The brewery was silent when Klaus stepped outside. The docks of Night City lay in shadows, broken lanterns swaying in the wind. His crimson-silver eyes burned as he whispered:
"They're here."
Selene's tails flared, foxfire dripping like molten silver. Liora stood at his other side, her silver-blue hair glowing faintly, constellations burning in her irises.
[SYSTEM ALERT] Hostile Forces Approaching.]Faction: Dockside Guild Enforcers.Estimated Numbers: 12.Objective: Destroy Brewery, kill witnesses.
Klaus's fangs glimmered. "Then let's make them the first lesson of Night City."
Celestial Sight
Klaus's vision fractured. Futures opened. He saw himself struck by crossbow bolts, saw Selene bleeding, saw Liora dragged in chains. He inhaled, focusing—burning a fragment of lifespan to pierce deeper.
[CELLESTIAL SIGHT ACTIVATED]-1 Day Lifespan.Future Paths Revealed:• Direct defense: Brewery burns, heavy casualties.• Ambush in shadows: 80% success rate.• Starveil + Shadow Path: 95% survival rate.
Klaus hissed. "We take the shadows. Move."
The Hunt
Selene's illusions bent the streets, cloaking them in foxfire phantoms. Liora wove Starveil, wrapping the trio in shimmering constellations that made them invisible to mortal eyes.
The first enforcer never saw the dagger. Klaus's Dark Celestial Assassin blade slid into his throat, shadows and starlight bursting through his body.
[SYSTEM] Target Defeated.][DEVOUR] Trait Acquired: Iron Grip (Basic).[DREAM-WEAVE] Lifespan Restored: +12h.
Selene struck next. Her tails lashed, illusions twisting reality until an enforcer's own ally drove a blade into him. Screams echoed as foxfire devoured their bodies.
[SHADOW PATH] New Clone Created: Guild Enforcer.]
Liora raised her hand, silver light condensing. Starstrike shot through two men, piercing armor like paper. They collapsed, eyes still glowing with starlight as their bodies burned to ash.
Fear Spreads
"W-what are they?!" one enforcer screamed, firing a bolt blindly.
Another dropped his weapon, shaking. "This… this isn't a brewery—it's a grave!"
Klaus stepped from the shadows, wings spread, dripping in blood and starfire. His crimson eyes glowed with silver rings. "You thought you came to burn my home. But you walked into my throne room."
The Last Gambit
The guild leader himself, a brute with chains around his arms, bellowed and charged. He smashed through illusions, shrugging off foxfire.
Klaus's Celestial Sight flickered—he saw himself gutted, saw Selene dragged down. He snarled and lunged first.
Shadow dagger in his right, starfire spear in his left, he struck both at once. The blade sank into the man's throat; the spear pierced his chest.
The brute collapsed, eyes wide, chains clattering to the stones.
[SYSTEM] Elite Target Defeated.]Reward: 500 Credits, Chainbreaker Trait.[DEVOUR] Chainbreaker Acquired: +10% Resistance to Restraints.
Aftermath
Blood ran down the docks, bodies dissolving into shadow clones at Klaus's command. The brewery stood untouched, glowing faintly under foxfire and starlight wards.
Selene approached, nine tails curling around Klaus's shoulders. Her voice was low, proud. "Efficient. Ruthless. That's how you should always fight."
Liora touched his wrist, her silver eyes still glowing. "But reckless. You're burning your years faster than you know. These futures you see—how long until one of them takes you for good?"
Klaus exhaled, eyes gleaming crimson-silver. "Then I'll keep rewriting them. As many times as it takes."
Cliffhanger
From the shadows of the far pier, cloaked figures watched. Their eyes glimmered with guild sigils. One whispered:
"He's too dangerous. Not just shadow, not just star. He'll upset the balance of Night City."
Another hissed. "Then send word to the Guild Council. Machiavelli must die before he grows into his crown."
**[SYSTEM QUEST UPDATE] Brewing Shadows, Burning Stars — Stage 2.]Objective: Survive Guild Council Retaliation.Reward: Brewery Upgrade (Rank E).Penalty: Brewery destroyed. Companions at risk.