Back in Thane city, a group of twelve figures moved through the rubble. Ten of them followed behind an armored figure and a woman, all tier-2 Soul Grandmasters. Out of the twelve, only Roy was clad in soul armor—a brilliant blue suit that distinguished him from the rest. Ava was currently also wearing the standard attire of a Soul Weaver. The others, similarly, wore the standard gear, marking them as experienced soldiers handpicked by the major to assist in the battle against the tier-3 Abyssal Shade.
The group methodically advanced through the ruins, cutting down any Abyssal Shades in their path, their sights set on the heart of the abyssal infestation: the Calamity Gate, and its fearsome Guardian. Roy led from the front, dispatching the toughest shades with ruthless efficiency, while the others cleaned up the remaining threats that attacked from the sides and rear.
Eventually, they reached a vantage point where the Calamity Gate came into view. Just in time, they witnessed waves of abominations emerging from it. Near the gate stood a towering Abyssal Shade, its chitinous body so dense it resembled armor. Its face was shielded by what looked like ancient bone, and its arms were massive cleavers. Two red lights gleamed from within its helm-like head, marking it as the gate's guardian.
Around the guardian were dozens of tier-2 Abyssal Shades, all of various shapes and sizes, yet united by their tier. The sight of the monsters and their fearsome leader sent a wave of dread through the party—everyone except Roy and Ava, who stood calm. Ava, though slightly unnerved, showed no fear, while Roy didn't flinch.
Ava turned to the group. "Alright, we've reached the gate. That thing must be the gate's guardian. We'll wait for the next wave of Abyssal Shades to spawn before we make our move. Stick to the plan. Understood?"
One soldier, visibly hesitant, spoke up. "Understood, ma'am, but how do you expect us to fight so many Abyssal Shades? We're only tier-2, and those creatures are at our level."
Ava smirked. "It would be hard if it were just us, but we have a tier-3 on our side, don't we?"
Roy, standing in his Soul Armor, turned his head slightly toward the soldier. Though his expression was hidden, his mere presence added to the pressure. The soldier, sweating under Roy's silent stare, quickly nodded. "Yes, but he's a Soul Lord, not a Soul King. How can we be sure he can take down that guardian? It's clearly an upper-ranked tier-3."
Ava raised an eyebrow. "Roy is a Soul Lord, yes. But do you think he'll perform worse than the mayor, who doesn't even have Soul Armor?" The soldier fell silent, unable to argue. Ava continued, "Besides, he's not the only one with Soul Armor."
As she spoke, her own white armor, lined with golden light, materialized around her. The group gasped in surprise. Soul Armor was incredibly rare—now there were two wielders among them.
"Any more questions or concerns?" Ava asked.
"No, ma'am," the soldier saluted, as did the others, quickly shaking their heads in agreement. Ava nodded.
"Good. We'll move once this entire wave spawns, Understood?"
"Yes, ma'am!" the soldiers chorused. Ava positioned herself at another point of cover, ready for the upcoming battle.
Roy leaned in with a small smile. "You certainly showed them who's boss."
Ava allowed herself a faint smile in return. "I hope so." She glanced toward the gate, her mind wandering. Please be safe…
....
Back in the Abyssal Plane
Xander, Emilia, Aurelia, and three elite-ranked Soul Weavers were making their way back from a failed attempt to find a portal out of the Abyssal Plane. They had been thrown far from their initial point of entry and were now returning to their group, needing rest and supplies.
They walked through a forest of dead vegetation, which was surprisingly free of Abyssal Shades, given their location. Xander, eager to break the silence, struck up a conversation with Aurelia.
"Uh, how much further until we reach the cave?" he asked.
Aurelia barely acknowledged him, glancing his way before returning her gaze ahead. One of the younger Soul Weavers, Philo, offered a reassuring smile. "Not far now. Just a bit farther."
Xander, taking this as a cue, fell back to walk beside Philo. The young Soul Weaver noticed his actions and raised an eyebrow, curious. Xander beckoned him closer, as if to share a secret.
"Has the ice princess always been like this?" Xander whispered, referencing Aurelia.
Philo's eyes widened in surprise before he stifled a laugh. This boy had guts, casually referring to his employer like that. He seemed blissfully unaware of the fact that Soul Weavers had heightened hearing, and Aurelia had likely heard every word.
Amused, Philo thought about the boy's innocence and the ignorance of childhood. Aurelia's indifferent expression suggested she was unbothered by the title, which seemed more related to her cold demeanor than her abilities. The other guards, while aware of the remark, pretended not to hear.
Suddenly, Philo's expression darkened. His hand went to the space bracelet on his wrist, summoning two daggers. The other guards followed suit, drawing their weapons as tension filled the air.
Xander and Emilia froze, startled by the abrupt change in atmosphere. Aurelia, her eyes narrowing, summoned a double-edged sword wrapped in golden flames and took her place in the formation.
"Hey, kids, get to the center!" one of the older Soul Weavers barked, as they closed ranks, standing back-to-back.
"Philo, where are they?" another Soul Weaver asked, scanning their surroundings.
Philo's grip tightened on his daggers, his voice barely a whisper. "All around us…"
As soon as the words left his mouth, the growl of approaching abominations echoed through the dead forest.