From the darkness behind them, guttural screeches echoed—dozens of them. Red eyes flickered to life, appearing one by one, until an entire horde of Strays emerged from the shadows. Their twisted bodies pulsed with unstable energy, their movements unnatural and erratic.
Jiro cursed. "There's too many!"
Rajiv clenched his fists, golden energy sparking around him. "We can fight—"
"No, we run!" Jiro shouted. "We won't make it if we stay here!"
The Strays lunged.
Rajiv, Yokudo, and the Akaru warriors turned and sprinted through the tunnel. The ground beneath them cracked as the creatures chased after them, their distorted forms moving faster than expected.
"Keep running!" Yokudo yelled, glancing over his shoulder.
The tunnel's walls narrowed ahead, leading to a set of stone steps. At the top, faint moonlight seeped through a half-collapsed doorway—the exit.
"We're almost there!" Jiro called out.
A Stray leaped from the ceiling, claws reaching for Rajiv. He ducked, rolling forward as it crashed into the ground behind him. Another lunged at Yokudo, but Jiro blasted it away with his energy gun.
The group pushed forward, stumbling up the stairs as the Strays closed in. The exit was just a few meters away—
Then the ground shook.
The tunnel was collapsing.
"Move!" Rajiv shouted.
With a final burst of speed, they dove through the opening just as the tunnel caved in behind them, sealing the Strays inside. A cloud of dust exploded outward, and for a moment, everything was silent.
They were outside.
Rajiv fell to one knee, breathing heavily. He looked at his hands—his golden energy was fading again. His vision blurred for a second, exhaustion pulling at him. But he clenched his fists, forcing himself to stay upright.
No. I won't collapse now.
He took a deep breath, pushing past the fatigue. This wasn't the time to show weakness.
Arrival in A1 City
The group stood at the edge of a ruined district, the remnants of the tunnel entrance buried under stone and debris.
Jiro wiped sweat from his forehead. "Too close."
Yokudo glanced around. "Where… are we?"
Beyond the ruins, the towering skyline of A1 City stretched into the night sky. Neon lights flickered, holographic advertisements flashed, and massive energy towers pulsed with power. The city was alive with movement—airships drifted between skyscrapers, and the streets below bustled with people.
Jiro exhaled, a mix of relief and determination in his eyes. "We made it."
Rajiv stepped forward, staring at the city. His eyes widened. This was the first time he had seen a place like this. So many people—men, women, children—all moving through the streets, unaware of the battle that had just taken place beneath their feet.
The history of A1 City was reflected in its structure—ancient districts clashing with modern technology, remnants of the past blending with the future. Rajiv's gaze locked onto a massive stone structure in the distance, an old historical site surrounded by towering skyscrapers. This city had layers—stories buried beneath its shining exterior.
"We should find a place to stay," Jiro said. "We can't just stand in the open."
They moved forward, entering the city's front district. After some searching, they rented a small, worn-down lodging near the marketplace. It wasn't luxurious, but it was safe.
Rajiv stood at the window, looking at the glowing streets below. This was it. The start of something much bigger than he had imagined.
The real fight was just beginning.