After a restful night, Marcus Graveblood woke to the warm sunlight filtering through his inn window. The scent of baked bread and spiced tea wafted in from the street below, stirring his appetite. He freshened up, strapped on his gear, and met Kael downstairs at the diner just beside the inn. Kael was already there, sipping from a steaming cup and waving him over.
"Morning, Marcus," Kael greeted. "Sleep well?"
"Like a log," Marcus replied with a grin. He sat down, nodding appreciatively as a waitress served them hot breakfast—scrambled eggs, fried potatoes, and thick toast slathered with butter.
Over breakfast, they chatted about the previous day's events and their budding teamwork. Kael mentioned his earth Prana affinity, focusing on enhancing his defenses and manipulating terrain. Marcus, of course, wielded fire—aggressive, intense, and suited for his forward swordplay.
Once they finished eating, they made their way to the United Shield Authority center. The large white building gleamed under the sun, its Prana-infused banners fluttering in the breeze.
Elira, ever-efficient, stood behind the front desk.
"Morning, Elira," Marcus said cheerfully. "Got any info on other ruins?"
She nodded, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. "There are few unexplored ruins nearby. If a ruin isn't cleared quickly, monsters within can break out and attack settlements. We're strict about maintaining safety."
Kael leaned forward, curious. "Are there tiers to these ruins? Yesterday's one didn't seem too tough."
"Correct," Elira replied. "That was a Tier 0 Ruin. Ruins are ranked based on the Prana intensity of the gate. The higher the tier, the more dangerous and rewarding. There's a Tier 1 ruin on the way to the next city—might be a good place for you both to test your teamwork."
Marcus grinned. "Sounds perfect. But before we dive in, we should train."
They booked a nearby training center and spent the next few hours simulating combat scenarios. Marcus and Kael ran drills—ambushes, flanks, surprise attacks. With each round, their coordination grew tighter. Marcus learned to trust Kael's terrain manipulation, and Kael adapted to Marcus's aggressive forward style.
By lunch, they were exhausted but satisfied. They returned to the diner for a quick bite.
"So," Kael said between mouthfuls, "how do we travel? We'll need something for gear, supplies..."
Marcus nodded. "A vehicle. Like an SUV. We can load whatever loot we find too."
Kael grinned. "I can drive. What about you?"
"Never learned," Marcus admitted. "But I want to. You'll teach me, yeah?"
"Of course."
They visited a local dealership and picked out a rugged, dark-gray SUV with reinforced wheels and storage compartments. After loading their gear, Kael took the wheel while Marcus took the passenger seat.
As they drove through winding roads and past rolling hills, Marcus marveled at the countryside. Birds soared above, and the greenery stretched as far as the eye could see.
"It's peaceful out here," Marcus said, leaning back. "A far cry from the Capital's chaos."
Kael nodded. "Yeah. Honestly, I kinda like this quiet before the storm."
Marcus chuckled. "You always this philosophical on road trips?"
"Only when I'm not dodging fireballs."
They shared a laugh, the tension from training easing off.
"You know," Marcus continued, "we actually worked well together back there. You're calm. Solid. I can count on you to hold the line."
Kael smirked. "And you're fast. Brutal. You charge in like a wildfire. It works. Balance."
"Think we've got a shot at making a real name for ourselves?"
"If we survive the next ruin, I'd say yes."
Marcus leaned his head against the window. "Let's just not die doing it."
Suddenly, Kael hit the brakes.
From the distance came the sound of clashing steel and shouts. Smoke curled into the sky. Just ahead, a sleek luxury vehicle was being ambushed by armed bandits. The bodyguards fought desperately to protect their charge—a woman cloaked in expensive silk.
Marcus's eyes narrowed. "We have to help."
Kael nodded. They both jumped out.
Marcus's sword ignited with fire as he dashed forward, Kael following close behind. The bandits wore ragged armor and bore crude weapons, but they moved with deadly coordination.
Marcus deflected a strike aimed at a bodyguard and swept his burning blade in a wide arc, knocking three bandits back.
Kael stomped the ground, sending a ripple through the earth that knocked two attackers off balance. He then raised a wall of stone to shield the injured bodyguards.
Steel clanged, fire crackled, and shouts rang through the air.
One bandit lunged at Marcus. He ducked, spun, and landed a clean upward slash. Another came from behind—Kael crushed him with a stone spike from the ground.
Then—
A scream.
Marcus turned. A bandit held the noblewoman—"my lady"—by the neck, a dagger poised at her throat.
"Stay back! One move and she dies!"
But Marcus saw it in his eyes—the killing intent. He wasn't bluffing. He was going to kill her.
Time slowed.
Marcus's feet flared with fire, forming twin jets. The air cracked with heat as he launched himself forward like a missile.
"Flame Dragon Roar!" he roared, unsheathing his sword in a blinding horizontal arc.
The strike was a blur—a perfect Iai technique fueled by explosive speed and precision.
SHHK.
Marcus landed smoothly, his sword back in its sheath. Behind him, the bandit stood frozen—then his head slid off his shoulders, body collapsing.
The lady fainted, caught just in time by a bodyguard who rushed to her.
Kael joined Marcus as the remaining bandits fled in panic.
Together, they helped the injured bodyguards back to their car.
The lead guard bowed deeply. "Thank you, both of you. Please, come with us to the city. My lady would like to reward you."
Marcus shook his head. "We have a mission. Thank you, though."
The guard reached into his coat and handed Marcus a sleek black card with a silver lion insignia.
"If you ever need anything, contact the Lion Head Group. We owe you."
With that, the guards helped their unconscious lady into the car and drove off.
Kael and Marcus watched them go.
"Think we'll hear from them again?" Kael asked.
Marcus smirked. "Probably."
They returned to their SUV and resumed their journey.
Soon, they reached the ruin gate. It stood tall and cracked, humming with a steady Prana pulse. A faint, reddish aura shimmered around the stone archway.
Marcus tightened his gloves. Kael adjusted his coat.
They looked at each other.
"Ready?" Marcus asked.
"Let's go," Kael said.
They stepped through the threshold together.
Adventure awaited.