Chapter 2: Outbreak

A Few Minutes Earlier

Location: Sydney, Australia

POV: Luna

Just moments after speaking with my friends and driving through the city, an explosion erupted further down the street.

"What the hell was that?" I muttered.

Leo's voice remained calm. "It seems you were right about the outbreak. There are monsters in this area."

I narrowed my eyes at the chaotic battle unfolding ahead. "Is that really the association? They're struggling against just this bunch of monsters?"

Leo glanced at the battlefield before replying. "They might not be elite members."

I scoffed. "Leo, you do realize the Australian Soulforger Association is one of the largest in the world, right?"

"Of course."

"Then they should have enough members to deal with something like this easily. They're just lazy."

Leo remained composed. "More likely, they're preoccupied with other rifts. Vice Captains only mobilize when a rift reaches a certain rank."

I crossed my arms, still unconvinced. "I guess that's true... but it looks like they miscalculated this one. Wait—who are those guys over there?"

Before Leo could answer, a deafening crack of thunder split the sky, cutting off the desperate shouts of the struggling soldiers. In an instant, the temperature seemed to drop, and the air became unnervingly still. The wind picked up, carrying a suffocating pressure, as if the world itself had paused in anticipation.

From the edges of the battlefield, shadowed figures emerged. Cloaked in dark robes with featureless masks concealing their faces, they moved with an eerie grace—like predators surveying their prey. Their presence was overwhelming, their mere arrival shifting the atmosphere as if the battlefield itself now belonged to them.

POV: Zack

The battlefield was chaotic, with the association forces struggling against the sheer number and strength of the monsters. They had already lost valuable time, and yet, there was no sign of the rift closing. The higher-ups hadn't sent any reinforcements. The situation was deteriorating rapidly.

Then it happened.

A crack of thunder tore through the air, and the temperature plummeted. A chilling breeze swept across the battlefield, causing every soldier to shudder in uneasy anticipation. Whispers spread through the ranks, and the soldiers' eyes darted around, looking for an explanation.

"What's happening?!" One of the officers muttered under his breath. His voice shook slightly, though it was drowned out by the chaos around them.

"Did anyone call for backup?" Another officer asked, his gaze scanning the edges of the battlefield, where shadows seemed to take form.

And then, they appeared.

Figures draped in dark cloaks, moving with uncanny precision. Their masks were featureless, and their movements were so fluid that they seemed almost unreal—like shadows detached from their surroundings. The soldiers froze for a moment, unsure whether they were allies or enemies.

"Who... are they?" Zack gasped, his voice laced with disbelief. He quickly looked to his subordinates, searching for some logical explanation. But no one had an answer. No one had seen these figures before, and no one had any idea who they were.

"They're—" The officer started to say, but his words caught in his throat as the figures unleashed their power.

Raven slashed through the rank 7 monster with ease, his dark energy slicing through the creature like a hot knife through butter. The officer's mouth hung open as he watched the beast disintegrate in a matter of seconds.

"What... just happened?" The same officer murmured. His hands instinctively went to his sword, unsure whether to engage or to retreat. His confusion deepened as he witnessed Alpha's barrier effortlessly block an onslaught of rank 8 monsters.

"Stay back. We don't know who they are," Zack barked, holding up his hand to stop anyone from moving forward. His expression was tense, his eyes narrowing with suspicion and a growing sense of unease.

The leader of the group moved through the battlefield like a force of nature, and when he raised his hand, the very air seemed to bend around him. Zack's eyes widened as the barrier exploded outward, clearing the area with an almost overwhelming wave of energy.

"This... can't be happening," another officer whispered.

The leader stepped into the rift without hesitation, his barrier still holding strong as monsters attempted to swarm him. The officers exchanged frantic glances, unsure of what to do next. Should they intervene? Should they wait and see what would happen? Nothing about this made sense.

"Are they closing the rift?" One officer finally asked, barely believing it himself. But even as he said it, he knew the truth. These figures had already taken control of the situation—something the association had failed to do.

A massive explosion of light and fire engulfed the rift, and the officers could only watch, stunned, as the rift starts to close.

"He... destroyed the core." Zack's voice was barely a whisper, as if he couldn't quite process what he had witnessed.

A heavy silence hung over the battlefield. The soldiers were in awe, unsure how to react.

As the Mysterious group vanished into the shadows, the association members were left behind, shaken and confused.

"What the hell just happened?" Zack finally asked, his voice hoarse.

Another officer stepped forward, a grim look on his face. "We didn't have a chance. Whoever they are, they were in control from the start."

Zack's jaw clenched. "No word on them, no intel... How long have they been watching us?"

"We don't know." The officer hesitated, unsure what to say next. "But one thing's for sure—those people are not from the association or any guild we know."

"We've got to report this. This is bigger than we thought," Zack muttered, his mind already racing with questions. Who were they? Why had they intervened? And what did they want?

"For now, clean up the area, assess the damage, and tend to any injured civilians," Zack ordered his officers.

"Understood," they responded in unison.

POV: Mysterious Group

"Great work, all of you," Nyx praised.

"Thanks, Leader!" Raven responded with a grin.

"Thank you, Nyx," Alpha added respectfully.

Nyx gave a sharp nod before issuing his next command. "Alpha, Raven—return to base and report the mission. The rest of you, erase all traces of our presence."

As his team swiftly carried out their orders, Nyx's gaze drifted toward the crowd of civilians gathered near the now-collapsed rift. His sharp eyes locked onto a familiar figure.

Eyes as blue as the sky, hair the color of hazel silk, a face that carried both elegance and mystery—she stood out even in a sea of people. Her slim, well-balanced physique and composed posture only added to her distinct presence.

"Is that... Luna?" Nyx muttered to himself.

Luna de Montclair—the youngest daughter of the Montclair family's head.

"This could be an opportunity. If she saw me, she would undoubtedly have questions about what had just transpired. Questions that would make her chase after me."

Nyx exhaled slowly. "I will give her a reason to notice."

Releasing a controlled pulse of mana, subtle yet distinct, Nyx ensured she would sense his presence. Then, without another word, he turned, disappearing into the shadows.

POV: Luna

"This mana is... Wait!"

Feeling the surge of mana, Luna's eyes widened. She quickly spotted the faint silhouette of one of the mysterious figures who had just closed the rift. Without hesitation, she dashed forward, following the lingering traces of his presence.

"Leo, stay put. I'll be right back," Luna ordered.

"Young Lady, where are you going? It's not safe!" Leo called after her.

"I'll be fine," she replied firmly, disappearing into the crowd. "I need to follow him... There's something I need to know."

POV: Nyx

"Good, she's following me," Nyx thought, glancing back briefly. "Now, I just need to erase my traces as I go."

His eyes scanned the area. "I need to find a place with no people around... That spot should do."

As he veered toward a quieter part of the city, a sharp voice rang out behind him.

"You! Stop right there! Who are you?" Luna demanded.

Nyx halted but didn't turn to face her immediately. "Is that really what you want to ask?" His voice was calm yet unreadable.

Luna clenched her fists. "Who are you people? Are you an enemy?"

"If you stand in our way... then of course we are."

"Then tell me your name!"

Finally, Nyx turned slightly, his masked face obscuring any emotion. "I am Nyx of the Obsidian Order. Be careful who you trust, Luna. There are those who appear harmless, but are doing things you wouldn't believe."

Her breath hitched. "What are you talking about?! And how do you know who I am?"

Nyx exhaled softly. "That's enough questions. I must go now."

POV: Luna

"What the fuck is he talking about? He's the one being untrustworthy here," Luna thought to herself. "And why does he feel so familiar? Do I know him from somewhere?"

"What are you talking about?! And how do you know who I am?" Luna demanded.

Nyx let out a quiet sigh. "That's enough questions. I must go now."

"Wait!" Luna reached out, but before she could say another word, his entire body was engulfed in flames—and in an instant, he vanished along with them.

She clenched her fists, frustration boiling inside her. "What was that all about...? Obsidian Order... Nyx, just who are you?"