Haru stood in front of the small building, eyes flicking between the card in his hand and the entrance.
"This is better than being nothing," he muttered, exhaling, then stepped forward.
Inside, the room was crowded with muscular figures—some towering, some shorter—but all radiating silent unease as they watched him move through.
At the end of the hall, a door bore a simple tag: President. Haru paused, hand on the knob, breathing steadying. Then he turned it and stepped inside.
The room smelled faintly of leather and metal. The men he had seen before were here, and the bald recruiter leaned casually against the president's desk.
"So… you really came, brat." The bald man smirked, stepping forward, looming.
"Let me introduce myself."
"I'm Bao Xu. Guild master of Brutcher Guild."
Confidence radiated from him. A grin stretched across his face.
Haru's chest tightened slightly but he straightened. "Haru. That's my name."
Bao tilted his head. "Haru? Not Chinese, huh? Doesn't matter."
He extended a hand. "Welcome aboard... brat."
Haru hesitated a heartbeat—then shook it. Strength pressed into his grip, raw and unyielding.
The telephone rang sharply. Bao grabbed a bag from nearby and tossed it toward Haru.
Catching it, Haru's eyes met Bao's.
"Right on time. First legal step inside a rift," Bao said before answering the call, voice professional but edged with amusement.
Haru's fingers clenched the bag. Determination sparked across his face, his lips barely moving as he whispered, "…Yue."
Bao's hand tapped his shoulder. "Let's move, brat."
Haru nodded, slinging the bag over his shoulder. The man on the couch rose, and together the seven of them, Haru included, filed out of the building.
The sun beat down on the road, bright and hot, clinking of weapons marking each step as they marched forward.
—
Somewhere inside a Void Rift in Russia—
A massive monster crashed to the ground.
Lightning crackled across its corpse before fading into silence.
A red-haired man grinned.
"Oi, Armanz… let's head to the boss room."
Nards — S-rank Archmage.
Ahead of him, a white-haired man glanced back only slightly before continuing forward without a word.
Armanz — S-rank Archmage.
"Being serious all the time makes you look old~" Sonia floated beside them atop a witch broom, long black silk-like hair swaying behind her. S-rank Archweaver.
The three advanced deeper into the Rift.
With every step, the Quinacity radiating from beyond the boss door thickened, pressing heavier against the air.
"This one has an intimidating presence…" Sonia murmured, her playful tone gone.
Nards stepped forward with a smirk and pushed the massive door open.
He entered first.
"…Something's off," Armanz said quietly.
Even so, he followed.
So did Sonia.
The boss room was empty.
Silent.
Too silent.
The three exchanged glances.
Despite the overwhelming mana earlier—
Nothing stood before them.
Nards' expression sharpened.
"Don't let your gua—"
Click.
A tiny sound echoed above them.
All three looked up. Their eyes widened.
The ambush came instantly.
An explosion of flames detonated from above.
Smoke burst violently across the chamber as the three scattered out of range.
Nards slid across the ground, stopping hard.
Blood dripped from his forehead down to his chin.
Through the fading smoke—
Eyes glowed back at them.
Bloodlust flooded the room.
"…Damn beast." Nards wiped the blood from his face, mint-green magic igniting around his body.
"Your wound would've been severe if I hadn't shielded you in time," Sonia said, both hands extended as healing magic flowed into him.
Then—
A roar thundered through the chamber.
The creature finally revealed itself.
Rows of jagged teeth.
Razor-like claws.
Dark skin layered like living armor.
A tail lined with blade-like spikes.
Its massive arms anchored against the ground as it opened its mouth.
"Here it comes," Sonia whispered, instantly casting a barrier.
Nards rushed forward without hesitation.
And then—
A beam of impossibly dense magic erupted from the monster's mouth.
No charging. No warning.
Nards' eyes widened.
The beam passed an inch from his eye.
It tore through the space behind him and slammed into Sonia's barrier.
CRACK—
Armanz immediately grabbed Sonia and vanished from the attack's path.
The beam disappeared.
Smoke drifted around the monster's head—
Then a figure emerged beside it. Nards.
"Incinerate… Burst!!!"
His fist slammed into the creature's skull.
The impact twisted the monster's head sideways as flame marks rapidly spread across the point of contact— Then erupted.
A concentrated torrent of fire exploded outward.
Nards landed beside Sonia and Armanz, still guarded, breathing heavy.
Smoke rolled through the chamber.
Then—
The monster roared again. Alive.
Sonia's eyes narrowed in disbelief.
"No way…"
"That only did a little damage…?" Armanz muttered.
Cracks spread faintly across the monster's armor-like skin— But only barely.
Nards stared at it, frustration twisting across his face.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
"Sonia…" Armanz called, eyes locked onto the monster, expression grim.
Sonia understood immediately.
She rose to her feet and began enchanting.
"Vanquish the darkness… cleanse the impurity… guide of light…"
Golden light bloomed across their bodies, warmth spreading through their veins. Sonia pressed her hands together like a prayer.
"Bloom… Wisterial Garden."
Her voice was calm.
The illusion of a vast wisteria garden erupted across the chamber, violet petals drifting through the air. The spell wrapped around her allies, doubling the output of their Quinacity and magic.
Nards looked toward Armanz.
Armanz nodded once.
Both of them rushed forward.
The monster opened its mouth again, preparing another long-range attack. Magic circles spread rapidly above the chamber ceiling—
The beam from it's mouth fired instantly.
No warning.
Armanz, midair, twisted aside and narrowly evaded the attack before landing hard.
At the same moment—
Nards appeared above the monster.
The magic circles sparked, about to unleash
Lightning Spears tore through them.
Every circle shattered.
Armanz's white hair glowed brilliantly, electricity cracking violently around his body.
Simultaneously, Nards slammed a massive magic circle beneath the monster.
"El flare… Pillar of Hell."
The circle blazed crimson.
A colossal pillar of fire erupted upward, melting through the monster's armor-like skin.
The creature roared so loud. This time—
Truly enraged.
A wave of mana exploded from its body.
The walls cracked from the pressure alone.
Armanz rushed in immediately, lightning concentrated around his hand, aiming straight for exposed flesh.
Nards' eyes widened.
"NO, DON'T—!!"
Too late. The monster moved.
Faster than before. Its claws blurred forward.
Armanz couldn't react.
Sonia froze.
Her eyes widened in horror.
Blood scattered across the air. Pieces.
Armanz's body— torn apart instantly.
"…No…"
Nards' instincts screamed. Run.
The Rift measurements were wrong.
This was never a normal S-rank dungeon.
The boss had surpassed S-rank—
Almost reaching SS-rank.
Sonia stood frozen.
Nards wrapped his arm around her waist and immediately fled the chamber as the monster chased after them.
He boosted his flight magic to its limit.
The exit appeared ahead.
He let go of her outside the Rift.
"SEND AN SS-RANK NOW!!"
His voice snapped Sonia back to reality.
Nearby TWA officers monitoring the Rift immediately turned in panic.
Nards went back inside alone.
Sonia still couldn't accept what just happened had no choice but to do what needs to be done right now as she stumbled to her feet and grabbed one officer by the tie, tears pouring uncontrollably down her face.
"Call an SS-rank! NOW!!"
The officer, pale with fear, sprinted toward the vehicles to contact the branch immediately.
Then— The Rift seal shattered.
Nards burst out of the opening and slammed across the ground, blood spraying from his body. Behind him— The monster emerged.
The Rift had broken. A Dungeon Break has begun.
Officers ran for their lives.
Some collapsed from fear alone.
"Sonia… RUN!!" Nards shouted despite his severe injuries. But Sonia ran toward him instead. Healing magic flooded from her trembling hands as tears streamed endlessly down her face.
"You have to ru—"
"No!"
She cut him off instantly.
"I already lost Armanz… I don't want to lose another friend!"
Nearby buildings exploded apart from the monster's beam.
The creature slowly turned its gaze toward them.
"But—"
"No buts!!"
She gripped his clothes tighter, sobbing openly.
"If you're going to die, then I'll die with you… You two are my only friends…"
The monster opened its mouth once more.
And time slowed—
A child's laughter echoed through fading memories.
"Mama!! Look what I drew!"
A picture of a family. But her mother never looked. Days, Months, and years passed. Nothing changed. Untill she turned 16.
"You never do anything right! What's with that drawing? Can it pay our debts?! Ever since your father left, our lives became miserable! And you waste money on stupid drawings?!"
Sonia lowered her head silently.
Her eyes empty. Later, she sold her belongings to help. Doesn't want to be a burden anymore.
"M-Mom… I made money… here…"
Her mother glanced at it. Still disappointed.
"This isn't enough." Sonia looked malnourished.
So Sonia quit her school. Worked multiple jobs. Morning until night.
Exhausting herself every single day.
"Here's the money, Mom…"
Her mother took it without even looking at her. The next day, Sonia noticed alcohol bottles and cigarettes on the table.
Her mother seemed… happier.
So Sonia smiled faintly to herself.
If I earn more… Mom will finally love me.
She worked harder. More jobs. More exhaustion.
"Mom will be happy… Mom will finally love me…"
Then— within the shadow of the street, a hand stretched out dragging her to darkness. Tape over her mouth.
Later that night, she woke on the cold ground. Money rested on her stomach.
She cried while clutching both the money and her belly.
Then slowly forced herself up, legs trembling so badly she had to use walls and railings to walk home.
A week later— Rumors spread.
Classmates whispered after seeing her staggering home with money in hand.
Her friends abandoned her. Laughed at her.
Looked disgusted.
The words scarred her deeper than the night itself. Crying while looking at their messages
Few years have passed.
The Cataclysm began.
As Sonia approached her home, a monster crashed through it.
Her mother lay trapped beneath rubble.
Begging. "Sonia! Save me!!"
Sonia only stared. Expressionless.
Lifeless. She watched her mother get eaten alive right in front of her.
Then the monster turned toward Sonia—
—but another creature suddenly slammed into it. She stayed still sitting in the floor when suddenly someone grabbed her.
"Oi! Don't just sit there!"
Nards—
He carried her away while another man followed behind them.
Armanz—
Monsters surrounded their path. Cornered.
A winged creature landed behind.
"Damn it…" Nards muttered fearfully.
The monsters charged. Sonia stared blankly. These two were terrified.
Yet neither abandoned her.
They were willing to die together.
Then— Sonia cried. Mana surge out of nowhere. A barrier burst around them instantly. Their wounds slowly healed.
Armanz stared in shock.
"What is this…?"
Sonia broke down completely.
"Why… why didn't you leave me?! Why are you willing to die with me?!"
The monsters slammed against the barrier.
Nothing happened. after a few moments, they are now convinced that they're safe inside the barrier.
Nards awkwardly scratched his cheek, panicking over how to calm a crying girl.
"Uh… because we wanted to save you…"
"We wanted to help," Armanz added quietly.
Sonia cried harder. this reminded her of the only friends she had who actually protected her and cared for her. That didn't last long, they died in an accident...
"I'm Nards. Nards Mengord."
"And I'm Armanz Will."
They'd introduce themselves not knowing what else to do.. Sonia trembled. Hesitating.
Doesn't know what to feel whether hope or fear.
"S-Sonia… Sonia Merleine…" her soft softens tears streamed down her face as she smiled weakly.
The memory fades— back into reality.
"Let's die together… Nards…"
Nards smiled back. Accepting their fate together. The monster fired its beam—
Then—
Someone cut through the attack.
A woman stood before them.
Grinning.
"You look entertaining…"
Her blade rested over her shoulder.
"Entertain me, will you?"
SS-rank Archblade. Mio Keizell.
That day, Sonia and Nards witnessed what true SS-ranks were. Mio moved so fast they could barely follow her. The monster's arms were severed effortlessly. Its magic sliced apart like paper and the battle ended far quicker than they could comprehend.
"Blade Dance."
The boss exploded into countless pieces.
Mio walked toward them casually afterward.
"It'd be ridiculous to ask if you guys are okay, right?" she said with a grin—not mocking, just honest.
—
Somewhere back in China—
"Excited, brat?" Bao asked with a smirk.
The Rift hummed before them.
Haru stared at it silently.