The once-thriving city was now in ruins. The grand garden and buildings had turned into blackened debris, stretching out in all directions.
Ashes from the burned buildings and people floated in the air like snowflakes. The homes, statues, and ancient architecture, nothing was spared from Ignis's rampage.
The bones and ashes of fallen Chiron warriors were scattered everywhere. Within minutes, the entire city turned into a cemetery.
Those who had survived ran around the ruins, desperately looking for their loved ones. Some were busy pulling their comrades from under fallen stones, helping the wounded, and offering comfort to those who had lost everything.
Yet amid all the sorrow and despair, YuWon's eyes held no pity. He kept his expression uninterested, but inside, he was satisfied with the result. The chaos Ignis had unleashed served his purposes well. After all, weakening the Chiron and making them easier to influence.
If I play my cards right, I might get more than I expected from them.
YuWon scanned the area, but suddenly he was worried when he realized that Anna, Gina, and Yeji were nowhere to be seen. He didn't care about Soo-Ah, as she had fulfilled her purpose, but the rest weren't expendable for him.
His satisfaction quickly turned to concern. He noticed Alecton further ahead. He was busy directing the remaining Chiron to clear rubble and tend to the injured. But YuWon didn't care about all that.
"Alecton," YuWon said. "Where's my team?"
Alecton looked confused, glancing around as if noticing the absence of the girls for the first time. He had been inside the temple all this time, so he didn't know what happened outside.
"I... I'll find out right away."
With that, he beckoned to one of his guards, who sprinted off to make inquiries. Moments later, the centaur returned, whispering something into Alecton's ear.
YuWon watched as the color drained from Alecton's face, his eyes widening in alarm. Something was off and YuWon was immediately worried.
Alecton turned slowly back to YuWon, clearly hesitant to share the news. But he hesitated, his eyes staring at everything but at YuWon's eyes. He was afraid, not about what he had learned but about how YuWon would react after learning the truth.
"...there was... a misunderstanding," he mumbled finally. "When the werewolves attacked—"
"Your people thought I brought them here, didn't they?" he sighed, exasperated.
It didn't take a genius to figure out what happened. Besides, it wasn't exactly a mistake, but it wasn't something YuWon would openly admit.
What would he say to them, that he had deliberately used Lycaon's skeleton, knowing it would carry the scent of their leader to attract Graul and his pack to the city?
But if Alecton or the other Chiron thought he'd done it on purpose, they'd be even less likely to trust him in the future. He had to play his part and appear as the hurt benefactor who had only ever wanted to help but got hurt by the lack of Chiron's trust.
"All I've done is help you, and this is what I get in return?" YuWon shook his head, raising his voice. "This was a mistake—!"
Alecton's face turned an even paler shade, if that were possible. He swallowed hard, glancing nervously at his guards. The thought of angering YuWon any further was harrowing.
"How much more in your debt do you want the Chiron to be? You saved us from that fire spirit, protected us from the werewolves... and now you're offering us a place to stay?"
YuWon's face remained neutral, though inwardly, he was pleased. He could already see the pieces falling into place. But didn't let a hint of his satisfaction show. Instead, he shrugged.
"I'm only doing what any ally would," he replied, pretending his offer held no hidden motive.
"I... see."
For a moment, YuWon thought Alecton might refuse, that perhaps the centaur's pride would keep him from accepting help from a human. But after a moment's hesitation, Alecton lowered his head and bowed.
"Then we will be in your debt, YuWon," he said solemnly. "If you ever need us, we'll answer your call in whatever way we can."
YuWon feigned surprise, but he was grinning inwardly. His plan had worked perfectly. He'd not only weakened the Chiron's allegiance to the gods but had gained them as his allies.
***
Meanwhile, somewhere deep within the roots...
Ignis kneeled on the stone floor, unable to look his parents in the eye. neither Echidna nor Helios said a word, but Ignis could feel the coldness of their stares burning through him more intensely than any fire he could conjure.
"You failed, Ignis," Echidna hissed. "He is but a mortal. You have the blood of gods within you... yet you failed."
"He. Immune," Ignis tried to argue, but got slapped in the face by Helios.
Helios slapped Ignis, but it wasn't out of disappointment. After all, both his parents knew about YuWon's immunity to fire. Unfortunately, their bond had created Ignis, and it was unlikely Echidna would make another offspring with him.
That's why he sent Ignis to YuWon, hoping the blood within Ignis would physically overpower the mortal. Unfortunately, YuWon was a step ahead and bathed in the water of Styx, granting him [Invulnerability].
But the fight only made it more infuriating for Helios. The fact that a mere human could defy their kind was more than an embarrassment—it was a threat.
What started as a fight to reclaim his honor as a titan now left him worrying about their survival.
YuWon still had to climb 20 sections of the world tree to reach the top. But if he was so strong after climbing two sections, Helios couldn't help but worry about what would happen if he were to climb to the top.
While lost in his thoughts, a sharp caw drew everyone's attention. A black crow flapped its wings as it landed before them. In a puff of smoke, the crow shifted, its feathers dissolving into a slender, dark-haired woman.
"Morrigan," Helios greeted her. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, I was just wondering how it feels," she laughed, looking at Ignis, "to create the worst possible offspring and then send him off to fight a mortal and still fail. Quite the strategy."
"If you're here just to mock us, then leave. We have no time for your games."
"You're no fun, Helios," Morrigan sighed. "But believe it or not, I came to help you. And I brought a little... gift."