The sky split open with a jagged tear of darkness.
From the rift, a massive shadow rose slowly, hulking and deliberate.
It wore a heavy exo-tactical suit, its armor layered like slabs of stone across the shoulders, chestplate pulsing with flickering energy veins. The sheer bulk of it radiated menace.
But what emerged from the helmet—
Was a rabbit's head.
Long ears upright. Fangs bared. A twisted snarl frozen on its face.
Grotesque. Surreal. And deeply, viscerally wrong.
Ethan's system scan flared red with a warning:
—[Tier 26: Early Stage]
—[Exosuit Amplification: +1 Sub-Tier → Tier 26 Mid-Stage]
Ethan's stomach dropped.
"Shit…" he muttered. "That thing's real combat level is boosted past Tier 26…"
Even for him, taking on something like that solo would be a gamble—and not one he liked.
He was still calculating options when a familiar surge of energy exploded to his right.
"Elira?!"
