the stones, more disoriented gasps cried out.

“I’m coming! It’s me! It’s Sayane! I’ll have you out soon! Help!!! Someone help!!!” Sayane begged.

A handful of survivors arrived along with Attis. All of them collectively ripped away whatever stone they could until the blind girl was exposed. Doing so revealed that her legs were shattered and a jagged chunk of metal had impaled her stomach. Burns lined her arm and face. Milky tears ran down her face as she tried to speak.

“Oh gods. Oh gods please no. Please no. Please,” Sayane sobbed.

The blind girl heard her voice and choked out a call for comfort as her unguided paw waved in the air for connection. Sayane’s dirty, bloodied hand caught her and the girl let out a croak of relief.

“I’m here. I’m here. I’m going to help you. Please, let me help you…” Sayane cried as the bloodied paw came to rest on her cheek.

Attis and Can-Mo were beside her now, looking at the broken body of the dying girl.

“Oh, child. Spirits and sounds, no. You sweet child,” Attis cried as his small paws met hers.

Chokes turned into gurgling gasps, and a purplish black fluid burst forth as the girl let out a cry once more.

“Sayane, you should… you should sing for her. Let her pass in peace…” Can-Mo whispered.

“No! Please, no! Stay with me…” Sayane begged, but she knew it was too late.

The paw’s grip began to soften.

“No!!” Sayane screamed as she pulled the hand against her face and tried to calm her voice.

“Oooooohhhhh, ooooooooooohh oh oohhhhhhhh,” Sayane hummed through tears.

The blind girl tried to smile as her eyes rolled back.

“OOOOOOOOOHHHHHH, ohhhh ahhhhhhhhhh ohhhhhhhh ohhhhhhhh,” Sayane cried.

Behind her, the survivors joined in.

“Ohhhhhhh, oh ohhh ohh ohhhhhhhhhhhh, OOOOOOOOOOOHohOhhhhhhh.

Ohhhhhhh, oh ohhh ohh ohhhhhhhhhhhh, OOOOOOOOOOOHohOhhhhhhh.

Ohhhhhhh, oh ohhh ohh ohhhhhhhhhhhh, OOOOOOOOOOOHohOhhhhhhh.”

Sayane felt something drift from her body, like a feather lifting in a pleasant breeze. There was a final stream of tears and a geyser of blood, then the paw went limp. She was dead.

“No, no no no no no, No! No! NO! NO NO NO NO!!!” Sayane broke down as she pulled the limp body against her own skin.

A scream built in her chest that tore upwards and ripped from her mouth. Lamentations from lifetimes of disappointment and sorrow moved through the room. Anguish from hundreds of hearts poured into Sayane’s soul and mixed with her own shattered psyche. The scream rose like knives striking glass, until Sayane couldn’t contain it anymore.

Out it went, broken, horrifying, and destroyed. She screamed until something warm and rust-flavored rose in her mouth. All around her, the walls and ground cracked in distress.

Everything fell silent. Except for Azag’s gasps of pain. His wounded cry pulled Sayane back to reality and she crawled up to move to him. As she did, the lifeless paw fell onto the ground with a quiet slap.

Echo was still holding Y’aaku as he silently wept. Azag was still near, still on all fours, still gasping in trauma. Approaching him revealed his mask and braces were still on the ground.

For the first time, Sayane caught a glimpse of the spindled horns on the back of his head that slid outward like a dozen gnarled branches. Matte greyish copper skin flashed from behind his shoulder.

“STAY BACK! PLEASE!!” he growled as blood fell from his mouth.

Now Sayane could see the fresh burns on his arms and legs.

“Azag, you have to let me help you. Your body, and your face… You’re hurt… Please…” she begged.

“I DO NOT WANT YOU TO SEE ME, PLEASE! I AM HORRENDOUS!!” he begged as he almost collapsed.

“No. No. You are a beautiful person. But please, you are beautiful, and I can help you. I beg you,” Sayane pleaded.

Before he could articulate an answer, he fell forward. Sayane rushed forward and caught his enormous body. She felt a roughened face and a large mass graze her shoulder.

“No. Please,” he begged.

“Please, look anywhere but my face.”

As he spoke, Sayane looked away. But not before unintentionally seeing the mutilated visage of a birdlike creature with a bulky mandible beside its mouth. Instead of skin, she saw pure, exposed muscle and ligament. It was as though the entirety of his face had been peeled away. Finally feeling his body, she realized his entire form was like that. This was not his skin or pelt. It was what should have been underneath that.

He had been flayed alive and survived.

Abject shock nearly undid Sayane’s resolve, but then Azag lost consciousness and slumped into her arms. All Sayane could do was hum for what felt like an hour. She hummed until the cries subsided. She hummed until only the silence remained.

Eventually, the fires died, and darkness set in. Life did not return to the stones. The Silence’s attacks had worked. The Omega Bazaar was destroyed, along with every facet of The Underworld.