The Neon Market district had slowly begun returning to normal.
But not completely.
Broken glass still covered sections of the street where the creature had smashed into the buildings. A few emergency repair drones hovered in the air, projecting blue construction grids across the damaged walls as they began sealing cracks and replacing shattered panels.
Neo-Astra recovered quickly from disturbances.
It always had to.
A city this large could not afford to remain chaotic for long.
But despite the cleanup efforts, the tension in the air remained.
People were whispering.
Glancing nervously toward the dark alley where the creature had first appeared.
Kael stood near the edge of the street, watching the drones work.
The strange energy inside him had finally calmed.
But it hadn't disappeared completely.
It still lingered faintly beneath the surface of his senses, like an ember that refused to fully fade.
Across the street, the man who had fought the creature leaned casually against a street barrier.
The electricity that had surrounded him earlier was gone now.
Without it, he almost looked like an ordinary person.
Almost.
But there was still something about him that drew attention.
Confidence.
Strength.
A natural presence that made others instinctively give him space.
Kael studied him quietly.
The man caught his gaze again.
This time he walked over.
Up close, he looked even taller than Kael had first realized.
Broad shoulders.
Athletic build.
Dark hair that looked slightly windswept despite the calm air.
But the most noticeable thing about him was his eyes.
They carried the same predatory sharpness Kael had noticed earlier.
Not hostile.
Just… alert.
Like someone who constantly evaluated his surroundings.
The man stopped a few steps away.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then he broke the silence.
"You always stand that calmly when monsters attack your city?"
Kael blinked once.
"This isn't my city."
The man's eyebrow lifted slightly.
"Really?"
"Yes."
Kael tilted his head slightly toward the damaged street.
"You handled the situation well."
The man chuckled softly.
"Well, someone had to."
He extended a hand.
"Orion."
Kael looked at the offered hand for a brief moment before shaking it.
"Kael."
Orion's grip was firm but not aggressive.
As their hands touched—
The strange sensation inside Kael flared again.
A pulse of energy shot through his chest.
Orion's expression flickered slightly.
Like he had felt something too.
Their hands separated.
Neither of them mentioned it.
But both noticed.
Orion rubbed the back of his neck casually.
"So… Kael."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"That creature back there."
Kael nodded.
"Yes."
"You didn't seem surprised to see it."
"I was surprised," Kael replied calmly.
"Just not enough to panic."
Orion studied him carefully.
"You're either very brave or very experienced."
"Maybe both."
Orion laughed.
"Fair answer."
Before he could continue—
A sudden ripple of movement spread through the street.
Several pedestrians paused.
Some instinctively stepped aside.
Kael felt the shift immediately.
It wasn't fear exactly.
But it was close.
He turned his head toward the far end of the street.
A sleek black vehicle had just descended from the sky.
It wasn't like the other flying cars moving through the city.
This one moved silently.
Gracefully.
Its surface reflected the neon lights like polished obsidian.
The vehicle landed smoothly on the street.
The door opened.
And someone stepped out.
Even before Kael could see his face clearly—
The air changed.
A faint pressure spread through the surroundings.
Cold.
Controlled.
Ancient.
Orion noticed it too.
His posture straightened slightly.
"Well," he muttered quietly.
"That's unexpected."
The figure approached slowly.
Tall.
Elegant.
Dressed in dark clothing that looked both modern and strangely timeless.
His movements were smooth.
Deliberate.
When the street lights caught his face—
His eyes glowed faintly crimson.
Several people nearby immediately looked away.
Some quietly retreated further down the street.
Kael watched him approach.
Something inside him reacted again.
But this time the sensation felt different.
Sharper.
Like two opposing energies brushing against each other.
The man stopped a few steps away from them.
His gaze moved first to Orion.
A small smile touched his lips.
"Stormfang."
Orion crossed his arms.
"Nightvale."
So they knew each other.
Not friends.
That much was obvious from the tone alone.
The vampire's eyes shifted toward Kael.
And for the first time since arriving—
Lucien Nightvale felt something unexpected.
The moment he looked into Kael's eyes—
A faint ripple passed through his senses.
Subtle.
But unmistakable.
Lucien's gaze sharpened slightly.
Grey eyes.
Unusual shape.
And beneath them—
A presence he could not immediately identify.
Interesting.
Lucien returned his attention briefly to Orion.
"I assume you handled the disturbance."
Orion shrugged.
"Someone had to."
Lucien glanced toward the damaged buildings.
"The city security forces will be grateful."
"Sure they will."
Lucien's eyes returned to Kael.
"And who is your companion?"
Orion tilted his head slightly.
"We just met."
Lucien's gaze lingered on Kael.
"And yet you were standing beside him calmly after a demonic attack."
Kael met his gaze evenly.
"I prefer observing before leaving."
Lucien smiled faintly.
"Practical."
For a moment, the three men stood in silence.
But beneath that silence—
Something invisible moved.
Energy.
Not visible to the human eye.
But the three of them could feel it.
Orion noticed it first.
His brow furrowed slightly.
"Do either of you feel that?"
Lucien spoke without looking away from Kael.
"Yes."
Kael said nothing.
But the warmth inside his chest had grown stronger.
Like three separate currents of power were slowly becoming aware of each other.
Lucien finally broke eye contact.
He turned toward the destroyed barrier where the creature lay unconscious.
"A demon appearing in Neo-Astra is unusual."
Orion nodded.
"Very."
Lucien folded his hands behind his back.
"And yet it appeared precisely when our mysterious new visitor arrived."
Orion glanced toward Kael.
"You think the monster was after him?"
Lucien turned slightly.
His crimson eyes met Kael's again.
"I think," he said calmly, "that things rarely happen by coincidence."
Kael held his gaze.
"If you have something to ask, ask directly."
Lucien's smile returned.
"I appreciate honesty."
He stepped closer.
Just slightly.
"Tell me, Kael."
His voice lowered.
"Do you know why a demon would appear the same night you entered this city?"
The street around them had grown strangely quiet.
Even the repair drones seemed distant.
Kael considered the question carefully.
Then he answered truthfully.
"No."
Lucien watched him for a moment longer.
Searching his expression.
Then he nodded.
"I believe you."
Orion looked between them.
"Good," he said.
"Because if demons start chasing people around the city every time someone new arrives, I'm going to have a very busy week."
Lucien chuckled softly.
The tension eased slightly.
But the strange energy between the three of them remained.
Unexplained.
Unavoidable.
None of them understood it yet.
But somewhere deep beneath Neo-Astra—
Ancient forces had already begun to stir.
And the meeting that had just taken place on this quiet street—
Would eventually reshape the fate of the entire world.