The ground rumbled beneath their feet as the portal loomed larger, its swirling light casting an eerie glow over the battlefield. Soldiers scrambled to form defensive positions, barking orders drowned out by the ominous hum that grew louder with every passing second.
Sosuke gripped the hilt of his katana tightly, his gaze locked on the portal. "It's happening," he said under his breath, his voice steady despite the unease building in his chest.
Ren stood beside him, his silver eyes reflecting the portal's shifting light. "So, this is it. All that talk, all that waiting. Let's see what these things have to offer."
"We don't even know what's going to come out of there," Lyra said, her arms crossed but her eyes sharp. "You're awfully confident for someone who's about to be overwhelmed."
"Speak for yourself," Ren retorted with a smirk. "I've got more than enough to handle whatever's coming."
Rin, sitting on a stack of crates nearby, looked up at them. "We're all acting like we're ready, but…" She hesitated, then stood, her voice quieter. "How do we know this isn't something completely beyond us?"
Arthur approached, his sword resting on his shoulder. "We don't," he said simply. "But we don't need to know. We just need to fight."
"That's comforting," Rin muttered, rubbing her hands together as if to stave off a chill. She glanced at Sosuke, her eyes lingering on him for a moment longer than usual. "You've been quiet. Got something on your mind?"
Sosuke shook his head. "Just… wondering how bad it'll get. And how many of us will walk away."
Elowen placed a hand on his shoulder, her touch warm and grounding. "Don't overthink it. Focus on what's in front of you. We'll handle this together."
The portal's hum grew deafening, a piercing sound splitting the air. Soldiers shouted in panic as the ground cracked, and the sky above them darkened unnaturally. A wave of energy surged outward, knocking some to their knees.
Sosuke stepped forward, his purple eyes locked on the portal as it began to tear open fully. "It's starting."
It happened fast—too fast. The soldiers at the front were ripped apart before they could even scream. Chaos erupted as the remaining forces panicked, some retreating in terror while others fired blindly into the growing horde.
Ren barely flinched, his silver eyes cold and calculating as he raised his blade. "Freeze." He swept the weapon in a wide arc, unleashing a chilling blast that encased dozens of blights in thick ice, halting their advance momentarily. The effort made his breathing heavier, but he didn't waver.
Suddenly, a flashing streak of red tore through the horde like a blazing comet. Chunks of blight flesh exploded into the air, splattering the ground with viscous black ooze. The streak weaved through the chaos with inhuman speed, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake before finally coming to a halt. The blur materialized into Reid, his chest heaving as he wiped black blood from his knuckles.
"What the hell was that?!" Ren shouted, lowering his sword for a brief moment.
Reid smirked, his face alight with pride. "What? I can't use spells, but I'm fast and strong. Thought I'd show you what that means."
Ren rolled his eyes. "You're insufferable."
"This isn't the time for bickering! Focus up!" Sosuke's voice rang out, sharp and commanding. He raised his katana, sparks of violet lightning crackling along the blade. "Let's move! Starborn, with me!"
Arthur, Ren, Sosuke, Rin, Milo, Reid, Rafael, and Lyra surged forward, charging into the heart of the battlefield. The soldiers parted instinctively, giving the team room to unleash their full power.
Arthur led with precision, his swordsmanship carving through the blights with methodical grace. Beside him, Lyra conjured explosive spells, fire and earth erupting to clear the way. Rafael and Milo held the flanks, one unleashing torrents of wind while the other laid traps that sent enemies sprawling.
Sosuke was at the center of it all, his katana slicing through the air in arcs of deadly lightning. His strikes were swift, deliberate, and unrelenting. Rin stayed close, a black flame flickering faintly around her hands as she struggled to channel her mana.
"Rin, behind you!" Sosuke called out, spinning to slice through a lunging blight before it reached her.
"Thanks!" she said, though frustration flickered in her eyes. She clenched her fists, the faint flames sputtering out.
Meanwhile, Reid darted ahead, his fists a blur as he smashed through the horde with sheer physical force. "Come on, is this all you've got?!" he taunted, grinning even as the blights swarmed around him.
The Starborn pushed deeper into the fray, their teamwork holding the line against the overwhelming horde. The portal loomed behind the blights, pulsing with a sinister light. Each wave of monsters seemed more ferocious than the last, but the group pressed on, determination etched into their faces.
Reid darted through the chaos like it was just another sparring match. His short black hair stuck up in wild tufts, and his lean, ripped frame moved with a martial artist's precision. Every step, every hit—it all looked effortless, like he was showing off for an audience that didn't exist.
A blight lunged at him, claws aiming for his throat. Reid leaned back just enough to dodge, then countered with a quick jab to its ribs, sending it crashing into the dirt. "Come on, is that all you've got? I thought this was supposed to be dangerous!"
"Reid, shut up and focus," Arthur barked, slicing through a cluster of blights. His usual calm was cracked just enough to show his irritation.
"This is focus!" Reid shot back, spinning around to kick another blight square in the chest. It flew into two more, knocking them over like bowling pins. "You guys should try it sometime. Makes the job way easier."
Ren, standing a few feet away, froze a group of advancing blights with a flick of his sword. He glared at Reid, his silver eyes sharp. "Focus? You're out here clowning around like this is a playground. It's embarrassing."
"Embarrassing for who?" Reid ducked under a swipe and popped back up, driving his elbow into the creature's head. "I'm doing fine. Maybe worry about keeping up instead."
Arthur groaned. "I'm not cleaning up your mess if you screw this up."
Sosuke sliced through two more blights before glancing back at Reid. He didn't say anything, but his faint smirk said enough. Unlike Ren and Arthur, he didn't seem all that bothered.
"Burn already." Lyra appeared beside Reid, setting a group of blights ablaze with a quick flick of her hand. She glanced at him as he sent another one flying with a kick. "You really don't shut up, do you?"
Reid grinned, brushing some ash off his shoulder. "Not when I'm on fire like this."
Lyra shook her head, but the corner of her mouth twitched like she was fighting back a smile. "You're unbelievable."
"Yeah, but you love it," Reid quipped, flipping over a blight and landing a perfect kick to its back.
Sosuke, slicing through another wave, couldn't help but chuckle. "Just keep them off my back, Reid. Whatever works for you."
"Glad someone here gets it!" Reid said, grabbing a blight by the arm and using its momentum to slam it into the ground. "Sosuke's got the right idea. Relax a little, guys. We're killing it—literally!"
Ren rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath as he slashed through another frozen group. Arthur just sighed, clearly deciding it wasn't worth the argument.
Reid wasn't oblivious to the frustration around him, but he didn't let it bother him. He darted between blights, laughing like he was at a party. The battlefield was pure chaos, but somehow, Reid made it feel less heavy. For better or worse, he was having fun—and if nothing else, his energy was contagious. Even Lyra, despite herself, seemed to enjoy the banter.
Not that it stopped Ren from muttering, "He's going to get himself killed one day," as he froze another wave of enemies.
"Everyone, move back!" Sosuke shouted, his free hand crackling with violet lightning as he fried a row of blights in an instant. "There's only a few left. I'll handle it!"
The others retreated, giving him space. Sosuke drew his katana, its blade gleaming faintly in the stormy glow of his lightning. He gripped the weapon tightly, snapping off a small fragment from its edge. With a fluid motion, he spun around and hurled the shard toward the remaining creatures.
The shard detonated midair, unleashing a violent storm of lightning that coiled around the blights, dragging them together. In the next instant, the storm erupted with a deafening crack, obliterating the monsters in a flash of electric fury. The shard zipped back into Sosuke's hand, reattaching seamlessly to the blade as if it had never left.
The battlefield fell silent.
"What… what was that?" Ren asked, his voice edged with disbelief.
Sosuke twirled his katana before sliding it back into its sheath. "Just a little trick I figured out. Turns out this katana loves my lightning—like, really loves it. That shard was packed with mana, so when it hit the blights, boom! Massive energy discharge." He smirked, resting the weapon on his shoulder. "Good thing it's built tough. Wouldn't want it shattering on me mid-battle. That'd be awkward."
Ren just stared at him, while the others exchanged glances. Reid let out a low whistle. "Flashy, I'll give you that."
Lyra raised an eyebrow but didn't comment. Arthur sighed, shaking his head. "Let's hope you don't blow yourself up next time."
Sosuke grinned. "Not planning to."
The eerie hum of the portal filled the air, a swirling mass of black and violet energy crackling like a storm contained in a glass sphere. The soldiers nearby stood frozen, weapons clutched tightly, their eyes darting between the portal and their commanding officers.
Virgil's voice cut through the tension. "Starborn, step forward. This is where your mission begins."
Sosuke exchanged glances with the others. Reid, for once, looked serious as he tightened the wraps on his hands. Rin adjusted the strap of her blade, her expression unreadable. Ren stood off to the side, rolling his shoulders as if preparing for a sprint, while Arthur checked his sword, muttering something under his breath.
Lyra broke the silence. "So… anyone else feel like they're walking into a death trap, or is it just me?"
Milo chuckled nervously. "Pretty sure it's all of us."
Sosuke stepped toward the portal, his gaze steady. "We've handled worse. Besides, it's not like we have much of a choice."
Elowen, calm as ever, nodded. "Focus. The unknown can't be avoided, but panic will only get us killed."
The swirling mass grew brighter, and a low rumble emanated from its center. One of the soldiers near the edge stumbled back, his voice trembling. "Something's coming through!"
The air grew heavier, an oppressive weight pressing down on everyone. Then came the sound of screaming—soldiers near the portal began shouting and backing away. Shadows began to writhe within the energy, indistinct shapes moving unnaturally fast.
"Steady!" Virgil barked. "Starborn, go!"
Sosuke took a deep breath and stepped into the energy, the hum of the portal swallowing him whole. One by one, the others followed, their forms vanishing into the void.
And then, the portal exploded with light, plunging the soldiers left behind into chaos.