The city didn't sleep.
Roako noticed it first.
Even in the early hours, District Three buzzed with movement. Footsteps far too fast, voices too hushed, and market stalls open late. Guards stood closer together, word of the beasts traveled faster than truth.
Something was wrong.
He stood on the perch outside the inn, arms resting on the railing. He watched as steam rose from below. His gauntlets sat next to him, untouched. He hadn't put them on since last night. Yet they called for him.
They felt heavier now.
Behind him, the door creaked open.
Baron stepped out, his armor half-fastened, eyes tired but sharp. "Scouts confirmed it this morning," he said without a second to waste. "The beasts aren't waiting."
Roako didn't turn. "How long?"
Baron exhaled. "Two days. Maybe less."
The words settled between them like a weight.
"That's not enough time," Roako said.
"No," Baron agreed. "Which means Kyri must already be mobilizing."
Roako's fingers curled around the railing.
"Then we should move first."
Baron studied him for a moment. Then, slowly, he nodded.
Roako turned toward Baron, letting out a puff of air.
"I say we meet up again in a day. Gather our thoughts, ready our equipment, and prepare for the invasion."
Baron looked past Roako, glancing at the hurried city. His eyes started to droop like he had seen a scene like this before.
He nodded before pointing at the Sabertooth's cave. "We'll meet there in a day." Baron let out a reluctant sigh. "We're going to need stronger equipment for a mission like this… I know a place." Baron turned and walked into the inn before Roako could answer. His face was serious, yet he looked unenthusiastic.
Roako followed in behind him. He took a glance around to inn, spotting the rest of the team in a corner of the inn. He continued to look, attempting to find Lyssa, yet she was nowhere to be found.
He walked behind Baron, sitting down next to the rest of the team.
Baron looked toward Kael. "Did you tell them?"
Kael nodded as he set down a piece of paper. It was a map of District Three.
Homes surrounded the border, shops and markets closed the center, and in the middle was a familiar hospital. A red circle surrounded an inn, most likely where we currently were.
"District Three is filled with civilian homes. Kyri will most likely evacuate them all. With that… Baron, you can do what you need to."
Baron nodded. "We'll meet up again in a day. Meet by the Sabertooth's cave." He pointed over toward the end of the map. "We'll slowly infiltrate the cave, slowly killing the beasts. Axel will use his slow-building virus to infect them." Baron pointed at Axel, giving him a nod of approval. "Kael, you'll need to secure an escape route and watch our backs. The rest of us will wait until the virus is ready to explode, then we'll finish the job."
The team nodded hesitantly.
"Wait. I don't know about this. Kyri doesn't plan to just let us act on our own." Mo nervously spoke up. "We can't fight all by ourselves…"
"I understand how reluctant you are, Mo. But this needs to be done. We'll slowly whittle their numbers down and do what we have to. Needless lives won't be lost." Baron stared at her, his expression serious and stern.
Mo scratched her head. "Okay…I don't think this is a good idea still…"
Baron let out a sigh. "You don't have to. Just trust in me."
He stood up, giving a small nod before heading toward the door. "Meeting adjourned."
Roako followed, giving a bow toward the team before exiting.
The city was anxious. Citizens rushed around, bags and luggage carried to various inns. The city murmured as the news spread all over.
"It's another beast invasion."
"We don't have enough supplies for this."
"How many people are the Guardians going to let die this time?"
The voices were filled with anxiety and doubt. They stormed across, attempting to move between Districts.
Roako strolled through, weaving through the citizens.
He knew his strength couldn't compare to the others. They had strengths that far surmounted his. His power was nowhere near enough.
Roako walked through the city, stopping in front of the training ground. Wellin no longer stood in his path.
The trees flowed all too familiar, yet they were restless. He glanced around, reminiscing about his time here. The days lasted longer than before. The slums were cold, unlike the Underworld. This place truly felt like home…and these beasts won't destroy it.
He grabbed the gauntlets, sliding them on. Steam flowed out, steel clicking into place, taking shape as it matched his hands.
Roako took a deep breath.
Let the cold bite.
Let the ice be judgment.
Everything shatters beneath it.
His fingers began to glow, tracing a shard of ice onto his right gauntlet.
Frost exploded out, ice following from behind, encasing his arm. The cold numbed the pain. Roako slammed the ground. Frost swiftly traveled down his arm onto the floor before exploding up into sharp spikes of ice.
He clenched his fist, ice shattering beneath his grip. Nails beginning to dig deeper.
Roako shut his eyes, and a breath of foggy air was released from his mouth. "More."
His arms started to shake as his eyes shot open. He traced his arm once again.
The cold air whipped past, and his fingers followed behind, glowing a light blue. "This isn't enough."
Another mark of ice appeared on his arm, not replacing the last. His iris appeared to fade to blue, red veins traveling up his eyes.
Ice exploded outward, freezing the buildings around. Steam emitted from the ice, blood flowing down Roako's arm before immediately freezing. His skin began to pale, turning red.
Roako screamed out before slamming his right arm down once again.
Ice erupted outward before his vision started to haze, fading in and out.
He exhaled, but before his breath could leave, it froze solid, shattering as it hit the ground. Roako dropped down to his knees, red skin turning to white. His eyes closed, consciousness fading, Roako collapsed to the ground.
~ ~ ~
Axel and Loxus were never normal siblings. Axel always protected his younger brother, even when he wasn't strong enough to win. Loxus always fought, especially when he knew he would win.
Their parents praised Axel for his behavior, while constantly reprimanding Loxus for his.
Loxus was sick of hearing the same thing over and over.
"Be more like Axel."
"Axel can do it. Why can't you?"
"If only Loxus were born like Axel."
Rage built inside of him, destroying everything in sight.
He wasn't born with a powerful Contract. His power came from his hatred. Striking with force directed toward those who compared him.
Trust is something that builds between people. Loxus and Axel had more. They had faith.
Loxus never envied his brother. Axel only wanted the best for them. He fought to protect us. Axel would never betray him.
Yet, his parasite screamed within his body.
Axel was nothing more than a burden.
Revenge is what you need.
Kill the beasts who killed the parents you loved.
Loxus gripped his head, shaking it off. Axel stood next to him, a hand on his shoulder with a worried look on his face. Axel's parasite flared defensively, warping into rapidly shifting weapons.
Axel jumped back, attempting to calm the parasite down.
His attempt to calm it down failed as it exploded out rapidly.
"Loxus! What's happening?!" Axel screamed out, blocking the parasite.
A low, shallow voice forced its way out of Loxus' mouth. "We need to kill all the beasts. For our parents. For us." His eye started to fade, developing a dark hollow appearance. "You're either with me, brother, or not."
Axel's eyes widened. The parasite never took control like this before. Not to such an extreme degree.
He jogged his memory, thinking about the past. The last time the parasite took control was… during the invasion that killed our parents.
"No… You can't, Loxus…" Axel's voice started to crack, his body trembling, reminiscing about the past. "It's too risky…"
Axel took a deep breath before continuing. "I'll kill the ones I can…You just need to stay back…Out of harm's way…"
Loxus's eyes began to fully darken, staring straight into the soul of Axel. "I… No, we need revenge."
~ ~ ~
The cold air flowed faster than normal. The city became restless as news spread like wildfire.
Mo sat down next to a gravestone, a cigarette in hand. She sighed before puffing out a cloud of smoke.
"You know I don't like to be alone…"
She tilted her head to look at the gravestone. "I'll never forgive you for leaving me alone." A tear dripped down her face as she stared at the gravestone.
Her hand brushes over it, feeling the cold stone. "I thought you were supposed to protect me…Where are you now that I need it…'
Mo let out a laugh, tears falling onto the gravestone.
The smoke gradually dissipated over time. She grabbed the cigarette out of her mouth before extinguishing the flame on the ground.
"I can't just run away like you wanted me to. I'll make sure your death wasn't in vain, old man." Mo stood up, stomping the cigarette into the ground.
~ ~ ~
Kael stared off into the distance. He rarely felt at a loss. The Marked never liked his company, and now they surely wouldn't like it.
Tch.
He grabbed a gadget off his belt and tossed it into the air. It sprouted wings, soaring through the sky. Kael directed it to go toward the cave. The bird-like gadget flapped its mechanical wings. The clanking of the wings echoed, yet the city's restless footsteps drowned it out.
It was a rushed project, yet he needed it to work.
He pulled out another gadget that looked like a monocle. Kael brought it close to his eyes, seeing through the eyes of the bird.
Kael let out a puff of air. "I need to find the other Guardians. What are they doing in the caves?"
As the bird got closer, it swooped down to the ground, retracting its wings. Six more legs sprouted out of it, taking the shape of a spider. It climbed onto the walls, making its way through the cave.
Loud explosions reverberated throughout the caves. Bright lights shadowed the walls. The sound of water slowly torrenting its way into the crevices of the cave.
Rumbling shook through the caves, causing the gadget to fall off the wall. It slammed into the ground, barely managing to move. The sounds got closer as the gadget moved through the cave slowly.
A red-haired lady shot a blast of fire through her mouth, scorching multiple sabertooths. A large, burly man rammed his way into the sabertooths, piercing them as he charged.
Jackson.
Mira.
Just like Kyri had said…
They won't be able to brute force their way through this one.
The spider slowly staggered forward. The number of beasts wasn't just forty anymore… The tunnels stretched far and wide, revealing more…
No…
Hundreds… maybe more.
Water began to flow out of the tunnels, slowly flooding the den.
Water? This meant…the beavers…
A hand reached out toward the gadget.
"Well what's this? Looks like someone was spying on us!" A voice could be heard before the gadget was destroyed underneath their grip.
~ ~ ~
Baron pushed his way through the crowd.
Thoughts ran through his mind.
We won't be able to kill the beasts without this.
He wouldn't be able to protect everyone.
They needed to steal from the Guardians.
Baron made his way to the heart of District Three, the hospital.
He opened the door, storming past the rooms and injured patients, before spotting Liora.
"Give me the key. I need to get the equipment." Baron's voice was hurried and harsh.
Liora slithered up to Baron. "You know I can't do thatttt."
Baron dropped his head, looking down toward the floor. He looked back up at Liora before glancing side to side. "Then I'm sorry. I have to do what's necessary."
He pulled out his shield and slammed it into her, pushing her back into a wall. She managed to narrowly escape his grasp, her slippery exterior allowing her to slide through.
Liora hissed, "You know what you're doing is treasonnnn."
Baron shook his head before staring into Liora's eyes. "I'd do anything to protect my people."
He charged toward her, attempting to slam his shield into her.
Liora ducked before slithering onto his back. Her tail started to wrap around his neck.
His body hardened, turning to iron. Baron turned back to her, grabbing her by the throat and slamming her down into the ground.
A sigh left his mouth before he looked up into the hospital lights and closed his eyes.
He never could've imagined his life would bring him into this situation.
He looked back into the past. The old captain had brought him here before. The treasury, the place that held the strongest weapons of the Underworld.
Baron opened his eyes, slamming his fist into the ground, steel underneath it.
His body hardened, his body turned into iron as he began to pulverize the ground, drilling into it.
The treasury…
My team needs the best…
No one will die on my watch…
This is now… do or die…