A week had passed since what people called treacherous teor struck, shattering the old world and birthing what survivors now called Neo Norbata. The once-bustling urban city had fused with the dungeon, skyscrapers tangled with ancient stone corridors, streets overgrown with glowing vines.
In the heart of this chaos stood a sturdy multi-story building, its walls reinforced with makeshift barriers, surrounded by several massive trees whose roots had burst through concrete like guardians.
Inside one of the upper rooms, dimly lit by a lantern since electrcity was cut off, Ren sat on the edge of a simple bed. Nina knelt behind him, her fingers gently massaging his scalp, a soft, happy smile playing on her lips. Her touch was tender, almost reverent complete different when she handled her giant greatsword.
Ren closed his eyes for a mont, then spoke quietly. "Nina… what did you find out about this new situation?"
Nina's hands paused before continuing their soothing rhythm. She leaned closer, her voice a low mutter. "The whole area we're in has been overtaken by Driftpeaks. This whole area...it's part of dungeon now."
Ren's shoulders slumped, a shadow crossing his face. Sadness etched deep lines around his eyes.
Nina noticed imdiately. She slid around to face him, cupped his cheek, and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. "We'll find them, Ren. We'll find your mother and your sister. Kyouka's working so hard on it. She won't stop until we do."
Ren shook his head slowly. "It's not just my family. I had friends here… people I really valued. I can't seem to find or contact any of them. They're just… gone."
He looked up at her, searching her expression. "Didn't you have anyone? Friends you valued?"
Nina turned her gaze away, a faint smile tugging at her lips, but there was a hint of loneliness in it. "I hardly had anyone I could call a friend. Except Astrid."
Ren studied her for a long mont. "You're a completely different person when you're with compared to how you are with others."
Nina's smile widened, genuine warmth blooming on her face. She leaned in closer. "You made this way. Now I can't live without you… little brother."
Ren's hand shot up suddenly, fingers wrapping gently but firmly around her neck. Nina's breath hitched, her cheeks flushing crimson, eyes glazing with heat.
He pulled her face inches from his, voice dropping to a whisper. "What did I say about how you should address when we're alone?"
Nina's lips parted, a shiver running through her. Her voice ca out breathless, laced with desire. "Master…"
Ren's grip tightened just enough to make her gasp. "Good."
He claid her mouth in a forceful, hungry kiss, pouring weeks of tension and fear into it. When he finally pulled back, both were breathing hard.
"Today we can't go further," he muttered against her lips. "Astrid told us both to join her. She said she found sothing interesting."
Nina pouted playfully but nodded, straightening her tank top.
Downstairs in what they had claid as their new base, a spacious lounge area with overturned tables now serving as workspaces—Astrid sat at a large wooden table, sipping tea from a chipped mug. Her red hair cascaded over one shoulder as she studied a hand-drawn map spread out before her.
Nina arrived first, slipping into the room with her usual quiet grace. Astrid glanced up, offering a small smile.
A few minutes later, Ren entered. Astrid's sharp eyes imdiately narrowed, catching the faint red handprints on Nina's neck. She arched a brow but said nothing, choosing to ignore it for now.
"Sit," Astrid said, gesturing to the chairs. "Kyouka and Selene got useful information while they were out."
Ren pulled up a seat beside Nina, leaning over the map. Colored pins dotted the paper red, blue, yellow.
Astrid tapped the red pin in the center. "This is us. I chose red because, well…" She flicked a strand of her crimson hair with a smirk.
Nina chuckled softly. "So what are we called exactly? We need a na if we're going to be a faction."
Ren thought for a second, rubbing his chin. Then his eyes lit up. "Why don't we call ourselves the sa thing you all used for decades? Valkyrie Fang."
Nina and Astrid turned to him with wide eyes, stunned.
"That's…" Nina started.
"A great idea," Astrid finished, reaching over to pat Ren's head affectionately. "You're a genius, kid."
Ren coughed, a faint blush rising, and quickly pointed at the blue pin to change the subject. "What's this one?"
Astrid's expression grew serious again. "Blue pin is exactly what you'd expect, the remnants of the previous governnt trying to restore Norbata. Let's call them NF for now. Norbata Forces."
She leaned back, sipping her tea. "These are the major factions we know about, but I wouldn't be surprised if smaller ones pop up all over this district. Things aren't going back to one big governnt anyti soon. It looks like the future is secluded little communities...so helpful, so dangerous."
Nina pointed at the final yellow pin on the far edge of the map. "So this must be…"
Astrid nodded grimly. "Yes. The Traitors. That blast or whatever energy beam ca from their lab wasn't fatal by itself. It was the dungeon it unleashed that's killing people. The teor, or whatever it really was, just… opened the door."
Ren clenched his fist on the table. "Exactly."
The door to the lounge burst open at that mont. Kyouka and Selene strode in, followed by a dozen weary-looking won, survivors they'd rescued during their expedition. Several people carried crude sacks filled with monster parts: horns, claws, glistening hides while so had their belongings with them.
Kyouka wiped sweat from her brow, her armor scratched and bloodied. "It truly feels like we're inside a full-blown dungeon out there. Monsters everywhere. People are dying left and right."
Selene dropped a heavy sack with a thud. "We managed to rescue these folks, but the streets are chaos. Hopefully this building won't run out of space soon."
Astrid stood, setting her mug down with authority. "We won't limit ourselves to just this building. We're going to clear the entire premises around us the courtyard, the surrounding trees, everything. We'll make sure there's enough space for anyone willing to live and fight."
Nina's eyes glead with excitent as she cracked her knuckles. "Now I truly feel alive. Fighting real monsters instead of those boring traitors who could only win by making us powerless."
Ren looked at her with a smile, realizing how fast her personality changed as soon as she left the boundaries of his room. She is such a fun woman.
But Ren couldn't enjoy the feeling to the maximum, because he knew that every single person in his life iling, Misa, Hiyori, and Anna needed to be safe. Until then, he couldn't properly enjoy the mont.
***
Near the collapsed subway entrance, a flock of Stonebeaks circled overhead like dark ons. Their rocky beaks glead under the flickering streetlights, wings slicing the air with obsidian shards.
Below, a group of survivors huddled behind an overturned bus. "Stay low!" whispered a woman nad Thea, clutching her hands ready to use her power if needed. But a piercing screech echoed, disorienting them. One woman stumbled out, clutching her ears.
A Stonebeak dove, its beak impaling her through the chest. Blood sprayed as it lifted her limp body skyward. "No! Maria!" Thea scread, but another screech silenced her, two more birds dive-bombed, shredding her companions in a flurry of feathers and stone.
Blocks away, in a fog-shrouded alley twisted into a narrow mountain path unlike the alleyway it used to be, Mistral Wisps drifted lazily. A family of four fled through the mist, gasping for breath. "This way, I see light!" the mother yelled. But a wisp coiled around her face, inhaled unwittingly. Hallucinations hit—false paths shimred, leading to a sheer drop. "Mommy, wait!" her daughter cried, but she stepped off the edge, plumting into a giant hole. The wisps humd contentedly, luring the others to the sa fate.
High on a fused building-cliff, Cliffstalkers prowled. Their stone-colored fur blended seamlessly with the rocks. It wasn't just Cliffstalkers; Sky-needle hornets, crystal vultures, every single monster that had once been confined to the first floor of the dungeon had been released into the city, causing havoc, killing people, and trying to claim the land as their own.
Amid the turf wars, beasts clashed. In a rubble-strewn plaza, a Boulderback grazed moss on a fallen statue, its jagged shell mimicking boulders.
Soon a fiercest battle raged on a steep incline: a massive Wyrmscourge Wolf versus a Boulderback. The wolf's scaled hide glead black, ember eyes blazing. It howled, rattling bones, circling the slow grazer.
The Boulderback charged, rolling downhill like a living landslide. The wolf dodged nimbly, leaping onto its shell, jaws clamping on exposed flesh. Blood flowed; the Boulderback bellowed, slowing. The wolf tore chunks, winning inch by inch.
Suddenly crack! An electric bullet pierced the wolf's skull, one-shotting it. It collapsed, twitching.
Far atop a distant rooftop, Olivia stood with General Kazami, who lowered her sniper rifle, smoke curling from the barrel. Olivia muttered, "I forgot what you were once you started being a general."
Kazami smirked, slinging the weapon. "Tell about it. I forgot what I am once I started being a general. I thought all I could do was talk loud and scare people."
Olivia smiled warmly. "Looks like you can do more than that."
As if on cue, reinforcents arrived. Gunfire erupted from hidden positions soldiers unloading on rampaging monsters. Fireballs arced from hunters that were with army, incinerating Stonebeaks mid-dive. Lightning bolts chained through Mistral Wisps, dispersing them in crackling bursts. Cliffstalkers yowled as bullets riddled their fur; hornets popped like fireworks under flas.
The area cleared swiftly, beast corpses littering the ground. Survivors peeked out, dazed.
Olivia climbed a high rubble pile, gaphone in hand. "Governnt is always with our dear people of Norbata! We have established a safe boundary within this area, which all of you are invited to join. Co food, shelter, and protection await!"
Cheers rose hesitantly.
"This is going to be tough! We really need to find a way to send these monsters back to that dungeon. We can't keep fighting for our lives," Kazami muttered to Olivia.
Olivia lowered her gaphone and answered, "Then let's get to the root of it. The Traitors started this, and they need to end it too."
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