The lingering heat of the flames had not yet completely died down, and the charcoal ashes rustled softly in the gentle breeze. Bruce stepped over the charred ground scarred by artillery fire, the residual energy from the explosion still coursing through his body like a warm spring, seeping slowly from the depths of his muscles and healing the wounds inch by inch. His steps gradually shifted from sluggish to light, and though his stamina was far from fully restored, it was sufficient to sustain his continued movement.
He circled the open area, where flickering flames danced between the tree trunks, and the air still carried the acrid scent of burning. But aside from a bloodstained, grotesque monster’s skull, Bruce found nothing else. The aura of obsession had long since dissipated.
He car
