Return of the Fallen Volume 1 Chapter 68
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Author: Blue_Rat
ch68
Every step the two took was followed by loud explosions and the entire palace shaking violently. As Kazuki pulled Nunully along with him, his aim was precisely the opposite direction of the destruction and chaos behind him.
Even heading in the opposite direction proved problematic. The palace was several stories high and due to Garn’s fury, many places had already collapsed. Kazuki would turn down a corridor only for the entire path to be blocked by man made hills of debris. Because of this, the two would have to constantly turn around and double back to find a new route for their escape.
*Boom Crack Ka-Boom*
Windows that stretched nearly 30 feet, all the way up to the ceiling exploded forth, sending deadly shards of glass at the nearby servants and soldiers. They two were caught up in this mess and although the soldiers were loyal, to stand up against Master Garn, that was just something they couldn’t do. Whether because he was a hero or the terrifying might he displayed before all, all they knew was deep within themselves it was an impossibility to confront him.
Even when they fled though, most of their fates were already sealed. The roof had caved in in some spots and whole floors collapsed beneath one’s feet. This palace was the biggest construction in all of Tresta city. It housed several thousand servants, soldiers, officials, cooks, healers, teachers, and many more. This home that they had lived in, full of safety and security, with no concern of the outside world, was now literally burying them alive.
The screams and terror Nunully endured from those that were constantly dying around her, caused her to tremble uncontrollably. If Kazuki were not here to pull her along, she would have frozen in fear long ago, unable to move even half a step.
Kazuki though was unaffected by these screams of dread, instead, he was more concerned with finding a way out. He had already taken several different ways but each one was completely blocked with several feet thick of debris. Had it just been a bit of glass and wood then Kazuki would have plowed directly through it but because the palace was built using some of the toughest material known to man, even a normal stone wall was actually almost as tough as metal. This metal-like stone was the exact obstacle that could not be simply punched through.
Running through the palace, a bit of ceiling that had been burning collapsed in front of the two and once more blocked their path. Turning around, more of the ceiling collapsed.
(Shit.)
“Nunully, can you put these flames out?”
Nunully though was shaken to the core. She could fight people and even kill them but to be in a situation where every single step could be her last and even if she didn’t move, that could be her end as well, was nerve-racking. Nunully couldn’t seem to calm down or think clearly.
Kazuki realized her mind was clouded and she was unfocused. This time he yelled directly in her face.
“NUNULLY!”
Still, Nunully’s gaze seemed shaky and distant. Kazuki took to fingers and pinched her side and a loud squeal escaped her lips.
*Eeeeep*
She was still shaken but a bit of focus, as well as a mix of anger, had brought her out of her head.
“What was that for.”
Kazuki shook his head.
“I’ll apologize later, for now, look at the situation at hand. These flames in front of us, can you extinguish them?”
If the situation were calmer and Kazuki could both fully concentrate and had a bit of time since his main element was fire, he’d be able to deal with the flames but again that would take time. Nunully, on the other hand, could use water and that would only require a few seconds at most from her.
Nunully looked at the height of the flames and felt the wave of heat billowing out and stinging her skin.
“No, at my level, to materialize water out of just magical energy is impossible. I can only use the moisture in the air to bring forth water. Surrounded by these flames, there is no moisture in the air.”
(Damn.)
Nunully and Kazuki looked around for another exit but none was to be found. That’s when Nunully looked at the floor.
“Kazuki, can’t we go through the floor? The floor should only be about half a foot thick with stone material. I’ve seen your strength, you may not be able to punch through several feet thick of this stone but a few inches shouldn’t be too much of a problem. Can you do it?”
Kazuki laughed.
“Nice idea, step back.”
Kazuki knelt down and gathered strength for a punch but before he struck out he noticed something. The stone floor was warm…No, it was hot and it felt as though the temperature was rising. Kazuki extended some ki into the floor beneath him and his brows scrunched.
(Damn, the floor beneath is burning as well.)
Were he to punch through the floor the two would be covered in flame. For Kazuki, at this temperature, he could be immersed inside the fire below for the rest of his life and be unharmed but Nunully was different. Just being a few feet from the rising temperature of the fire was enough to sting her skin. Even now her complexion was growing redder and redder. Kazuki could not take that path, he felt now that he couldn’t just abandon someone who had helped him earlier.
Nunully and her mother were the only two people in the entire kingdom he could go to to get the materials he needed and they had even fulfilled part of the agreement. Only because of Kazuki being watched was Nunully dragged into this mess, so Kazuki felt he owed her. He had to at least get her to safety or it wouldn’t sit right with him.
Kazuki sighed inwardly.
“Ryuta, is something wrong?”
Nunully asked calmly even though fear was evident through the trembling of her body.
Kazuki shook his head.
“We can’t go down, the floor beneath us is engulfed in flame. We’ll have to find som…”
Kazuki’s eyes drifted upward to where the ceiling had caved in.
(There.)
Kazuki didn’t hesitate. Grabbing Nunully around the waist, Kazuki put some strength into his legs and leaped up high into the air before landing on the upper floor above.
The movement had been so sudden that Nunully hadn’t the time to scream, still, when they landed on the upper floor, she immediately pushed Kazuki away, escaping from his grasp.
“Next time tell someone when you’re about to leap like that. I thought my heart was going to explode.”
Kazuki smiled fiendishly and opened and closed his hand repeatedly.
“Hehehe, your body’s not too bad, is it.”
A tinge of red spread beneath Nunully’s mask and she pointed at Kazuki accusingly.
“You…You…You animal, beast, pervert pervert pervert.”
Nunully stamped her feet repeatedly which caused the already damaged floor to cave in slightly. Nunully’s eyes widened and the floor collapsed beneath her. Kazuki leaped into action and he grabbed her and jumped several feet away.
Nunully’s knees grew weak and her legs gave out. causing her to fall on her butt. She was now on the verge of tears. Kazuki decided not to tease her anymore.
Being out of harm’s way, he thought to make a joke but they obviously were still not safe and his stupid play almost led to disaster.
(It’s best I pull no more pranks, at least until we’re far away from this situation.)
Kazuki reached out a hand. With a sincere tone, he apologized.
“Sorry about that, are you ok?”
Nunully grabbed his hand and stood up. She crossed her arms and spouted.
“Hmph, your apology is meaningless without action.”
Kazuki grabbed her hand.
“You’re right, but at the moment there’s little way I can show sincerity, so it will have to wait for later. Let’s go.”
Nunully still felt a little upset but Kazuki did already apologize and he was right, now was not the time. She swore in her heart that if she made it out of this, she would make him suffer as she had.
Kazuki and Nunully raced down the long halls and corridors and only a minute or so later the two took a corner and Kazuki bumped into something hard which knocked him on his ass. Then he quickly felt the tight embrace of someone.
“Ryuta!”
Kazuki looked at the girl in his embrace, hearing his name be called and seeing the fiery red locks in his chest, Kazuki immediately knew who it was. Kazuki gently hugged the girl in his chest.
“Asuna.”
Asuna’s body trembled hearing her name being called. Lifting her head up, tears filled the edge of her eyes and were on the verge of raining down. Then Asuna swung at him.
*Thud*
Asuna landed a heavy hit on top of Kazuki’s head, causing him to roll around gripping the top of his head in pain.
“Asuna, what the hell.”
The tears finally fell from Asuna’s eyes as she yelled at Kazuki.
“Ryuta you idiot, asshole. Where were you? The whole building started to collapse and break apart all around us and you weren’t in your room. Where were you where were you where were you?”
Tears continuously fell from Asuna’s face and Kimi quickly knelt down next to her and embraced her. Stroking her head softly she glared demonically at Kazuki while whispering gentle words to Asuna.
“It’s ok it’s ok, I’m here, we’re all here for you.”
It was only now that Kazuki saw everyone else. Asuna, Kimi, Sam, Shin, and Danny all stood nearby. Shin chuckled lightly as though nothing bothered him but his tone was anything but playful.
“Hehehe, Ryuta, what the hell were you doing all this time.”
Seeing a figure standing near Kazuki, Shin’s fury grew a little more.
“I see, so while we were all worried and searching this shit hole, what, you were playing house.”
Kazuki slowly stood up and saw fury on everyone’s faces. Even Sam who usually showed little to no expression at all had a sour look.
“Right now it doesn’t matter, I’ll explain later but first we need to get the hell out of here. Any complaints and you can file them later, let’s go.”
Everyone was surprised by Kazuki’s attitude, this was unlike the Ryuta they knew. He seemed very serious and authoritative right now. None knew how to react but as he turned and pulled Nunully with him, they all instinctively followed after him. Asuna seeing Kazuki pulling along a girl she had never met before went from tears to fury in but a moment. She jumped up and followed after Kazuki as well.
(Stupid Ryuta, you better explain everything after this or I’ll kill you.)
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“Kazuki, can’t we go through the floor?” Should be Ryuta, right? Ugh, thought we were finally rid of annoying Asuna and the others. *sulk*