The ruins no longer felt empty.
That realization settled into every team slowly.
Not through sight.
Through pressure.
Batch B
The transmission point had already been destroyed by the time they arrived.
Broken stone covered the center of the ruined district while fragments of communication equipment remained scattered across the ground. Deep claw marks spread across nearby structures, tearing through walls and streets alike.
But there were no bodies.
No remains.
Nothing.
One member crouched near the damaged signal device.
"…they fought here."
Another looked toward the broken streets ahead.
"…and then they were forced out."
That matched the reports.
Batch A never disappeared at the transmission point.
Something pushed them away from it.
A low growl echoed somewhere deeper in the ruins.
Everyone immediately turned toward the sound.
Then silence returned again.
Batch E
The northern outskirts had become worse.
The ground itself felt unstable now, small vibrations spreading beneath the ruined pathways every few minutes. Whatever moved underground earlier—
was still there.
And getting closer.
One member of Batch E stepped carefully near the edge of a collapsed road.
"…movement below."
Another tightened their grip immediately.
Then—
the earth exploded upward.
A massive Westling burst through the surface directly beneath them, forcing the team apart instantly. Black markings spread across its body while its distorted limbs slammed against the broken terrain violently.
But unlike the earlier creatures—
this one adapted quickly.
Too quickly.
The first attack missed.
The second didn't.
One fighter crashed hard against a ruined wall as the creature roared across the shattered roadway.
"…it's learning!"
The Westling turned immediately toward the injured member.
Not blindly.
Precisely.
Before it could attack again—
multiple strikes collided against its side simultaneously, forcing it backward across the ruins.
But the creature recovered almost instantly.
And beneath the ground—
something else moved.
Batch C
The southeastern ruins stayed silent after the shadow disappeared behind them.
Too silent.
Ryo continued walking near the center of the formation while his eyes scanned the damaged structures surrounding them. Every broken alleyway felt like it was hiding something now.
Watching.
Waiting.
Taro exhaled nervously.
"…I seriously hate this place."
Ren stayed focused ahead.
"…stop talking so loudly then."
"…bro we are literally being hunted."
Nobody denied it.
The black markings became more frequent deeper into the ruins. They spread across walls, roads, even broken rooftops now, connecting together like veins crawling through the entire district.
Mei crouched briefly beside one of them.
"…they're getting thicker."
Aiko looked ahead quietly.
"…like they lead somewhere."
Ryo suddenly stopped again.
That feeling returned.
Stronger.
Closer.
This time—
everyone felt it.
The air changed completely.
Heavy.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
Then movement exploded from the rooftop above them.
A Westling dropped directly into the street below with enough force to crack the ground beneath it.
Larger than the earlier ones.
Faster too.
Taro immediately stepped backward.
"…okay THAT one's different."
The creature didn't charge immediately.
It watched them.
Its distorted body twitched unnaturally while thin black markings pulsed faintly beneath its skin.
Then another sound echoed behind them.
A second Westling emerged slowly from the darkness between the ruined buildings.
They were surrounded.
Batch D
The fractured valley sector looked dead.
Massive cracks spread across the terrain while broken cliffs surrounded the narrow pathways ahead.
Then—
the ground shook.
Once.
Heavy.
A gigantic Westling crashed down from the cliffs above.
The impact split the stone beneath it instantly.
Its body towered over the others they had encountered before, covered in thick armored growths while glowing black markings pulsed across its skin like living veins.
A high-rank Westling.
One of the strongest types recorded.
The creature roared violently—
and attacked immediately.
Fast enough to blur.
One member barely dodged before the creature's arm smashed through solid rock beside him like paper.
Another attacked from behind—
but the Westling reacted instantly, slamming him backward through the ruined terrain.
"…it reacted to that?!"
The monster turned again immediately.
Thinking.
Learning.
Then it charged directly toward the center of the group.
Daisuke stepped forward.
The collision cracked the entire roadway beneath them.
For the first time—
Daisuke slid backward.
Only slightly.
But enough for everyone to notice.
Silence hit the group instantly.
Because Daisuke never moved from impact.
Never.
The creature roared again.
And something answered it.
A deeper roar echoed from somewhere beyond the fractured cliffs ahead.
Massive.
Unnatural.
Then the ground shook again.
Stronger this time.
Dust fell from the cliffs while distant stone collapsed somewhere deeper in the valley.
Something enormous was approaching.
Even the high-rank Westling hesitated slightly.
Instinct.
Fear.
Electric sparks flickered briefly across Daisuke's arm.
Small.
But visible.
The air around him slowly began changing.
Static spread faintly through the valley while thin currents of electricity cracked softly across the broken ground near his feet.
One member stared at him.
"…wait…"
Daisuke slowly straightened.
Calm.
Silent.
But different now.
The massive silhouette finally appeared beyond the cliffs ahead.
Gigantic.
Monster-like.
Its dark body towered over the ruined valley while glowing lines pulsed beneath layers of armored skin like lightning trapped inside a living monster.
A true high-rank Westling.
Far beyond the others.
The creature roared.
And the entire valley shook.
Electricity spread harder around Daisuke now.
The broken ground beneath him cracked softly while glowing currents moved outward through the stone like luminous veins.
Even the high-rank Westling stepped back slightly.
Daisuke's eyes stayed fixed on the massive creature ahead.
Then finally—
he spoke.
Quiet.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
"…looks like it's time."
A small spark crossed his arm again.
"…to show you."
The ground beneath him cracked softly.
Electricity spread outward through the ruined valley like glowing veins.
And somewhere inside the darkness ahead—
something enormous answered with a roar.