The sewers beneath Velrith had always been dark, twisting, and dangerous. Tonight, the low rumble of a Rift forming sent ripples across the stagnant waters, warning of a Class B dungeon erupting in the city's underbelly.
Vanguard Edge was the first to respond. Kael Ryven had personally mobilized his squad, though this time the leaders of Astraeus Dominion stayed aboveground, monitoring evacuation and city safety. The mission fell squarely on Vanguard Edge's team, giving them the stage to shine.
Team in Focus
Kael Ryven: Commanding presence, fire flaring across his gauntlets. Though still recovering from the previous city-wide dungeon, he exuded intensity, scanning the twisting tunnels for Rift activity. His golden eyes glimmered with the thrill of anticipation.
Seren: Darting through the shadows, her wind blades cutting through debris and smaller Riftspawn. She moved with fluid grace, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Stay sharp. They're faster than usual tonight," she warned, her voice light but serious.
Ira: Calm and calculating, chains in hand, setting up traps across junctions. He rarely spoke unless necessary, but when he did, every word carried authority. "Left corridor. Two spawns. Contain, then isolate," he ordered.
Draven: Brute force incarnate. He laughed as he slammed his fists into the dungeon walls, sending pieces of stone flying into approaching Riftspawn. "Finally, some action I can enjoy!" His reckless enthusiasm was both a strength and a concern for the team.
First Engagement
The squad entered a cavernous chamber, water up to their knees. Riftlight shimmered along the walls, revealing three twisted Riftspawn, each more agile than the last.
Seren vaulted onto a broken pipe, spinning in midair to slash one of the creatures with her wind blades. It screeched, flying back into a wall.
Ira's chains lashed, wrapping around another, pulling it off balance just long enough for Draven to smash it into the ground with a thunderous blow.
Kael's fire flared, lighting the cavern in golden flames as he struck the final Riftspawn, careful to direct its momentum away from his teammates.
The synergy was seamless — each member operating at peak precision, their strengths complementing one another perfectly.
Squad Dynamics
After the fight, the team paused, wading through ankle-deep water.
Seren flicked her hair back. "Not bad, Draven. For once, you didn't break anything important."
Draven grinned, rubbing his knuckles. "Hey, collateral damage is part of the fun."
Ira's eyes narrowed. "Focus. The Rift is unstable. This chamber is just a precursor."
Kael's gaze swept the tunnels, golden eyes scanning every shadow. "He's right. Keep positions. Move cautiously."
The banter, the strategy, the unspoken respect — it was clear that Vanguard Edge operated like a well-oiled machine, each member's personality shaping their contributions.
The True Threat Emerges
At the chamber's end, a Rift anomaly pulsed violently, and from its depths emerged a twisted creature unlike the previous Riftspawn. Its body shimmered with pale, sickly light, tentacles writhing and snapping, its multiple eyes scanning the team.
"This one's… different," Seren muttered, landing gracefully on a pipe overhead.
Ira's chains shot forward, tangling the creature's tentacles. "Contain first. Strike second."
Draven charged headfirst, bellowing a roar as his fists struck the creature. Sparks of Rift energy rebounded against him, but his brute strength held.
Kael's fire flared, illuminating the cavern with a searing heat as he targeted the creature's core. "On my mark — all of you, together!"
Team Synergy in Action
Seren's wind blades spun in arcs, deflecting strikes and sending debris into the creature's path. Ira's chains restrained its limbs, giving Draven room to smash repeatedly. Kael's fire ignited the water around the creature, forcing it to recoil.
In a synchronized final move, Kael flared his fire at the core, Draven smashed its base, and Seren's wind blades formed a spiraling vortex to seal it.
The creature shrieked, thrashing violently, before collapsing in a heap of shadow and Rift energy. The anomaly pulsed once more, stabilizing, then faded.
Aftermath
The chamber was quiet. Water rippled gently as the squad regrouped. Each hunter bore cuts, bruises, and exhaustion, but their pride was palpable.
Seren laughed lightly. "See, Kael? Not every dungeon needs two agencies to shine."
Kael smirked, nodding. "You all did well. I couldn't ask for better."
Draven flexed, grinning. "Told you, I make everything better."
Ira merely adjusted his chains, silent but approving. "Efficiency. Minimal risk. Well done."
Aboveground, Astraeus Dominion reported the dungeon stabilized, their scouts confirming no civilian threat. Fans and media caught glimpses of Vanguard Edge's fight through street cams and citizen drones, fueling the city's obsession with their heroes.
Even without Lucien's squad present, the world of Velrith continued to expand — agencies, squads, and citizens all intertwined in the pulse of Rift energy and heroism.