Haze

The control panel burst into a brilliant glow.

Circuits that had lain dormant for over twenty years—

Were reignited by a single holy-light spell.

That tiny spark of magic…

Cascaded like falling dominoes.

Amplifying.

Growing.

Until it became strong enough—

To activate the magic crystals themselves.

The safety crystal—

Was instantly pierced by the surging energy.

And in that moment—

The entire alchemy chamber began to heat.

Flames, fed by special minerals—

Transformed into a raging fire-dragon.

A crimson beast.

Devouring everything within the chamber.

The smell spread instantly.

Even through the crystal barriers—

It could not be contained.

Nothing escaped the dragon’s wrath.

The roaring fire—

Painted their faces in burning red.

Luna’s crimson hair—

Now blazed like living flame.

They stood silently.

Watching.

The air filled with the scent of roasting flesh.

The outer layers—

Had already turned to ash.

Inside—

The sheer mass had trapped the heat.

Cooking it from within.

A horrifying aroma.

They both knew—

This was no ordinary meat.

It was human flesh.

Even if those people…

Were already dead.

Luna’s rose-red eyes met Allen’s dark crimson ones.

Neither spoke.

A silent tension formed.

Suspicion.

A chain of it—

Slowly tightening.

Allen felt it first.

That glance—

Like falling into frozen depths.

She began to fear Luna.

And Luna—

Felt the same.

Because the Allen from moments ago—

Was not the Allen she knew.

Those eyes—

Hungry for blood.

For death.

Like a starving beast.

Yet—

That slap—

Had brought her back.

At least for now.

Still…

Something had changed.

When Luna first met her—

She knew nothing.

No name.

No past.

Only that her master had carried her out of a coffin.

A “hero.”

That was all she knew.

But now—

She wondered…

Was that really her?

Or something else?

Fear crept in.

The unknown always did.

And yet—

Those eyes…

They were familiar.

Allen looked away.

Unable to meet Luna’s gaze.

Because she knew.

She was dangerous.

That night—

She had slaughtered the assassins.

Torn them apart.

Devoured them.

And she couldn’t stop herself.

Like being possessed.

A puppet in her own body.

Worst of all—

It had felt… good.

Even now—

The smell in the air…

Made her hungry.

But she resisted.

Clinging to reason.

“I am a hero… I am a hero…”

She repeated it.

Like a mantra.

Driving away the darkness.

“Did you feel that…?”

Luna suddenly asked.

“…Feel what?”

Allen avoided it.

She knew exactly what Luna meant.

She had nearly lost control again.

That slap—

Had saved her.

“No… nothing.”

Luna corrected herself.

They both understood.

But neither said it aloud.

To Allen—

Luna was still a stranger she trusted.

She couldn’t risk losing that.

To Luna—

Allen was someone she knew deeply.

Yet suddenly…

Didn’t.

Ever since that bite—

She had been cautious.

Afraid Allen might snap again.

Now—

That fear grew stronger.

“…Are you okay?”

Luna asked awkwardly.

Allen kept her head down.

Tracing patterns in the dust with her foot.

“I’m fine…”

She didn’t look up.

She feared being seen as a monster.

She couldn’t endure that again.

Not after everything.

The fire roared on.

Reducing the mass to ash.

Like dragon’s breath—

Scorching everything.

Nothing remained.

Fire purified all.

It freed the souls—

Bound by dark magic.

Returning them to rest.

At last—

They were released.

“Bang!”

Luna struck the console.

“…Damn you, Savage.”

Silence fell.

Heavy.

The mountain of flesh—

Now a mound of ash.

The stench of blood—

Gone.

But who could forget—

What it once was?

Hours ago—

This town had been alive.

Praying.

Celebrating.

Now—

They were ash.

No one could tell who was who.

Everything—

Burned away.

The fire died.

Luna shut it down.

Cool air rushed in.

The chamber cooled instantly.

The cold touched Allen’s face.

She said nothing.

Then—

She turned.

Climbed down.

And entered the chamber.

“Don’t…”

Luna whispered.

But she went anyway.

The floor—

Charred black.

The ash mound—

Still standing.

She approached it.

And saw—

A small red crystal.

A flawed fire magic crystal.

But beautiful.

Her expression didn’t change—

Until tears fell.

Hot.

Rolling down her face.

Dropping onto the crystal.

“Ah…”

Pain flooded her mind.

She remembered.

That afternoon.

She had bought it—

For a little girl.

A gift.

There had been two.

Now—

One remained.

The girl…

Was gone.

She reached into the ash.

Took it gently.

Luna stepped closer.

And understood.

This was Allen.

“Let’s go… Eugene is waiting.”

She said softly.

She helped her up.

“Come on.”

They left together.

The grass—

Burned black by blood.

They followed the path back.

“…Ah…”

A few stray Corpse Guardians remained.

Weak.

“Bang!”

Luna crushed one.

Blue particles scattered—

Like fireflies.

“Bang!”

Another fell.

The path filled with glowing light.

Then—

She stopped.

Ahead—

A child.

Or what remained.

His body twisted.

Barely holding together.

“…Ah…”

He crawled.

Crying blood.

Reaching toward Allen.

She stepped back.

Afraid.

No weak points.

Only a slow death.

“Rest… may your soul be freed.”

Luna struck.

Ending it.

The hand fell.

Something dropped.

A hairpin.

Allen rushed forward.

Picking it up.

Like treasure.

Her gift.

“HAHAHAHAHAHA—!”

She laughed suddenly.

Wild.

Unhinged.

She understood.

The girl had been devoured.

The boy tried to save her—

And met the same fate.

Her laughter broke.

Her body collapsed.

And with it—

All hope.