King descended into Constin City, and the difference hit him immediately.

Watching the carnage from above had been one thing. A distant overview, clinical and detached. But riding into it, breathing the smoke-choked air, hearing the screams echoing off shattered walls, this was something else completely.

The horse beneath him grew more restless with every step, snorting and pulling against the reins. King felt the animal’s fear radiating through the saddle, the instinct to bolt warring against his grip on the leather straps.

But his urgency pushed him forward.

He nudged the stallion ahead, and Eli followed close behind on the gray mare.

They rode through the outskirts, weaving between collapsed structures and overturned carts. The streets were littered with debris, broken glass crunching under the horses’ hooves. Smoke drifted through the air in thick plumes, obscuring vision and making it hard to breathe.

King kept his eyes moving, scanning every shadow, every alley, every broken window.

And then,

CRASH!

The wall beside him exploded outward.

Brick and mortar burst into the street as a massive demi-human tore through the building, its jaws wide and dripping with saliva. The creature lunged with terrifying speed, clamping its teeth around King’s horse mid-stride.

NiieEEEGGHhHhH!

The stallion screamed.

King barely avoided the bite as the demi-human crashed into the opposite building, taking both of them with it. He hit the ground hard, rolling to absorb the impact before coming up in a crouch.

"Master King!" Eli yelled, already reaching for the Calamity Long-Shoulder.

CRACK!

Another sound jolted him, sharper and closer.

Eli whipped around just in time to see a smaller demi-human, roughly the size of a man, clinging to the building behind him. Its limbs were elongated and skeletal, with fingers ending in black claws that dug into the stone.

The creature leaped.

Eli showing his dexterity, switched grip to his revolver instead. And in one fluid motion, fired twice.

BANG! BANG!

Both rounds punched through the creature’s skull, shattering bone and spraying its innards across the street. The body went limp mid-air, crashing past Eli and hitting the ground in a lifeless heap.

[Small Demi-Human Killed]

[+300 Runes]

Eli turned back toward the collapsed wall, closing in.

He heard something drop.

THUD.

The larger demi-human dropped to the rubble, two translucent construct swords embedded in its throat. The creature twitched once, then went still.

King stood over it, breathing hard, blue energy still spiraling around his left hand.

"Master King?" Eli called out, unmounting the horse.

"I’m fine, Eli," he said, glancing at the older man. "But the horse..."

Eli followed King’s gaze to the stallion. The animal lay crumpled in the debris, its body mangled beyond saving. It twitched weakly, whimpering as blood pooled beneath it.

King looked away.

"We don’t have much time," he said, forcing his focus back to the mission. "Check the perimeter for a safer path. She shouldn’t be far from here."

"Yes, Master King."

Eli closed his eyes, and the Spirit Eagle materialized above them. The translucent bird launched into the air, wings beating silently as it gained altitude and circled the area.

Through the shared vision, Eli scanned the surrounding streets, checking for the safest route, and noting the activities around the area.

"I can see one," Eli said after a moment. "Looks clear for now."

He paused, adjusting the eagles trajectory.

"Anything?" King asked, the anxiety creeping into his voice despite his best efforts to suppress it.

"I think I can spot her position," Eli replied. "It’s a white five-story building. Looks pretty crowded at the base."

He paused again.

"Let me take a closer look."

The eagle descended, swooping lower toward the building. Through its eyes, Eli could see the demi-humans clustered around the entrance, clawing at the doors, some climbing the outer walls.

And then one of them turned.

It looked directly at the eagle.

SCREECH!

A wild demi-human broke through the upper-floor window, launching itself at the bird’s position. Claws swiped through the air, and Eli jerked backward physically, severing the connection.

"What is it?" King asked, stepping closer.

"I was spotted," Eli said, steadying himself.

"Good thing it’s not a pet they can kill," King replied, exhaling in relief.

"Okay, after you, Mr. Eli."

"Yes, sir."

Eli mounted the black horse, and King climbed up behind him. The horse shifted under the combined weight but held steady. Eli turned the animal toward the path his eagle had mapped and urged it forward.

They rode in silence, weaving through narrow alleys and staying close to the buildings. The sounds of destruction followed them, always present but never close enough to engage.

When they arrived within a block of the white building, Eli pulled the mare to a stop behind a half-burnt tall building that provided cover.

King slid off the horse and looked at Eli.

"I’m going in alone," he said.

Eli frowned. "Master King"

"Send your eagle with me," King continued, not giving room for objection. "You get to a vantage point on one of these rooftops. Provide cover. I’ll handle the demi-humans on the ground, but I need you watching my six. If something sneaks up on me, I need to know."

Eli studied him for a moment, then nodded.

"Understood, but at least take the horse."

"Okay" king replied.

The butler dismounted and began scanning the nearby buildings, searching for the best position. King watched him go, then turned his attention back to the interface.

He opened the live location one last time, and since he was closer, the map showed more detail.

The red cursor still sat over the white building, unmoving.

King dismissed the map and moved toward the mare. He swung into the saddle, gripping the reins tightly with his left hand, while blue energy spiraled around his right hand.

Two large construct seals appeared in the air beside him, materializing from pure mana.

The constructs took shape, circular blades with serrated edges, spinning rapidly like buzzsaws. The sound they made was a high-pitched whine that cut through the ambient noise of the city.

King nudged the horse forward.

The mare broke into a gallop, hooves pounding against the cracked pavement as they charged toward the white building.

They turned their heads, shifting their bodies as their claws scraped against stone. The creatures began to converge on the sound of hooves.

But, King didn’t slow down.

The spinning constructs shot forward, carving through the first wave of demi-humans before they could close the distance. The blades tore through their horde as bodies collapsed in pieces.

[Demi-Human Killed]

[+300 Runes]

[Demi-Human Killed]

[+300 Runes]

[Demi-Human Killed]

[+300 Runes]

The count continued up to the twenties.

King rode straight through the carnage, the constructs clearing a path as the mare barreled toward the entrance.

The Spirit Eagle materialized beside him, flying ahead as it overtook his pace.

"Ground floor clear," Eli’s voice crackled in his earpiece. "Two on the stairwell. Left side."

King reached the entrance and dismounted in one motion, leaving the horse behind as he pushed through the broken doors. The interior was dark, lit only by faint shafts of light filtering through shattered windows.

He summoned two more construct swords and moved toward the stairwell.

SCREECH!

Two demi-humans lunged from the left, exactly where Eli had called them.

King pivoted, driving both swords forward in a single thrust. The blades punched through the creatures’ chests, pinning them to the wall before dissolving into blue mist.

[Demi-Human Killed]

[+300 Runes]

[Demi-Human Killed]

[+300 Runes] 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"Second floor, three more," Eli’s voice guided him. "Right corridor."

King ascended the stairs two at a time, the Spirit Eagle gliding ahead to scout. He reached the second-floor landing and turned right, summoning another construct blade as he moved.

The three demi-humans charged down the corridor.

King threw the construct like a javelin. The blade spun through the air and impaled the lead creature, driving it backward into its companions. All three went down in a tangled heap.

King didn’t wait for them to recover. The blade detached from the lead, spinning and finishing them off with quick, brutal cuts.

[Demi-Human Killed]

[+300 Runes]

[Demi-Human Killed]

[+300 Runes]

[Demi-Human Killed]

[+300 Runes]

"Third floor, your position is clear for now, take the staircase by your left and you can enter the fought without incounter" Eli said. "Fourth floor has movement. Can’t get a clean count."

King climbed faster, keeping a quite breath despite the exertion. The building creaked around him, the structure compromised by the chaos outside.

He reached the fourth floor and paused at the top of the stairs.

The Spirit Eagle circled above him, scanning the hallway.

"Five contacts," Eli confirmed. "Spread out. Two near the windows, three patrolling."

King nodded to himself and moved.

He summoned four construct seals this time, releasing a barrage of translucent spears that shot down the hallway. The projectiles found their marks, dropping all five demi-humans before they could react.

[Demi-Human Killed]

[+300 Runes]

[Demi-Human Killed]

[+300 Runes]

[Demi-Human Killed]

[+300 Runes]

[Demi-Human Killed]

[+300 Runes]

[Demi-Human Killed]

[+300 Runes]

King kept moving, climbing the final flight of stairs to the fifth floor.

The top floor was quieter.

The Spirit Eagle flew ahead, sweeping the corridor.

"One door at the end," Eli said. "Barricaded from the inside. No hostiles in the immediate area, but there are several paths I cannot discern, you need to move FAST!."

King moved straight ahead, his eyes scanning for threats.

He stopped in front of it.

"Vi," he called out in a quiet whisper. "It’s King. Open up."

He got no response.

King knocked again, harder this time.

"Vi, it’s King. I’m here."

He heard movement on the other side. Shuffling. Like something heavy being dragged away from the door.

And then the door cracked open.

Vi stood in the doorway, her face was pale and streaked with dirt. Her eyes were wide, red-rimmed from crying, and her hands trembled as she gripped the door frame.

"King?" she whispered.

King nodded.

"Yeah. It’s me."

Vi stared at him for a moment longer, as if confirming he was real.