Within seconds, a vertical column of light surged upward, brilliant and sharp, as though piercing the heavens.
"Completed, Captain," Yuan announced, stepping back.
The others imdiately checked their gear. Specialized boots shimred faintly at the ankles, their red crystals glowing with each step. Black chestplates bore nine circular nodes in the center—symbolic, yet clearly channels for energy.
Every mber wore the sa equipnt. Identical. Reginted. Not rely a squad, but extensions of a single living organism.
The cloaked captain tucked away his communicator and finally fixed his eyes on the radiant circle before him.
"Prepare yourselves," he said coldly. "We waste no ti."
Around them, the flow of pedestrians slowed. Many stopped to watch. So lifted holographic caras, recording the rare sight.
"Is that... Swift Fang?" whispered a man in the crowd.
"Yes! A B-rank Hunter squad! They were just promoted!" another replied, eyes glowing with excitent.
"Hurry, record it! Don’t miss this!"
The murmurs spread quickly. Awe, excitent... but still distance. None dared draw too close. Swift Fang’s aura was too sharp, like a pack of wolves ready to strike.
Swift Fang glanced back briefly. A thin smile curved his lips—not friendly, but the confident grin of a predator. He basked in the stares of his admirers for a fleeting mont, then his expression hardened.
"Formation," he commanded tersely.
Without hesitation, the squad leaned forward. In a single synchronized motion, they vaulted high over the railing of the bridge.
WUSHH!
Cheers erupted as their bodies soared through the air, diving downward like a flock of hunting eagles.
"Look at them! It’s like they’re flying!"
"May their mission succeed... if the monsters escape, the main bridge will be in danger!"
Beneath them, a grotesque sight awaited.
Dozens of shadowy creatures clung beneath the bridge—muscular, fluid-like forms dripping with sli. Their bodies resembled twisted symbiotes born from darkness itself. Thick green ooze dripped from their hides, searing the steel supports below with dangerous corrosion.
Swift Fang’s eyes sharpened as he assessed. "Clear the edges first. Set up a temporary platform!" His voice bood with authority.
He extended his hand, the glove on his arm flashing. Click!
An energy cable shot out, latching firmly onto the underfra. With a powerful pull, his body swung to the side—straight into the enemy’s domain.
Arghhh!
The monsters shrieked, their bodies quivering as if sensing death approach. Their tongues lashed out, long and slimy, tipped with venom.
Slurpp!
One tongue whipped forward like a steel whip, coated in burning green sludge. Poisonous fus hissed in the air.
But Swift Fang was already moving. His body bent mid-air, curving like an arrow loosed from the string. He spiraled around the monster’s tongue, then—with a burst of power from the crimson crystals on his boots—launched straight toward its head.
At a re ter’s distance, his crystal-blue sword flashed.
Sreeeeng!
A dazzling arc of light split the monster apart. Its body shattered, fragnting into glowing cubes that scattered like broken glass.
"Collect!" Swift Fang barked, already diving toward his next prey. His blade carved again and again, each strike precise, each swing dismbering the shadow beasts with terrifying ease.
anwhile, a squadmate leapt between platforms, swiftly gathering the glowing fragnts with a specialized gauntlet. Not a single piece was allowed to fall into the endless abyss.
The squad moved as one—like a living web. Energy cables fired from their gloves, carrying them across the steel fra with lethal agility.
Two others unleashed spells from their staves.
WUUUM!
Explosions of fire and frost erupted, tearing through clusters of Voidspawn before they could swarm.
"You’re mine..." muttered another Hunter, drawing back his bowstring. The string shimred with magic as he loosed a steel arrow.
Shuuut!
The projectile pierced the skull of a centipede-like Voidspawn, massive and writhing. And then—
BOOOOM!
A violent explosion ripped through the underside of the bridge. Smoke billowed thick, and from within the haze, glittering loot rained down.
A waiting Hunter reached out instantly, his gauntlet flaring as an energy whip snatched each piece from the air. Within monts, the spoils were secured.
But then—
Crack...
The sound was faint, like glass fracturing, yet sharp enough to freeze every heart.
Swift Fang halted mid-strike, head snapping around. His eyes locked on the squadmate clutching the loot. Behind him, the air itself began to curl and twist... a jagged line snaking open.
Swift Fang surged forward, narrowing his eyes. "A Void Rift...?" His voice dropped heavy with dread.
The squad closed in, their faces pale, breaths caught.
"Damn it," one muttered. "Of all the cursed luck... a Void Rift here."
Before fear could spiral, Swift Fang cut in sharply. His gaze fell on Yuan.
"Send the report to HQ. Tell them a Rift has opened. Request a Nano Squad imdiately."
"Yes, Captain!"
Yuan took a step back. Her body shimred once, then vanished—teleporting in an instant, leaving only a streak of fading light.
Swift Fang turned back to the rest. "Clear the area. Three minutes, then we retreat."
He shot upward again, blade flashing as he resud his slaughter. The others dismantled their temporary platforms, detaching energy anchors to ease the bridge’s strain.
Then—
Crack...
This ti, the fracture split wide. Blinding blue light burst forth.
Deg.
Even Swift Fang’s steady heartbeat faltered. Instinct scread danger. Imnse danger.
No orders were needed. Each squad mber vanished, retreating by reflex alone.
Silence descended.
The rift expanded, forced open like the jaws of heaven. Within, black waters churned endlessly, seething and alive.
A clawed hand erged—massive, covered in coarse fur, its talons like blades. It gripped the edges, prying the wound in reality wider.
GRRAAAKKK!
The creature tore its way free. A towering humanoid, muscle bound and colossal... but its head, the head of a monstrous bull. Curved horns jutted like scythes. Its body was clad in rough beast hides, still slick with fresh blood.
ARRRRGHHHH!
Its roar thundered across the void. Fetid breath rolled from its maw. Between its jagged white fangs, scraps of raw flesh clung—blood dripping down its chin.
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