The ground shook with every roar the Ash Lord unleashed from the top of Flame Mountain, while waves of shadows emanating from the black ash spread like a dark sea, engulfing the rocks and valleys, swallowing everything in their path.
Eren and Leylin sprinted down the mountain, fire blazing around Leylin to repel the shadows leaping towards them. The wind swirled around Eren, pushing the ash away and opening a narrow escape route for them.
With every step, the ash weighed down the air, clinging to their bodies, trying to slow them down. Mysterious screams echoed among its atoms, whispering ancient voices laden with hatred and despair.
They passed over a narrow rocky bridge between two valleys, as shadows quickly climbed the sides, their dark arms stretching out like snakes, trying to grab them.
Leylin shouted, reaching out, "Hold my hand!"
Eren quickly grabbed her hand, and Leylin unleashed a red wave of fire that pierced the shadows in front of them. Eren unleashed a burst of lightning that ripped apart the arms trying to cling to the bridge.
A portion of the bridge shattered behind them, and the shadows fell into the abyss. They didn't scream, but scattered like ash before gathering again below.
They continued running until they reached a narrow passageway between the black rocks. There, Eren stopped abruptly, feeling the wind pulse in the distance.
He said in a low voice, "There are survivors... I can feel the wind carrying their voices."
Leylin looked at the fire in her hand, feeling faint pulses, as if the fire was telling her it was capturing the remnants of the warmth of hearts beating nearby.
"We must find them before the shadows reach them," she said firmly.
They crept through the rocky passages, while dark clouds swirled slowly in the sky, occasionally flashing red lightning, like an eye watching them.
At the end of the passage, a hole appeared before them, leading to a small cave. Inside, there were about ten people, some from the Wind Clan and others from families who had fled the Valley of Fire. They were all hiding behind rocks, their faces pale with fear and smoke.
When they saw Eren and Leylin, one of the warriors stood up and said in a hoarse voice, "Is there...is there hope yet?"
Leylin stepped forward and lit a small fire in her hand to illuminate the place. The fire was warm this time; it wasn't burning, but rather, it provided a warmth that drew the children closer without fear.
She said, "We won't let the ashes swallow us. As long as we fight, there is hope."
An elderly woman approached, placed her hand on Leylin's, and said, "The fire you hold...is different. It reminds me of ancient healing fires."
Eren looked at everyone and said in a steady voice, "We have to move. The Ash Lord is waking up, and the longer we stay here, the more we'll be surrounded by shadows."
The remaining men stood, some trembling but raising their ancient weapons, while the women and children gathered behind Leylin and Eren, hope filling their eyes despite the ash filling the air.
They quickly left the cave, Eren using the wind to cut a path through the falling ash, and Leylin keeping the fire burning to burn away the shadows that tried to approach. With every step, they could feel the cries of the Ash behind them, drawing closer, but they didn't stop them.
When they reached low ground near a burning forest, Eren stood and said, "We'll build a rallying point here for survivors, regroup, and prepare for the next confrontation."
Lelin looked up at the darkening sky, "This isn't the end... this is just the beginning."
At that moment, a long scream rose from the peak of Flame Mountain. It was the cry of the Great Ash Lord, and its echo reached far and wide. The earth shook with the echo, and the clouds parted for a moment, revealing red eyes in the sky.
But in the midst of this darkness, fire ignited in Leylin's hand, and lightning swirled around Eren. They both silently vowed not to let the Ashes consume this world, no matter the cost.