God Ash: Remnants of the fallen.

The screeching of the bat-like creatures filled the air, drowning out all other sounds as the chaotic battle erupted around them.

Cain felt the pressure of their attack like a weight on his chest, but the grin never left his face.

This was the thrill he had grown accustomed to— the thrill of combat, the vigor of holding the arcane might, power coursing through his veins, and of the stakes that always seemed to rise just a little higher everytime he shed his blood and that of his enemies.

With a flick of his wrist, Cain summoned his {Flame Orbs}. The tiny, flickering spheres of crimson fire materialized around him, their heat palpable even amidst the cold darkness. They hovered like obedient sentinels, waiting for his command.

Gloria, still shaking off the disorientation, watched as the orbs took shape. Her eyes widened.

"What are those?!"

Boulder quickly analyzed the situation. Sensing the building danger radiating from Cain, he quickly made his decision. If he wanted to take so many abominations on ny himself, he wouldn't stop him. However, should he die, he would also not be responsible for it.

He leapt backwards, "We need to retreat. Lucia, Gloria, Jasper... Give us cover fire!"

Lucia, still recovering from the earlier exchange, spat out a curse and took a defensive stance beside Khan, who was already summoning a protective barrier.

She shot Cain a glare but didn't dare approach him again—not with the battle so close at hand. The air was thick with the tension between them, but the immediate threat forced it to the back of her mind. She gritted her as she thought,

'This guy is insane! There's no way he can handle so many of them on his own. He got is into this mess, yet he wants to die here?!'

While she was certain Cain was strong, she also knew the true terror of these creatures. While they weren't as terrible as the Devils, their horror was of a different class entirely.

Cain didn't respond. His eyes were locked onto the creatures spilling from the building. The eerie red glow of their eyes reflected in the depths of his own as he studied them with cold precision.

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He stretched his hand out and summoned {Wilted Tears}.

The bat-like creatures swooped down, their screeches turning into a deafening cacophony as they closed in. The {Flame Orbs} responded to his will, launching forward with blinding speed. Each orb found its mark, exploding upon impact and enveloping the creatures in roaring flames.

The Heart of Mana in his chest was like a beating drum, pumping power through his being.

The Orbs of wicked flames kept pouring like bullets bThe sight was both mesmerizing and terrifying. The creatures writhed in agony, their shrieks piercing the night as the fire consumed them. Their once-intimidating forms crumbled into ashes, scattered by the wind before they could even touch the ground.

But Cain wasn't finished. The thrill of destruction ignited something primal within him. He gestured sharply with his left hand, and the orbs multiplied, forming a whirling ring of fire around him. He thrust his arm forward, sending the entire formation hurtling toward the oncoming wave of monsters.

The orbs detonated in a chain reaction, lighting up the night like a series of miniature suns. The resulting shockwave was enough to stagger even the hardiest of the creatures, sending them reeling back into the shadows.

But as the flames dissipated, Cain noticed something unsettling. For every creature that fell, two more seemed to take its place. The darkness within the building continued to vomit out wave after wave of the twisted, nightmarish beings. The sheer number of enemies was overwhelming, and they were gaining ground.

Gloria's eyes widened in horror. "There's no end to them!" she shouted, her voice trembling. "We need to fall back!"

Cain clenched his fists, his mind racing. The {Flame Orbs} had thinned their numbers, but not enough. He needed something more—something that could turn the tide in their favor. And he had just the thing.

His heart pounded in his chest as he began to channel the new power within him, the {Internal Mana Furnace} roaring to life. The air around him crackled with energy as he prepared to unleash a terrible spell—{Imploding Star}.

Backed by the power of his Mana Furnace, its power output was bound to be absolutely ungodly.

"Get ready," Cain warned, his voice low and intense. "This is going to get messy."

Lucia and Khan exchanged a quick, nervous glance. The air around Cain seems to change. He was usually laid back, with a carefree aura about him. However, for some reason, he had experienced a change.

They had seen Cain's power before, but the seriousness in his tone suggested that this time would be different—far more dangerous.

Cain's hands moved with deliberate precision, tracing intricate symbols in the air. His entire body radiated with a fierce, unearthly glow as he drew in the ambient mana, fueling the spell. The ground beneath him began to tremble, and the air grew heavy with an almost unbearable pressure.

At the heart of the spell, a tiny point of light appeared, growing rapidly in intensity. It was as if a star had been plucked from the heavens and now floated in his palm, its light searing and brilliant. A strange, almost magnetic pull the orb exerted distorted the space around it, drawing in mana from the atmosphere, warping the air into a visible, swirling vortex.

The creatures hesitated, sensing the immense danger emanating from the glowing sphere. But it was too late to retreat.

With a final, decisive motion, Cain hurled the {Imploding Star} toward the horde. It streaked through the air, leaving a trail of light in its wake before it collided with the ground in the midst of the creatures.

For a brief moment, time seemed to freeze. The star's light grew blinding, expanding rapidly until it consumed everything within its reach. And then, it collapsed inward, dragging everything into its core with an overwhelming force.

The explosion that followed was catastrophic.

A deafening roar echoed through the night as the star imploded, creating a massive shockwave that obliterated everything in its vicinity. The ground was torn apart, the building behind crumbled, and the creatures were instantly vaporized, leaving nothing but a gaping, smoldering crater where they had once stood.

The impact was so intense that even those standing far from the blast were thrown off their feet. The shockwave rippled through the ground, causing the earth to quake violently.

Cain himself staggered, the force of the spell draining him more than he had anticipated.

When the dust finally settled, a heavy silence fell over the battlefield. The once-intimidating horde of monsters had been completely annihilated, their remains scattered like ash in the wind. The air was thick with the smell of burning, and the ground was littered with the debris of their once-formidable enemies.

Cain stood at the edge of the crater, breathing heavily. He stared at his hand. Mana radiated from his pores, filling him with life. Whatever mana he had lost was quickly replenished.

Gloria, and the rest standing behind her slowly picked themselves up from the ground, their expressions a mix of awe and fear. They had witnessed many powerful abilities, from Devils and humans alike. But there was something different about this one. It was as though Cain commaned the very essence of fire itself.

It was awe-inspiring, yet terrifying at the same time...

Khan was the first to speak, his voice low and cautious,

"Cain… That was—"

"Too incredible!" Gloria finished, her eyes sparkling as she studied Cain,

"You could've taken us all out with that, and yet, despite the power of the flames, yoir control over them is still immaculate! How? How did you do it?!"

Seeing the inexplicably excited expression on Gloria's face, Cain was a bit taken aback. And slightly uncomfortable...

Cain turned to face them, his expression unreadable,

"I just hope that wasn't too loud." he said calmly.

"Those creatures weren't going to stop. I didn't have the liberty to tone it down."

Lucia bit her lip, clearly torn between anger and understanding. She wanted to berate him, yell at him, even hit him. But she knew that wouldn't be justified.

After all, so far, even though he had screwed up, he still managed to rectify his mistakes. That was more important than anything.

Khan placed a hand on her shoulder, his touch calming her. "He did what he had to do," he said softly. "And it worked. We're alive."

Cain's gaze shifted to the distance, where the towering barrier of the Blood Moon Dome loomed ominously. The crimson energy pulsed rhythmically, as if in sync with the beating of a colossal heart. He couldn't shake the feeling that whatever force had brought them here wasn't done with them yet.

"We need to move," Boulder said, his voice steady.

"This place… it's not safe. And I have a feeling we've only seen the beginning of what's out there."

As they regrouped and prepared to leave the desolate battlefield behind, Cain couldn't help but glance back at the smoldering crater. The spell had been more potent than he'd anticipated, a testament to the {Internal Mana Furnace} enhancements.

They had escaped the immediate threat, but the Blood Moon Dome's shadow loomed large over them, Despite what it signified, Cain couldn't help but feel confident. The true test of his strength and resolve still lay ahead, and Cain knew that he would need every ounce of his power—and more—to face what was coming.

'Come. I'll bury whatever you throw at me.'

With a final look at the crater, Cain turned away, his mind already embroiled with thoughts. Here, there were far more dangerous creatures lurking around every corner, each more terrifying than the next.