Ash kept staring at the spot where the man had vanished. The cracks in reality were gone, but their weight still pressed on his chest.
A hand touched his shoulder.
Ash flinched and turned, blade half-raised—only to find Alex standing there. His eyes were wide, still shaken.
"That guy… He called you by name. Do you know him?"
Ash looked down, his thoughts spinning.
"No. I don't think so."
His voice was hollow.
"I've never seen anything like him."
Alex was about to speak again, but a Grimhorn lunged from the side, snarling.
Ash didn't think. His blade flashed—and then fire.
A wave of heat tore across the battlefield, burning everything in its path. Grimhorns screamed as they turned to ash, both the living and the dead.
The flames cleared. A voice rang out.
"No need to worry anymore—because the Son of Flame has arrived!"
Ash turned toward the voice.
