Two Weeks Later
Soldiers rushed across the palace grounds like a rising tide, their movements purposeful and urgent. Commands were barked, equipment rattled, and the heavy air was thick with tension. Sosuke weaved through the chaos, his heart racing as he made his way to the briefing room. What's going on? Why is everyone in such a rush?
He entered the room, shutting the door behind him just as Virgil's voice cut through the air.
"You're late, Estrella!"
Sosuke froze for a moment, the sheer force of the High Commander's tone catching him off guard. "What's with all the urgency? Why is everyone in such a hurry?"
Ren, standing nearby, nudged Sosuke with his elbow. "He's obviously going to explain, idiot."
Virgil's sharp gaze locked onto Sosuke, and for a moment, it felt as if the Commander could see right through him. "This is a Class-A threat… possibly Class-S," Virgil began, his voice heavy with authority. "Dungeons overflowing with blights have been appearing across the country. Not only that, but portals are opening as well. These aren't random occurrences. The portals have been opening at targeted locations, unleashing hordes of blights that destroy everything in their path."
Milo raised his hand hesitantly. "Uh… what exactly is a blight?"
Virgil's brow furrowed in frustration, his patience clearly wearing thin. "The monsters you've been fighting your entire life! Keep up, Griffin!" He exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples as though staving off a headache. "Listen carefully. You'll all be part of a massive raid team. The mission is to station yourselves at one of the military bases believed to be the next target. Once the blights appear, you'll eliminate them and enter the portal. Beyond that… you're on your own. We have no intel on what lies on the other side."
The room fell into a tense silence, Virgil's words sinking in.
"If anyone wishes to exempt themselves from this mission, you're free to do so," Virgil continued, his tone colder now. "But make your decision now. There's no room for hesitation in the field."
The room was heavy with tension, the silence so thick it seemed to swallow the very air. Each member of the Starborn exchanged uncertain glances, their thoughts veiled by the weight of Virgil's words.
Sosuke's fists tightened at his sides. "No one's backing out of this," he said, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. "We've been training for this kind of thing, haven't we?"
Ren's silver eyes flicked toward him, unreadable. "It's not that simple, Sosuke. This isn't some routine mission. There's no intel on what's beyond the portal. For all we know, it could be a one-way trip."
Lyra leaned back against the wall, arms crossed. "And yet, what choice do we have? If these portals are targeting specific locations, how long before one opens here?"
Milo shifted uncomfortably. "I mean… is it really our job to jump headfirst into something we don't understand?"
"Are you scared, Griffin?" Rin's voice was sharp, though quieter than usual. She sat at the edge of the table, her gaze fixed on the map laid out before them. "If you want to run, no one's stopping you. But don't waste everyone else's time questioning it."
Milo flushed but said nothing, sinking back into his chair.
Virgil stepped forward, his presence commanding the room. "This is not up for debate. You've been trained for this, and now you'll act. If any of you hesitate in the field, people will die. That's the reality of this situation. So make your decision now."
The weight of his words settled over them like a storm cloud. Sosuke glanced around the room, noting the different expressions on his comrades' faces—some determined, some uncertain, and others unreadable.
"I'm in," Sosuke said firmly, breaking the silence again. His purple eyes glimmered with resolve as he looked at Virgil. "You don't need to ask me twice."
Ren sighed, almost theatrically, and leaned back in his chair. "Fine. Can't let you have all the fun."
Rin's fingers tapped against the table, her gaze unreadable. "I'm going too. No question."
One by one, the others voiced their agreement. Milo hesitated but eventually muttered, "Guess I'm in too."
Virgil nodded, satisfied. "Good. Gather your gear and be ready to move out in thirty minutes. Dismissed."
As the Starborn began filing out of the room, Sosuke caught up to Rin, who had already started walking toward the armory. "You're really ready for this?" he asked, his tone lighter than the tension demanded.
She glanced at him sideways, her expression guarded. "It's not about being ready. This is something we have to do."
"Fair enough," Sosuke replied, falling into step beside her. Despite her words, he could sense the faint crack in her confidence, a flicker of something she was trying to hide.
Ahead, Ren walked alone, his posture rigid and purposeful. Sosuke's gaze lingered on him for a moment, his earlier words echoing in his mind.
Whatever lay beyond that portal, he knew they wouldn't return unchanged.
The courtyard buzzed with activity as soldiers and Starborn alike prepared for the mission. Armor clinked, spells hummed in the air, and the tension was palpable. Sosuke stood off to the side, staring up at the darkening sky. For the first time, the weight of what they were walking into felt real.
"Estrella!" Virgil's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "You'll be leading your squad in this raid. Don't screw it up."
Sosuke nodded, determination hardening his features. "I won't."
The Starborn assembled in formation as the signal to move out was given. The journey to the military base was quiet, each of them lost in their thoughts, the gravity of the mission hanging heavy in the air.
As the towering walls of the base came into view, Sosuke's grip on his katana tightened.
The base was abuzz with tension, soldiers moving about like restless shadows under the dim glow of the stationed floodlights. Each sound—whether the faint rustle of armor or a distant command barked—echoed in the oppressive quiet of anticipation. Sosuke leaned against a supply crate, his katana resting at his side. His gaze flickered between his comrades and the horizon, his thoughts heavy with the weight of what was coming.
Rin sat cross-legged nearby, her head resting against the wall. Her face was unreadable, but her fingers absently toyed with the edge of her sleeve. "Feels like we're just sitting ducks," she muttered, her voice low.
"That's the idea," Arthur chimed in, seated on an overturned crate and meticulously sharpening his blade. "Let them come to us. Saves us the effort of searching."
Sosuke glanced at him. "And what happens when the portal opens? What if it's worse than we expect?"
Arthur paused, lifting his gaze. "Then we fight. Same as always."
Ren stood a little apart from the group, leaning against a post with his arms crossed. His silver eyes gleamed under the faint light, and his tone carried a trace of impatience. "You're all worrying about the wrong things. It's not about whether we win—it's about who does the winning. Blights, dungeons, portals… doesn't matter. If you hesitate, you lose."
Elowen shot him a disapproving glance, the glow of her staff casting a soft light across her features. "And that's exactly why you'll lose first, Ren. Overconfidence gets people killed."
Lyra, perched on a nearby barrel, chuckled softly. "Leave it to Elowen to drop wisdom bombs at a time like this. But seriously, though, I'm with Rin. All this waiting is making my skin crawl."
The unease in the air grew thicker with each passing second. The soldiers around them were no longer just patrolling—they were positioning, readying weapons, whispering prayers. The night seemed unnaturally quiet now, as though the world itself was holding its breath.
Sosuke broke the silence. "Do you think… do you think anyone's made it back from one of these portals?"
Rin's eyes flickered toward him, the faintest trace of doubt shadowing her expression. Arthur shrugged, his tone neutral. "If they have, we haven't heard about it."
The group fell silent again, each lost in their own thoughts. The sky above was cloudless, the stars glittering like cold, indifferent spectators.
Then it happened. A low, guttural rumble vibrated through the ground, faint at first but steadily growing. The floodlights flickered, the air around them charged with an unnatural energy.
The horizon split apart.
A jagged tear of light pierced the night sky, expanding with a deafening hum. Soldiers shouted, their voices carrying panic as the tear widened into an enormous, swirling portal. The ground trembled beneath them as the blinding light cast their shadows long against the base walls.
"Blight surge incoming!" a soldier bellowed, his voice cracking over the din.
Sosuke gripped his katana, the metallic hum of the portal ringing in his ears.
The storm had arrived.