The call came at dawn. Velrith's central Command Center lit up with alerts, a web of crimson threads stretching across the city's Rift monitors. Somewhere beneath the old aqueduct district, the anomaly had grown teeth.
Iron Vow's Gamble
Iron Vow's commander, Darius Heth, stood rigid in front of his team as alarms blared. His weathered armor bore scratches from years of battles no one remembered. His agency had been scraping by for months, overshadowed by the glittering names of Astraeus and Vanguard.
"This is ours," he growled, fastening his gauntlets. "We take it, we prove our worth. No more scraps."
His hunters nodded grimly, though unease flickered in their eyes. The anomaly had already climbed from C-rank to A in less than twelve hours — unheard of. But Iron Vow's pride ran deeper than fear.
The team descended into the aqueduct tunnels, boots splashing through shallow water. The walls pulsed faintly, veins of violet Rift energy crawling across stone. And then they saw it.
The air split like torn silk, jagged and raw. The Rift wasn't stable — it writhed like a living wound, leaking shadows that hissed and clawed.
A growl reverberated through the tunnels. Then another. Shapes emerged — hulking, half-formed beasts, their eyes glowing violet.
"Formation!" Darius roared.
Iron Vow fought hard, blades clashing, spells crackling. But the monsters kept coming, pouring from the Rift like a flood. For every one cut down, two more took its place.
One hunter screamed as claws tore into her side. Another was dragged into the shadows, his voice cut off in an instant.
The Rift pulsed again — brighter, hungrier.
This wasn't an A-rank. Not anymore.
The City Watches
Aboveground, holo-screens across Velrith lit with breaking news.
"Iron Vow has engaged the anomaly," a commentator's voice rang out, tense but eager. "We're receiving live feeds now."
Citizens crowded marketplaces, streets, and taverns, watching as shaky camera drones captured the chaos underground. Sparks flew, shadows writhed, hunters screamed.
Some cheered for Iron Vow, desperate for the underdogs to triumph. Others sneered, muttering that only Astraeus or Vanguard could handle something this volatile.
On the networks, debates flared. Are we witnessing bravery? Or suicide?
Kael: A Fire Unchecked
In Vanguard Edge's command chamber, Kael leaned against the briefing table, arms crossed as the feed played. His golden eyes burned, reflecting the Rift's violet glow.
"They're being slaughtered," he said flatly. "This isn't an A-rank. This thing's climbing to S."
His commander barked orders. Vanguard's squad began gearing up, their energy crackling with anticipation.
Kael smirked, but the expression didn't reach his eyes. The thought gnawed at him: Lucien would see this anomaly too. And Lucien would come.
For once, Kael wasn't sure if he wanted to beat him to the punch… or face him inside the chaos.
Lucien: Shadows Coil
At Astraeus Dominion, the alarm sounded with icy precision. Lucien stood at the center of his squad, every movement sharp and controlled.
"The anomaly is escalating," one of his analysts reported. "Iron Vow is overwhelmed. Casualty rate already at forty percent."
Lucien's silver eyes narrowed. He didn't waste words. "Prepare to deploy."
Yet beneath the mask of command, unease stirred. The Rift's energy wasn't just unstable — it was wrong. Ancient. Familiar.
His father's whispers coiled in his mind. Do you feel it? My blood calls to you.
Lucien's hands tightened behind his back. He silenced the voice, stepping forward as his squad saluted.
If this anomaly truly climbed to S-rank, the city would demand cooperation. And that meant Kael.
The Breach
Deep in the tunnels, Darius Heth bellowed his last order as the Rift split wider, tearing stone apart. A monster surged forth, massive and grotesque, its form stitched together from shadows and bone.
The air itself quaked.
Velrith's sensors screamed in unison. The classification jumped again.
A to S.
In the streets above, people gasped as the alert broadcast citywide. Anomaly Breach Detected. Classification: S.
And still, the Rift pulsed, expanding.
For the first time in years, Velrith trembled.