As the sun sank in the west, a tense, oppressive atmosphere hung over the streets of Chang’an City. Smoke and dust filled the air. The fighting had turned the city into an unfamiliar, dangerous place, and the Eldia people hurried cautiously across the streets, their eyes full of fear and anxiety.
In an alley, a family huddled in a corner. The flames of war cast a red glow over their faces, but there was no joy in them. The mother held her young child, soothing the little one in a trembling whisper, while the father stared into the distance, alert for any possible threat.
Suddenly, a deafening blast rang through the entire city. The earth-shaking tremor sent hearts racing. People held their breath and went rigid, like stone statues. Then a dazzling blaze shot into the sky in the distance, trailing thick clouds of gunsmoke.
At once, people began running frantically for cover. They flooded toward anywhere that offered even a trace of safety, whether a dilapidated house amid the ruins or a basement air-raid shelter. They had no choice but to follow their instinct to survive.
Shelters throughout the streets and alleys filled with people seeking comfort and support from one another. Women clutched their children tightly, hoping to shield them with their own bodies. Elderly people struggled to find a corner that had survived the destruction and prayed in silence.
The bombardment continued, like death whispering in their ears. The shock waves from the explosions left their ears ringing.
Gunsmoke shrouded Thunder God Port.
Gal returned to human form, his feet touching the ground as he surveyed the ruined port before him, along with the scattered bodies and wreckage.
"Corps commander, clearing the rubble and searching for survivors will take several hours. Shall we proceed?" Bivis asked.