The streets of Nerra had never looked so calm. The soft hum of hovering vehicles, the quiet rhythm of energy lines underfoot, the distant flicker of neon towers—it all suggested order. But Aubrey could feel it under his skin: tension, restless and alive, a pulse that matched the warning in his Bloodfire.
"Something's coming," he muttered, glancing at Mara. Her fingers brushed against his arm, subtle, grounding.
Kael had gone ahead to scout a reported disturbance, leaving them with vague instructions: observe, report, survive. But Aubrey didn't need instructions. He could feel it before the scanners even beeped.
A low, mechanical rumble vibrated through the street. Holographic signs flickered, then glitched, and the soft energy glow of the ground shimmered unnaturally. Pedestrians froze mid-step, some raising their eyes in confusion, others oblivious, lost in personal routines.
Then the first wave came.
Tall, armored figures dropped from the sky, their landing silent but for the hiss of energy shielding. They weren't patrols. They weren't citizens. Their eyes glowed an unnatural amber, and their movements were precise, almost inhuman. Aubrey's Bloodfire flared instinctively, crimson veins tracing along his arms and chest. Mara's aura responded in kind, a subtle vibration in the air that made the first attackers hesitate.
Kael returned just as the first strike landed. "Get ready!" he shouted, pulling a compact energy blaster from his pack. The first armored figure lunged at him, and he twisted, firing precise shots that arced through the air, hitting the target but barely slowing its advance.
Aubrey felt the heat beneath his palms rise. His Bloodfire erupted, jagged blades extending from his forearms. Sparks hissed where his flames met the attackers' armor. He rolled forward, slashing through one who had lunged from the side, molten ichor sizzling against the metal plating. Mara followed, her hands glowing faintly, pulsing waves of energy that destabilized the attackers' balance.
The plaza around them erupted into chaos. Civilians screamed, but the city's emergency systems immediately engaged, creating shields and safe zones. Energy barriers flickered into place, cutting off streets and minimizing collateral damage. But the focus remained on the three of them: Aubrey, Mara, and Kael.
Aubrey ducked under a sweeping strike, feeling a clawed gauntlet scrape the edge of his shoulder. Pain flared white-hot, but the surge only fueled his Bloodfire. He spun, striking upward with a blade of fire that cut through the armored figure like water through silk. Mara's pulse of energy threw another attacker off balance, sending it crashing into a holographic display that shattered in brilliant shards of light.
Kael's movements were precise, almost surgical. He dispatched two more attackers, then glanced at Aubrey. "There's more coming from the north sector! We don't have time!"
Aubrey nodded, reading the motion of the attackers as if anticipating each strike before it happened. Bloodfire surged in his veins, responding instinctively. Mara's powers intertwined with his, her energy pulses harmonizing with his flames. Together, they became a storm, their movements almost choreographed, the attackers unable to land a meaningful blow.
The city's pulse shifted beneath them, subtle vibrations in the streets, drones altering paths, energy lines pulsing faster. Nerra seemed alive, watching. Aubrey sensed it as a warning: adapt, survive, or the city would judge them unworthy.
The attackers regrouped, more aggressive now. One leapt high, landing in a silent crash with energy tendrils lashing out. Aubrey deflected with a shield of molten fire, the heat burning the soles of his boots as he skidded back. Mara's eyes narrowed. She raised her hands, and a wave of disruptive energy radiated outward, forcing several attackers to stumble.
"Keep moving!" Kael yelled, firing another volley. "To the central boulevard—there's cover and extraction points!"
The trio sprinted, weaving through the chaos. Bloodfire flared in Aubrey's fists, jagged blades cutting a path, while Mara's pulses disrupted their foes' formations. Sparks, flashes of light, the hiss of molten fire meeting armor—it was a symphony of controlled destruction.
Then a scream split the air—a civilian trapped near the energy barrier. Without hesitation, Aubrey leapt forward, shoving Mara to the side as he extended a fiery arm. The attacker tried to intercept, but the Bloodfire blade met its armor with a screech, slicing through to knock it aside. Aubrey grabbed the civilian and pushed them toward the safe zone, the pulse of Nerra beneath him almost guiding his steps.
Mara followed, pulling attackers off their path with bursts of energy. Kael covered them, firing precise shots, his movements efficient, deadly, and calm under pressure.
By the time they reached the central boulevard, most attackers had been neutralized. Smoke and sparks hung in the air, neon reflections flickering against the shattered glass and scorched pavement. Civilians were safe, the city's automated systems stabilizing the area.
Aubrey's chest heaved, Bloodfire still pulsing faintly, molten heat fading to a simmer. Mara leaned against a wall, catching her breath, eyes wide with adrenaline and awe.
"They knew we'd come," Aubrey muttered, voice low. "This wasn't random. Someone wanted us here… tested us."
Kael nodded grimly. "Nerra doesn't take chances. These attackers—they were scouts. And they weren't the city's doing."
A distant flicker of amber light across a high tower caught Aubrey's eye. A shadow watching, retreating with calculated speed. Someone—or something—was observing, already analyzing their abilities.
The calm of the city returned slowly, but the sense of unease lingered. Aubrey clenched his fists, feeling the warmth of Bloodfire beneath his skin. Mara's hand brushed his arm, grounding him, yet he knew the peace was temporary.
"We're not done," he said, voice low but firm. "And Nerra… is just the beginning."
Somewhere in the distance, the shadow paused, watching the glowing boulevard, the two new arrivals who had stirred the city's pulse. A warning, a p
romise, a challenge—their real trial had just begun.