A Temporary Farewell to the Battlefield

The wind gradually died down, leaving only the smells of blood and acid in the valley. Ryan paused amid the ruins, confirming that the rescue squad had already departed. He did not follow them. They were taking their seriously wounded back to report to the Association, while he had chosen another path.

At the Association's temporary base, the Hunters gave him the most basic treatment. The wound at his shoulder was wrapped in a rough strip of cloth, but it was still seeping blood. Ryan did not stay long. The next day, he boarded a vehicle transporting supplies and left the battlefield.

The journey was bumpy as he watched the scenery outside gradually change. At first, there were only ruined forests, charred tree trunks, and corroded stone walls, with traces of the ant swarm lingering in the air. Farther on, the ground gradually leveled out. Rice paddies and villages appeared, with wisps of cooking smoke rising into the sky. The bloodshed of the battlefield stood in stark contrast to the peace before him, leaving him dazed for a moment, as though he had entered two completely different worlds.

After several days of traveling, changing vehicles and boats, and passing through several cities, he finally arrived at the metropolis where Heaven's Arena stood. The city was still bustling with people, its streets lined with towering buildings, while vendors called out one after another. Ryan moved through the crowd with his pack on his back, his steps slow but firm. The noise outside clashed with the bloodstains still on him, and his eyes remained fixed on the familiar alley ahead.

After passing through the alley, a tall wall appeared before him. The courtyard gates were tightly shut, and the stone lions before them still stood silently, the years having left mottled marks