Chapter 14:First Mission

[POV: Rika & Renji] – Cliffs Above the Eastern Valley

The sun hadn't broken the horizon yet. Mist clung to every surface as Rika and Renji crept along the narrow cliffside trail, their silhouettes bathed in pale blue light from Rika's illusion ward. It kept them semi-invisible—enough to fool smaller Kaiju.

Below, the jungle rustled.

"Something's tracking us," Renji whispered, eyes narrowing.

"No. Two somethings," Rika replied, her voice calm but cold. "They're staying out of sight, but I can feel them scratching at my Neuroverse… like they're testing reality."

Renji's hand went to her short blade. "Ravager class?"

"Too grounded. I think we're dealing with Tier 2 Ravagers."

"Great."

They paused near a rock ledge. Rika reached out, touching the stone—then smiled faintly.

"There's a cavern system below us."

"You think the crest might be there?"

"No. But if we can lure whatever's following us down there, we can trap it."

Renji nodded. "Then we draw them in."

Rika turned toward her partner, eyes gleaming.

"You ready to dance with monsters?"

[POV: Kaito & Derrick] – Along the Flooded River

Kaito knelt beside the fast-flowing current, dipping a gloved hand into the water.

"Still warm. Something big came through here recently."

Derrick stood guard, body tense, his Kaiju blood pulsing faintly beneath his skin. His gaze swept the dense trees ahead.

Kaito adjusted the spear on his back. "You okay, big guy?"

Derrick hesitated. "…Not really."

"You're doing better than you think."

Derrick glanced down. "I nearly changed last night. Just hearing the Kaiju in the distance… it triggered something."

Kaito offered a half-smile. "Then don't listen to them. Listen to me."

Derrick looked up, surprised.

"I trust you," Kaito said flatly. "If I thought you were a threat, I'd have put you down already."

Derrick blinked, then slowly smirked.

"Wow. That was… comforting."

"I'm a people person."

A sharp roar echoed upstream. Water splashed violently. Both turned toward the noise, weapons at the ready.

Kaito grinned. "Time to earn that trust."

[POV: Kai & Airi] – Deeper Into the Eastern Jungle

"Left, Kai!"

Kai spun just as a scaled beast lunged from the brush. He raised his hand—

Absolute Manipulation – Bind.

Branches erupted from the earth, slamming into the Ravager's torso and pinning it mid-air. Airi followed up, launching a spiral of cutting wind into its neck.

The Kaiju shrieked once—then fell, gurgling.

Airi exhaled. "That's three."

Kai nodded, wiping blood from his cheek. "This island doesn't mess around."

They walked in silence for a moment, leaves crackling beneath their boots.

Then Airi spoke, softly. "You meant what you said earlier?"

Kai looked over. "About what?"

"Not kissing me last time."

He stopped walking. She did too.

Their eyes met again—no battle, no pressure, just the space between breaths.

Kai stepped closer. "I don't waste words."

Airi hesitated—then smirked. "Good."

She stepped past him. "But if you want another shot… survive this island."

He grinned, catching up. "Deal."

Their fingers brushed for half a second.

Neither pulled away.

The jungle began to thin as Kai and Airi climbed higher, reaching a ridge overlooking a basin wreathed in mist. From here, the terrain dipped into what looked like an overgrown ruin—half-sunken stone structures blanketed in moss and vines.

Airi narrowed her eyes. "That wasn't on the map."

Kai nodded slowly. "Which means it's exactly where we need to go."

They descended the slope with caution, stepping between exposed roots and damp stone. The air was still—too still. Airi could feel it. Something ancient lingered here. At the heart of the ruins, a stone pedestal jutted from the earth, cracked and worn, but unmistakably out of place.

On top of it was a golden shard, faintly glowing.

Kai moved first, scanning the area with his energy sense. "No Kaiju. Not nearby."

Airi stepped forward. The glyphs carved into the pedestal were old—older than Aetherion's records, maybe even pre-Kaiju era. She reached out and brushed her fingers against the shard.

A pulse shot through the air.

The golden shard lit up with a radiant glow, projecting a shimmering hologram above it: a compass-like crest, the symbol of Aetherion spinning slowly in midair.

"To find the whole, claim each piece. Courage, unity, wisdom—three shards, one key. Only the worthy will find the Crest."

The light faded.

Kai exhaled. "A trial within the trial. We're looking for three shards."

Airi pocketed the first. "And now everyone's on the clock."

Kai turned his head slightly, listening.

"We're not alone."

From behind a ruined archway, shadows moved—quick and low. Not human. Tier 1 Kaiju. Too many.

Airi lit up with wind energy, readying a counterstrike. "I'll hold them off. You lead the way."

But Kai shook his head. "Together."

"Absolute Manipulation – Divide!"

A wall of pure force split the battlefield, isolating two of the beasts.

Airi spun her arm once—wind blades spiraling—and launched forward. Side by side, they carved through the attackers with fluid, practiced motion. Their synergy, trained but still raw, was undeniable.

As the last Kaiju dropped, Airi leaned against a broken column.

Kai turned to her, breathing hard.

"You good?"

"I'll live."

He stepped closer, gaze steady.

"We make a good team."

She gave a tired smile. "We always did."

This time, neither of them looked away when their eyes met.

But just before anything more could be said—

A horn echoed in the distance.

Aetherion's signal flare.

Someone else found a clue.