Avatar of the Frozen Behemoth: Volume 1

Chapter 25: Annihilation

The explosion was a cataclysmic force of nature. The ice, once an unyielding shield, shattered with a spine-chilling roar. Cracks erupted across its surface like spider webs, stretching and splintering until the entire barrier disintegrated. The shock waves unleashed from the explosion surged through the air with such intensity that they obliterated the glacier's remnants and scattered debris in all directions.

Buildings groaned and buckled as the shock waves rippled through them, sending structures collapsing into rubble. People were flung through the air, their screams lost in the maelstrom of destruction. Yukio was among the unfortunate, propelled violently away from the epicenter of the blast.

Caught in the storm of debris, Yukio was thrown high into the sky, his body buffeted by the intense winds and flying wreckage. He struggled to regain control, his senses overwhelmed by the chaos. As he was hurled towards a distant building, he managed to grasp the edge of a rooftop, only to find his grip slipping under the relentless gale. The wind howled around him, tearing at his clothing and slinging shards of ice and rubble into his path.

Unable to maintain his hold, Yukio was flung into the air once more, tumbling uncontrollably through the storm. The debris battered him from all sides, leaving him bruised and bleeding. He crashed through a series of tree branches, the impacts jarring his body with each collision. Finally, he plummeted to the snowy ground below, hitting the earth with a bone-jarring thud.

The once serene landscape of Spadia was now a wasteland of devastation. Yukio lay amidst the wreckage, his body battered and cut from the explosion. The snowy ground, once pristine, was now stained with the aftermath of destruction. Pain surged through him, but beneath it was a raw, searing anger—an emotion born of witnessing the catastrophic destruction of his home and the suffering of those he cared about.

As Yukio lay in the wreckage, the magnitude of the disaster was undeniable. The scene was one of chaotic ruin, and the future seemed uncertain. The shockwaves of the explosion had not only shattered the ice barrier but had also ripped through Yukio's sense of security, leaving him grappling with the devastating reality of the world around him.

Yukio's vision was a blur of snow and shattered trees as he slowly pulled himself up from the snowy ground. Every movement was a struggle, pain flaring through his body with each slight adjustment. He glanced up, his breath catching in his throat. The explosion had hurled him far from Spadia, and the once-familiar landscape was now a scene of utter devastation.

The destruction was overwhelming. Buildings that had once stood tall and proud were now reduced to rubble. Smoke billowed into the sky, blotting out the sun. The air was thick with the acrid smell of burning wood and the distant cries of those caught in the chaos. The town Yukio had known and loved was in ruins.
He staggered to his feet, struggling to remain upright against the fierce winds.

The sight of Spadia's obliteration filled him with a mixture of horror and helpless rage. His heart pounded as he scanned the horizon, desperate to find any sign of his family.

Yukio's gaze was drawn to the mountains, where he saw a terrifying sight—hundreds of shadowy figures sliding down the slopes. They moved with an eerie, almost fluid grace, their dark forms contrasting sharply with the snowy landscape. The unknown invaders were descending upon Spadia, their numbers overwhelming.

The sight of the Janoan soldiers pouring into the town only compounded Yukio's sense of dread. They were everywhere, advancing through the city with brutal efficiency. Buildings crumbled under their assault, and the defenders of Spadia were overwhelmed. Screams of agony echoed through the streets as the soldiers cut through the populace with ruthless precision.

"No... no, this can't be happening," Yukio muttered, his voice strained with pain and disbelief. He tried to move forward, but his injured body was slow and unsteady. Each step felt like wading through a nightmare. "I have to find them. I have to find my family..."