"You're still alive." Marcus stepped forward, his tone caught between relief and suspicion.
Elias Crowe, the now ex-mayor of Oyster Bay, gave a slow nod. His clothes were dusted with dirt, his face worn from travel. The calm demeanor he once carried was gone, replaced by exhaustion. When he looked at them, his expression was flat, unreadable, as if he had already accepted what was coming. "I ran the moment the meteor shattered. Didn't look back."
"So, what happened?" Thomas crossed his arms, uninterested in pleasantries.
"They lost their minds." Elias's voice came out low, almost like he had repeated the words too many times in his head.
The group fell silent as he went on. He described how the infected saw the full moon as blood-red, how the meteor fragment's glow burned into their minds, how they turned on each other first. And when that wasn't enough, they destroyed the only thing keeping them safe, the meteor fragment itself.
"Before that, did you notice anything? Were they sick?" Marcus pressed, his eyes narrowing.
Elias hesitated, brow furrowed as he tried to recall. "I don't know if you'd call it sickness, but maybe. A few days earlier, people started complaining about headaches, fatigue. We ignored it because aside from that, they were fine. They even seemed full of energy at night. Then the full moon came."
"The researchers called it the Blood Plague." Marcus exhaled, the name heavy on his tongue.
The words sent a ripple through the group.
"Blood Plague?" Elias looked at him, confusion etched across his tired face.
"Yes." Marcus's tone stayed steady, but the weight behind it was clear. "The Crimson Count's lair is filled with it. Just being near the area is enough to infect you, no matter the distance. Oyster Bay's people must have gotten too close. Once it reached them, it spread through contact. And during the full moon, the hidden effect triggered, the fatigue you mentioned, the thirst for blood, the fear of light. In their minds, the meteor fragment became the enemy."
He shook his head slowly. "This was only a theory before, when researchers were trying to figure out the link between Glints, Fades, and the creatures in old fantasy stories. Looks like some of it was right."
"So, the Crimson Count destroyed an entire safe zone without even stepping inside it?" Noah rubbed the back of his neck, struggling to take it in.
Selene didn't answer right away. Her expression stayed unreadable, but her voice was even when it came. "If that really was him, then it means Caller-level Fades or stronger can destroy a safe zone from the outside."
The group fell silent. They knew Fades were dangerous, but this was different. Safe zones were supposed to be the limit, and now even that was gone.
"So, any stronger Fade could do the same thing?" Nevin asked, his frown deepening.
No one had an answer.
The realization pressed down on them, heavy and suffocating. Safe zones weren't safe anymore.
They were still taking in what they'd heard when a sharp burst of static crackled from the comms device on Selene's belt. A clipped, professional voice followed.
"Alert, Caller Fade detected in Region 4, Upper Central Region, District 19."
Marcus's head snapped up. His eyes locked on Selene.
Another alert cut in before anyone could react.
"Alert, Caller Fade detected in Region 5, Northern Region, District 24."
Then another.
"Alert, Caller Fade detected near the Upper Central Border, Region 4."
"Alert, Caller Fade detected near the Outpost Line, Region 6, Northwest Region."
One after another, the reports piled on. Different voices, different locations, all rushing to keep up.
Different places. Different sectors. Different regions.
This wasn't isolated.
The world was falling apart fast, collapsing all at once, and there was no stopping it.
When the last alert ended, silence pressed down on the group. No one spoke.
Then Thomas stretched his arms high, let out a long yawn, and scratched the back of his head.
"So… what's for dinner?"
Bryan closed his eyes, breathing out slow. "Unbelievable."
"Sir, report. There are new features in the interface." A soldier saluted as he spoke to Marcus.
Everyone heard it, and the group rushed into the pink fog to see for themselves.
"Wow, there's a ranking feature now?!" Nevin scrolled quickly, his eyes wide. "Top 1 is Cara Hayashi, top 2 is Tarsen Hayashi… Thomas, you're rank 3!"
In his Oni form, Thomas struck a few poses like he was some kind of celebrity. The grin on his face was playful, but in that form it came off more intimidating than charming.
"There's also a private group feature." Bryan's voice was low, as if he was already thinking about how it could be used.
While Bryan was caught in thought, Marcus noticed the changes around them. The Hayashi Twins were already gone, slipping away the moment they reached the settlement. The DMW Gang had left too, but not quietly. They stormed off cursing the government, blaming them for everything that had happened. Their anger hadn't cooled, and Marcus figured it was only a matter of time before they caused more trouble.
"Alright, listen up." Marcus's voice cut through the noise of everyone testing the new features. Arms crossed, he wore his usual no-nonsense look. "We're done here. We'll head back and report in."
He scanned the remaining crews. "I understand you've all got your own priorities. Let's go our separate ways for now."
Thomas didn't complain. He preferred it that way. Too many people meant too much talking and too many opinions. He just wanted them to go on with their own lives.
Hours earlier, far from Earth:
"They have defeated the transformed being humans called Caller. The twins are now top 1 and 2 on the hero candidate list. Thomas has been reassessed and moved to rank 5."
"Five?" Argus leaned forward, eyes narrowing. "How many Class S do we have now? There were only 4 before."
"6. Two new Class S have emerged. Since Thomas was already marked as highest priority, the notifications were kept silent."
"That's fine. I wasn't wrong about him. You'll see." Argus's voice carried the edge of someone arguing with himself as much as the machine.
"We should release the ranking system in the interface. Tell me, how can we raise Thomas's rank?"
"The initial ranking is based on power. At that measure, he is rank 5. If popularity is included, he moves up to rank 3."
"Good. Release the ranking system using both power and popularity. That will motivate him, especially if ranks one and two are people he works with."
"Then release the private group feature. Since they prefer working together, this will help them organize."
"Also, partially awaken the next level of transformed beings. Let's give them a proper challenge." Argus nodded, pleased with himself.
If Thomas and the others could hear this, they would understand why they had stopped seeing boss-level Fades after leaving their base. The system had put those bosses back to sleep. At the time, Thomas had only begun fighting, and Argus hadn't wanted him to die facing the strongest too soon.
"Updating the interface… adding modified ranking system… adding private group function… partially awakening next level transformed beings, called Boss by humans… update complete."
"Excellent. Do you like my gift, Thomas? Now hunt those monsters and grow stronger. Ha ha ha!" Argus grinned at the screen, as if Thomas could hear him.
Minutes later, another report came in.
"Thomas's group has decided not to participate in hunting Fades. The main group has disbanded."
"Thomas!!" Argus slammed his hands on the table, rage boiling over. He had adjusted the system for him, given him every advantage, forced challenges into place to make him stronger. And yet Thomas refused to follow the path laid out for him.
Back on Earth.
"By the way," Marcus said, looking between his own squad and Noah's group, "Bryan and I set up a private group in the interface. Anyone who wants to stay in touch, trade intel, or call for backup can use it. Just a way to communicate."
Bryan stepped forward with a small nod. "Yeah. If anyone finds safe paths, spots a powerful Fade, or hears something from a safe zone, drop it in. Need help? Call for it. But don't treat it like a debt. No one owes anyone after helping. This is a free information and assistance group."
He gave another short nod. "Pretty much. We won't be traveling together, and that's fine. But with this, we can still share routes, Fade sightings, safe zone updates, or faction activities. Whatever matters. Stay connected without stepping on each other's toes."
Marcus crossed his arms. "It's smart. Better than wandering blind through the Pink Fog."
Noah glanced at his crew, then nodded. "We're in. Each of us will join the group. You helped us deal with the Kuroda faction, and that's enough for me."
One by one, the Hounds' members also joined. Even if they weren't assigned to the same missions, the group would let them communicate and share information.
Marcus turned to his squad. "Alright. The Hounds are heading out. Time to report back."
"Another Fade hunt?" Thomas raised an eyebrow.
Marcus didn't bite. "Doesn't matter. We go where we're needed."
Before anyone else spoke, Elias Crowe stepped forward. Everyone turned to him. He still had the bearing of a leader, but Oyster Bay was gone. His title meant nothing now.
"I'll go with you," Elias said.
The group went silent. The former mayor who once kept to himself, who had turned them away in Oyster Bay, was now asking to join the Hounds on their way to the capital.