GAZE - Volume 1: Part 1

CHAPTER 20: His Obliterated Path

The air crackled with tension, the remnants of Axka's reckless power still echoing in the charred remains of the corridor. He felt the weight of his choices pressing down on him, a reminder of the destruction he had unleashed.

He glanced back at the devastation he had caused—a trail of cracked walls, smoldering fires flickering from the friction of his speed, and parts of the ceiling that had collapsed. He had caused so much destruction along the way.

Takoda, who was just starting to process everything, stood up shakily. "W-what the—What—" he stammered, still trying to wrap his head around what had happened.

"I know, it was too fast for you to catch up," Axka said, sensing the urgency of the situation. "We gotta get out of here before that thing catches up with us, bro."

"Axka! Takoda!" a voice called out from the other side of the corridor. That sounded like them, Axka thought.

Axka saw Aime and Smitty come into view, sprinting toward them. He waved at them, signaling that he noticed them and was glad to see them.

As they got closer, they looked down the other corridor, which had been destroyed by Axka's Anomalies. "Godking, what the fuck just happened here?!" Aime asked, clearly shocked. Axka glanced at Takoda, who was still trying to recover from the chaotic motion he had dragged him through.

Axka shifted his weight, scanning the chaos around them before finally locking eyes with Aime. "I don't know, man. I think something just came through here," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, a hint of disbelief lacing his words as he gestured to the destruction.

"And it looks like it left a trail of flames... Does the Rogue do this?" Smitty wondered aloud, rubbing his chin as he stared at the ruined corridor.

Takoda finally straightened up. "No, man, we just ran into a damn ghost. Everything was so chaotic," he said, his voice steadier now.

"Ghost?!" Aime's face showed a mix of fear and excitement, while Smitty's curiosity was clearly piqued. They spoke at the same time. "That thing... caused all this chaos? I thought it was a Rogue or Renegade." Smitty glanced them both, curiosity piqued. "I can't believe a ghost can cause such things."

The dust from Axka's destruction had barely settled when a fast-moving shadow figure dashed toward their position.

"Hey, I think there's another one left out," Smitty called out, spotting it from afar. Axka furrowed his brow and stepped away from the group to get a better look at the approaching figure. As it passed him, it leaped over them and landed right in the middle of the group.

He spun around, ready to fight, clenching his fists. But before he could react, the figure was already in the center, unsheathing a sword toward Aime. His reaction, a startled "Whoa—!" was cut off as the blade swung past him, another sword that looked the same emerged from the wall. The sword then hovered in the air, pointing menacingly at both Takoda, who raised his hands near his chest in surrender, and Smitty, who stood frozen, unsure of what to do.

It was Ayame.

"What the—You're the girl from the shed outside!" Axka stepped closer, his heart racing as recognition hit him.

"Okay, hey, calm down," Takoda muttered, his eyes darting nervously to the hovering blade that lingered dangerously near him.

Ayame's cold glare betrayed a flicker of impatience. I didn't have time for this. "This is not a game. Leave, now." Her sharp eyes swept across the group, unreadable yet burdened with something deeper.

With a practiced motion, she sheathed her sword, though her conjured blade remained hovering, protective yet cold. Beneath that exterior, a flicker of impatience flashed—I had no time for their questions, no time for distractions. The weakened Elemental was close, and if I didn't finish this soon... But that wasn't the only thing pressing on her mind. I couldn't fail my Trial of Pilgrimage.