Valeria stood at the docks, her eyes closed, appearing calm and composed, but every fiber of her being was tuned to the surroundings. She took deep, measured breaths, quieting her mind. The actions of the previous monsters had been suspicious, far too organized for typical beasts. She was trying to determine if they had left behind any trace or signal—a warning, perhaps, or a summons. If more were to come, she wanted to be ready.
Suddenly, a faint hum began to resonate through the air. It grew, vibrating through the metal around her, a buzzing like the static charge before a storm. Valeria remained motionless, unbothered, her skin tingling slightly.
"You're late," she remarked, not even bothering to turn.
Behind her, a voice full of easy confidence replied, "Yeah, yeah, I was dealing with some irritating creature—a four-armed beast. First time seeing one of those. Strong too, I'd say?"
Valeria rolled her eyes, though she still didn't turn to him. "Don't use that as an excuse. At your speed, you can handle any creature below A-rank without breaking a sweat, Thunderstorm."
At this, she finally turned to face him, finding Riven Stormbound, his tall frame silhouetted against the lights of the docks. His blond hair seemed to crackle with electric energy, each strand like a spark of lightning. His eyes, a deep, intense electric blue, held a look of amusement. Riven wore a fitted, dark combat uniform lined with silver, designed to conduct his lightning energy, enhancing his already formidable abilities. "Thunderstorm" was his alias, but to her, he was Riven, a long-time friend and fellow guildmate.
Riven shrugged, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Caught me. Figured I could be a little late." His tone was light, but Valeria knew he could tell she was serious. They'd fought together countless times, trusted each other implicitly, and though he often played the jester, he always understood her better than most.
"So, what's so urgent?" Riven asked, his usual grin fading as he sensed her tension. "You said you had a bad feeling, but I know you. You wouldn't call me out here unless it was serious."
Valeria's gaze drifted back to the dark, churning sea. "I don't know for sure. Just a gut feeling, but I think we'll find out soon enough." She kept her voice steady, but there was a hard edge to it.
Riven observed her in silence for a moment, then sighed, taking a seat on a nearby container. "Alright, fine. Should I tell the soldiers to set up a perimeter? You know, just in case something decides to pop out and say hello?"
Valeria nodded, a slight smirk forming. "Go ahead. Let's be prepared."
Just as she spoke, a sharp, overwhelming sensation hit her instincts, screaming a warning. Time seemed to slow to a near standstill. Valeria felt the shift in the air, a strong surge of energy. A burst of lightning flared, illuminating Riven at her side. He was now standing, his expression deadly serious, his body enveloped in crackling electricity, his eyes scanning the spot where they had just been standing.
The place was now engulfed in dust, and through the haze, a hulking silhouette emerged—nearly eight feet tall, menacing and monstrous.
Valeria's focus sharpened. Without hesitation, she drew her daggers and bolted toward the creature. As the dust cleared, she saw it fully—a fish-like, humanoid hybrid, eerily similar to the one she had fought before. This one, she knew, would be just as strong.
With swift precision, she leaped, bringing her foot down on its face.
Slam!
The monster staggered back, thrown nearly sixty meters by the force of her kick. Not missing a beat, Valeria sprang after it, her daggers flashing in the dim light as she sliced down, aiming to sever the creature's arm.
Slash!
Squelch!
Blood spattered as the monster's arm detached, a gory mess as it roared in agony. Before it could react, armored tanks stationed nearby opened fire, rounds slamming into its body, driving it further back. Valeria grabbed the severed arm, intending to use it as a makeshift weapon to finish it off. But just as she moved to strike, the monster lashed out with its remaining arm, catching her off guard and knocking her away. She skidded across the concrete, leaving a deep groove as she dug her heels in, finally halting her momentum.
She steadied herself, ready to charge again. But a flash of lightning beside her made her stop. Riven appeared at her side, his stance tense, gaze locked on something in the distance.
"Wait, Valeria," he whispered, his tone unusually grim. "Don't move."
She frowned but followed his gaze. Her blood ran cold at the sight before them.
Hovering above the ocean were four towering figures, each radiating an ominous energy. In front of them, closer to the shore, stood a fifth creature—smaller but infinitely more menacing. This one was clad in black armor, with two twisted, bull-like horns jutting from the sides of its head. Blood-red wings unfurled from its back, matching the wings of the monsters behind it. But it was the eyes—cold, calculating, intelligent—that held her frozen in place.
This creature wasn't like any monster she had encountered. It regarded them with a detached interest, as though they were insects beneath its notice.
Valeria and Riven took an instinctive step back, a palpable dread gripping them. Valeria tightened her grip on her daggers, willing her hands to stop shaking. She couldn't show fear here.
"Riven," she said in a low, controlled voice. "You need to run. You're the fastest here. Go, bring reinforcements—get as much help as you can. Alert all the guilds, tell them an S-rank is here."
Her voice trembled only slightly, her jaw clenched. She knew they had no hope against this creature alone. Their best chance was for Riven to spread the word, to bring as many A-ranks as possible. S-ranks were few and far between, and most were on missions or far from here.
The black-armored creature in the center finally noticed them, its lips curling into a chilling smile. Valeria felt a surge of terror and urgency. "Riven!" she shouted, her voice breaking, "Go! Now!"
Without a second thought, Riven dashed away, his form a blur of lightning. But in an instant, the four winged monsters intercepted him, appearing in his path. He skidded to a halt, his eyes wide with surprise and a hint of fear. These monsters could match his speed—his very power.
"Get out of my way!" he shouted, desperation coloring his tone.
A voice echoed from the side. "Hold on!"
A powerful force slammed into two of the monsters, forcing them back. Riven didn't waste the opportunity and darted forward, slipping past the others.
A new figure emerged—a young woman with blond hair streaked with red highlights and intense green eyes that glowed with energy. She raised her hand, telekinetic force flaring, and sent a barrage of metal containers crashing into the monsters. The ground shook, dust filled the air, but as the dust settled, the four monstrous figures turned their menacing gaze toward Calia. She felt her pulse quicken as the creatures began to move, their hulking forms cutting through the lingering smoke like shadows in the dark. Each step they took sent vibrations through the ground beneath her feet.
Riven, now a safe distance away, watched in horror as Calia became the focal point of their fury. He cursed under his breath, hating the helpless feeling gnawing at him. His power had always been his speed, his ability to strike and retreat in the blink of an eye, but these creatures matched him step-for-step. They weren't just beasts—they were something far worse.
"Calia!" he shouted, the urgency in his voice laced with guilt. He couldn't abandon her, not after she'd just saved his life. But he also knew Valeria's command was clear: he had to get help, or none of them stood a chance.
One of the monsters snarled, a guttural sound that sent a chill up Calia's spine. It lunged, extending a clawed hand that shimmered in the eerie moonlight. With a flick of her wrist, Calia sent a wave of telekinetic energy at it, momentarily halting its advance.
She narrowed her gaze, determination hardening her features. "Not today," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.
The container she had thrown at the creatures began to rumble, lifting off the ground as her powers coiled around it like invisible vines. She thrust her hand forward, sending the massive piece of metal hurtling towards the lead monster.
It struck the creature head-on, slamming it back several meters. But Calia's victory was short-lived. The monster's twisted figure emerged from the debris, unmarred and angrier than ever, its glowing red eyes boring into hers.
The other three monsters roared, a chorus of rage that made the air vibrate. Two of them began to close in from either side, flanking her, while the third hung back, watching with a calculating gaze.
"Valeria, a little help would be nice!" Calia yelled, her voice taut with the strain of holding her ground.
Valeria, still standing by the docks, clenched her jaw. She wanted nothing more than to leap into the fray, but she knew that her role was crucial. If she abandoned her position, Riven would have no one holding the line, and their only chance for reinforcements would vanish.
But as she looked at Calia, her friend and fellow Ascendant struggling against overwhelming odds, a surge of defiance welled within her.
"Hold on, Calia," she muttered, determination setting her jaw. "I'm not leaving you."
In a single, fluid motion, Valeria threw herself forward, her daggers flashing in the dim light. She moved like a shadow, swift and precise, weaving through the debris and closing the distance between herself and the monsters.
One of the creatures turned to meet her, its eyes narrowing as it raised a massive arm to intercept her approach. But Valeria was faster. She sidestepped, her blade finding a weak spot in the creature's armor, and with a vicious twist, she plunged the dagger deep.
The monster howled, staggering back, but its momentary falter didn't slow the others. They were relentless, driven by something far beyond mere hunger or malice.
Just as one of the creatures lunged toward Valeria, she felt a surge of energy ripple through the air, a faint hum that grew louder until it resonated in her bones. A streak of lightning shot past her, striking the monster with a force that sent it reeling.
"Thought you could use a hand," Riven's voice rang out, his form appearing beside her, crackling with residual electricity.
Valeria gave him a quick, appreciative nod, her eyes focused. "Glad you didn't actually run."
"Didn't really have much of a choice," he replied, his tone serious. "But we can't hold them off forever. Reinforcements need time to get here."
"We'll give them time," Valeria replied, her voice cold and resolute.
The two stood back-to-back, surrounded on all sides by the monstrous figures that loomed over them. The air was thick with tension, the faint scent of ozone lingering from Riven's recent attack.
The creatures seemed to hesitate, studying their prey with a disturbing intelligence. It was the smaller, horned creature at the center who finally broke the silence, its voice a chilling whisper that slithered through the air.
"Futile…" it hissed, a cruel smile spreading across its twisted features. "You stand against us, yet you know nothing of the darkness that awaits."
Valeria narrowed her eyes, gripping her daggers tightly. "I've seen enough darkness to know how to cut through it."
The horned creature tilted its head, amused. "Bold words… for one so fragile."
Before Valeria could react, the creature's hand shot out, a wave of dark energy spiraling toward her. She dodged, but the impact shattered the ground where she had stood, fragments of concrete flying in all directions.
Riven darted forward, his body a blur of motion, delivering a rapid series of lightning-infused strikes. His fists crackled with energy as they connected with the nearest monster, each blow sending a jolt that reverberated through its massive frame. But no matter how hard he struck, the creature seemed to absorb the blows, grinning as if it fed on the pain.
"Valeria!" he shouted, panic creeping into his voice. "These things… they're not like anything we've faced."
Valeria met his gaze, her own fear mirrored in his eyes. She knew he was right. These creatures were beyond anything they'd encountered before. But retreating wasn't an option—not now, not when they were the only thing standing between the city and utter destruction.
"Then we adapt," she replied, a hint of defiance in her tone. "We've made it through worse."
Calia, who had managed to create a small distance from the creatures pursuing her, took a deep breath, centering herself. She could feel her energy waning, but she pushed the exhaustion aside. She raised her hands, and the remaining containers scattered around the docks began to tremble, lifting into the air.
With a fierce cry, she sent them crashing toward the monsters, one after another. The explosions lit up the night, bathing the scene in an eerie glow. But as the dust cleared, she felt her heart sink. The monsters remained, seemingly unscathed, their eyes fixed on her with a predatory gleam.
Desperation clawed at her, but she forced it down. She couldn't afford to give in—not now.
"Is that all?" the horned creature taunted, its voice dripping with mockery.
Valeria tightened her grip on her daggers, refusing to let fear take hold. "We're not done yet."
The creature's twisted smile only grew. "Good. I'd hate for this to be over so soon."
With a roar, the monsters surged forward, their combined force shaking the ground. Valeria and Riven braced themselves, readying for the onslaught, while Calia gathered the last of her strength for one final attack.