Aryan stepped forward toward the curb, where a car waited — sleek, dark, and impossibly smooth in design. At first glance, it looked like a luxury sedan from the mid-21st century, quiet and unassuming.
Anand let out an amused breath.
"Stuck in the past? I expected something… better."
Aryan shot him a flat look.
"It only looks like that. The inside is custom-built."
He brushed a hand along the hood, almost as if introducing a wild beast.
"Powered by beast cores and Aether Current. Even the basic model costs more than most guilds can afford."
He ticked off the features, tone dry and matter-of-fact:
"Mana-compression exhaust. Reinforced aether-alloy plating. Fully bulletproof, explosion-resistant. Its shield can withstand direct hits from a Rank VI beast. And on open roads?"
He smirked faintly. "It can outrun most drones — even some Arisen up to Rank V."
Anand chuckled softly before opening the passenger door and slipping into the seat. The interior was futuristic — a quiet hum vibrating beneath the leather, faint runic lines glowing along the dashboard.
Leaning back, he let his gaze drift over the car's core display.
"I know about beast cores." His tone sharpened. "But… that Aether Current you mentioned earlier — what is it?"
Aryan paused, hands hovering over the console before starting the engine. A low, steady pulse filled the air — as if something alive had awakened beneath them.
"It's not something you can hold like a core," Aryan said quietly.
"Think of it as the bloodstream of this world — a flow of raw energy seeping from the Gates and spreading everywhere."
He continued, voice gaining weight:
"It runs through the ground, the air… even inside living beings. Beast cores are just fragments of it, condensed after a monster dies. But the Current itself… it reacts to us."
Anand's eyes narrowed, interest flaring.
"The foundation of everything."
"Exactly." Aryan nodded.
"Every awakened power, every artifact, every monster… it all goes back to the Aether Current. Whoever understands it — controls the future."
Anand's lips curved, dangerous and intrigued.
"The world's veins," he murmured.
"And whoever controls the veins… controls the world."
Aryan gripped the wheel tighter, a flicker of unease crossing his eyes.
"That's why so many fight for it."
He shifted gears. "And why the wars never end."
___________________
A little earlier.
Patil family estate,veers study
In the dimly lit study, Veer sat behind a broad desk, papers and holographic displays spread before him. His expression was calm, posture straight, the picture of controlled authority.
The heavy door swung open without warning. A man in his early thirties strode in — tall, muscular, with three long scars running across his face like pale reminders of battles survived.
Veer didn't look up immediately. His voice was cool, almost bored.
"You should learn to knock before you enter."
The scarred man smirked. "Don't be so cold. We spent years together."
Veer finally raised his eyes, unimpressed. "Don't make it sound like more than it was. We just slaughtered some monsters together for a time. Let it rest. Tell me, who even let you in?"
"Madam," the man replied lightly, almost teasing.
Veer gave a faint nod. "Good enough. So, what is it that brings you here personally?"
The man's grin faded, replaced by a steady seriousness. "We need a break. Some time off."
"You people are the elite squad of the Society," Veer said flatly. "I can't just hand out—" He paused, eyes narrowing with a suspicious smile. "But… you'll get a break. A long one, I promise. Just do one little thing for me first."
He rose from his chair, walking to a cabinet in the corner. From it, he pulled out a dark bottle of alcohol.
The scarred man's tone turned mocking, almost accusing. "That smile… and that bottle. You're scheming something again."
"Do I always look like that to you?" Veer asked, pouring the liquid into two glasses.
"Of course," the man said without hesitation.
Veer chuckled softly. "It hurts, you know. Fine. But it's just a small matter. Protect someone for the next… ten weeks, and you and your men will have a paid vacation. Any city you choose." He raised his glass in a silent toast. "What do you say, Justin?"
Justin hesitated, eyes narrowing, then shrugged. "I don't know what you're scheming… but I'll do it. For that vacation." He drank in a single motion, then turned toward the door.
"Send the butler in on your way out," Veer said behind him.
"Okay."
When the door shut, Veer returned to his seat, glass in hand. His thoughts drifted bitterly.
Those damned rules. I'd rather be on the monster fields or in forbidden grounds than buried in this paperwork.
A knock interrupted him.
"Come in," Veer called.
The butler entered, bowing lightly. "You asked for me, sir?"
"Did you contact him?" Veer asked.
"Yes, sir. But he said he is still sleeping."
Veer's lips twitched with faint amusement. "So he really is lazy. Or perhaps… it's the side effects of sleeping for one and a half centuries." He chuckled under his breath, then waved his hand. "Go. Report everything as usual."
"Yes, sir." The butler bowed again before making his way out, leaving Veer alone with his thoughts.
------------------
Justin left the Patil estate, the heavy doors closing behind him, and made his way across the city. Before long, he pushed open the door of a wide, dimly lit house.
Inside, nine men lounged about in various states of disorder. One was sprawled across a couch, snoring loudly. Two sat cross-legged on the floor, controllers in hand, trash-talking each other as their game blared across the screen. Another pair had their eyes glued to a different monitor, absorbed in a bloody action flick. Three more were huddled together, flipping through a questionable magazine with grins that would have gotten them slapped if anyone respectable walked in. The last two stood nose-to-nose, tension thick, looking ready to trade blows any second.
Justin sighed, rubbing his temples. Children. Elite children, but still children.
He walked over to the sleeper first and gave him a sharp kick to the ribs. The man shot upright with a scream, clutching his side. The sudden noise made the others turn their heads.
"Get ready, boys," Justin said flatly. "We've got work to do."
Nine faces fell instantly, groans and muttered curses filling the air.
But then Justin added, his voice deliberately casual:
"The leader says we'll get a paid leave after this. Anywhere in the world we want."
The shift was immediate. Eyes lit up, postures straightened, and the complaints melted away into grins. Suddenly, the squad was a whirlwind of activity — boots laced, weapons checked, armor straps tightened.
One of them laughed. "Vacation, huh? About damn time."
Another pumped a fist in the air. "First stop, Caribbean beaches!"
Justin only shook his head as he watched the chaos turn into disciplined preparation. The things I have to promise just to get them moving.