The Absolute Silver Skewer remained embedded at the center of the square, reflecting shattered buildings, a gray sky, and scattered debris.
Brak hung impaled, his body motionless, the Salt Teeth gang symbol broken, blood slowly dripping—heavy as lead in the air.
Lira arrived first. The ground seemed to weigh more with every step she took. Her eyes were red, burning with pain. She dropped to her knees before the body.
— No… this can't be… — she whispered, her voice breaking. — Brak! My… my mentor… my father…
Tears streamed down her face as her body trembled, the black energy of her Demonic Form flickering uncontrollably.
[SYSTEM — EMOTIONAL ALERT]
• Lira: EXTREME GRIEF + PURE HATRED
• Active Buffs: Incandescent Fury +50% Attack, Partial Loss of Control
Elyra remained a few steps back, her metallic arm resting on her knee. Her tail swayed slightly, but the purple LEDs trembled in sync with her heartbeat.
— He… he was like family… — she said softly, almost a whisper. — How could someone do this?
Vance stood still, breathing deeply, fists clenched. His breath echoed through the silent square.
— There are no words… — he murmured. — I've never seen anything like this… not so personal, not like this…
Rodyn stayed in the shadow of a nearby building, arms crossed, red eyes glowing in the darkness. He watched in silence, but the tension in his hands betrayed his restrained pain.
— They broke more than a body — he said quietly, almost to himself. — They broke a symbol… they broke our trust.
Lira was openly crying now, hands covering her face.
— He always guided us… always protected us… and now… — her voice failed — now… he died at the hands of someone without a soul!
Elyra stepped forward, trying to place a hand on Lira's shoulder, but stopped. Her anger was silent, deep.
— Lira… we're not alone — she said, trying to stay calm. — But yes, this hurts. It hurts like hell.
Vance closed his eyes, breathing deeply, trying to organize his thoughts.
— We need to know who did this… and end them. But we can't let the pain blind us.
Rodyn finally approached, shadows stretching around them as if trying to embrace the group—while also reflecting their grief.
— Every step we take from now on will be for him. For Brak. And for ourselves.
Lira raised her face, tears mixed with black flames forming around her fists.
— They will pay. They will feel what we feel now.
Elyra clenched her metal fist, feeling the cold steel and the rising rage.
— We'll collect every drop of blood spilled.
Vance inhaled deeply, striking his fist against his own chest.
— We need to be smart. We need to hunt down every responsible party. We need to honor Brak—without losing ourselves to rage.
The deadly silence returned, now heavy with grief, hatred, and determination. Each of them felt Brak's presence like an invisible force, calling for vengeance.
[SYSTEM — MISSION FLAG UPDATED]
Current Mission: Vengeance for Brak
• Objective: Locate and eliminate the one responsible for Brak's death
• Experience Bonus: +25% Attack and +20% Speed in direct confrontations against enemies of the assassin gang
• Temporary Emotional Buffs:
• Lira: Grief and Hatred → +50% Attack, Chance of Fury Explosion
• Elyra: Contained Fury → +40% Attack, +15% Regeneration
• Vance: Determination → +30% Attack, +10% Speed
• Rodyn: Shadows of Mourning → +35% Evasion, Active Presence Detection
The Absolute Silver Skewer continued reflecting the gray sky, shattered buildings, and slowly dripping blood—a reminder that the vengeance would begin quietly, but devastatingly.
Lira, Elyra, Vance, and Rodyn moved through the debris, each step stirring dust and memories of Brak's impaled body. The silence was unnaturally heavy.
Lira, eyes still red and hands trembling, pointed toward the silver reflections glinting among the ruins.
— It must've been… it must've been that mage Inker mentioned!
Elyra clenched her fists, breathing deeply, her gaze fixed on every twisted metallic line in the buildings.
— Makes sense… only someone with absolute control over metal could do this.
Vance, calm, analyzing the fissures and trails left by the silver skewer, added:
— He didn't just kill Brak… he marked the city. Every line, every reflection… it's a signature.
Rodyn emerged from the shadows, examining every distorted piece of metal.
— Argovain. Only he would have the precision and control required. This isn't amateur work… it's cold calculation.
Lira closed her eyes, black flames growing involuntarily around her hands.
— I swear… when I find him… there will be nothing left.
Elyra placed a firm hand on Lira's shoulder, trying to steady her.
— Easy… channel the anger. Every wrong step gives him an advantage.
Vance glanced back at the square where Brak had been impaled moments before.
— He wanted us to see it. To understand he stands above everyone… for now.
Rodyn smiled darkly, shadows writhing around him.
— Then let's show him the city still has those who fight for it. And for Brak.
The group advanced, alert to any silver glint or sign of metal manipulation. The charged atmosphere of the square reminded them that Argovain wasn't just dangerous—he was invisible until the moment of attack.
[SYSTEM — TRAIL ALERT]
• Suspect Entity: Argovain
• Estimated Level: 39
• Active Buffs: UNKNOWN
• Status: SILVER TRAIL DETECTED
Lira whispered, her voice trembling but resolute:
— If he's really what Inker said… we'll make him pay for every second of silence that cost Brak his life.
Elyra clenched her fist, breathing deeply.
— And it won't be just him. Anyone who helps or follows him… will feel it too.
HOURS LATER
[LOCATION — NOCTAHALAVIS OUTSKIRTS / HIGH GROUND]
Environmental Status: CONSTANT WIND | NO TRAFFIC
Visibility: HIGH
The sky was heavy, tinted gray and deep blue. Nothing there resembled gangs, territories, or urban war. Only silence.
Brak's body was wrapped in dark cloth. Not as a boss. Not as a symbol. As family.
Rodyn finished digging. The shadows slowly receded, leaving the earth exposed.
Elyra spoke first.
— He taught me not to trust pretty promises — she said, her voice firm but low. — Said those who talk too much… die early.
Vance placed something at the bottom of the grave: a simple plaque, without a symbol.
— He taught me to think before acting — he said. — Even when anger screams louder.
Lira took longer. When she spoke, her voice shook.
— He called me his daughter… — tears flowed freely now. — Even knowing I wasn't. Even when I was nothing but rage and fire.
She touched the cloth one last time.
— I promise… — she whispered. — Whoever did this will feel it.
Rodyn closed his eyes for a moment.
— He kept the Salt Teeth together when everything tried to tear us apart — he said. — That doesn't die here.
The earth covered the body. No system announced a mission. No bonus appeared. No reward was registered.
[SYSTEM — NON-QUANTIFIABLE EVENT]
Type: Grief
Effect: PERMANENT
When they finished, they stood there in silence. The wind passed.
Lira wiped her face, her eyes now dry—and dangerously focused.
— We don't know who did it — she said. — But we know how it was done.
Vance nodded.
— Silver. Absolute control. Surgical precision.
Elyra bared her teeth.
— That mage Inker mentioned…
Rodyn finished the sentence:
— Argovain.
The name hung in the air.