Chương 231: Wasteland of ash

A vast mountain range stretched beyond sight, beyond comprehension of the mind itself, its jagged expanse reaching farther than the eye could follow and farther than the mind could comfortably accept. The peaks were not merely stone, they were grave markers, towering monuments of dark grey matter fused with the remains of the dead.

Bones, some small and brittle, others colossal and ancient, jutted from the mountainsides as though the land itself had devoured countless lives and refused to let them fade into obscurity. The terrain carried the texture of ash, as if it had once been reduced to nothing and then reshaped by some unseen force into its current, unnatural form. No trees grew here, no water flowed, no life stirred. Only death remained. And the quiet, suffocating despair that clung to the air like a unseen curse.

A wind stirred within the mountains. Soft at first, almost gentle. It swept through the valleys and over the peaks, weaving between the skeletal remains embedded in the land, carrying with it a hollow whisper that felt less like nature and more like a presence acknowledging something new. Then, at the very heart of that desolate expanse, Five figures appeared. The wind greeted them instantly, curling around their forms as if welcoming them into a place that had long since forgotten what it meant to host the living.

Yet that same wind did not keep their arrival a secret. It carried their scent outward, spreading it across the endless mountains like a signal. And something answered. Far, far beyond their sight, deep within a colossal cavern carved beneath one of the distant peaks, a presence stirred. The cave was immense, its ceiling lost in darkness, its floor littered with corpses in various states of decay. Some were recent, their forms still recognizable.

Others had long since been reduced to bone and fragments, scattered carelessly as though discarded after losing all value. At the center of that grim chamber lay a titanic figure. A tail shifted at first, massive and plated in ivory scales that reflected the faint, fractured light filtering into the cavern.

The movement revealed more of the creature: a long, draconic head resting low, adorned with two sweeping horns that curved backward along its skull, followed by four smaller ones that framed its silhouette with regal brutality. Its scales were pristine, unnaturally so, gleaming with a purity that clashed violently with the death surrounding it. Behind the creature lay something else. A torn, broken humanoid machine.

Its metallic frame had been ripped apart, its chest cavity exposed to reveal eight hollow compartments, cores that once powered it. Yet within the creature's grasp rested a ninth core, clenched tightly in its talons. Even here, in a realm where such constructs should have been inert, the machine's grip had refused to release it, as though some final directive still lingered within its lifeless frame. The creature exhaled, a low, resonant rumble. Then it inhaled. The wind had reached it. And with it, the scent.

Its nostrils flared slightly. It paused. There was recognition there. Something familiar. Its ember-like eyes opened slowly, burning to life as awareness surged through its massive form. The last time it had sensed that scent… had been two months ago. The creature rose. Its enormous wings unfurled, newly adapted talons extending from their edges, evidence of evolution forced by survival. Its legs, scarred and reinforced from countless battles, dug into the stone as it lifted itself fully upright.

Its body bore the marks of war, deep scars etched into its ivory scales, each one a testament to a fight it had endured… and survived. It moved toward the mouth of the cavern. Sunlight spilled across its form as it emerged, illuminating its figure in stark contrast to the darkness behind it. The creature released a low, commanding rumble that echoed across the mountains, a signal that carried far beyond its immediate territory. But as it inhaled again, Its expression shifted. Its eyes narrowed.

It wasn't alone in noticing the intruders. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Something else had caught their scent. And whatever it was, It was already moving. Fast at that. Like a starving predator closing in on prey. Back within the mountain range, the five humans stood where they had arrived, the silence pressing in around them as they slowly released one another's hands.

Callum was the first to move, his posture straightening as his eyes scanned the surrounding wasteland with immediate caution.

"Any idea where we are?" he asked, his tone measured but tense. Caesar barely looked up at first, his attention already fixed on the holographic display projected from his wrist. Data flickered erratically across its surface, unstable and incomplete in its design. After a few seconds, he exhaled sharply.

"No," he admitted, his voice edged with frustration.

"But judging by the environment… this is about as bad as it gets." Yuki clicked her tongue, irritation flashing across her face.

"Fantastic. Just what we needed." Evelyn shot her a sharp glance.

"Watch your language." Yuki turned toward her, an incredulous look forming as she opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, a calm yet commanding voice cut through the tension.

"Enough." Artoria raised a hand, her presence immediately silencing the exchange. Her white armor gleamed faintly in the dim light, her golden hair shifting gently in the wind, giving her an almost regal aura amidst the desolation. For a moment, she said nothing. Then her gaze lifted. Her eyes narrowed, staring at something the others had not yet noticed.

"We are being watched." The words had barely left her lips when shadows passed overhead. Two massive figures circled above them. Birds, if they could still be called that. One was a consuming black, its feathers so dark they seemed to absorb the light around it, like an abyss given form. The other bore a deep crimson hue, its body resembling something drenched in fresh blood. Each was enormous, easily the size of a small house. The group reacted instantly, their hands moving toward their weapons.

Evelyn and Yuki both attempted to summon their respective powers, ice and shadow, but neither responded. The stagnant atum rendered their abilities useless. Both of them hissed in frustration before gripping their physical weapons instead. Above them, the birds descended. They landed upon the mountainside ahead, their massive forms settling with heavy, echoing impacts. Callum's eyes narrowed with suspicion. Then, unexpectedly, he stepped forward.

"Wait," he said, raising a hand slightly. The others stiffened. But he continued walking. Toward the creatures. The birds responded in kind, moving closer as well. With each step, their forms became clearer. They resembled ravens, but twisted, enlarged, and altered into something far more monstrous. Their wings bore jointed structures that allowed them to move along the ground like wyverns, their talons gripping the stone with unnatural precision. They circled him.

Evelyn watched intently from behind, her eyes narrowing as she studied them. Then, Her expression shifted. Recognition struck her face. The red one stepped closer, its massive form towering over Callum as it lowered its head. Its beak came within inches of him, pausing as it inhaled, as though confirming something. Then it spoke. Its voice was rough, broken and inhuman. Yet unmistakably deliberate.

"Cal… lum?" The others stared in stunned silence, their eyes widening as realization settled over them one by one. What stood before them was not unfamiliar, far from it. Four of them recognized the creatures immediately, even beneath their monstrous transformations. These were not strangers. These were Vale's ravens. There was no doubt about it. And yet… what stood before them now bore only fragments of what they once were. Callum's gaze sharpened as he studied the crimson raven more closely.

Its body had changed drastically, its form refined into something built purely for destruction. Along its spine ran a jagged, blade-like ridge, each segment resembling a weapon forged rather than grown. Its wings were no longer meant solely for flight, they had evolved into lethal extensions, lined with sharp, metallic edges capable of cutting through flesh and bone with terrifying efficiency. It was no longer just a creature. It was a weapon. A living one.

Callum exhaled quietly, taking in the sight before offering a faint, cautious smile.

"I apologize for asking," he said, his tone measured, "but… which of the three are you?" The raven's glowing eyes flickered, widening slightly as if something deep within it stirred at the question. Slowly, it lowered its massive head, bringing its beak close to Callum's chest. The motion was careful, almost gentle, despite its overwhelming size, as though it were attempting something familiar… something instinctive. A gesture of recognition. Of closeness.

Behind him, Artoria watched the exchange with a furrowed brow, her confusion evident as she turned toward the others.

"These are not spawn?" she asked, her voice calm but uncertain. Evelyn stepped forward immediately, shaking her head as she moved past Artoria, her gaze fixed intently on the raven.

"No," she said firmly.

"They're Visorians… like us." She slowed as she approached, her eyes scanning the creature's altered form with growing unease.

"But this…" she continued softly, almost to herself, "this kind of transformation… how is it even possible?" The question lingered in the air, unanswered. Nearby, Caesar had barely taken his eyes off the surroundings, but even he was forced to pause as a second presence emerged beside him. Without warning, the onyx raven appeared. It did not descend, it was simply there.

Its form was darker than the void itself, its feathers absorbing what little light touched them, leaving behind a silhouette that seemed almost unreal. Like the crimson one, its body had been reshaped into a weapon, every contour sharpened for lethality. Yet what set it apart were the two massive horns that curved upward from above its eyes, giving it an even more imposing, almost regal appearance. For a brief moment, Caesar and the creature simply stared at one another.

there was no movement or sound Just silent acknowledgment. Then, The crimson raven shifted. Its head snapped toward the distant mountains, its entire posture tightening in an instant. The onyx raven reacted the same way, both creatures rising to their full height as a sudden tension filled the air. They had sensed something. Something approaching. The crimson raven opened its beak, its voice tearing through the silence in a harsh, broken cry.

"Danger!" Callum's expression hardened immediately as he turned toward the direction of its gaze.

"Should we run?" he asked, his voice steady despite the rising tension. The raven looked down at him. Then, slowly, it shook its head.

"You… stay." The two ravens moved at once, stepping past the group and placing themselves between the humans and the distant mountains. Their bodies lowered slightly, wings spreading just enough to reveal the full extent of their bladed forms. They were preparing to fight. To defend. The crimson raven spoke again, its voice strained but resolute as both creatures fixed their attention on whatever was coming.

"We… protect." And in that moment, there was no doubt. Whatever was approaching, They intended to face it head-on.