Crimson clouds bled over Abhokai's shattered skyline as Rift-born horrors tore through the once-great city. Screams of the dying mingled with the thunder of collapsing towers. Firelight bathed everything in gold and ash.
Far above it all, in the clouds, a sleek obsidian exhibition ship tore across the horizon, racing toward the chaos.
On its deck, Enji Valtaris stood motionless.
Broad-shouldered, sharp-jawed, and wrapped in a storm-gray cloak, he was the image of a commander born to lead. His pale skin glowed faintly under the surge of awakened mana flowing beneath it. His short, slicked-back blond hair fluttered as the ship broke formation. His silver eyes narrowed as he watched the capital burn.
"Open the forward gates," he ordered coldly. "I'm going down."
"But Prince Enji—" a guard began.
"Now."
Without waiting, Enji stepped onto the edge of the ship's prow—and jumped.
He plummeted like a missile of light, crashing into the broken plaza below with explosive force. The shockwave flung several beasts away on impact. His soldiers followed moments later, raining from the sky in tight formation, weapons glowing.
Enji wasted no time. His mana ignited like wildfire around him as he carved through Riftspawn in a blur of motion—his twin sabers dancing like fangs through smoke and bone. Every movement was precise. Efficient. Lethal.
But he wasn't here for them.
He was looking for someone.
Then he saw it.
Near the shattered marble steps of the central citadel, amid a collapsed archway—
Kaelor Valtaris, King of Abhokai.
Collapsed. Bleeding. Dying.
Enji's expression cracked as he rushed forward. "Father!"
Kaelor's eyes fluttered open.
Blood soaked through his warplate. His breaths were faint and shallow. But as Enji knelt, Kaelor's hand seized his collar and pulled him close.
> "Enji… listen…"
"I'm here. Just hold on—"
> "The beast… it wants your brother."
"Our family must be protected. Promise me."
Enji froze.
"Promise me Enji"
Then he nodded. "I swear father."with starting to form in his eyes.
Kaelor coughed blood. "Then run. Save them."
And with that, the hand went slack.
The King of Abhokai was gone.
But Enji didn't mourn.
Not yet.
---
Inside the throne corridor, the remaining Valtaris family stood shoulder to shoulder.
Elicia, surrounded by white-hot flames, fought like a divine blade given form. Every gesture incinerated Riftspawn. Her golden eyes burned with controlled rage.
Beside her, Ethan barely managed to dodge the beasts, his instincts outpacing his power.
His body trembled with adrenaline. He wasn't awakened. Not yet. But something in him was shifting.
They would soon be overwhelmed by the sheer number if waves they were fighting.
Then—
A sharp whistle.
A Riftspawn lunged.
And it was bisected mid-air.
Enji had arrived.
He burst through the throne room in a streak of silver and blood, blades trailing mana. "Mother! Ethan! Behind me!"
They turned. Ethan's eyes widened. "Enji?!"
The two Valtaris children and their mother formed a circle, weapons and flame dancing around them.
Moments later, Emilia appeared from a side chamber, bruised but still sharp-eyed, slinging spells and daggers into enemy ranks.
Their reunion lasted seconds.
"Father's dead," Enji said, his voice flat but heavy. "The beast killed him."
Elicia faltered."What?"
Her hand wavered—only for a heartbeat. Then she tightened her jaw. "Then we honor him by surviving."
Enji looked out over the burning city. "We're out of time. Abhokai's lost. We need to run."
Even as he said it, a crushing pressure descended.
A new shadow fell across the broken ceiling.
The creature had returned.
It landed with a sickening crunch of stone and bone—its wings folding slowly, massive blade in hand, chest still scarred from Kaelor's last attack.
Its hollow voice slid over them like rot.
> "Give me the boy…"
"And I may let you live."
Enji stepped forward, swords raised. "Over my dead body!!."
Elicia summoned a nova of white flame. "Come and try."
The creature stepped closer, reaching toward Ethan.
Enji struck.
Three of its fingers flew off, black ichor spraying.
The beast snarled and recoiled, hissing.
But it didn't strike back. Not yet.
>"Very well…"
"Then I'll carve through your bloodline one scream at a time."
Enji's mana surged. "Emilia. Take Ethan and go. Now."
Emilia hesitated. "What—?"
Elicia grabbed her daughter's arm. "He's not awakened. He won't survive this. GO!"
Emilia looked to Ethan—wide-eyed, breathless.
Then they ran.
Through the side corridors, across the crumbling inner halls.
Behind them, the castle collapsed.
They fell.
---
The floor gave way beneath them—stone and steel breaking apart as Riftroots burst upward through the foundations.
Ethan and Emilia plunged into darkness—landing hard in a forgotten chamber below the citadel.
Emilia groaned. Her head hit stone.
She didn't get up.
"Emilia?" Ethan whispered, voice cracking. "Emilia?!"
She didn't respond.
He pulled her gently to a safe corner, blood pounding in his ears.
That's when it appeared.
The portal.
It pulsed into existence right in front of him—like a tear in the world's skin. Iridescent light swirled inside, casting eerie reflections on the walls.
Ethan stared.
Curious.
Afraid.
He reached toward it—and the portal pulled.
"No—wait—!"
He struggled, shouted, clawed at the ground.
Behind him, Emilia stirred. Her eyes opened.
"Ethan?!"
She rushed forward, reaching out.
He reached back.
But just before their hands touched—
The portal consumed him.
And closed.
Emilia hit the stone, eyes wide with horror, staring at the spot where her brother had vanished.
She was alone, still in disbelief of what was going on.
Above her, the screams of war raged on.
---