The six walked in silence at first—each of them still feeling the weight of the ruins they had left behind. The faint smoke from the Veilbreakers' destroyed headquarters still clung to their clothes, stubborn like the memories they couldn't shake off.
But the road ahead altered everything.
Erisfall lay somewhere on the horizon, hidden beyond rolling plains and broken valleys.
And those valleys… were no longer the same.
Razan stopped first.
"…What the hell happened here?"
The path sloped into a wide field of blackened earth—scorched as if firestorms had swept across it. Huge trenches clawed across the ground like something massive had dragged itself through, ripping the soil apart. Trees were uprooted, their trunks snapped clean like twigs.
Kaien crouched beside a set of enormous tracks.
"These weren't human," he muttered. "Or animal. Not from this side."
Lynx looked around, his voice low.
"The Veil was down for what… an hour? Maybe less?"
Eira nodded stiffly. "Barely. The Wraith restored it before complete collapse."
Yet the destruction around them stretched for miles.
Even Arin felt his throat tighten.
In the distance, a barn had collapsed inward. Smoke rose from charred patches across the hills. Crushed wagons lay overturned, their wheels twisted, contents spilled.
Draiven stepped closer to a shattered boulder.
Inside the cracks were markings—thin claw trails cut smooth like blades.
He swallowed.
"If this is what leaked out in under an hour… imagine if the Veil had been open longer."
Nobody answered.
Even Razan—usually the loud, fearless one—walked quieter than usual.
But Lynx tried to lighten the mood anyway.
"Well," he muttered, "at least we didn't see whatever did all this."
Razan jabbed his elbow. "Bro, don't jinx us. Please. I don't want to fight something that eats boulders for breakfast."
Draiven nodded rapidly. "Yes. No more cursed comments."
Kaien smirked. "You all are cowards."
"Cowards who stay alive!" Razan shot back.
Eira sighed. "…Let's keep moving before Lynx summons a monster with his mouth."
They walked faster after that—sometimes quietly, sometimes with brief attempts at humor that cracked under the tension.
And the more they traveled…
The more traces they saw.
A farmhouse split in half. A river redirecting unnaturally as if something huge had barreled through. Caravan remains shredded into pieces. Scorch marks. Ice residue. Entire chunks of land displaced.
Everywhere—
Signs of monsters that had slipped into the human world during the Veil's damage.
Even if the people hadn't seen the creatures themselves, the terror in the air was unmistakable.
Fear had soaked into the land.
Villagers they passed hid behind closed windows. Traveling merchants walked in tight groups, clutching weapons with trembling hands. Every distant howl made everyone tense.
Razan whispered at one point, "They're scared of the dark. That's… that's new."
Kaien muttered, "The world changed while the Veil cracked. And it wasn't even fully broken."
Arin clenched his fists.
"We have to reach Erisfall. Maybe the Wraith—"
"—will tell us nothing like always?" Lynx said sarcastically.
Arin glared over his shoulder, but Lynx lifted his hands.
"Kidding! Mostly."
They kept walking.
Hours later—
The land finally began to shift.
The air thickened with the scent of city life—spices, metal, smoke. The trees thinned. Dirt roads formed. Voices could be faintly heard.
And then—
Razan blinked.
"…Is THAT it?"
Erisfall City rose behind a massive stone wall—far bigger than any of them expected.
It wasn't shiny or glamorous.It wasn't decorated like capital cities.
But it was huge.
Lynx whistled. "Not popular, huh? Could've fooled me."
Kaien shrugged. "Popularity isn't everything. Some cities prefer being quiet giants."
Eira nodded. "Or they hide things."
"Great," Razan muttered. "Just what we needed. A giant mystery city."
When they reached the gates, they found dozens of guards inspecting people entering. The line stretched long—travelers, merchants, refugees, everyone nervous but eager to get inside the protection of walls.
The six blended in.
As they waited, Eira nudged Arin. "You okay?"
He nodded. "Just thinking."
"About the Wraith?"
"About everything."
Before she could reply, Kaien pointed up.
"Wow. They built weapon turrets on the wall. Real ones."
Draiven, impressed, tilted his head. "Those are high-grade mana turrets. Erisfall… might be more advanced than rumors say."
When their turn finally came, the guards eyed them carefully.
"State your purpose."
"Tourism," Lynx blurted.
Everyone stared at him.
The guard blinked. "Tour…ism?"
Razan quickly stepped forward. "Yeah! We love sightseeing! Especially ruined battlefields and broken realities—"
Eira kicked him in the shin.
"We are passing through," she said calmly.
The guard nodded slowly and waved them in.
The moment they entered—
Erisfall felt alive.
Bustling streets, packed stalls, busy traders. Colorful fabrics hanging from windows. Trolleys full of spices. Blacksmith shops hammering nonstop. Massive crowds flowing like rivers.
People shouted deals, cried sales, and argued over prices.
Eira smiled slightly. "It's… overwhelming."
Razan's eyes sparkled. "Look how massive everything is!"
Kaien nodded. "This city has depth."
Lynx grinned. "And gambling stalls—look!"
Indeed, small wooden stands were filled with shouting gamblers. Dice rolled. Coins clattered. People cheered and cursed.
Draiven frowned. "This place is… lively."
"And loud," Eira added.
Arin looked around with more caution. "Stay together. Wraith said nothing about enemies, but I don't trust anything right now."
They walked on—moving through spice stalls, weapon smiths forging enormous blades, potion shops boiling colorful mixtures, street performers breathing flames.
Nothing they bought.
Everything they observed.
Until—
Razan suddenly perked up.
"Guys… look there!"
A huge circular arena dominated the center of the city. Its stone pillars rose sky-high, its entrance decorated with banners depicting fighters and creatures.
Crowds surged toward it.
Roars echoed inside.
Lynx grinned. "Oh we're DEFINITELY watching whatever's going on in there."
Kaien squinted at a signplate at the gate.
"Current Match:Boran the Boulderbreaker vs. Valco Ironfang"
Razan gaped. "Ironfang? Isn't he the guy who ripped a boar monster in half?"
Draiven nodded slowly. "Yes… and Boran is the guy who broke a titan's toe."
Eira sighed. "…We're watching, aren't we?"
Everyone nodded.
Inside, the arena shook with energy.
People shouted names.
"BORAN! BORAN!""IRONFANG ALL THE WAY!""FIFTY ON VALCO!""HUNDRED ON BORAN, HE CAN'T LOSE!"
A gambling booth right outside overflowed with bets—coins stacked in piles, people arguing as they threw money onto tables.
Lynx laughed. "Man, this city is wild."
Razan slapped Kaien's shoulder. "Put money on Ironfang! Do it!"
"No."
"Why?"
"I'm broke."
"Oh."
They squeezed into the stands just as the announcer bellowed:
"LET THE MATCH CONTINUE!"
Boran swung a hammer the size of a tree trunk, roaring with every strike. Valco dodged with animalistic grace, claws gleaming, teeth bared like a fighting wolf. The clash of hammer and claw echoed through the arena.
Crowds screamed.Coin bags flew.Vendors shouted deals on roasted meat skewers.
For a moment—
The six forgot their mission.
They forgot destruction.
They forgot fear.
They laughed. Shouted. Teased each other.
But then—
Arin froze.
His eyes caught something.
A small symbol on a worn stone wall behind the arena seating.
A silver crescent—split cleanly down the middle.
The symbol.
The one the Wraith described.
His heart thudded.
He pointed. "Guys… there."
The others followed his gaze.
All six stared.
Lynx swallowed. "…No way."
Kaien exhaled. "He really meant it."
Razan looked around nervously. "Bro, what if it's a trap?"
Eira shook her head. "Only one way to know."
Draiven nodded. "Let's go."
They slipped away from the arena crowds and reached the symbol.
Beside it was a nondescript wooden door—quiet, old, and forgotten.
A small peephole slid open instantly.
Someone inside growled, "What do you want?"
Arin took a slow breath.
Then he said the words exactly as the Wraith had instructed:
"The night has eyes, but we walk unblinded."
Silence.
Then—
Click.
The door opened smoothly.
A dim corridor stretched ahead, lit by candles. The smell of parchment, steel, and something ancient filled the air.
A man in simple uniform stepped out.
"Follow me."
They exchanged glances—half nervous, half joking.
Razan whispered, "If I die, delete my gambling records."
Kaien muttered, "You have none."
As they walked deeper—
The hidden place opened up like a secret world.
Massive rooms filled with weapons hung on walls—swords, spears, shields, crossbows, enchanted daggers, relics from long-forgotten eras. Antiques sat in glass cases—amulets glowing faintly, cracked runes etched into tablets, strange totems that hummed with power.
Warriors trained everywhere—sparring, meditating, using mana techniques, practicing silent movements. Each looked disciplined, focused, deadly.
Some paused to watch the six walk past.
A few whispered.
"That's them?""New recruits?""No… those are the ones the Wraith brought."
Arin felt strange hearing that.
Important.Exposed.Wanted.
The guide walked ahead, speaking calmly:
"This hideout contains artifacts gathered over centuries. Weapons forged from fallen Void Creatures. Scrolls preserved from lost kingdoms. And warriors from many walks of life—each learning to fight what lies beyond the Veil."
Eira looked around in awe. "It's… beautiful."
Lynx whispered, "It's terrifying."
Draiven nodded. "Both."
They passed a training hall where warriors fought monsters made of shadow illusions. Another room where mana users shaped energy into controlled bursts. Another filled with relics humming with strange power.
Finally—
The guide stopped at a heavy wooden door.
He turned to them.
"She is waiting. Go inside."
He stepped away, leaving them alone.
Razan gulped. "Should we knock?"
Kaien smirked. "Maybe she'll knock us out."
Lynx nudged Arin. "Go first. You're the brave one."
Arin rolled his eyes but pushed the door open.
Inside—
The room was surprisingly simple.Warm candles.Shelves filled with scrolls.Ancient weapons displayed neatly.A desk carved from old timber.
And behind it—
A woman.
Not old. Not young. Somewhere comfortably above middle-age. Her clothing was humble—soft earth-tones, loose fabric, no hint of luxury. Her hair was tied back simply. Her posture relaxed.
Yet her presence…
Something about her felt calm.Unshakable.Like she had lived through storms and learned to smile anyway.
She looked up when they entered.
Her gaze passed over each of them—kind, steady, knowing.
Then she offered a small, peaceful smile.
Her voice was warm. Soft.But somehow powerful.
"Welcome to Erisfall, Veilbreakers."