Maki walked through the bustling streets of Orario, her spear strapped to her back. The morning sun cast a warm glow over the city, but the atmosphere felt heavier than usual. Whispers of the strange incident in the Dungeon had spread like wildfire, with adventurers and merchants alike speculating about the unusual monsters and the mysterious energy vortex.
As much as Maki tried to ignore the chatter, the words "singularity" and "gods falling" lingered in her mind. Something big was happening, and she was at the heart of it.
A Call from the Guild
Maki's musings were interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps. A young Guild clerk approached, his face pale and his breathing laboured.
"Zenin-san!" he called, skidding to a stop before her. "Lady Scathach has requested your presence immediately."
"Let me guess," Maki said, crossing her arms. "More weird Dungeon stuff?"
The clerk shook his head. "No… something even stranger. Please, follow me."
Maki's curiosity was piqued, and she followed the clerk through the winding streets until they reached the Guild headquarters. Inside, she found Scathach waiting in a private chamber, her expression unusually grave.
"What's the emergency?" Maki asked, closing the door behind her.
Scathach gestured to a large map spread across the table. It depicted Orario and the surrounding regions, but a strange red mark glowed on the eastern edge of the map, far beyond the city's borders.
"This," Scathach said, pointing to the mark. "A fracture between worlds has appeared near the ruins of Fuyuki."
"Fuyuki?" Maki frowned. "That doesn't sound like anywhere near here."
"It isn't," Scathach replied. "Fuyuki is a place from another world entirely—a world that was once consumed by fire and shadow. This fracture is pulling its remnants into our realm."
Maki blinked, processing the information. "So… this isn't just about Orario anymore?"
"No," Scathach said. "The singularities are not confined to the Dungeon. They threaten the balance of all worlds, including ours. If left unchecked, these fractures will grow, and the consequences will be catastrophic."
Journey to Fuyuki
Within hours, Maki and Scathach had assembled what they needed for the journey. Their destination was several days away, through treacherous terrain and monster-infested wilderness. As they set out from Orario, Maki couldn't help but glance at Scathach, who seemed unusually quiet.
"You're worried," Maki said after a while.
Scathach glanced at her. "I've seen fractures like this before. They do not form naturally. Someone—or something—is causing them."
"Like that creepy guy in the Dungeon?" Maki asked.
"Possibly," Scathach said. "But the scale of this is far greater. The Fuyuki fracture could unleash power strong enough to rival the gods."
Maki smirked. "Well, good thing we've got a god-killer on our side, right?"
Scathach raised an eyebrow. "Confidence is admirable, but do not underestimate the dangers ahead."
Arrival at the Fracture
After days of travel, they reached the outskirts of the Fuyuki fracture. The air was heavy with ash, and the landscape was scorched and barren. In the distance, a faint glow emanated from a massive rift in the sky, its edges crackling with crimson energy.
Maki tightened her grip on her spear. "This place gives me the creeps."
Scathach nodded. "The energy here is unstable. We must proceed carefully."
As they approached the rift, Maki noticed figures moving in the distance—shadowy shapes that flickered in and out of existence. One of them stepped forward, revealing a familiar black cloak.
"You again," Maki growled, recognizing the figure from the Dungeon.
The cloaked figure laughed, their voice distorted. "You're persistent, I'll give you that. But this is far beyond your capabilities."
Maki stepped forward, her spear gleaming in the rift's light. "Try me."
The figure raised their hand, and the shadows around them began to solidify. Out of the darkness emerged spectral warriors clad in ancient armor, their eyes glowing with malevolent light.
Battle of the Shadows
The spectral warriors charged, their weapons glinting as they descended upon Maki and Scathach. Maki lunged forward, her spear slicing through one warrior's chest. The figure dissolved into smoke, but more took its place.
"These things just keep coming!" Maki shouted, dodging an incoming blade.
"They're constructs of the fracture," Scathach replied, her movements graceful as she dispatched several warriors in quick succession. "Focus on the cloaked figure. They are the anchor."
Maki nodded, spinning her spear to deflect an attack before breaking into a sprint toward the figure. The spectral warriors surged around her, but she cut through them with sheer determination, her path a whirlwind of strikes and precision.
As she neared the cloaked figure, they raised their hand again, summoning a torrent of dark energy. Maki braced herself, her spear glowing faintly as she pushed through the onslaught.
"You're strong," the figure said, their voice laced with mockery. "But strength alone won't save you."
Maki smirked. "Good thing I've got more than that."
With a powerful leap, she closed the distance between them, her spear aimed directly at their chest. The figure dodged at the last moment, but Maki's strike disrupted the shadows surrounding them, causing the spectral warriors to falter.
A Glimpse of the Past
As the cloaked figure staggered, a sudden pulse of energy erupted from the rift, engulfing the battlefield. Maki felt her vision blur as the world around her shifted. When she opened her eyes, she found herself standing in the middle of a burning city.
The air was thick with smoke, and screams echoed in the distance. Maki recognized the place from Scathach's descriptions—it was Fuyuki.
"What the hell?" Maki muttered, looking around.
Before she could process what was happening, a figure emerged from the flames—a man with golden armor and an aura of overwhelming power. His crimson eyes locked onto her, and a smirk spread across his face.
"A stray mongrel in my domain?" the man said, his voice dripping with disdain. "How amusing."
Maki's heart pounded as the man raised his hand, golden portals appearing around him. Weapons of all shapes and sizes emerged from the portals, their edges gleaming with lethal intent.
"Let's see if you're worth my time," the man said, unleashing the weapons in a blinding storm of light.