Chapter 39: The First Mission by the Fallen Hero

Veytex and Sanyer followed the Fallen Hero's

orders without hesitation, the weight of their mission pressing heavily on

their minds. With the Translocator device in hand, they were transported to

their destination — the heart of Neonis's Zephyrax Nexus District, the most bustling

and dangerous market hub in

the entire region. The air was thick with the glow of holographic advertisements, the roar

of hovercrafts, and the murmur of clandestine deals being struck in the shadows. The

towering skyscrapers pulsed with neon light, and the streets were crowded

with traders, mercenaries, and black-market brokers.

The Translocator's

signal guided them through the maze of twisting alleys and energy-charged thoroughfares until they stood in front of a three-story

building nestled between

a weapons tech store and

a cyber-enhancement clinic. The structure was unassuming,

with dimmed windows and

a discreet entrance, yet Veytex's instincts screamed that this

was no ordinary outpost.

Sanyer glanced at

Veytex. "You sure about this place?" he whispered, his eyes scanning the area

for potential threats.

Veytex nodded.

"This is the spot. Let's move."

They approached

the building and knocked twice, then flashed the Translocator device. A small holo-scanner flickered to life above the door,

scanning the device with a low hum. After a tense moment, the heavy

steel door slid open silently, revealing a narrow

corridor leading to a well-lit

room at the back.

Inside, they were

met by a stoic man clad in tactical gear, his face

partially obscured by a visor. He didn't speak, but when his eyes

landed on the Translocator, he gave a sharp nod and turned toward a reinforced

storage vault. Moments later, he returned with two

heavy bags and set them

on the table.

"These are your

supplies," the man said in a low, gravelly voice. "Weapons, energy

packs, rations, and… something special." He pushed one bag forward slightly.

"That one contains a message from the Fallen Hero. You'll

know when to open it."

Sanyer swallowed

hard. "And the next location?"

The man slid a second

Translocator device across

the table. "This will take you where you need to go. Neonis

Port Hub. From there… you're on your own."

The weight of the mission settled heavily over them as they

grabbed the bags and the new Translocator. They stepped back out into the neon-drenched

chaos of Zephyrax Nexus

and started toward the Port Hub, every shadow feeling like it

could hide an enemy, and every step taking them closer

to an unknown fate.

The Neonis Port Hub was alive with activity — massive

freighters, speeding hydro-skiffs, and luxury

yachts cutting through

the crystal-blue waters. The air smelled of salt

and engine oil, and the sound of docking ships and cargo loaders echoed across the harbor. Veytex and

Sanyer moved with purpose, keeping their eyes peeled as they

searched for the symbol from their Translocator.

After several tense

minutes, they found it — etched on the side of a sleek, black yacht,

its hull gleaming under the neon reflections from the port lights. The

symbol was subtle but unmistakable: a phoenix

rising from crimson flames. They exchanged a brief, uncertain glance

before approaching the gangplank.

A broad-shouldered

man stood at the

entrance — the captain, by the look of his pragmatic

naval uniform and the energy

pistol holstered at his side. His eyes immediately locked onto the Translocator

device as Veytex held it

up.

The captain's eyes

narrowed. "Did Sire send you here?"

His voice was low and measured, but there was a clear edge

of caution behind it.

Sanyer stepped

forward, his throat dry. "Yes. Shall we

go now?"

The captain

studied them for a moment longer, then gave a curt nod. "Aye. Get aboard."

The yacht powered

up with a low, resonant hum, the engines thrumming

with energy drawn from Dark Ripple flux. The sleek vessel cut

through the calm waters like a predator,

leaving the bright lights of Neonis Port Hub far behind. As the coastline faded

into the distance, the sea stretched endless and dark,

shimmering under the light of two crescent moons.

The tension on the

deck was palpable. Veytex stood near the railing,

eyes scanning the horizon while his hand hovered

near his weapon. Sanyer kept his attention on the captain,

who was navigating with silent efficiency, his face grim.

Minutes passed,

and the air grew thick and heavy, a strange

pressure building as if

the sea itself were holding its breath.

Veytex frowned. "We're heading pretty far out, Captain. Where

exactly are we going?"

The captain's eyes

didn't leave the controls. "To meet your fate, lad. Same as the rest of us."

Before Veytex

could press further, the boat shuddered violently, the engines

letting out a sharp, whirring noise as if something had disrupted

their flow of power. The lights on the deck flickered,

and the sea around them began to churn, unnatural ripples spreading across the surface.

Sanyer gripped the

railing. "What's happening?!"

The captain's face hardened,

his hand going to his sidearm. "He's here."

Before anyone could react, a piercing

sound split the air —

like metal screaming —

and a dark shape rose from the water.

The wind howled across the open sea as the boat

glided through the waves, the distant glow of Neonis fading behind them. Sanyer

and Veytex stood near the bow, scanning the endless water ahead when a sudden

presence made their blood run cold.

A man emerged from

the shadows at the stern — tall, imposing, and dressed in a sleek,

obsidian-black suit that

seemed to ripple with the darkness around him. He carried a crossbow

unlike anything they had ever seen —

its frame pulsated with Dark Ripple Energy, giving off an eerie,

violet glow. His eyes gleamed with dangerous intent.

Sanyer's hand flew

to his weapon. "Who are you?!" he

demanded.

The man gave a slow,

sinister smile. "I am Vizen Hizaki, the most trusted assassin and ops

runner of the Late Lord Draven. And now… I bring his vengeance."

Before they could

react, Vizen raised his crossbow in one fluid motion and fired. The air hissed

as the Dark Ripple Energy arrow sped toward the captain — a bolt

of death streaking

through the night.

But then — something

impossible happened.

From the depths of

the sea, a figure erupted from the water, moving

with a speed no human should possess. The Assassinator of the Wild landed on the deck in a whirl

of water and shadow, his hand snatching the arrow mid-flight. The

deadly bolt crackled and twisted, but before it could unleash its terrible

energy, the Wild Assassinator's fingers closed into a fist, crushing

it. The energy sputtered out with a dying shriek.

Vizen's eyes

widened in disbelief. "You—!"

But there was no

time for more.

The Assassinator

of the Wild moved in a blur. In one swift motion, his Frostpiercer

Deagle was drawn — the

weapon glowing with its Viridian Cryo Flux, the air around it

dropping into an icy mist. A single shot rang out, the

sound like the crack of a glacier splitting apart.

The bullet punched

through Vizen's throat.

For a heartbeat,

the Segrito assassin stood frozen, his eyes filled with shock and pain as frost

bloomed across his skin. He fell to his knees, clutching his neck as crystals

of ice spread like veins from

the wound.

The Assassinator

of the Wild stepped forward slowly, the mist curling around his feet, his azure

visor glinting like a predator's gaze. Vizen's mouth opened as if to

speak — but his voice was stolen by the cold. With a final, shuddering breath,

he collapsed, the last of his life snuffed out in the

growing frost.

For a moment,

there was only the sound of the wind and the lapping waves. Then the Wild

Assassinator holstered Frostpiercer and turned to Sanyer and Veytex.

"The storm has only just begun," he said,

his voice low and dangerous. "We move. Now."

And without another word, he walked toward the helm — a hunter ready for war