ALL NOVEL Chapter 207: Fall of the Raven's Nest
A tense silence hung in the air. Raven watched Ren warily, her hand reaching for her communicator, ready to call for backup.
But before she could make contact, a deafening explosion ripped through the air, a plume of smoke and fire rising into the sky, staining the already dark clouds a deeper shade of gray.
Her communicator clattered to the ground. Raven stared at the source of the explosion, her hands trembling uncontrollably. The flames reflected in her red eyes, mirroring the inferno that had once consumed the Siberian wilderness.
The Nest, the place where she had poured all her hopes and dreams, was being consumed by fire. The flimsy structures, torn apart like paper, mirrored her own shattered heart.
The children.
A ringing filled her ears, blurring the line between reality and hallucination. Forgetting the Herrscher of the Void, she ran towards the Nest, a desperate prayer echoing in her mind, hoping it was all a nightmare, that the children were safe.
Kiana, equally alarmed, followed, pulling Ren along.
The wooden planks of the shantytown glowed red in the flames, sending plumes of steam into the air as they fell into the water below. The pathways the children used were destroyed, the metal framework buckling under the heat.
Ignoring her own injuries, Raven plunged into the inferno, screaming the children's names.
But there was no response. No cries, no pleas for help. Reaching the center of the blaze, she saw the collapsed remains of the Nest, the full horror of the situation crashing down upon her.
Tears streamed down her face as she ran towards the charred remains of a building, her hands tearing at the scorching metal, revealing a small, blackened figure.
"What happened here?" Kiana, arriving at the scene, froze. Less than half an hour had passed since they left.
Releasing Ren's hand, she joined Raven, desperately searching for survivors.
Ren, standing apart from the chaos, looked towards the western sector, a thoughtful frown on his face.
Their search yielded nothing. They overturned every piece of debris, every potential hiding place, but found no sign of life. The charred remains beneath the collapsed structures deepened their despair. The flimsy materials of the Nest had burned quickly, leaving little behind.
Rain began to fall, hissing as it struck the hot ashes. Sobs echoed through the ruins. Raven and Kiana, moments ago locked in a deadly struggle, now stood side by side, consumed by grief. Ren picked up a piece of twisted metal—part of a small robot.
"Maruku." Having spent time with Sora, Kiana recognized the guidance robot. She took Ren's hand, pulling herself up, reaching for the wreckage, but Raven snatched it away.
She aimed her pistol at them, her eyes wild with grief and rage.
"It's your fault! Damned Herrschers! You ruined my life! You killed those children!" Her finger trembled on the trigger. The Seven Thunders of Retribution, sensing its master's fury, transformed into a pistol crackling with red lightning.
Ren stepped in front of Kiana, shielding her. He didn't understand what had happened, but if Raven intended to harm Kiana, she would have to go through him.
Just as Raven was about to fire, heavy footsteps echoed from above. A man, his face contorted in a mask of rage, emerged from the ruins.
"I told you you'd regret this, Raven."
Raven froze, turning to face her former comrade.
"MOTH! It was you!"
"Surprised? This is your fault! I almost had the Herrscher of the Void! You threw it all away!" MOTH's voice was laced with madness. "Do you know what it's like to have your child murdered by a Herrscher?! Why did you stop me?! Why did you shoot me?!"
"I gave everything to World Serpent! All I want is revenge! You betrayed me! You destroyed me! Now, do you feel the pain of loss, Raven? The moment you stopped me, you should have known… crushing a man's hope for vengeance… is a cruel, unforgivable act."
His arm twitched, the wound from Raven's earlier shot reopening, but he seemed oblivious to the pain, a cruel smile twisting his lips.
A bullet pierced his chest, spraying blood across the ashes.
But MOTH didn't even flinch. Like a puppet pulled by invisible strings, he continued his rant.
"Do you feel the pain now? The despair? Kill me! World Serpent, Herrscher of the Void… you pretend to be righteous, but your hands are stained with blood!"
"I'll be waiting for you in hell!"
His eyes, filled with venomous hatred, bored into them, as if trying to drag them down with him. With a final, maniacal laugh, he activated the Honkai bomb strapped to his chest.
A massive explosion ripped through the Nest, obliterating what little remained, not even sparing the charred corpses.
The blast tore through the supporting structure, sending the remnants of the Nest, and the three figures standing amidst the ruins, plummeting downwards.
As they fell towards the contaminated water below, Ren, the only one still conscious, summoned his flaming greatsword, plunging it into the side of a building, arresting their fall.
He gripped Kiana's hand tightly, shielding her from the falling debris.
Raven, her spirit broken, her red eyes dull and lifeless, fell like a bird with a broken wing. The destruction of the Nest had taken away her will to live.
"This is… fate."
She closed her eyes, waiting for the cold embrace of the water.
But a hand grabbed her arm, stopping her descent.
She opened her eyes. The white-haired girl clung to her wrist, pulling her upwards.
"Don't give up… don't… give up…"
"Herrscher of the Void…"
Was I wrong? Confusion clouded Raven's eyes before darkness claimed her.
…
In the western sector, Durandal, having just evacuated the survivors, looked at the message Ren had sent her, a puzzled frown on her face.
Beside her, Sora and the other children huddled together, terrified, praying for their teacher to save them. They didn't know that their teacher had lost everything.