Twilight Zone's guild hall was unusually quiet.
The fire crackled gently, casting a soft glow across the wooden floors. Rin sat near the hearth, sharpening her blade with care. Her eyes, once uncertain, now burned with steady determination.
Outside, the snow had followed them back from Eisgrund—light flurries dusting the rooftops of Mirewood.
Julius was going over new quest listings when he felt it.
A pulse of magic. Familiar. Aggressive.
"Rael," he said. "We're not alone."
Rael stepped away from the window. "He's back."
Calem of Storm Fang walked into town like he owned it.
He was accompanied by two other Silver-rank mages—twins known as Rinai and Rook, infamous for their Mirage and Sound magic combo. Their guild crest shimmered proudly on black cloaks.
They didn't speak to anyone. They didn't need to.
Their presence was a message.
Inside the guild, Julius and the others prepared.
"They're here for you," Lyra said to Rin.
"I know," Rin replied. "But I'm not going with them."
Calem stood in the street, arms folded.
"Julius. This is your one warning. Step aside. Rin joins Storm Fang, or your little clubhouse gets flattened."
Julius stepped forward.
"No."
Calem narrowed his eyes. "You sure? Your guild is Iron Rank. You're still just a child with a fancy title."
"I'm a mage. A protector. And Rin is part of our family."
Calem smirked. "So be it."
He signaled the twins.
A battle erupted.
Rinai's illusions blanketed the field in shimmering fog, while Rook's sound blasts disoriented the senses. But Julius used Time God Slayer – Chrono Disrupt, slowing the distortion waves just enough for Rael to strike.
Rael's lightning surged through the mist, forcing Rook to split his focus.
Lyra encased the field in a dome of reflective ice, causing the twins' magic to rebound unpredictably.
Rin faced Calem directly.
"You're strong," Calem said. "Join us, and I can make you unstoppable."
She raised her sword. "I've already chosen where I belong."
Their blades clashed—steel and spell echoing across the snow.
Rin's Whispering Blade Style adapted to Calem's strikes, turning his precision into overextension. She cut across his shoulder, knocking him back.
"This isn't over," Calem growled.
Julius stood beside her. "No. But you are."
With a final surge of time magic, he froze Calem's movements for three seconds—just long enough for Rael to blast him back across the field.
Defeated, Storm Fang withdrew.
But their warning lingered in the snow.
Twilight Zone Guild – Members: 4
Julius (D-Rank Mage, Iron Guild Master)
Lyra (E-Rank Mage, Ice-Make Magic)
Rael (D-Rank Mage, Lightning Magic)
Rin Ayana (C-Rank Mage, Whispering Blade Style – Memory Awakening)
F Rank Quests Completed: 60/1000E Rank Quests Completed: 8/10000D Rank Quests Completed: 5/1000C Rank Quests Completed: 3/1000
Next Chapter Preview: A Rank in Disguise
After the inter-guild conflict, the Magic Council sends a mysterious high-ranking inspector to observe Twilight Zone. But unknown to the team, the inspector is actually a disguised A-Rank mage sent to evaluate Julius… for something far greater.