Chapter 61: From Ashes, We Rise
[The group arrives in the city, greeted by the eerie silence and the sight of shattered buildings. The streets are empty, devoid of life, and the air is heavy with the weight of abandonment.]
Meiji: "It's even worse than I imagined... "
Yuusie: [walking through the debris, voice hollow] "It's like the city has been forgotten... all this destruction, and not even a trace of life remains. This was once our home."
Souta: [staring at a collapsed building, voice thick with sadness] "It's hard to believe this was where we stood, where we lived... And now... nothing."
Meiji: "This silence won't last. We'll bring life back to this city, brick by brick. We'll restore its spirit, no matter how long it takes."
The next day, everyone got to work.
Meiji overseeing the construction, looking around with determination "Everyone, keep your pace steady! The sooner we finish, the sooner we can restore our city."
Yuusei lifting a heavy beam with his fellow workers "You heard Lord shogun! Move quickly, but carefully. There's no room for mistakes now!"
Souta giving orders to the workers nearby "That wall's unstable. Be sure to reinforce it before you build up the next layer!"
A old man, breathing heavily as he clears rubble "I never thought I'd live to see this day... working like this... But we can't just sit and wait for a savior. We have to rebuild ourselves."
A young woman, wiping sweat from her brow as she helps to carry a large bucket of water "No, the hope comes from each of us doing our part, not from waiting. Everyone's working hard… it's inspiring."
A samurai wiping sweat from his forehead, holding a pickaxe "We've lost so much, but we gain nothing by standing still. Every piece of rubble we clear is a victory."
Meiji walking up to the samurai, noticing his exhausted face "Sir, don't overwork yourself. You've been going nonstop."
The samurai grinning faintly, panting slightly "I'll rest when the job's done. We all have our parts to play, Lord Shogun"
Yuusei looking over at the villagers working nearby "See my Lord Shogun, how they've all come together? We might have been warrior's once, but now we're builders. This is our new battle."
Souta walking beside Yuusei, carrying a bundle of wooden beams "Yes My Lord Shogun, the war's over. This city is our battlefield now. But we'll rebuild it, piece by piece."
A young man, struggling to carry a large stone, stumbling slightly "Ugh… this is harder than I thought… I don't know how much longer I can keep going…"
Meiji approaching him and offering a hand "Here, let me help you. You don't have to carry it alone. We all share the burden."
The boy smiling gratefully, accepting the help "Thank you, Shogun-sama. I don't know what I'd do without the help of our lord"
Meiji shaking his head and smile "I'm no different than you. We fight for our homes, for our families. Now we rebuild for them too."
Meiji calling out to the group "Remember, each nail we hammer, each stone we place is one step closer to restoring what was lost. Work with pride. Let the city rise again!"
Yuusie motivated, shouting to the workers "This is our chance to show what we're made of! Everyone!"
A young worker nodding as they carry supplies"Yes, we may be tired, but we have something to fight for now. I won't stop until the last stone is set."
Souta approaching them as they sweep debris "Well done. Keep up the good work. The faster we clear this, the faster we can start rebuilding our homes "
[The scene is set in the midst of the city's reconstruction. Women are handing out food and water, offering encouragement to the workers. The villagers, though weak and thin, are working together. The air is filled with the sounds of labor, but also with laughter and camaraderie.]
A woman carrying a basket of bread, handing it to a group of workers "Eat, please. You won't make it without energy. We need you strong."
The mercenary pausing to take a piece of bread, smiling tiredly"Thank you. You're doing more than we could ever ask for."
[Ares walks through the city, watching the workers—young and old, men and women—all laboring together to rebuild. The streets are still filled with rubble, but there is a sense of life in the air.]
He moves to help an older man struggling with a beam. The man looks at him, exhausted but determined.
Old Man " Thank you Lord Asura, We won't let it fall again."
Ares smile "It won't, as long as you're all together."
As the sun sets, casting a golden light over the city, Ares smiles softly "This is where it starts. From their hands, this city will rise again."