The sun rose goldon and pale over Division Five's command post, painting the steel and glass in warm hues. Inside the mess hall, Lucien sat at a long table joined by Rylen, Jason, and Emiluna. It was his first official morning as a Nightguard Corps member, and the mood was bright—almost impossible after everything he'd endured so far.
Rylen poured hot black coffee into his own personal mug. Jason tore open a package of sausages, grilling them on a portable stovetop. Emiluna ladled oatmeal into bowls, topping each with fresh strawberry´ s. Lucien sat quietly, watching his friends bustle like a family that had finally found each other.
"This oatmeal has cinnamon in it," Emiluna said with a small smile. "Thought you might like a change from instant gruel."
Lucien looked at the bowl. A sweet, spicy aroma drifted upward. "smells… amazing," he said, scooping a spoonful. Warmth spread through him, both from the oatmeal and from the care his comrades showed.
Jason slid a fresh made sausage onto Lucien's plate. "Eat up. You'll need energy your first patrol."
Rylen set a dozen of eggs on the table. "You think we should run through basic squad drills before we go?" he asked, cracking an egg into the pan.
Emiluna stirred the oatmeal gently. "Nah, let's enjoy this moment. Today is special—Lucien's first day as a full member. We earned this guys."
Lucien swallowed his oatmeal, surprising himself with how much he enjoyed the taste of it. The cinnamon and strawberry were a far cry from the bland rations he'd eaten during trials and when he was homeless. He looked up at his three friends. Now also his family.
"You really didn't have to do this," he said with a smile.
Jason shoved another sausage into Lucien's hand. "Wouldn't miss it. You pulled off the impossible last night. We're celebrating this morning."
Rylen looked at Lucien with a rare warmth. "You passed the Death Trial. That doesn't just earn you induction. It earns our respect too—and a proper meal for your belly."
Emiluna reached across and squeezed Lucien's shoulder. "We're really proud of you Lucien. Today, we're just… happy."
A comfortable silence settled over them as they ate—eggs, oatmeal, sausages, coffee. The signal buzz of Rylen's comm-unit broke the moment.
Rylen glanced at the device. "Midday. Time to get ready for action."
Lucien finished his second bowl of oatmeal and set the empty dish aside. The wholesome morning glow faded as the reality of the Corps settled in: duty, darkness and danger.
As Rylen, Jason, and Emiluna cleared their dishes, they gathered in the hallway outside Lucien's vision. Lucien packed a small patrol bag, mind wandering back to the whispered conversation he'd almost overheard earlier.
He paused in the doorway. Rylen's voice was too soft to catch for him. Jason nodded, then shook his head quickly at Lucien's sudden appearance. Emiluna covered her mouth, stifling a small grin.
Lucien frowned. He closed his eyes for a moment, tempted to reach out with his mind-reading—just to ease his curiosity a bit—but stopped immediately. He didn't want secrets between them. He backed away quietly, footsteps soft on the corridor's carpet.
They fell silent, but Lucien couldn't forget the look in their eyes: excitement laced with something else, something very secret.
He shook his head. He'd ask them… later.
The afternoon was a packed with a lot of activity. Division Five's gear room buzzed with recruits checking weapons, armor, and exo-suits. Lucien joined Rylen, Jason, and Emiluna at a long maintenance corner.
Armor Fit: Emiluna adjusted Lucien's armor plating even tho he didn´t really need it. "You still feel snug?" she asked. He flexed his arms; every plate aligned perfectly. "Good. We don't want any gaps tonight."
Weapon Check: Jason slotted energy cartridges into his wrist-mounted launcher. "Ready to punch some monsters to hell," he grinned. Rylen flexed the blades on his exo-suit's gauntlets. "Just blades and brawn tonight," Rylen said. "Our standard issue—no surprises for today."
Med-Kit Stock: Emiluna filled pouches with antiseptic gels, bandages, and healing salves. "We've got trauma packs everyone. Hopefully we won't need them, but…" She trailed off, concern shadowing her eyes.
Comms Synchronize: Lucien and his team synced their comms to the Division frequency. Lucien's comm-unit was a brand-new model—handheld but robust. He tested it: "All clear on comms?" A chorus of acknowledgments answered.
By the time it was late afternoon, they were ready. Each carried a holstered sidearm, a field knife, and modular ammo in bandoliers. Lucien strapped on his helmet with the Nightguard emblem at the front.
They all gathered in the common area—a small lounge overlooking the city. Lucien took a final sip of water.
"How you feeling champ?" Jason asked, settling on a couch.
Lucien exhaled slowly. "Excited and nervous. It's weird… I've trained for months. I did my first real fight last night against a level 3 monster. And now… this."
Rylen patted Lucien's shoulder. "This is the real deal now. But we're a team now. We watch each other's backs all the time."
Emiluna smiled. "And I can't wait to show off my healing boots Lucien." She lifted her feet: the soles glowed faintly. "Night missions are my specialty."
They shared a laugh together, nerves giving way to camaraderie.
Dusk fell in deep purple and orange streaks. At 5:30 PM. They went into the briefing room where the other Divisions also gathered. Captain Karu Arakizawa entered and surveyed the recruits.
"Tonight's patrol: Shinjuku district," he announced. "Intel reports minimal monster activity, but you never know nowadays." His gaze swept the room, lingering on Lucien. A silent nod passed between them—recognition of the new member´s status.
Lucien's heart pounded. Karu Arakizawa—the same man who'd put him through the Death Trial—was trusting him with real missions now.
"We'll do a perimeter sweep, sensor checks, and civilian extractions if needed," Karu Arakizawa continued. "You're cleared for use of all Division Five resources. Report any anomalies immediately to me."
Rylen stood, striking a crisp salute. "Understood, sir."
Karu dismissed them with a wave. "Move now."
They exited into the cool evening air, night falling like a promise of dangers to come towards them.
At 6:00 PM, Lucien's very first patrol as a member of the Nightguard Corps finally began. The streets were lit by neon signs, and humidity clung to the air. Division Five moved in a wedge formation: Rylen in front, Lucien and Emiluna flanking, Jason at the rear as the powerhouse.
No alarms. No monsters. Just the hum of generators and the murmur of crowds.
Hour One:
They checked an abandoned subway entrance—no activity recorded.
They performed sensor sweeps near Kabukichō—no readings there.
Lucien took a moment to appreciate the sparkling city lights. "It's… beautiful here," he whispered.
Hour Two:
They helped a stranded tourist find her hotel, guiding her through the labyrinth of backstreets.
Jason bought four onigiri at a convenience store. They ate them standing under a vending machine's soft glow.
"This is nice," Emiluna said, munching rice. "A calm night with good food, nothing is better."
Rylen glanced at the sky. "Enjoy it while it lasts."
At 8:45 PM, Rylen's earpiece crackled. "HQ to Division Five—five Level 5 sightings in Shinjuku, block fifteen." His eyes went hard. "Ten minutes by subway or five by Hortobus. We will move now."
Lucien took a deep breath. Shinjuku at midnight could be a killer labyrinth. Five monsters—Level 5—were serious threats for the people there. But they were Division Five, the backbone of the Corps. It is what they do for a living.
They sprinted to the nearby Hortobus station—Rylen hailed a vehicle, Jason punching it as always in the override code. The bus roared to life and raced through the city. Lucien watched the neon blur outside, bracing himself for the fight to come.
Ten minutes later, the bus screeched to a halt on a rain-slick street near Shinjuku's south exit. Rylen jumped off first, followed by Emiluna and Jason. Lucien leapt to the pavement, boots touching the ground.
They fanned out: Rylen at the forefront, Lucien to his right, Emiluna left, Jason covering the rear.
The street lights flickered over shattered storefronts and overided cards. A low and dark growl echoed. Five monstrous shapes emerged from the shadows—Level 5 beasts each the size of wild boars but bristling with big spikes and claws.
The monsters snarled, nostrils flaring. One advanced on Rylen, two on Lucien, and the last two circled behind Jason and Emiluna´s back.
Battle Plan:
Rylen would draw the lead monster of the pacl, cutting its spikes with his blade-gauntlets.
Lucien would flank, using his super speed and telekinesis to disrupt the other 2.
Emiluna would stay at mid-range, ready to heal and support them if needed.
Jason would harry from the rear with kinetic strikes.
They moved as one unit.
A. Rylen's Duel: The first boar-like monster charged towards Rylen. He spun his gauntlets, blades whirring, and slashed across its back. Sparks flew. The beast roared in agony, lunged with fang-lined maw. Rylen backflipped backwards, slicing a deep gash in its flank. Blood spurted. The creature staggered but lunged forwards again. Rylen parried the boar, then delivered a knee strike to its skull, sending it crashing into a utility pole.
B. Lucien's speedblitz: Two beasts lunged at Lucien from either side of him. He darted between them at supersonic speed. He caught the first around its midsection with telekinesis and threw it into a parked bus. Enraged, the beast clawed at the metal—Lucien leapt onto its back, fists crackling with golden divine energy, and pounded its shoulder blades until it died. He flipped off and landed, ready for the next one to kill.
C. Emiluna's Intervention: One monster reared behind Rylen as he faced the last of the first pair. Emiluna jumped forward, palms glowing amber. She unleashed a wave of healing light that seared across the mutant hide, slowing the beast down and knitting Rylen's bloodied wounds immediatly. Then she conjured a shimmering barrier around Lucien for a heartbeat, buying him time to recover.
D. Jason's Fists: Jason materialized behind the final two monsters, fists glowing blue with heavy kinetic force. He punched the first in the building—bone shattered beneath his punch—and spun to smite the second, sending it backwards. His trademark grin flashed. "Stay down you fuckers!" he barked, charging forward to finish the first beast cleanly.
They worked as one.
One last monster remained—massive and snarling almost looking like a level four, retreating but not defeated. It reared on hind legs and sprayed a gout of acid from its mouth. Lucien shouted a warning. Rylen almost pushed jason away; Emiluna raised her barrier; Jason braced.
The acid sizzled against the barrier.
He sprinted forward, boots pounding the wet pavement. He found its flank—each step crackled with Purgeflame's residual warmth—and delivered a bone-crushing left hoof to its jaw. The armor plates even buckled. He followed up with a spinning back fist that spun the monster its neck.
The Final Monster collapsed with a tremor that rattled windows a whole a block away.
For a moment, silence reigned over shinjuku. Then the streetlights flickered back to life, and the stunned crowd emerged from hiding—civilians pulled from alleys and doorways, watching the onslaught. A cheer rose, tentative at first, then a roar of applause.
"Nightguards are the best!" someone shouted. Others echoed, whistling and clapping. A few films on their holo-phones. A small child ran forward, offering Lucien a drawing of him punching a monster with "Thank you sir" scrawled beneath.
Rylen, Jason, and Emiluna exchanged proud glances at eachother. Lucien felt something warm in his chest—relief? pried? acceptance?
The legend of Division Five's vessel of vengeance spread in that moment like wildfire.
The rest of the night shift passed without any incidents. They escorted the last civilian from the scene in shinjuku, checked for stragglers, and returned to the command post by 7:00 AM. Morning birds began to chirp as they entered the main hall, weary but happy as ever.
Lucien barely registered the welcome back—he trudged up to his quarters, every muscle tired and ready to sleep. He dropped onto his narrow bunk and closed his eyes, intending only to collapse and have a well rested sleep.
But as soon as he sank into the mattress, the door was kicked open.
"Surprise!" Rylen, Jason, and Emiluna yelled, bursting in with music blasting from a portable holo-speaker. Colorful balloons and flags decorated every corner.
Lucien bolted upright. "What is happening—?"
They hauled him to his feet and shoved a slice of cake into his mouth. Jason handed him a steaming mug of balck coffee. Emiluna draped a "Congratulations" banner over his shoulders. Rylen clicked the lights to a colourfull glow.
"We couldn't let you crash alone after your first shift Lucien," Emiluna said, eyes sparkling. "We've been planning this since yesterday morning."
Jason grinned. "Besides, you deserve a proper party. First patrol, first kill in. You're officially one of us now."
Rylen raised his mug. "To Lucien—from recruit to a new legend."
Lucien blinked back tears he didn't realize he'd been holding for so long. He took a shivering breath and smiled.
"Thank you guys," he whispered, voice thick.
He closed his eyes and let the moment sink. In his mind's eye, he replayed the hush at breakfast yesterdat—Rylen and Jason whispering and Emiluna's knowing smile. The hurried exchange in the hallway. The unspoken plans that had turned into this celebration for him.
He remembered the delicious oatmeal, the laughter, the small joy before the darkness of night. And now, this.
He opened his eyes again. The three stood before him, smiling.
Lucien felt a fierce warmth in his chest. He found his home.
It was morning, but no one cared. They shared cake and coffee, trading stories to eachtother.
"Remember the subway chase?" Jason asked, recounting how Lucien had outrun a Level 5 before immunizing himself with Purgeflame.
Emiluna teased, "And don't forget how he lifted that monster a thousand times with telekinesis in the Death Trial."
Rylen laughed. "Lucien, you owe me a blade recharge next week."
Lucien laughed too—real laughter, free of fear.
They toasted again: to friendship, to trials survived, and to nights that would forge them into legends.
Lucien yawned. The cake wrappers and empty coffee mugs lay everywhere in the main hall.
Rylen rose and stretched. "We should get some sleep before the afternoon briefing we have."
Jason slumped back on the bed. "One more minute?"
Emiluna pressed a pillow into Lucien's arms. "Go on—rest kid. We'll see you in a few hours."
Lucien crawled beneath the blankets, exhaustion pulling him under. But he didn't mind. He closed his eyes, smiling at the memory of the night and morning.
He had faced death—and survived several times. He had earned his place in the fifth.
And he had family.
As sleep claimed him, Lucien felt at peace.