The Draveth awaken

As Lyra picked up the guitar, something changed.

Its body, normal just a second ago, turned thin and sharp. The edges stretched out like blades. One of them cut her arm.

"Yo—what the hell?" she reacted, dropping it fast. Blood ran down her skin in a thin, red line. "If you're gonna act up, why the hell did you let me play you before?"

"You don't trust me?" she asked. "Well that's dumb. I don't even know how to use this damn power yet."

She crouched down, holding her injured arm. "Look, I ain't got nobody. And clearly, neither do you. So what do you say you lose the blades and let me play you again? I mean, who knows… you might end up liking me."

Then slowly, the sharp edges folded back in. It became just a regular guitar again.

Then she picked it up, slower this time.

"Cool," she said, running her fingers across its surface.

She looked at it for a second longer, then whispered,

"I'm gonna name you Lar'a."

***

It was 6:25 pm in the land of the Cursed, seven hours had passed since the monsters first attacked.

Shanks District - Band-In students (Echoists)

Lar'a burst into the building through a wall and banged into the palms of Lyra's hand as she stretched her hand for it.

It looked different now.

The surface, once golden, warm, and clean, was now deep and dark, like obsidian. Matching Lyra's essence. Then it transformed. The strings glowed faintly, and tucked into the frets. The body changed. The edges of the box became thin, razor-sharp. Shaped like a star with uneven spikes. Now not just an instrument, it became a weapon oozing with dark vibes.

They were preparing to head out. For the first time. As Echoists.

It wasn't meant to happen like this. They were supposed to graduate. Get assigned to squads. Get properly trained. Instead, they were being thrown into battle. But the creatures were spreading fast. And this was the order given.

Along with the instructors guarding them, there were 25 in that building.

Heading the squad of Harmonics was Samuel Albert. Known for his unique technique called Burning Notes. His heavy metal music fuels his Vibes, hot as fire. It makes him pyrokinetic. His body temperature can spike, his aura glows red when active, and flames follow strike he made.

Nox Halden, the prodigy student, served as vice-captain. In contrast to Samuel, his technique was Cold Harmony. Fueled by soft, melancholic music, his Vibes slow down molecules around him, freezing the air, weapons, and enemies within seconds. He often moved quietly, but when activated, everything near him slowed, shivered, and froze.

Cale Trenn, an elite Harmonic, mastered a rare technique called Tempo Manipulation. With a single beat, he locked opponents into his rhythm. Fast or slow, once you're caught, you move exactly when the music says so.

Elira Moon, the only female Harmonic in the squad, used her voice as a weapon. Her technique was Sound Wave Drive. Her vocals sent waves of pressure across the battlefield—walls broke, glass shattered, bones crack and ears bled.

Damon Silas, known as the black sheep of the squad. His sorrowful song fed off pain. The more agony and fear around him, the stronger he became. His technique, Dirge Core, allowed him to absorb dark emotions—grief, hate, despair—and convert them into physical strength. In battle, his eyes turned pitch black, and he fought like a madman.

Then the Band-In students, survivors from the academy massacre, were now standing on the edge of their first real battlefield.

Lyra Veyne. Damaged. Unstable. Unhinged. A teenager who used drugs to bury trauma too deep to speak of. Orphaned years ago, she arrived in the Land of the Cursed with nothing. Her weapon, Lar'a, a guitar that transformed into a star-shaped blade, reacted to her emotions. Her style was reckless, full of risk, unpredictable. People saw her as trouble, but to those who looked deeper, she was more.

Goldara Sinclaire. Royalty by blood. Prodigy by skill. Goldie, a pop singer and now elite Echoist, wielded power through her fists. With every punch, her Vibe-enhanced rhythm shook the battlefield. Elegant one moment, deadly the next. She was confident, over-the-top, and sometimes unstable.

Levi Drae. Mysterious and cold. He had no origin, no records. He simply appeared one day. He was labeled a top student and a serious threat. Like Lyra, he turned to substances when the world became too much. But beneath the mess was a tactical mind. His Vibes focused on micro-time manipulation. He could dodge bullets before they were fired. Unpredictable, but precise.

Spencer Bylthe. Techno DJ turned tactical Echoist. From Frosted Valley, where his entire family was lost to the Curse. Spencer didn't speak much. He used customized pistols fused with vibe tech. Fast reflexes, sharper mind.

Camille Virelle was known as the encyclopedia of the class. She had a quiet way of gathering information, about the city, its laws, its history... and rarely spoke unless it mattered. Her Vibe Technique was a compelling song that let her influence others, but since she's still an Echoist, her control over it was still limited. To make up for her non-combat style, she trained in various weapons and fighting techniques. She wasn't the strongest, but she was deadly.

Michelle Alencia Rhys was the heir to the Auralex throne. Rich and sassy. Her Vibe Technique came through her classical violin, each note carrying a calming, healing energy. When she played, wounds closed, pain faded away, and broken bones began to mend. It was pacifying. She was a medic by nature, and if she pushed hard enough, her technique had the potential to restore even lost limbs. Quietly, she was working toward that.

The other Echoists present were:

Conny Bonnet

Natalie Jakobson

Rael Ingram

Beau Lontis

Karis Dune

Trenn Avery

Vera Noxwell

Min Soi

Ezran Thace

Paula Greaves

Jace Marlin

Tomiko Wren

Drevan Holt

Nyra Callen

They all stood at the door. Samuel and the other Harmonics in front. The Echoists followed behind.

Samuel's voice commanded.

"Move!!"

***

Back in the council chamber,

Pan hovered by the edge of the room beside Lord Olyrus, red eyes dimly glowing through the darkness. His vibe was eerie, ominous... a dangerous.

"Why the gloomy faces?" he asked, smirking, with an old English accent. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

Lord Veyric spoke from his usual place near the edge. "Marius and Thorne... Their forces are holding better than expected."

"The demons won't be able to stop them," said Lord Kaelen. "Marius is more powerful than you might think. He even slowed the spread of the Curse somehow. That shouldn't be possible."

"I know," Pan said, giving a slight smile. "I created him."

"Don't start with that again," Lord Seris muttered. "You didn't create anything."

Lord Draeven shook his head. "This is Arin's mess. None of this would be happening if he hadn't started it."

Pan crossed his arms. "You're welcome, by the way. Without me, none of you would have this much power. You're rulers now, aren't you? That didn't happen by chance."

"But at what cost?" Lord Verian whispered, letting out a tired sigh.

Lord Olyrus, who sat closest to the center, spoke next. "Enough. What do you have in mind Pan? You said you had a plan."

Pan just smiled. "Remember the Draveth?" he asked, "The tribe you erased thirty years ago?"

No one answered.

"I have them," Pan said.

"You're saying you control the Draveth now? But they're too strong." Kaelen asked.

Pan appeared beside Kaelen, hovering behind his shoulder. "Come on. No one can resist the Curse, you know that better than anyone. "

"Then use them," Olyrus said. "If you really can control them."

"I can," Pan replied. "My demons inside them are out of control."

Olyrus leaned back slightly. Then he spoke with finality.

"I'm sure your troops are satisfied now. They've taken the souls of nearly five thousand civilians. Our next priority is the elimination of Marius and Thorne. And of course, the girl. But there's no rush with that. We can kill her another time… or just wait for the Curse to do the job. Do not stop until both Marius and Thorne are dead."

***

The strong wind blew through Duskmire, carrying a heavy stench of burning wood and ash. The streets were filled with fallen debris, blood, and broken weapons, and fallen Vibe users.

Creatures filled the area, growling, screeching, roaring.

Marius Cael Rhone stood near the center of the street. His cane tapped once against the ground. Then again. Then the air grew heavier. The creatures near him glued to the ground. Their limbs struggled to lift, like something invisible was pressing them down.

Then— He raised one palm.

A sudden gravitational surge slammed the nearest creature flat into the ground. Its body tore under the pressure. Bones crushed. The stone ground beneath it shattered. The ones behind it tried to charge but they too were slammed into the ground.

Beside him, Thorne Graves moved like lightning— no even faster . One moment, he was here. The next, he was gone. In a blink, he reappeared behind a creature, his blade slicing through its spine before it could react. It landed on the floor. Thorne moved again, and another creature was down.

He moved too fast to track. His body flickered like light, vanishing and reappearing with deadly precision. Every movement was efficient. One step. One strike. Then gone again.

"Left," Marius said calmly.

Thorne appeared on the left and brought his elbow down crashing into the skull of an approaching creature. The force of it sent the creature into the ground.

"I see them," Thorne replied.

The next wave of monsters rushed forward. At least ten of them. Werewolves, vampires... Marius slammed his palm downwards.

A focused wave of gravity hit the incoming creatures, pinning them down. The weight crushed their bones before they could shriek. They collapsed like a crashing aircraft.

Thorne zipped forward. As one creature tried to crawl away, he reappeared in front of it and drove his blade through its heart.

He looked up. More were coming. Dozens more.

"Marius—" he said.

"I know."

Marius slowly lifted both hands. The gravitational field around him expanded, forming a visible shimmer in the air.

Everything nearby began to distort. The MTO car bent inwards. Cracks formed in the ground. Even the air seemed to shift slightly.

Creatures within the field immediately started to sink. Their bodies pinned. Some roared in frustration, others tried to leap.... but they couldn't.

The field tightened.

Everything inside it was crushed.

Thorne stayed outside the field's edge, taking out stragglers. He moved with sharp, exact bursts of speed and his steps barely made any sound. Each strike was clean.

Then street quieted again. For a few seconds, nothing moved.

Then… The gate creaked open.

From within the shadows, more creatures stepped out. But these were different.

Bigger. Heavier. Their steps made the ground tremble. Their eyes glowed red. Their skin was darker, covered in strange marks. But it wasn't just their appearance.

Marius felt their song. He felt the pressure. It was like a vibration in the soul. It was fierce. Strong. Heavy. And painfully familiar.

His expression dropped.

"Oh no," he muttered. "They're here."