God Ash: Remnants of the fallen.

Riding swiftly on the back of the Golden Devil Wyrm Astral Avatar, this group of youngsters raced across the sky whilst trying to avoid being shot down to their deaths by a gang of mutated strange sea creatures.

Controlling the Astral Avatar, Cain kept his eyes closed. However, {Eye of Clairvoyance} was active.

The range of the skill had increased greatly due to his recent ascension. Now, he could see quite far into the distance with the Devil Eyes, as well as filter useless information from entering his brain.

He used it to scan the environment...

'The Mutant Beasts are a lot. Although they are gathered around the wall, they all don't seem to intent on taking it down.'

His mind spun as he observed with a faint frown,

'Perhaps they are preserving the humans for the big guy.' Thinking about it, Cain chuckled to himself.

He definitely couldn't understand the mind of a mutant beast.

'Sorry, Ruby.'

With little to block their path, they dove in from above the walls. Since Hunter had already given Leah a warning beforehand, they weren't attacked.

The {Golden Devil Wyrm} brought up a fierce wind as Cain tried to descend.

The rest quickly disembarked from its back and Cain unsummoned the illusory creature. He took a deep breath to stabilize himself. Summoning the creature took a lot of energy from him, and he had planned on only using it in cases of emergencies, but plans were made to be tampered with.

Defeating Guy had taken a lot from him, but not so much that he could no longer move. He had recovered somewhat, but facing off against such an opponent was truly something else.

He took a deep breath then opened his eyes.

Evangeline and Jenny had already stepped forward and was busy talking with Leah and a woman who seemed to be the current leader of the Lightslayers.

To prevent any misunderstandings, Cain had Like and his men stay back.

'I wonder what they would think of the found out we have done something to their leader...'

Cain had no idea what Evangeline had done to the leader of the Lightslayers, but he was very sure he wasn't dead... yet at least.

Inevitably, the Lightslayers were beginning to panic with no word from their leader and the people he had set out with. He could take advantage of their panic.

Cain walked forward, but didn't interfere with the conversation going on between the girls.

Instead, he observed his surroundings,

'They don't seem like much. Average equipment and weapons. But they all possess something else. A spark, dare I say... The blessing of a Celestial.'

For one such as Yanagi, even the smallest specks of its power was something unfathomable for a regular human. It provided them with a fighting chance... or at least, hope that they had a fighting chance.

He stared around again, and noticed that there were numerous eyes staring through the glassless windows of the broken down buildings surrounding the fairly empty space they currently occupied.

These people wore semi clean clothes, and didn't seem to be lacking much. Their eyes also seemed filled with hope. The humans of this world had been brought up in very soft times, but they were very adaptable.

Still... Some were born to fight, while others weren't. Such is the reality of life. It is then up to those who could fight to either stand up for, or stand over tjose who couldn't.

Cain sighed.

"So that's most of it." Evangeline said calmly,

"You have limited time to make a decision. If you don't act fast, I assure you this... You all might not make it off this place. Alive at least."

Suki's face was a bit pale, "I understand you. But moving so many people away is going to be daunting. Plus, calling back all the others scattered around the island..."

Evangeline shrugged, "That's none of my business. You need to get it done if you want to survive. And quickly at that."

Cain couldn't help but nod his head.

This strategy of Evangeline's was quite nice. Simple, yet straightforward. She was planning on backing the bespectacled girl into a corner. By offering help not as a favor, but as a debt, escaping from her hands would be a challenging endeavor if one was intent on keeping up appearances.

Sure enough, Suki sighed,

"We... we can't do it alone. I... I just don't have the means to move so many people."

Under the covering of the grey skies, darkness seemed to fall upon everything. There was no place this subtle, yet stark darkness didn't touch.

Evangeline's smile seemed to make this darkness deeper. It was charming, yet deeply unsettling,

"Then let's make a deal..."

Suki eyed her suspiciously, "Okay. I'm fine listening to a proposal."

Evangeline nodded then turned to Cain, who seemed to be content enjoying their conversation,

"Swear allyship to him."

Cain frowned immediately, 'What the hell?! What the hell are you saying?!'

Swear allyship?! Cain had to admit... He had said some pretty embarrassing things before. But this was just on a whole other level. At least, that is what he told himself...

Suki gave him a blank stare,

"Him?"

Evangeline nodded, her smile deepening,

"If you can do this, we will help you. Nothing too difficult, right? Swear yourself, your loyalty to him and save all these people."

Suki seemed conflicted, "But... I'm afraid -"

Evangeline shook her head,

"Think about this very well. Plus, we don't have a lot of time to waste."

The pressure Evangeline applied was perfect. Not up much, yet leaving no room for her opponent to catch a breath.

Eventually, after some time, Suki stared into Evangeline's eyes with determination,

"Alright. I agree. However, I can only speak for myself. I'm not so sure about others."

Evangeline nodded, "That's fine. Just you is enough for now."

With that, they discussed the rest of the plan before Suki left.

Cain turned to Evangeline, a question on his brows.

She chuckled, "Just wanted to gain something from this whole thing.*

Cain's eyes narrowed. He didn't believe a lick fo what she said, but he didn't care. All he cared about what getting thos done as soon as possible.

"When do we act?" Jenny suddenly said.

Cain turned to her, "Probably in a few minutes. Why?"

There was a subtle look of panic on her face,

"Well, you might probably want to speed these plans up, Cain."

No .ore words were said before Cain understood the reason for her panic. The ground was shaking, greater than it ever had.

"Crap!"

Cracks began to spread across the ground, filling their hearts with cold dread.

Cain turned to Suki, a stern frown on his face,

"When will the others show up?!"

Suki shook her head,

"The path here is too dangerous. It would be best for us to rendezvous at the whatever faring vessel you have." Having been informed about the ship by Leah, Suki obviously was prepared up adjust plans.

Cain applauded her quick thinking,

"In that case, there's no need to hesitate right now. Everyone, move in!"

Loud shouts were made as numerous people were led out of the buildings to stand. Since they were a lot, the small area of empty space was quickly crowded.

Paying it no mind, Cain quickly consider what to do,

'The best course of action to take would be to use {Spatial Jump}, but it can't carry so many people. Eva's {Shadow World} is the same. And their cooldowns were long as well."

Cain sighed, 'Maybe if I just go a short distance, perhaps a few meters forward...'

In practice, it was possible. {Spatial Jump} had evolved such that any other person apart from himself could be dragged through a spatial gate as long as he had enough mana.

The question was, did he have enough?

The answer was yes and no. Yes because he could technically carry along of them; more that a thousand, and no because the distance he could carry them would not get them out of the danger zone.

'Will we have to fight from the get go?' This would lead to the most casualties, so Cain wanted to avoid this at all costs. But if there was no other option...

Still, it wouldn't hurt to try. His mana pool was incredibly deep, plus there was nothing wrong in praying for a miracle.

There was nothing else he could do at this point. He could pray and hope, but that obviously wasn't going to change much.

Gambling with so many lives was irresponsible, but at the end of the day, he could only act within his means. Besides, if he wasn't here, they would all die anyways. Still, he was going to try his best. For them and for whatever shred of humanity he had in his heart.

"Take this wall down!"

Cain's loud yell came a moment later, and Suki responded with an incantation.

Cracks began to appear on the wall, starting from the base, all the way up the top.

Everyone seemed to hold their breaths...

Crumble...

The wall came down.

And a tide of death came surging in.

Cain chose this moment to stir whatever was left of the mana within him. Everything was drained in an instant, leaving him with nothing; and a desire to throw up.

He bravely held that feeling back and activated {Spatial Jump}. Skill didn't require physical contact, only that he concentrated on the things within a certain space he wanted to move.

Like a miracle... A work of God, almost two thousand people disappeared from behind the shattered walls;

And reappeared right at the rear lines of the beasts that had just rushed right through the broken walls to devour them.

"Run!" Jenny yelled at the top of her lungs the moment she found her bearings, twisting around like a spinning top bringing with her a whip of bullets spitting from the muzzlw of the guns in her hands...