Surviving without God

The Night Raven Shelter, “Haven.” A night when the sky was covered with phantom birds. The lights in the bar, turned into a temporary command post, did not go out for a single moment. The morning that brought relative calm was no exception.

The hall was overcrowded. Dancers, adventurers, merchants, and people in officials’ coats... Their clothes blended into a chaotic mosaic, yet there was something they all had in common.

First, all of them looked utterly exhausted after the night spent repelling the phantom bird raid. Second, every person present was an officer or unit commander of Night Raven. And finally, without exception, they all kept glancing in one direction.

— ...Is that him?

— I’ve heard a lot about him, but this is my first time seeing him in person.

— They say he carried out a real massacre yesterday.

All eyes converged on a table in the corner. Even in the dim lighting, one man stood out distinctly by his presence. A man in a black mask, seemingly having a serious conversation with a massive subordinate wearing a bear mask.

— Damn...

— Calling a commander “damn”? Looks like it’s time for you to go back to training.

— This is definitely a nightmare.

— Y-y-yes, sir! Recruit Ryan Parker reporting for duty...

— Shut up, idiot!

Ryan shuddered, recalling yesterday’s brutal “formal welcome.” The moment when all his hopes of impressing the commander and anticipation for his first mission had crumbled to dust. Gunther, that insane guy.

— ...What the hell do you have to do in a month for a rookie to end up sitting in the commander’s chair?

— There are ways.

And this atmosphere... Ryan immediately realized that within the organization, Gunther had already become a rather famous figure. Then again, even just the “elimination operation” mentioned yesterday made the scale of Gunther’s presence obvious. At the thought of that plan, a chill ran down Ryan’s spine. He had never considered himself a coward, but Gunther was genuinely insane.

— What you said yesterday... is that really true...

— Tss.

At Gunther’s gesture, Ryan fell silent. Creak — the iron door swung open, and a cold wind rushed into the bar.

Shh—

A man strode quickly into the center of the hall. Tall and thin like a stick, with black hair falling to his shoulders. His face was hidden behind a mask resembling a canine predator. Judging by the wrinkles on his hands and the slight stoop of his shoulders, he was around fifty. In one hand, he carried a large sack.

— Support Group, Jackal.

As Gunther narrowed his eyes at the familiar call sign, the noise in the bar instantly died down.

— I’ll be brief. First, a short report on the aftermath of yesterday’s phantom bird raid.

His speech was precise, without unnecessary words. Everyone, including Gunther, focused. Yesterday, each of them had fought desperately in their own sectors, so this was the first time they were hearing the overall picture of the city’s destruction. After listing the destroyed infrastructure and the number of casualties, he got to the point.

— Yesterday, the city was attacked by only one type of summoned creature. A new form, previously unrecorded in official reports. Of course, thanks to your efforts, most of them were exterminated, but...

He loosened his grip on the sack. Thud—

The mouth of the bag opened, and the corpse of a phantom bird spilled onto the floor. Wings of membranous flesh, a body covered in clusters of distorted human faces. The one-and-a-half-meter-long carcass lay stretched out like a slab of meat, reflecting the lamplight in a sinister way.

— It has been confirmed that the screams of these faces trigger an extreme surge of fear. That is why yesterday the crowds of citizens fell into abnormal panic and, under the guidance of Luthien priests, rushed toward the temple.

A brief silence. Jackal spoke again:

— At present, it has been confirmed that all citizens who went to the temple have returned home unharmed.

Someone sucked in a sharp breath. This report was far more terrifying than news of any disaster. Those bastards from Luthien never act without a reason.

Why bring people to the temple... only to release them afterward?

— The Support Group has concluded that this attack was carefully prepared long in advance. Surveillance of the citizens and an internal investigation of the temple are currently being conducted simultaneously. The probability of new types of summoned creatures appearing is extremely high. Therefore, all squads are to immediately act according to the updated instructions—

Jackal didn’t get to finish.

Wiiiiiii—

A piercing alarm blared. It was followed by trembling ground, screams echoing from all directions, and a strange sound clawing at the ears. Not the flapping of wings, but the rustling of something crawling up from beneath the ground. People immediately understood: the city was being attacked by “something” completely different from yesterday’s birds.

— Do these freaks even sleep?

— Disgusting creatures.

As expected of veterans, there was no panic. Everyone simply grabbed their weapons, checked their assigned sectors, and rushed toward the exit.

— Ryan.

— ...Yes, I’m ready.

At that moment, Gunther and Ryan exchanged a brief glance. The situation was unfolding exactly as they had predicted. Now that Luthien’s intentions had become clear, it was time to put their plan into motion.

— Let’s go.

As he ran out of Haven, Gunther slipped something into Jackal’s hand. Jackal glanced at the item and visibly flinched.

— Wait...

But Gunther had already disappeared, heading toward the “operation zone” where his subordinates were waiting. Jackal stared in confusion at the piece of paper clenched in his hand.

***

— Madam Mayor, you need to evacuate!

The voice burst in along with heavy breathing. A black marauder in dark armor with a pale face flung the door open. Mikhela staggered to her feet. Her knees were stiff, her breath caught.

— ...Again? Where now?

— There’s one bunker left nearby. It... should still be safe for now. The other council members have already—

He didn’t get to finish.

Boom—!

At the crash, Mikhela instinctively turned toward the window. Her breath hitched. Through the shattered glass, a sharp smell of burning flooded her lungs.

It was night. But the city was glowing. Not from lamps, not from lanterns, not from advertisement boards. The night of the Upper City was drenched in flames devouring buildings and streets. Crimson clouds of smoke and sparks drifted above the city center, and beneath them, shadows of monstrous creatures writhed. Mikhela muttered quietly:

— Bastards...

It was predictable. But understanding the inevitability did nothing to soften the shock. If the Upper City, the center of wealth and privilege, had become like this, there was no need to guess what was happening in the Middle and Lower districts.

Leaning on the marauder’s arm, Mikhela recalled the nightmare of the past few days.

The attacks that began with the phantom bird raids continued day and night. Albino’s creatures multiplied endlessly, taking over district after district, and at some point, their target shifted from buildings to people.

The timing had been perfect. Due to large-scale purges and inspections caused by the “worm” incident, the city authorities were weaker than ever. It was into this gap that the sabotage struck, into which the Cult of Abundance had poured all its strength. A city that had been slowly rotting from within for decades collapsed with terrifying ease.

“If I had been a real mayor... things might have been different.”

It had already been 30 years since she took this position. Mikhela never believed she was attached to this city. It had come to her by chance, when the other members of the Labyrinth clan disappeared overnight. Under normal circumstances, this position would never have been given to her — just a half-blood.

Even after becoming mayor, her frail body prevented her from properly managing affairs, and she knew the citizens disliked her. She had taken on the “curse” to shield them from disaster, but no one knew about it, and at times, it left a bitter taste.

However, watching Luthien take over the city, she felt her blood boil with rage.

Still... this city was her territory. Her “burrow.”

— Madam Mayor, this way!

The guard’s short, urgent call pulled Mikhela back to reality. Now only one person remained by her side. The rest of the black marauders had been sent to protect civilians and key points, just like the Bureau’s elite under Seraz... Even Gunther had left her.

Crunch—!

With a single blow, the guard slammed an attacking creature into the wall. His gaze scanned the street like a predator’s. Through the smoke and bursts of fire, silhouettes of paladins and priests could be seen. It looked as if they were restoring order in place of the shattered Bureau.

But that wasn’t it. Their goal was a search. They were looking for someone.

And not only them. On building walls, in the sky, and in dark alleys, summoned creatures lurked with senses pushed to their limits. Albino’s eyes were scanning the entire city, and the ring around her was gradually tightening. Mikhela let out a bitter smile and, accepting reality, said:

— We’re going to the residence.

The guard’s brows twitched.

— ...To the residence?

On the roof of the residence was an emergency exit. A top-secret evacuation route, not recorded in official documents. When activated, cables made of special alloy would unspool down the outer wall of the Upper City to the Middle level, where a concealed шлюз with an automatic recognition system would open.

It was the best escape route.

...The problem was that returning there after already leaving was pure madness. The residence — the heart of city administration — was the most guarded and most closely monitored place. Going there now was the same as surrendering voluntarily. They would be spotted before even reaching it.

— M-Madam Mayor!

But whether she had lost her mind under pressure or not, the mayor who had desperately tried to escape until now walked forward with a completely calm expression — straight into the enemy’s jaws.

.

.

.

Woooo—

When they reached the roof of the residence, the evacuation device was already vibrating, active. The special cable had been deployed halfway. But it had not been activated by Mikhela or her loyal guard. A man who seemed to be idly fiddling with the control panel turned his head and looked at her.

— You’ve arrived, Mayor Mikhela?

The guard tried to draw his sword, but with a single gesture from Albino, he was slammed into the ground. A soft voice cut through the cool air of the rooftop.

— This is our first time meeting face to face, isn’t it?

...The first time. Albino had been appointed head of the diocese in the Border City last year, when Mikhela had been absent due to treatment.

— I should have paid you a visit earlier, but matters... I was so busy.

Mikhela looked at Albino’s smiling face. Wrinkles from frequent smiles touched the corners of his mouth, yet there was not a trace of warmth in those deep lines.

More than a hundred lives. Thousands... no, tens of thousands of innocent lives sacrificed to a god. A chilling sensation washed over Mikhela, as if she were facing an insect skillfully imitating a human.

Shh—

Albino stepped toward Mikhela, but suddenly stopped. The roof of the residence was the highest point of the Upper City. The scene of destruction below briefly caught his attention. Streets in flames, people screaming, shadows of monsters in the sky.

He looked at it all indifferently, as if it were only natural, then moved forward again.

Shh—

In his hand was the last “worm” he had kept hidden. Though it was incomplete, an underdeveloped manifestation, he intended to at least copy the minimal abilities necessary for controlling the Labyrinth from this half-blood outsider.

Albino stopped in front of Mikhela, who had lowered her head. She had only two paths left: submit, or become food for Jean Daet.

— So... this is checkmate.

Mikhela let out a quiet breath. Yes, it was checkmate.

...If not for “him.”

.

.

.

Gunther looked up at the gray sky, so different from the one outside, and whispered:

— He should be here soon.