The storm passed hours ago.
Kael sat under the crumbled remains of a high-rise, wrapped in a faded cloak he'd scavenged from a ruined outpost locker. His body ached, his mana had yet to stabilize, and his wounds—though cauterized—throbbed with every movement.
But the real pain came from what was playing behind his eyes.
---
Flashback: 4 months ago
Lyra stood before him in the dusk-colored training yard of Outpost 9, hair tied in a sharp braid, her blade resting lazily on her shoulder.
> "Again."
Kael gasped, sweat pouring down his face. His training staff trembled in his hand.
> "I'm not a combat unit, Lyra…"
She frowned. "You're my brother. That's higher clearance."
He groaned. "That's not how the System works."
Lyra stepped forward and smacked him lightly on the shoulder.
> "The System was made by people. And people bleed. So learn how to make others bleed harder than you."
Kael grinned despite the bruises. "Motivational. You should publish that."
> "Already did. Chapter One's called Shut Up and Swing."
They both laughed.
It was the last time he'd heard her laugh.
---
Present
Kael's eyes snapped open as the System pinged softly.
> [System Recovery: 43%]
[Core Instability: Temporarily Suppressed]
[Skill Echo Stabilized: Hellfire Barrier]
[Adaptive Hide Passive Active]
He flexed his fingers. His breathing had steadied.
But peace was always short.
Because suddenly, every Reclaimer HUD on the continent flared at once.
> [ALERT: UNREGISTERED GATE ACTIVITY DETECTED]
[Gate Class: UNKNOWN – RANK ???]
[Location: 6.4 km from User Position]
[Gate Signature: ❖ Corrupted—Draconic Type Detected ❖]
Kael's vision zoomed to the skyline where smoke twisted upward in a spiral. The clouds above it glowed sickly purple, and the air around the zone shimmered like glass.
> "That's not a normal Gate…"
He stood, his pulse rising. The HUD fed him more data.
> [WARNING: Energy Fluctuation resembles early-stage Seed Signature.]
[Probability: 18%]
[Gate Lockdown Authority En Route – Squad Omega-2 Initiated]
And then another notification followed:
> [Private Message Received – Encrypted Line]
"Kael. If you're seeing this… you're already too close. The Gate isn't stable. If it breaks—run. Even I can't stop it."
– Vela
He blinked.
> "She warned me?"
Before he could process it, another sound caught his attention.
A slow, low rumble beneath the concrete.
Then a roar—deep, ancient, metallic—echoed from the Gate's direction. Windows shattered. The building he stood in trembled.
Kael's HUD pinged again:
> [Threat Emerging: High-Form Entity Detected. Class: ???]
[Designation: Irregular – Draconic-Husk / Fragment Host]
He stared at the horizon.
For the first time since activating the Protocol… Kael felt small.
But he didn't run.
> "If that thing has a seed…" he whispered, tightening the makeshift rod around his shoulder strap.
"Then I'm going after it."