Zee, Mae, and Drack moved through the streets at a full run, not bothering with caution. Their destination was clear—the residential district, where the guard tower had been reduced to nothing but dust.
"So~ wanna bet on what did that?" Mae asked lightly, glancing at her twin.
Zee shook her head without slowing. "Not really in the mood for something like that."
Mae pouted exaggeratedly. "Aw, you're no fun when you're all serious like this," she said with a soft chuckle. Then her tone shifted, losing its playful edge. "But seriously. What—or who—do you think did that?"
Zee was quiet for a few seconds before answering. "Someone who isn't on the demons' side, at least. What Larkin said earlier makes sense. Why would demons destroy that tower, especially when it was falling toward the houses?"
Mae nodded. "I agree. His reasoning tracks," she said, then raised a finger thoughtfully. "But it could also be demons playing goddess. Making a point. Showing everyone they could wipe them out whenever they want."
Drack frowned slightly as he ran. "That does not fit what we have seen," he said. "They have been killing people outright. Posturing like that would be pointless."
Mae sighed softly. "It was just a suggestion, Drack."
They reached the district moments later.
Where the tower once stood was nothing but a wide scatter of pale dust. Mae slowed to a stop and let out a low whistle. She crouched, scooping up a handful.
"Just look at this," she said, letting it sift through her fingers. "Whoever did this wasn't just strong. They were precise. Fast."
She stood and passing some of the powder to Zee and Drack.
"It's…" Zee murmured, rubbing it between her fingers before letting it fall. "Like sand. Or maybe sawdust?"
Drack sniffed the air, then dropped the dust as well. "I smell people," he said, turning toward the surrounding houses. "They are still inside."
Zee followed his gaze. "Then we get them back to the coliseum. Quickly."
They took only a few steps.
Then all three stopped.
An oppressive sensation crashed over them without warning, heavy and suffocating, settling deep in their chests. "Wha—what is this?" Mae muttered, staring down at her hands as they began to shake, fear written openly across her face—honest terror, perhaps for the first time in her life.
"Thi—this is…" Drack struggled, gasping for air as if it were suddenly scarce. "I can barely breathe."
Zee felt it too. Her body felt heavy, her instincts screaming. Slowly, shakily, she turned.
The storm-dark sky, stained by blood-red rain, was changing. A purple hue bled into it, spreading outward. Zee lifted her gaze—
And froze.
Her eyes widened. Her breath caught.
The light of distant constellations reflected in her eyes as her mouth fell open in shock.
Behind them, one of the nearby house doors suddenly snapped open.
All three of them turned at once.
A man stumbled out onto the street, dressed head to toe in black—simple black tunic, black trousers, a sword resting in a black scabbard at his side. A black wolf mask covered his face entirely, giving him an almost unsettling uniformity, as if he had an unhealthy obsession with the color. He was being supported by a young demi-human woman with raccoon ears and a matching tail, her arm braced firmly around his waist.
Strangely, neither of them appeared affected by the crushing dread gripping the street.
"Alright," the man said casually as he straightened, pulling away from her support. "That's enough rest for me. Time to go teach a Demon Lord a lesson."
The woman looked anything but calm. Despite seeming untouched by whatever pressure weighed on the others, panic was clear in her eyes. "A-are you sure you should be heading out this fast?" she protested. "Y-you're really not recovered yet!"
He waved her off dismissively. "It's fine. None of my organs are falling out, so I'm good."
His gaze shifted then, settling on the three of them. He paused, head tilting slightly. "Oh. You're one of the fighters from the arena…" His eyes moved between Zee and Mae. "Wait. Why are there two of you?"
He shook his head as if deciding it was irrelevant. "Anyway. Good timing. Name's Wolf. Now why don't you get Dalia and her boys, plus any other groups you find, out of here?" He adjusted his grip on the sword. "I've got a Demon Lord to kill."
Mae managed to force words out through her fear. "H-how are you c-calm right now?" she snapped, pointing upward. "D-do you even see what's happening in the sky!?"
Wolf finally looked up.
So did Dalia—apparently noticing the sky properly for the first time, her attention until now entirely fixed on him.
When she saw it, she gasped sharply and stumbled back, nearly falling as terror overtook her. Wolf, by contrast, merely tilted his head.
"Oh. That," he said mildly. "Means there's another Demon Lord here." He considered it for a moment. "Actually, a Demon King too. So don't head toward the center, alright kids? Very dangerous."
With that, he started walking past them, already heading away.
The moment he did, the suffocating fear crushing their chests vanished—cleanly, instantly. Air rushed back into their lungs. But behind him, as the distance between Wolf and Dalia grew, her panic only worsened, her steps faltering.
"Wait!" Zee shouted.
She grabbed his hand.
"Please," she said quickly, gripping tight. "Don't go yet. I don't know who you are, but… your presence is calming the fear. Please stay with us at least until we get the people here back to the coliseum."
Wolf stopped.
He looked down at her hand, then at the three of them. After a moment, he sighed. "Fine," he said. He raised his voice. "Alright! Everyone gather up! We're heading to the coliseum!"
All three of them stared at him in surprise, clearly not expecting him to actually listen—but none of them complained.
"Everyone!" Drack shouted, turning toward the houses. "Get out of your houses! We're taking you somewhere safe!"
Doors slowly began to open as frightened people emerged, hesitating, clinging to one another as they stepped into the street.
As they did, Wolf glanced ahead, his thoughts drifting.
*Man… if only he were here,* he thought. *I wouldn't have to worry about civilians…*