The streets of Vantara were silent, haunted only by the echo of their own footsteps. The faint smell of dust and rust filled the air as Aryan and Sora moved cautiously between crumbling walls.
The wind howled through the hollow city like a whisper of ghosts.
Aryan scanned the alleys around them, his hand never far from the dagger at his waist. "Stay close," he murmured.
Sora's eyes flickered silver under her hood. "You don't have to tell me twice."
They had been searching for over an hour. Every corner looked the same — burnt stone, shattered glass, faded insignias of the long-fallen Council.
Then—
Crack.
The sound came from behind.
Aryan froze mid-step. His instincts screamed. "Stop," he whispered sharply. "Don't move. Someone's following us."
Sora turned, eyes narrowing. "I can sense it too."
The air shifted — a chill crept across the ground. Before they could react, two dark figures stepped out from the shadows. Their faces were hidden behind steel masks etched with strange runes.
Without a word, the taller one thrust his palm forward. A surge of frost shot out, spreading across the cracked pavement.
"Move!" Aryan shouted — too late.
The ice spread fast, freezing both their feet to the ground. White crystals crawled up their legs as the temperature plunged.
"Damn it!" Aryan grunted, struggling to move.
The second masked figure raised his hand, flame swirling in his grip — crimson and alive. "Burn," the man hissed, and hurled a blast of fire toward them.
The flames roared forward, colliding with the frozen street.
"Get down!" Aryan pulled Sora toward him and slammed his dagger into the ground. A faint shimmer rippled from its edge — a burst of kinetic force flaring outward.
The fireball hit the barrier and exploded, scattering heat and ice in all directions. Steam filled the air, shrouding everything in thick smoke.
In that instant of chaos — they moved.
"Go!" Aryan grabbed Sora's arm, breaking the ice around their feet with sheer force. They darted sideways through the smoke, boots skidding across debris.
Behind them, the frost user shouted, "They escaped!"
"Then burn the whole block if you must!" the other snarled.
The ground erupted in flames — old metal melted, shadows flickered across the walls. But when the smoke cleared, Aryan and Sora were gone.
They had vanished into the ruins.
Far across the street, a muffled boom rolled through the dead city. The echo reached Raj and Alice.
"What was that sound?" Alice asked, stopping mid-step.
Raj's expression darkened. "That was an explosion… I think we're under attack."
He grinned suddenly, unsheathing his sword. "Guess this is where the adventure really begins."
Alice adjusted his glasses, activating the energy interface on his wrist. "Let's move. Fast."
They sprinted down a broken avenue, rubble crunching beneath their boots. But before they could reach the crossroads—
A shadow dropped from above.
Another figure — masked, cloaked, and fast — landed between them with a thud that cracked the stone.
A second followed, landing beside him.
Alice's scanner flared red. "Two more… same energy signatures."
Raj smirked. "Perfect. Two for each of us."
The first masked figure moved first — lunging at Raj with blinding speed. A dagger flashed from his sleeve.
Raj twisted, blocking it with the flat of his sword. Sparks burst in the air as steel met steel.
The attacker struck again, this time spinning low to sweep Raj's legs. Raj jumped back, flipping once and landing behind the man with a powerful kick that sent him tumbling through a half-collapsed wall.
Alice didn't wait. The second enemy shot forward, hands glowing blue with crackling energy.
Alice extended his arm — a projected barrier of light formed instantly, blocking the first blast. The shockwave shattered glass from nearby windows.
"You picked the wrong nerd to fight," Alice muttered, adjusting his stance. His glove hummed, gathering energy.
The masked fighter came again, slashing through the air. Alice sidestepped, countering with a pulse shot that burst from his palm like lightning. The energy struck the attacker square in the chest, sending him flying back into a pile of stone.
Raj dusted off his jacket. "You done showing off?"
"Just being efficient," Alice replied coolly.
Raj's opponent emerged again from the dust, blood seeping from his arm. He roared and charged, but Raj was faster.
He stepped forward, sword gleaming.
With one swift motion — slash!
A shockwave cut through the air, slicing the enemy's mask in half. The man fell, motionless.
Alice's opponent tried to retreat, but Raj appeared behind him in a blur. "Going somewhere?" he asked, voice cold.
Before the masked fighter could answer, Alice raised his glove — energy pulsed — and the attacker crumpled to the ground.
Silence fell again.
Only the faint hum of wind echoed through the ruins.
Raj looked at the bodies and then at Alice. "Who the hell were they?"
Alice's brow furrowed. "Not scavengers. Their energy patterns… organized, trained. Maybe sent by someone."
Raj's grip tightened around his sword. "Then that means Aryan and Sora—"
Alice nodded grimly. "They're being hunted too."
The two turned toward the smoke still rising in the distance.
"Let's move," Alice said.
They ran.
The real battle in the City of the Dead had only just begun.