The Crimson Tower Descends

The ground rumbled violently. At first, everyone thought it was just an earthquake. After all, no other word came to mind that could explain what was happening.

"Huh? Huh?"

"I-it's an earthquake!"

"I... I can't even stand..."

With the very earth beneath their feet unstable, most people could do nothing but sit in place and tremble. Ironically, that very reaction minimized the damage caused by panic. If they had been free to move, the rioting of people lost in terror might have led to an even greater catastrophe.

Duke Mars was one of the few who managed to stay calm even in this situation. That was why, as soon as the tremors began to subside, he immediately issued orders to the subordinates around him.

"Bring the amplification magic tool right now! We must guide people safely so they don't run wild in confusion! Also, call Daniel from the waiting room!"

But as Duke Mars tried to continue giving further instructions, he realized something was wrong. His subordinates, who should have sprung into action at his command, showed no reaction whatsoever.

Frowning, thinking they must have been stunned by the earthquake, the Duke—who was usually far more composed—raised his voice in a rare shout.

"What are you all doing?! Snap out of it right now!"

He grabbed one knight by the arm and glared at him. Only then did the man answer in a trembling voice.

"Y-Your Grace... Look at that..."

"What?"

Following the knight's gaze upward, Duke Mars froze in stunned silence, just like the men he had just scolded.

"...A tower?"

In the heart of the Mars Duchy. A bizarre tower had appeared—one the Duke, who had spent his entire life in this territory, had never seen before. Its color was a vivid red, as if freshly stained with blood that had just flowed from a wound. Even from this considerable distance, he could sense an unsettling aura emanating from it.

What in the world was that thing? No—more importantly, how had a tower suddenly appeared in a place where nothing had existed just minutes ago? It was as if it had sprouted straight out of the ground...

Sprouted from the ground?

If what they had assumed was a simple earthquake had merely been a precursor to that thing's emergence?

A chilling premonition with no clear reason sent a single bead of sweat trickling down the Duke's cheek.

The moment Chrome first noticed the existence of that 'tower,' his judgment was swift.

"Fiore! Reinforcement!"

"Huh? Ah, yes!"

Fiore had been wearing an unusually flustered expression due to the sudden crisis, but she quickly understood Chrome's intent and raised her White Light. Pure white mana enveloped Chrome and Fiore's bodies. The instant the reinforcement was complete, Chrome leaped straight into the arena without hesitation.

Thanks to their seats being near the front, there were no obstacles blocking their path. Once inside the arena, Chrome shouted again.

"Ligret!"

"Tsk."

The response was immediate. Ligret clicked her tongue in clear annoyance at having her hard-fought match interrupted, but she moved to Chrome's side without the slightest hesitation. It might result in a forfeit by default, but now was hardly the time to worry about that.

"W-wait! Where are you going?!"

Ignoring Joy's bewildered cry, the three of them quickly passed through the athletes' waiting room and exited the arena. The guards stationed at the entrance were startled when Chrome's group burst out and tried to block their way, but Chrome shouted quickly.

"Deliver this to the Duke! Terror threat present! Red tower requires immediate investigation! Urgent action necessary!"

"What? Hold on! Who are you—"

"At least watch the damn tournament happening in your own territory, you idiots!"

They might not have deliberately avoided watching just because they were soldiers, but Chrome had neither the time nor the patience to show consideration. He spat out whatever came to mind and charged straight past the guards. The confused sentries couldn't stop them.

As they ran, Fiore asked, "Brother, using the athletes' passage as a shortcut is one ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠thing, but wasn't it too hasty to claim it was terrorism to the Duke? We might end up drawing unnecessary suspicion."

"I know. It's risky. But there's no time to hesitate over every little thing."

Even Chrome didn't fully understand the current situation. He had felt a vague sense of foreboding that something might be wrong, but that was all. Still, the reason he acted so decisively was simple.

The ground tremors. The sudden appearance of a massive structure. It could have been mere coincidence. If it had truly been the work of 'those people' he knew, what should have appeared was an underground ruin, not a tower. Above all, today wasn't even a date when the power of a particular star reached its peak.

But if this really was their doing—if some unknown change had occurred for them as well—then the fanatics known as the Star Seekers would never let things end at this level.

And as if to confirm Chrome's ominous premonition, the tower began to change.

From its peak, something like red smoke rose into the sky, forming the shape of clouds. Then it transformed into blood-colored raindrops and began pouring down onto the ground.

Chrome and Fiore each created mana shields to protect the three of them like umbrellas overhead. But there was no way every citizen in the city could do the same.

People who had been dazed by the tower's sudden appearance took the rain directly on their heads. The price they paid was horrific.

"Ugh!"

"M-my body... won't move..."

"Please... save me..."

Thud. Thud.

The moment they were struck by the red rain, an overwhelming wave of fatigue hit them. The wetter they became, the worse the symptoms grew. Many collapsed on the spot from an exhaustion so severe it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was almost nightmarish.

The fact that this rain had fallen right after the earthquake only made things worse. Once the tremors seemed to die down, people had come out of buildings to check on the situation, only to freeze in place while staring at the tower. It was as if the rain had been waiting for that exact moment.

Those who had stayed indoors from the beginning, those who managed to take cover before completely losing their ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠strength, and those who had something to shield themselves with fared relatively better. Even so, they all felt the same confusion and terror as they looked at the surrounding chaos.

Fortunately, the blood-colored rain only lasted about ten seconds. As if it had exhausted all its power, the clouds lost their red hue and scattered. People either breathed sighs of relief or recoiled in horror at the streets that now looked like a sea of blood.

Some rushed out to help those who had collapsed and were barely breathing. But unfortunately, the disaster was far from over.

The blood-colored raindrops that had fallen to the ground and soaked people's bodies did not mix with the dirt or get absorbed into the earth. Instead, they began to wriggle as if they possessed a will of their own. Soon, they split into dozens, then hundreds of masses, each taking on its own shape.

Most of them took the form of humans without facial features, but some resembled dogs, cats, or even sewer rats. It was as if they were imitating the original owners of the things they had 'stolen.'

Was it rage at their own incomplete forms? Or an instinct to reclaim the 'rest' they had yet to seize?

The blood clots began attacking nearby living beings. Those who had already been incapacitated had no hope of resisting.

"Protect the citizens! Drive out the enemy! We will defend the land of Mars!"

"We don't know when that blood rain might fall again! Get those who can't move inside buildings immediately! Bring anyone seriously injured to us!"

The guards of the Mars Duchy and the priests of the Star God Church, who had been outside the range of the blood rain, fought desperately. However, the soldiers—already stretched thin due to the massive influx of tourists—were reaching their limit.

There were simply too many people to protect, and far too many enemies to defeat.

It took less than an hour for the once-bustling festival city to transform into a hell filled with screams and despair.