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It was on the second morning after Detta and Dracula arrived in Roslyn that it happened—the ground began shaking violently.
Everyone in town felt the tremors.
The earth rumbled as buildings collapsed, trapping people beneath the debris. The shaking continued for nearly an hour.
When it finally stopped, the town was in ruins. Many houses, shops, statues, and parts of the city wall had crumbled to rubble.
But Roslyn's troubles weren't over. A battle broke out in the sky above, and a new shadow loomed overhead, blocking out the sun.
Dracula and Detta were inside their room when the quake began. Four minutes in, the tremors intensified—but thanks to Dracula spreading his mana through the inn, it held firm and didn't collapse.
Once the quake ended, and after checking on Detta, Dracula stepped outside.
"Help! Help!!"
"My son is trapped under the building!"
"Papa!!! Mommy!!!"
Cries echoed all around.
Dracula approached the nearest pile of rubble, where a boy cried for his trapped father. Using his mana, Dracula lifted the wreckage, revealing a man huddled protectively with a woman and another child.
The man looked up and quickly embraced his son who ran into his arms.
The next rescue wasn't as fortunate—another woman's legs were crushed by a fallen beam.
Dracula scanned the town. Most buildings had been reduced to rubble. After nearly an hour of shaking, it was no surprise.
Everywhere, people were helping each other—clearing debris, pulling survivors from the ruins.
"Senior, is everything alri—" Detta emerged from the inn, her words fading as she took in the devastation.
It reminded her of Tanna City.
The lost, wandering faces and the cries of pain were eerily similar to what she'd seen during the war.
"..."
Silently, she joined Dracula—clearing rubble, carrying the wounded to makeshift tents, and tending to injuries despite her inexperience.
Adventurers also pitched in. The guild building had survived, thanks to its sturdy foundation.
As damage was minimal, the guild quickly issued emergency tasks to adventurers returning to town to assist in the recovery.
...
Dracula was so focused on helping that he hadn't noticed the absence of sunlight. At first, he assumed it was dust from the collapse, so he paid it no mind.
But by noon, as the dust settled, he felt it—raw, pure electrical energy above the town.
...Bzzt...Bzzt...BOOOOMMMM...
The crackle of electricity echoed, followed by a massive explosion above Roslyn.
The shockwave from the blast cleared the skies for a mile.
"What—what is that?!"
"We're all going to die!"
"The gods are coming!"
"The end has come!"
"Is that from the Academy?!"
Panicked voices filled the streets as a massive floating island appeared overhead. Its sheer size covered not just the town, but the entire surrounding region for thirty meters.
...Bzzt...Bzzt...
A lightning forcefield formed around the island, with bolts crackling at its northern edge.
Channeling his vision, Dracula spotted a figure attempting to breach the forcefield.
"WHO DARES DISTURB THE SLUMBER OF THE ANCIENT BEINGS?!"
A thunderous voice echoed across land and sky.
"OURANUS HAS AWAKENED. YOU MUST FACE ME, THE GUARDIAN OF THE CELESTIAL SANCTUM, TO ENTER THE GODDESS'S ABODE!"
The voice boomed again, hollow yet powerful.
...BZZZT...BZZT...
A colossal figure appeared beneath the island.
It looked like armor made of gold, legless, buzzing with electricity at its joints. From the helmet's eye sockets glowed a yellow light.
"WHO AMONG YOU MORTALS DARES TO FACE ME?" Ouranus declared.
"ME! Let's see how the guardian fares against an old warrior!" came the response.
Valerina descended from the island's northern edge toward Ouranus.
As she approached, an orb—twisted black metal encircling a glowing red eye—floated beside her right shoulder, gathering dark purple energy.
"COME, EVIL FORCES!" Ouranus roared, and Valerina charged forward.
...
"We need to send a messenger and an inspector immediately!" shouted a man in armor bearing a red rose crest.
"Mind your tone when speaking to the Lord," another answered sharply. It was Daram, knight commander of the Rosa Alba family.
"It's alright, Daram. He's desperate—like the rest of us," said Pescil calmly from his seat, surveying the council chamber filled with ministers and noble families.
They, too, had seen the mysterious structure appear above Roslyn. After receiving urgent news of the disaster, they gathered at once.
"I'll dispatch the knights to Roslyn. You'll lead them, Sir Partey."
"I won't let you down," the knight said, kneeling.
"And I'll send my only daughter with you. She'll learn from your lead," Pescil added, glancing at his daughter Odett, who sat beside Franklin.
"Yes, Father," she replied.
"Prepare immediately. You leave at dawn," ordered Pescil.
"Yes, my Lord!"
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Tbc