The air was still trembling from the explosion that had crushed the Veilbreakers' headquarters. Dust drifted in slow spirals, and the scent of smoke, burnt metal, and broken stone pulled at Arin's throat as he kept his blade aimed at the Wraith. The blue glow from his weapon cast harsh streaks of light across the ruined hall.
The Wraith stood silent, silver aura flickering faintly around his ethereal figure. His cloak fluttered though there was no wind. His mask, smooth and expressionless, was tilted slightly toward Arin—as if waiting.
"Tell me," Arin insisted, voice trembling but strong. "Everything."
The Wraith's head lowered slightly.
"I will," he murmured, "but—"
Suddenly, the air cracked.
A dark vibration rippled through the ground.Eira's hand tightened on her sword. Kaien's hair prickled. Lynx's fingers found an arrow without a conscious thought. Draiven's roots recoiled like a living thing smelling rot.
"Who's there?" Razan growled, spear raising in a reflex.
The Wraith didn't move.
A thick, black aura bled into existence behind him—like tendrils of night swirling with a life of their own. It spread outward in a circle, crawling over shattered beams and broken pillars.
A voice seeped out of the darkness.Deep. Calm. Mocking.A voice that felt like a whisper directly behind the ear.
"So… this is the boy you wanted to protect?"
Arin instantly froze.
His grip on the glowing blade faltered.
Without realizing it, his stance shifted—blade lowering as he tightened his muscles, scanning left and right, trying to find the source. His eyes widened; his breathing quickened. He wasn't trembling out of fear, but out of sheer tension—preparing for an attack that could come from any direction.
Rira, Kaien, Lynx, Draiven, and Razan all looked around wildly.
"Who—who said that?""Where is he?""I can't see anything in this fog—!"
The black aura thickened.
But the Wraith…
He didn't react at all.
Not a twitch. Not a breath.He simply raised his chin.
His voice was cold, sharp, and commanding.
"Drop the theatrics."
His aura burst outward in a silent shockwave.
FWOOOM—!
It didn't push debris.It didn't shake the earth.It simply overpowered the black fog—like a flash of silver cleaving through a nightmare.
The dark aura instantly scattered.
And a figure stepped out.
Slowly… gracefully… like he had been standing there the entire time.
He wore deep black armor with faint purple lines running across the plates like veins of power. His coat was long, torn in places, and moved like living shadow. His hair was dark, slicked back neatly, and his eyes—scarlet and sharp—held a cold intelligence that felt suffocating.
He smirked lightly.
He didn't announce himself.
He simply existed—and that alone was overwhelming for the six standing there.
But the Wraith?
The Wraith didn't even flinch.
The dark figure studied him for a moment before chuckling softly.
"Easy now," he said. "I'm not here to fight. Not with you."
His gaze drifted past the Wraith and swept over the ruins around them.
"Hm. What a tragedy," he said with mocking sympathy. "The mighty Veilbreakers reduced to rubble. Headquarters crushed. Soldiers dead. Dreams shattered."
His smile sharpened.
"Quite disappointing, honestly. I expected more from this legendary group."
Lynx clenched his jaw.Kaien's fist tightened.Eira took half a step forward.
But none of them dared speak.
There was something about this man—something cold, calculating, and terrifyingly calm. Not like the chaos they faced before. Not like the raging monsters.
This was worse.
This was someone who watched everything.
Someone who always had a plan.
Someone dangerous.
Arin felt the man's gaze sharpen as it turned toward him.
He forced himself not to take a step back.
The man smiled—not kindly.
"So," he said, "you're the one he chose to stand beside?"
Arin's shoulders stiffened, but he didn't retreat.
The Wraith said nothing.
The dark figure tilted his head with mild curiosity.
"You don't even know who he is," he said softly. "Yet you point a blade at him… then lower it for me. Interesting."
Arin felt heat rise in his chest—anger mixed with embarrassment.
"I know what I'm doing," he said, voice firm.
The man chuckled.
"That confidence of yours… naïve, but charming."He looked at the Wraith again."You won't always be able to keep him away from me, you know."
The Wraith finally spoke.
His tone was razor-thin.
"Leave."
The man smirked and took a very small step back.
It wasn't dramatic.
Wasn't panicked.
But it was noticeable.
A subtle retreat.
A sign that even if he pretended otherwise—he feared the Wraith.
But he kept his smile.
"Oh, don't worry. I didn't come here to start anything… today."
Then his gaze slid back to Arin.
"We will meet again. And when we do—"He tapped his chest lightly."Choose your allies carefully."
A swirl of black aura enveloped him.
And in one blink—
He vanished.
The silence that followed was crushing.
For several seconds no one spoke, no one breathed, no one even dared move.
Then Lynx exhaled loudly.
"H-Holy— I thought he was going to kill us."
Razan nodded. "Same. I swear my soul left my body for a second."
Draiven rubbed his face. "What… what was that? Who was he?"
Kaien swallowed hard. "His presence felt… wrong. Like he was everywhere."
Eira silently turned to Aaron, worry tightening her features.
But Arin didn't look back at her.
His eyes were fixed on the Wraith.
A heavy question burned behind them.
The Wraith tilted his head.
Then, without hesitation, he spoke.
"Meet me in Erisfall City."
The six looked at each other.
Erisfall?A far-off, almost mythical district that barely appeared on maps.
The Wraith continued.
"In the old market streets, look for a symbol of a silver crescent split through the middle. When you find it, go to the door beside it and say—"
He paused.
His voice dropped.
"'The night has eyes, but we walk unblinded.'"
"That line will lead you to me."
Arin stepped forward.
"No," he said harshly. "Not until you tell me what that… thing… meant. What is he? What does he want? Why did he appear?"
The Wraith slowly raised a hand.
A faint breeze moved around them.
"If you want answers," he said,"go to Erisfall."
Arin's jaw tightened.
"That's not an answer!"
The Wraith stepped back, silver aura swirling around him.
A whisper echoed through the hall, layered with a strange sorrow.
"Time doesn't wait for anyone, Arin.""Be faster than your regrets.""Or you will drown in them again."
The world flickered.
And he was gone.
Only the echo of his words remained.
Arin stood still, hand trembling around the hilt of his blade.
Eira took one step toward him—but stopped when she saw the look in his eyes.
A deep pain.A deep determination.
Before anyone could speak, Lynx inhaled sharply.
"That guy—the one in black—he felt like he could kill us in an instant…"
"Yeah," Kaien muttered. "And Wraith didn't even budge. He knew him."
Razan rubbed his arms. "He… he's not normal."
Draiven whispered, almost to himself,"Wraith didn't deny protecting Arin, though."
Arin didn't respond.
He simply stared at the ground—then at the ruins around them.
Corpses.Shattered walls.The scent of death everywhere.
He clenched his fists.
"We have to help the survivors."
Eira nodded. "Yes. Let's move."
The six split, running to aid the remaining Veilbreakers who hadn't fallen. They carried injured soldiers, wrapped bodies of fallen warriors, and dragged rubble aside looking for possible survivors.
Only a handful remained alive.
Those survivors worked alongside them, even while trembling from exhaustion and grief.
Hours passed.
When the sun began to lower, the scene shifted.
A quiet field had been cleared beside the ruins, where the fallen Veilbreakers were laid gently in rows. The group of six stood at the front. Flowers, torn cloth banners, and burned insignias were placed beside each body.
Beside them stood a tall, battle-scarred man—Commander Rovan, one of the remaining senior officers of the Veilbreakers.
His expression was heavy, but his eyes burned with purpose.
Arin stepped forward, gaze sharp.
"I swear," he said, voice filled with fire he didn't know he had,"I'll get revenge for everyone who died here. I'll find those responsible."
Commander Rovan placed a firm hand on Arin's shoulder.
"You won't find that revenge here," he said. "Not with us—not with what remains."
The others looked at him, confused.
Rovan continued, tone firm and commanding:
"The Wraith… as mysterious as he is… is your only chance now. He sees something in you six that the rest of us cannot understand. If he called you—go."
He looked at each of them, one by one.
"Staying here will only tie your hands. If you want justice—real justice—you need strength. And he's the only one who can guide you toward it."
Kaien nodded softly.Razan swallowed and looked away.Eira touched Aaron's arm.Lynx and Draiven both clenched their fists with resolve.
Rovan turned away from them and faced the surviving Veilbreakers who gathered behind him.
He inhaled deeply…
…and raised his voice.
"Listen well!"
Every shattered soldier raised their head.
"We may have lost our home—our walls—our comrades.""But we have not lost our spirit!"
His voice thundered.
"We are Veilbreakers—born to stand even when the world collapses! Born to tear through the shadows that try to swallow the innocent!""We will rebuild! We will rise!""And we will show the world—our resolve does not die with our fallen!"
A roar erupted from the crowd.
"VEILBREAKERS!""VEILBREAKERS!""VEILBREAKERS!"
Their chant shook the ruins.
The six watched, standing on a rise of stone. The commander walked up to them again.
"All of you," he said quietly, "your path leads elsewhere now. Not because you're weak—but because fate demands it."
Arin nodded slowly.
Rovan stepped back, lifting a hand in farewell.
"Go. Before your destiny grows impatient."
The six looked at each other—one by one, their expressions hardened.
They turned toward the distant horizon.
Toward Erisfall.Toward the answers.Toward the Wraith.
And with the ruins of Veilbreakers behind them,the six finally began their journey.