God Ash: Remnants of the fallen.

Cain calmly walked through the opening left behind by the gate.

He looked around then clicked his tongue,

'How tacky...'

With just a single glance, he could tell that a lot of artisans and manpower had gone into developing this building and the many others like it close by.

Since they were in enemy territory, Cain had no doubt that the ruckus they were making was bound to pull in some extra attention.

But he didn't need to think about that right now.

His gaze slowly shifted up.

His eyes narrowed, locking onto a man with locks of golden hair waving like beams of sunlight.

Carrion looked down as well, smacking his lips,

"They've come."

The four figures behind him jumped down from the balcony and landed on the ground gracefully.

Cain frowned,

'Not surprising.'

Each one of them was not only at the second Tier, but he could also detect that they were quite different from your regular rank and file.

The one that caught his eye was the tallest amongst them.

Instead of armor, he wore what looked like a tailored suit, albeit much more stylish.

He didn't seem to be holding any weapons, but one could never be too sure.

What was most interesting about this man, was his eyes.

'Those are Devil Eyes.'

Overlooking them all, Carrion grinned as he called out,

"I believe we have met once in the past. Welcome to my humble home. I would have seen you in had you called in advance but it looks like you've already taken care of that yourself."

Cain looked up at Carrion,

"While I am not here particularly to exchange words, I can't help but be curious..."

Carrion raised a brow,

"Oh? Curious about what?"

Cain frowned, "Is there a need to do all this?"

Carrion smiled, "I don't think I understand quite well. Care to elaborate?"

Cain paused for a moment.

He thought about his words careful.

Then his lips parted,

"Food, water, shelter, clothing, luxury, power... The humans down here claw and bite with all their might seeking them. And yet, you have it all. Everything you could want or need you have in surplus. Searching for more is quite unreasonable, don't you think?"

Carrion guffawed, throwing his head back dramatically.

Then he suddenly stopped.

Looking down, his green irises had shrunken to pinheads as his eyes widened maniacally,

"It is for the same reason you seek the same things I do. Or you want to tell me you have more righteous reasons than I do? How wonderfully humorous."

Then he relaxed, leaning on the guardrails,

"But to be honest, I don't really care for those mundane things anymore. You are right that I have them in surplus."

Cain frowned, "Whatever your reasons may be, they have caused you to spill innocent blood."

Carrion snorted, "Innocent blood? I beg to differ."

"You animal!" Roselle growled as he took a step forward.

Cain placed a hand on her shoulder, forcing her to stop.

Carrion let out a boisterous laugh again. He continued,

"Regardless of what I think, should you be coming after me? What proof do you have that I had a hand in this? You should go after those that killed. I didn't kill anyone, did I?"

"You might have not personally drawn your sword, but you did incite the root that caused these killing, did you not?"

Carrion shrugged, "You say that, but I really didn't do anything. All I did was open a few eyes. Showed the people that they were harboring monsters."

His eyes narrowed, "And it turns out a lot of them already harbored the hate in their hearts. It rotted their souls, tearing their insides like a plague. I brought them relief; the opportunity to let out the ill feelings and rage."

Straightening his posture, he locked eyes with Cain. The corners of his lips rose into a mocking sneer,

"And all this is because of you, Cain."

Cain frowned but didn't say anything,

Carrion continued regardless,

"You introduced your weapons, armor, and potions into Valestorm through that rat, Alvi. You didn't think about all the people it would upset, did you? No, of course not. Because you are like me. In the face of profit and control, all else is irrelevant. Unfortunately for you, you lack the vision and coordination I possess. So the only one you should blame is yourself."

Ignis narrowed her eyes as she turned to Cain, barely holding in her furious killing intent, she asked,

"Is all this talk necessary? I want to twist his neck off his head now."

Cain shook his head,

"No, not yet. There's no rush."

Although he had already concluded, he decided not to rush things.

It was his only show of grace after all, to give to a man who would be dying soon.

Swallowing the growing darkness in his heart, Cain chuckled.

Ignoring Carrion, he glanced at the four individuals standing just a few meters away,

"Would you like to introduce yourselves?" He asked.

Micah sneered, "What use does a dead man have for names?"

He turned to look at Arde,

"Is all this really necessary? I'll tear this punk to shreds in seconds just let me—"

Arde placed his hand on the head of the much smaller framed Micah.

With a smile on his face, Arde reprimanded him,

"Cultivate patience, Micah. There is no rush. After all, they have nowhere to run to."

Carrion snapped his fingers.

A change suddenly came over the atmosphere.

It was not a magical or mysterious one.

In fact, Cain knew exactly what had caused this change.

He didn't need to look behind to know that their exit had already been sealed.

The familiar hum of magic guns and the sound of bowstrings being stretched filled his ears.

Jenny turned around. She grimaced,

"Damn it. We've been surrounded."

And it wasn't just behind them.

Wielding all sorts of weapons a large number of fighters poured out of the nearby buildings. On the walls, on the rooftops, they were everywhere.

Arde turned to Cain, still sporting his smile,

"My name is Arde Stride. This right here is Micah. Those two are called Suze and Lily. We are the most loyal servants of Lord Carrion."

Cain nodded, "I see..."

Cain then fell silent.

Carrion leapt down from the balcony as well, his robe fluttering in the wind, landing softly on the ground just three meters away from Cain.

He looked him right in the eye,

"You have nowhere to run. I heard you killed Balangol. You and I know that idiot was no god. Just a weak, bumbling idiot."

Cain raised a brow, 'He thinks I didn't truly battle against Balangol. Is that what gave him the confidence to do this? If so, then that explains a lot.'

Then he turned to Arde,

"His most loyal servants, huh... Then did you four have a hand in this?"

Arde smiled, "We execute the orders given to us."

Cain nodded.

Carrion suddenly sighed. Looking at Cain, he shook his head,

"It doesn't have to end this way, you know... How about this? Submit to me, and you won't have to lose your life here."

Cain stared at Carrion for a moment. Then he sighed,

"What an idiot..."

He glanced at Arde again,

"This this idiot really who you want to throw your life away for?"

Arde shrugged. He slowly walked forward whilst addressing Cain,

"The Ravenwood family has prospered within the City of Zoan for centuries. Lord Carrion exists to continue that legacy. I shall follow him in turning this world into one fit for his ruling."

Cain frowned, now understanding the situation.

"I have heard your stories, Cain. Rumors are the currency of the night after all. To some, you are a figure akin to a god. Others call you a Demon too. I admire your valor in riding the black ocean and getting so many people to the continent safely. As a member of the older generation, I do believe you have talent and promise. But Lord Carrion has decided that this be your place of death. And so, it will be as he wishes."

As he spoke, wisps of white light circulated around his body.

The suit he wore was immediately replaced with an even more stylish robe and in his hands appeared a pair of white gloves and a mage's staff as tall as he was. Attached to the head of the staff was a skull, and within the skull was a pulsating bulbous orb that gave off the aura of death.

He snapped his fingers and the others wore their armor and weapons.

Micah had on meager leather guards and armor that covered his vitals. For a weapon, he wielded a long, curved blade called an odachi. The blade was as long as he was tall, Cain almost questioned if he could use it.

Lily on the other hand pulled out a wicked looking magic sniper from her inventory. The rifle was covered in runes with the muzzle comically long, Cain wondered how the small framed girl had the strength to wield such a monstrosity.

Carrion also changed into his golden plate armor with a longsword strapped to his waist and another to his back.

Then he yelled,

"Keep the girls engaged, but alive. Your stories precede you, so the five of us will be seeing to your death today, Cain. Don't take it personally."

Ignis frowned, sensing something wrong. Just as she moved closer to Cain, she realized that a translucent barrier had appeared between them and Cain.

Cain slowly turned around.

The four girls stared at him, strange looks on their faces.

Not looks of concern or worry.

But expressions of fear.

"C-Cain..." Susan stuttered, extending a shaky hand towards him.

"Sorry to ask this of you all, but please keep those ones outside occupied. Try not to kill as many as you can."

Upon saying that, he turned around to face Carrion.

He said nothing, but the next moment, he was covered in his dark armor and holding the {Lonely Dragon} Warblade in his grip.

Underneath his helmet, he spoke.

The words that floated out were like a curse from a vengeful spirit of darkness,

"It is with a heavy heart, I sentence you all to death by my hands."

Despite what Carrion had caused, Cain was saddened by his need to shed more human blood.

'It is unfortunate, but it is necessary.'

He had to kill them because they had spilled the blood of members of the Golden Asura.

They had doomed themselves.

And fortunately or unfortunately, he was the reaper that would deliver their judgement.