Ashes

Chapter 17: The Destruction Begins

The morning after Phuwin's devastating outburst, the air in the ruined city of Bangkok was thick with smoke and despair. The sun struggled to pierce through the haze that lingered over the landscape. In the distance, crumbling skyscrapers cast long shadows over the streets littered with debris. The once-thriving metropolis had become a symbol of the chaos and destruction that Pond and Phuwin's powers had unleashed.

Phuwin wandered through the desolate streets, his thoughts swirling in turmoil. The guilt weighed heavily on him, pressing down on his chest like a physical burden. Everywhere he looked, he saw the consequences of his actions—the scorched earth, the ruined buildings, the faces of those he had failed. His powers had become a curse, a weapon of mass destruction that he could no longer control.

Despite his isolation, word of Phuwin's recent actions spread quickly through the resistance. Whispers followed him wherever he went—rumors that he had destroyed more than just Pond's forces, that he had become a force of destruction in his own right. The people who had once looked up to him with hope and admiration now regarded him with fear and uncertainty.

Phuwin could sense their unease, and it only deepened his resolve to distance himself from them. He didn't want to be a danger to anyone else. But as he withdrew further into himself, the darkness within him grew stronger, feeding on his isolation and despair.

Meanwhile, in the shadows of the city, Pond's remaining loyalists were regrouping. They had been scattered and leaderless after Pond's defeat, but they were far from broken. Driven by desperation and a thirst for revenge, they began to reorganize under new leadership—an enigmatic figure who had risen to power in the chaos left behind by Pond.

This new leader, known only as "The Shade," was shrouded in mystery. No one knew their true identity, but their influence was undeniable. Under The Shade's guidance, the loyalists became more ruthless, launching coordinated attacks on resistance strongholds and terrorizing the few remaining survivors in the city.

The Shade's goal was simple: to reclaim the power that Pond had lost and to use Phuwin's growing instability to their advantage. They knew that Phuwin was a threat to everyone—resistance and loyalists alike—and they intended to turn that threat into an opportunity.

"We'll let him destroy himself," The Shade whispered to their followers, their voice cold and calculating. "And when he does, we'll be there to pick up the pieces."

As the days turned into weeks, Phuwin's descent into darkness became more pronounced. The resistance fighters tried to reach out to him, but he pushed them away, convinced that he was beyond saving. His powers became increasingly erratic, his emotions fueling the flames and winds that now seemed to control him more than he controlled them.

One night, as he wandered the outskirts of the city, Phuwin came across a small group of survivors—innocent civilians who had been caught in the crossfire of the war. They were huddled together, frightened and desperate, and when they saw Phuwin, they looked to him for protection.

But instead of feeling compassion, Phuwin felt only rage—rage at himself, at the world, at the powers that had brought him to this point. The darkness within him surged, and before he could stop himself, he unleashed a torrent of fire that consumed everything in its path.

The screams of the survivors echoed in his ears as the flames devoured them, and Phuwin's heart shattered. He had crossed a line he could never uncross.

When the flames finally died down, Phuwin stood alone in the ashes, horrified by what he had done. He had become the very thing he had sworn to fight against—a monster driven by power and rage.

He collapsed to his knees, his hands trembling as the reality of his actions set in. There was no redemption for him now. He was lost.

With each passing day, Phuwin's rampage spread further. He no longer fought for the resistance or against Pond's loyalists—he fought against himself, against the darkness that had consumed him. The power that had once made him a hero had now turned him into a weapon of mass destruction.