Snake Tongue sat leaning beneath half a broken wall, her back slightly hot as the earth-and-stone structure faithfully conducted the heat and offered a rough texture.
This was the edge of a massive chunk of foundation in the barren wilderness. It had just been engulfed by a round of Flame Burst bombardment, but there was hardly anything left to destroy.
Lines of fire spread into the distance, while thick smoke obscured most of the view. Within the smoke, strong light, Flame Bursts, and even the cold gleam of bladed weapons flickered in and out of sight. The scattered fighting seemed as though it would never end.
The thick smoke continued to rise, as if it intended to pollute the enormous cloud mass floating in the sky. The latter paid it no mind. Occasionally, lightning darted through its gloomy underside, illuminating vague, savage demonic shadows within.
The ground still retained some warmth, yet tender shoots had already forced their way through the scorched earth and grown stubbornly—this was a bit excessive. Yet when she looked closely at the fresh green blades of grass and the grains of soil and dust rolling along the edges, every detail felt so real that it prickled at the heart, especially once one understood the true nature of their existence.
Snake Tongue reached out and pinched the blade of grass that had just sprouted.
It was fragile after all, snapping cleanly. A trace of cool juice even seeped onto her fingertips...
Snake Tongue's mind was still somewhat numb from the high-intensity battle she had just endured. Faced with such external stimulation, it was difficult for her to give the matter any careful thought. In the end, all her thoughts became a sigh that was both absurd and self-mocking.
If one had not experienced it firsthand, who