God Ash: Remnants of the fallen.

The world was bleak, and the waves seemed to finally calm down...

Staring out the window, he realized that for the first time in months, he could see the everlasting grey skies receed a bit.

This was quite unusual...

'What's going on?' he thought to himself.

There was only a few possible explanations. The most believable one was that they were finally out of danger.

Cain smiled to himself, 'Could it be that the rest of the world is in better shape?'

He seriously doubted it.

Feeling a presence appear behind him, he turned around slowly.

Standing there, slightly enveloped in darkness, was Evangeline.

Staring at Cain briefly, she smiled softly,

"How's your body holding up?"

Cain shrugged as he walked back to the bed,

"Not bad. I'm almost completely healed up, although the burns might take some more time." Cain said.

Evangeline moved closer, "That's good then. You'll need all your strength from now on."

Cain frowned, "And what's that supposed to mean?"

Evangeline crossed her arms and leaned forward,

"Well, it could mean many things."

Pointing her index finger at him, her raspy voice resonated in his chest,

"For one, we might have just gotten out of the Death Zone. Meaning we are swiftly approaching land."

Cain heaved a sigh of relief, "Is that so..."

Evangeline threw him a strange glance,

"But that doesn't mean our problems are over, does it?"

Cain snorted, "You don't need to tell me that."

Evangeline nodded, "I don't. So save your strength and don't do anything stupid for now."

Cain rolled his eyes, "When have I ever done something stupid?"

Evangeline chuckled, but continued to stare at him without leaving.

Eventually, when he couldn't bear it anymore, Cain was forced to break the silence.

He sighed, "What is this about? Don't you have other things to do?"

Evangeline hesitated for a while, something rare to witness. After a few seconds, she spoke,

"Those dead people... the corpses... what are we going to do with them?"

Cain frowned, 'Is she just trying to buy some time?'

Regardless, he still answered,

"There's no way they can be buried right now. Keeping dead bodies onboard might also cause some strange disease if we aren't careful. Why not just burn them all?"

Evangeline's face seemed a bit dark,

"Well, in case you didn't know, some of the people onboard were very familiar with many of the deceased, some even knowing a few from before the apocalypse. They aren't willing to accept it."

Cain sighed. This was a very delicate matter to address. On one hand, it was best to get rid of the corpses as fast as possible. On the other hand, he had no right to deny them the chance to bury their deceased acquaintances.

Evangeline smiled, "Can't make a decision?"

Cain leaned back onto the bed, staring at the opposite wall,

"What can I do? Its either I agree or don't. Both choices are easy to make, but each comes with its own burdens."

Evangeline shook her head, "Don't think about it too much. We have to act in favor of those still living. The dead are already gone."

Cain nodded, "In that case, we'll need to send them off properly."

A strange light appeared in her eyes...

Standing in front of Cain, she leaned forward,

"Then... let's discuss about what will happen once we reach the City."

Sensing the atmosphere change, Cain leaned back, trying to turn his eye away from the provocative sight of her slightly exposed bossom.

"What do you mean?"

"Most of the people onboard are going to be leaving to search for their loved ones and family once we reach the City."

Cain nodded, "This is only true if the city still stands. We both know how unlikely that is."

He paused for a while, then added,

"In the event that we do manage to meet something on those shores, then what will be, will be. By then, I will have done my part."

Evangeline hummed, "Is that so..."

Cain groaned, "Still, that might be the least of our problems. For all we know, the entire continent has already been infested with Devils."

He then sighed, "It's been a while since we had any run ins with those bastards. They've most likely than not had a lot of time to grow and become powerful. That's not good news for us..."

He tapped his leg frantically, "There's just so many things to consider. Perhaps now was not the time to-"

Evangeline stopped him before he could finish by placing a hand on his and leaning in even further. Feeling the coldness of her skin forced him to shut up.

The slightly ambiguous air between them forced his thoughts to become a bit muddled and strange.

Her cold gaze managed to calm him. It was an eerie, disturbing feeling.

Then she spoke up, "If what is left of the city has been infested with Devils, then it is what it is. There might be no survivors. If that is not the case, I'll have to leave for a while, and I imagine most of the others will be doing the same. We all had families before all this began, so we have to see what is left of them."

Cain frowned, feeling a bit uncomfortable,

"Then... Is this goodbye?"

Why did he feel a little sad?

Evangeline snorted, her eyes blazing with a deep seated emotion he couldn't quite place. Her voice was deep, leaving no room for argument,

"Of course not. Even if you wanted me gone, I'm not going anywhere."

Cain swallowed hard, 'What the hell?! Where's all this coming from?'

Feeling a strange heat rising in his, he felt the need to quickly pour some cold water on it.

He shook his head, "You can go do whatever you want. I'm not holding anyone back. I also have things I'd like to get done."

Evangeline's face turned calm once more. Letting go of him, she waved slightly as she began sinking into the shadows,

"If you're feeling better, come down to the storage room. I have a surprise for you."

Before Cain could say anything, she was gone...

"What was that all about?" Cain said to himself with a sigh.

'Store room, huh...'

Shaking his head, he proceeded to rise to his feet. A knock suddenly came from the door.

Cain frowned. Why were the eso many people coming for him today?

Before he could answer, the doorknob twisted and the door was flung open. Standing there, with a jewel encrusted staff was Susan.

A look of concern on her face...

Cain had a strange smile on his face,

"I didn't say you can come in, you know..."

Susan's cheeks reddened, "S-sorry..."

Cain chuckled. Susan sighed then smiled,

"You did well."

Cain laughed, "You think?"

Susan nodded, her pretty face set in a serious expression,

"You did more than you think last night. We pulled through because of you."

Cain sighed, "I honestly don't know where to go next. We've come so far in such a short time, but something tells me it might not be enough for what is to come."

Susan walked into the room and sat on the bed,

"The future is always clad in uncertainty. Isn't that what makes it exciting?"

Cain smiled wryly, "That's one way to put it, I guess."

Staring into her brown, almost golden eyes, Cain found it hard to stare away,

Her beautiful smile adorned her face like the most precious ornaments, yet Cain could sense a subtle sadness hidden within it.

Clearing his throat, Cain forcibly broke the awkward atmosphere,

"Let's go. There's something I want to go check out."

***

Stepping out the room, they walked in silence...

Cain had his mind occupied by something else as he pulled up his status screen;

***

{Angel of Fallen Grief, Gihenai}: Tier 1 (Legendary)

Description: Lucien, first Battalion commander of the Divine army of Tian, earned the heavenly Monarch's displeasure.

As such, his beautiful wings were torn off his back, and he was cast away from the Celestial Sky. As he fell, grief consumed his body and soul, turning into everlasting hellfire, bringing about one of the first great calamities of the mortal realms, devouring hundreds of worlds in its wake. All was consumed by Hellflame, except for the feathers tempered in the flames of grief.

After the devastation, and after the Hellflame had died out, these feathers were gathered by the Dwarves of the Scorching Mountains, and were used to forge a Divine Weapon as light as a feather, yet as heavy as grief.

{Angel of Fallen Grief, Gihenai}:

Attack Power: 500.

Attack Speed: 5.4.

Durability: 5,000/5,000.

Skills: Hellflame of Grief, Heavy as Grief, Light as a feather, Soul Devourer.

***

Staring at the pair of gauntlets in his inventory, Cain was filled with mixed feelings.

The gauntlets were made from a silver material. Etched into it were runes that gave off a ghostly, yet beautiful, emerald-like, green glow.

Stretching out from the sides were feather like patterns, with the fingertips ending in terrifyingly sharp claws.

At the end of both gauntlets was a branded insignia of a chain of mountains with a scorching sun hanging above it.

'Dwarven weaponry. Nice... They do look a little to big though.'

Not only were the stats on the weapon unlike any other, but reading through the details of each attached skill also filled him with excitement.

And how could he not be? Every one of the skill was a complimentary skill that could potentially increase his combat abilities greatly. He was well within his rights to be excited.

Suppressing the desire to rest them out immediately, he made his way towards the storage room.