Ambrose hadn’t expected to be saved.
For him, it was a given that death was closer to him than he would have liked.
So as he lay on the granite floors of the underground tunnels, staring at the stone ceiling with a solemn expression on his face, he couldn’t help but wonder about the situation above.
Had the people escaped before Basar carried out his nefarious plan?
Was Lady Ana able to defeat the crazy bastard and also discover the whereabouts of the third player in this game?
So many questions but no way to answer them.
His lips were chapped and his stomach growled like a wild animal.
Ambrose decided not to think anymore.
It was pointless after all, he was destined to die in this place without a means to escape.
Which was why he was shocked when he noticed the black fog with white flashes within.
In his delirium, Ambrose considered it to be an abomination from the Abyss and so he backed away repeatedly.
However, he was forced to come to a stop after he leaned into the collapsed area behind him.
There was nowhere left to go and so, he closed his eyes and waited for death.
Neither pain nor the expected death.
Then he opened his eyes and what greeted him first, was the sight of the Lightbringer hanging in the sky with its gates wide open, its glorious light illuminating the world below.
"This..." he muttered in a hoarse voice.
"Captain!" A familiar voice called out to him.
Ambrose slowly turned in that direction to find Oscar running toward him.
"Captain!... You are alive." Oscar said as he came within arm’s length and crouched down to help Ambrose up.
"What... what happened?"
"BoneHaven is about to be destroyed."
"... I see. So Lady Ana failed." Ambrose muttered regretfully.
Oscar nodded before adding. "But don’t worry, the citizens are all safe."
"Look." Oscar gestured, causing Ambrose to look around.
True to the former’s words, the citizens were indeed safe.
Ambrose was left completely speechless but deep down, he almost burst into tears.
"What about the city?... Where are we now?" Ambrose asked after regaining some level of composure.
Despite being incredibly weak, he felt energized knowing that the people he swore to protect were safe.
Oscar sighed. "It’s over there."
Ambrose turned in the direction he was pointing to find a dark curtain isolating what was once BoneHaven.
Unsure of what to make of it, he was left even more confused as the curtain suddenly disappeared to reveal what was happening inside.
"Don’t!" A loud voice echoed about causing everyone to turn away instinctively.
Ambrose glanced at the origin to find that it was Arthur that spoke.
"No matter what you do, do not look toward the city!"
Ambrose pursed his lips and after brief contemplation, decided to do as he was told.
It was best not to test himself.
However, the next moment, a powerful explosion rocked the landscape, with the people screaming out in terror.
Unable to control himself, Ambrose glanced at BoneHaven only to gasp in shock.
BoneHaven had long since disappeared and in its place, a scorched land with molten rock flowing remained.
"... Is that the power of a god?"
Just then, pulsating black and white appeared in front of the BoneHaven survivors, slowly receding to reveal a man in a dirty brown jacket, holding a woman in a princess carry.
He had a mask on his face as an air of mystery permeated his being.
Silently staring at the sight of what was once BoneHaven, the man slowly turned before inspecting everyone behind him.
A young girl’s voice was heard at that moment.
Ambrose watched as the young girl, who looked no younger than 8, rushed up to the masked man.
"You were the one I saw that day, yeah?"
The masked man stared at her briefly before nodding.
"I knew it, I knew it...I remember seeing you."
"How are you?" The man softly asked.
The conversation between the mysterious man and the young girl, helped to diffuse the hopelessness that most were feeling.
Just then, Ambrose noticed a familiar face rush up to the girl’s side.
He recalled the man to be called Morris, the leader of the western faction in the district.
A good man raised in a bad place.
That was the evaluation Ambrose gave him despite seeing most peasants as parasites.
"You..." Morris trailed off.
The masked man nodded. "You may call me Hunter."
A sharp voice broke the happy scenery, introducing tension that hardly anyone would ask for at such a trying time.
Alex turned in the direction of the one that spoke to find Father Anderson alongside several other members of the clergy.
Raising a brow, he recalled that while inspecting the Northern district, it had been mostly deserted with those of the Church of Angelica long gone, leaving behind those of BoneHaven that had come to them for solace.
He understood the logic since they would ultimately want to save themselves but he was surprised that they had returned.
Taking his time to survey all present, Father Anderson spoke again. "Everyone, I wish to inform you that you were all saved by the Church of Angelica, and this demon before you is not a savior, but an evil god in human skin!... Do not believe his lies."
’...Are they planning on stealing the spotlight?’ Alex couldn’t help but wonder.
"You!...you disgusting heretic. How dare you show your face amongst us?"
"... Are you joking?"
"... Okay, that’s enough."
As the entire area was engulfed in black and white, Alex coldly remarked. "Do not test my patience."
"This..." Father Anderson stepped back in fright before quickly coordinating himself. "It would seem I was wrong. I apologize."
"Good." Alex didn’t bother with them again as he returned his attention to the scorched land once known as BoneHaven.
Despite looking there, he didn’t dare to raise his eyes to not see the angel directly.
Just then, Anastasia moved in his hands and upon opening her eyes, met his gaze.
Nodding wordlessly, Ana closed her eyes again.
Sighing heavily, Alex wondered about his next step.