The night after the Pillar's warning was colder than usual.
Rei couldn't sleep.
Aira sat beside him on the academy rooftop, legs pulled close, staring at the broken moon.
Its surface flickered like an old screen another sign the world was destabilizing.
Rei inhaled sharply.
"We can't do this alone."
Aira nodded softly.
"We need a team…
But not normal people.
Not random awakened ones."
Rei looked at her.
"We need people who won't break when the world does."
Aira smiled faintly.
"Then let's find them."
---
🔥 The First Recruit Kai Stormcrest
They found him where the city lights died out.
A destroyed apartment.
Broken walls.
Burnt stairs.
But in the middle of it a boy sat alone, staring at his hands, lightning crackling from his fingers uncontrollably.
He was young.
Too young.
Maybe 15.
But his aura…
It was wild.
Raw.
Stronger than a normal awakened.
Rei stepped forward calmly.
"Kai Stormcrest?"
The boy flinched.
His electricity surged dangerously.
"Stay back! I-I can't control this!"
Rei approached anyway.
Aira whispered urgently, "Rei, stop! He's unstable!"
Rei ignored her.
He walked…
One step…
Two…
Three…
Kai panicked and yelled
"I SAID STAY BACK!"
Lightning exploded from his body.
But Rei didn't move.
He simply raised one hand.
The lightning stopped
frozen in air, caught inside Rei's rift field.
Kai stared wide-eyed.
"H-How did you"
Rei smiled lightly.
"Because I know what losing control feels like."
Kai looked at the destroyed home behind him.
"The power… it killed my father.
I didn't mean to.
I didn't want any of this."
His voice cracked.
Aira stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"You're not a monster.
You're just scared."
Rei extended a hand.
"Come with us.
We can help you control it."
Kai's eyes trembled.
"…Why me?"
Rei replied simply:
"Because the world will need you.
And so will we."
Kai hesitated…
Then took Rei's hand.
Lightning vanished.
And the first teammate was born.
---
🔥 The Second Recruit Rena Valeheart
Rena was different.
Calm.
Silent.
Eyes like sharpened glass.
She lived in the underground tunnels hiding from awakened hunters.
Her ability wasn't flashy like Kai.
She could erase sound.
Any sound.
Even her footsteps were ghosts.
Rei found her cornered by hunters.
Aira whispered, "She's going to die "
"No," Rei said.
He jumped.
A vortex of rift energy pulled the hunters away like rag dolls, slamming them unconscious.
Rena turned slowly, expression unreadable.
"You shouldn't have saved me."
Rei tilted his head.
"Why not?"
She brushed dust off her cloak.
"Because I'm cursed."
Aira frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Rena lifted her hair.
A broken mark glowed on her neck
not normal, not awakened.
A damaged clan mark.
Rei's eyes widened.
"You're… one of the Lost Clans?"
Rena looked away.
"My entire clan was wiped out by one of the Five Villains.
Every survivor was hunted.
I'm the last."
Rei stepped closer.
"And do you want revenge?"
Rena's eyes sharpened.
"Yes."
Rei extended his hand.
"Then join us."
The tunnels trembled with her silence ability.
She stared at Rei's hand…
And finally took it.
"Fine.
But I don't follow leaders.
I follow strength."
Rei smiled.
"Then you chose right."
---
🔥 The Third Recruit Zeke Ironhold
He wasn't found.
He found them.
As Rei, Aira, Kai, and Rena walked the abandoned bridge, a massive shadow dropped from above.
Zeke landed with a metal fist cracking the ground.
Tall.
Muscular.
Eyes burning with molten orange.
Aira gasped.
"Is he?"
Rena nodded.
"He's an awakened… but his power is like a furnace."
Zeke pointed at Rei.
"You.
Riftborn."
Rei stood still.
"What do you want?"
Zeke smirked.
"To join your team."
Kai blinked.
"Why why us?"
Zeke shrugged.
"Because when the world ends, I want to be on the side that survives."
Aira stepped forward.
"But we didn't invite you"
Zeke stepped closer to Rei, towering above him.
"I don't need an invite.
I need a challenge.
Fight me."
Rei sighed.
"You're reckless."
Zeke grinned.
"And you're holding back."
Rei activated his rift aura.
Zeke punched.
Rei blocked.
One shockwave blasted the entire bridge.
Rena stumbled.
Kai shielded his eyes.
Aira held on to the railing.
On the fifth clash
Zeke's fist stopped a centimeter from Rei's face.
Rei didn't blink.
Zeke stared…
Then laughed loudly.
"Good. You're strong.
I'll follow you."
Rei nodded.
"Welcome to the team."
---
🔥 The Fourth Recruit — Suki Emberlight
She was trouble.
Beautiful.
Sharp-tongued.
Smirking as if she knew secrets no one should know.
Rei found her sitting on top of a destroyed church tower, legs swinging, fire dancing on her fingertips.
She didn't look dangerous.
But she was.
Her power?
Ember Flux flames that react to emotions.
Suki saw the team approaching and jumped down gracefully.
"So you're the Riftborn everyone's talking about."
Rei crossed his arms.
"And you are?"
She winked.
"Someone you can't survive without later."
Kai blushed.
Rena rolled her eyes.
Zeke smirked.
Aira frowned instantly.
Suki leaned closer to Rei.
"Take me in."
Rei raised a brow.
"Why do you want to join us?"
Her smile faded.
"My brother…
He awakened last week.
Lost control.
Burned alive."
Aira covered her mouth in shock.
Suki continued, voice trembling:
"I want to know why this world is awakening.
And I want to burn the person responsible."
Rei nodded.
"You're in."
Suki smiled again, fire dancing around her hands.
"A team of five… feels like destiny."
---
🔥 The Complete Team
Rei
Aira
Kai
Rena
Zeke
Suki
Six people.
Six destinies bound by awakening.
And the war hadn't even started yet.
---
🔥 ENDING SUSPENSE (HUGE TWIST)
As the team walked together for the first time, the wind grew cold.
Then
A shadow appeared behind them.
Tall.
Silent.
Golden eyes shimmering.
Aira froze.
Rei's heart stopped.
Suki's flames dimmed.
Kai's lightning vanished.
Zeke clenched his fists.
Rena stepped back.
Rei whispered:
"…Azeroth."
But the figure didn't speak.
Instead, he slowly raised his hand
Holding something dripping with blood.
A cloth.
A symbol.
A mark.
Rei's eyes widened.
He recognized it instantly.
It was the mark of one of the Five Villains.
One of the ancient Devourers.
And Azeroth dropped it at Rei's feet.
Then he spoke one sentence:
"Your first main villain is dead.
And guess who killed him."
Rei stepped back in shock.
Aira whispered, trembling
"Rei…
If Azeroth killed one of the Five Villains…
Then who is the REAL threat?"
Azeroth smiled slowly.
And whispered:
"The villain you fear most…
hasn't awakened yet."
The ground cracked.
The sky flickered.
Azeroth vanished.
Leaving the team frozen
In fear.
In confusion.
In destiny.
---
TO BE CONTINUED....