The Southern Quarter slept uneasy.
Whispers of last night's tavern massacre spread like wildfire.
Mercenaries now wore Raven's sigil.
And Kael, Valerion's noble snake, had just been humiliated in his own city.
Raven stood on the balcony of the cathedral, golden eyes scanning the streets below.
Wind tugged at his coat.
His new recruits were already patrolling the quarter—organized, armed, loyal through gold and fear.
Selene appeared beside him, arms crossed. "You've made your move. Kael won't stay quiet."
Raven's lips curved slightly. "He'll retaliate."
"Then why do you look amused?"
"Because I want him to."
---
Across the city—
In a mansion carved from white stone—Kael slammed his fist into a table.
"Half my mercenaries turned!" he roared. "He buys them with coin and dares to mock me in my own city!"
A man in dark robes knelt before him, voice calm. "Then we respond in kind."
Kael's eyes narrowed. "You've brought the beast?"
The man smiled thinly. "Straight from the Northern Wilds. A Chimera—fangs of a lion, wings of a wyvern, tail of a serpent."
Kael smirked. "Perfect. Send it tonight. Let him see what happens when he plays king."
---
Later that night—
A low rumble rolled through Valerion.
Dogs barked.
Torches flickered.
Raven turned sharply, feeling the vibration under his boots. "Vee."
> [Seismic readings. Massive mana signature approaching. Category: Chimera-class.]
Lyra's eyes widened. "A chimera? In the city?"
Raven's gaze hardened. "Kael's message."
A distant roar shook the night.
Windows shattered.
Screams erupted from the lower streets.
Selene's voice trembled. "It's heading toward the Quarter!"
Raven's cloak flared as he stepped off the balcony. "Then so am I."
---
He landed in the streets below, golden aura sparking around him.
Panic swept through civilians running for shelter.
Ahead, a massive silhouette tore through buildings—four-legged, winged, eyes burning red.
The Chimera roared, smashing a cart aside. Flames spilled from its jaws, setting rooftops ablaze.
Lyra landed beside Raven, blades drawn. "That thing's huge."
"Good," Raven said, summoning a spear of golden light. "Big target."
The beast spotted them and roared, charging through the street.
Raven dashed forward. His boots cracked the ground—mana surging through every step. He met the monster head-on, thrusting the spear straight at its chest.
Clang!
The weapon glanced off thick scales, sparks bursting.
The Chimera swung its massive paw. Raven slid under, the claw barely missing him. He spun, sliced upward, golden light tearing a deep gash across its arm.
Lyra leapt onto a wall, kicked off, and threw both daggers into the creature's neck. They sank deep, making it roar louder.
Flames erupted from its maw.
"MOVE!" Raven shouted.
They dove aside as fire scorched the cobblestone, melting stone.
Raven rolled, slammed his palm on the ground. "Aether Spikes!"
Golden spikes burst from the street, piercing the Chimera's legs, locking it in place.
It roared again, wings beating, trying to break free.
Raven's eyes gleamed. "Selene!"
She appeared from a rooftop, hands glowing with silver mana. "Binding Seal!"
Chains of light shot down, wrapping the creature's torso.
"Now!" she shouted.
Raven raised his hand high. Golden aura flared.
"Heavenstrike!"
A beam of pure light exploded from the sky, slamming into the Chimera's back. The ground shook. Dust blasted outward.
When it cleared, the beast was down on one knee, panting, bleeding—but not dead.
Lyra cursed. "It's still standing!"
Vee's voice rang sharp.
> [Core located. Under chest. Suggest precision strike.]
Raven nodded. "Then we cut the heart."
He dashed forward again, spinning his spear.
The Chimera swiped—a claw grazed his arm, slicing cloth but not flesh. Raven ducked under its wing, thrust upward—his spear stabbing into glowing scales beneath its chest.
CRACK!
The creature screamed, tail whipping around—snake fangs snapping at his face.
Lyra jumped on its back, grabbed the tail, and sliced it clean off with both blades. Blood sprayed.
The Chimera staggered, eyes wide with rage and pain.
Selene chanted above, magic sigils forming in air. "Meteor Array!"
Flaming orbs rained down, striking the monster's wings, burning them to ash.
Raven yanked his spear free, then drove it into the beast's chest again—straight through the core.
Light exploded.
The Chimera gave one last shuddering roar—then collapsed, the ground trembling beneath its weight.
Silence.
Smoke curled into the sky. Flames flickered.
Raven stood over the carcass, breathing steady. "Send that message back to Kael."
Lyra grinned. "What's the message?"
Raven looked up, eyes gleaming gold. "You can't cage a predator."
---
Guards arrived minutes later, gaping at the wreckage.
One stammered, "You—you killed it?"
Raven brushed blood from his arm. "You're welcome."
Selene landed beside him, still glowing faintly. "That was reckless."
He smiled faintly. "Calculated."
Vee hummed.
> [Host combat performance: 92%. Style rating: flawless. Civilians: unharmed.]
Lyra whistled softly. "You sure know how to make an entrance."
"An entrance?" Raven said, turning. "No. This was a warning."
---
By dawn, news spread like wildfire again.
The man who killed a Chimera.
The man nobles whispered about in fear.
The man with eyes of gold.
Raven Cross.
His legend had just begun.
But far away, in Kael's mansion, rage boiled.
Kael slammed a goblet across the room. "He killed the beast?!"
His advisor bowed low. "With one strike, my lord. His power is… unnatural."
Kael's eyes narrowed. "Then we summon something that's not human."
The advisor hesitated. "You don't mean—"
Kael smiled coldly. "Oh, I do."
A shadow moved in the corner—hooded, eyes glowing blue.
"Tell the Wraith Syndicate," Kael said. "I have a contract."
---
Meanwhile, back in the cathedral, Raven cleaned his spear. Lyra watched him quietly.
"You knew Kael would strike," she said. "You wanted this."
Raven looked up. "Every move he makes shows his cards."
Selene stepped closer, eyes curious. "And what's yours?"
Raven's smile was slow, sharp. "Mine? To build an empire from the ashes he leaves behind."
---
Vee's voice chimed softly.
> [Host achievement unlocked: Beast Slayer. Reputation +500. Fear Index +20%.]
Raven stood, cloak flaring. "Prepare. Kael won't stop. Neither will I."
Lyra's eyes gleamed. "Then let's make the next one count."
He looked toward the rising sun, voice steady.
"Next time, we take the fight to him."
----
The Southern Quarter was quiet.
Too quiet.
Raven stood in the cathedral courtyard beneath a blood-red moon, hands clasped behind his back.
The air felt heavy—thick with killing intent.
Lyra adjusted her daggers. "You feel that?"
Raven nodded once. "They're here."
Selene's voice was low, cautious. "Not Kael's soldiers… something darker."
Vee's tone sharpened in his mind.
> [Warning: Hostile mana detected. Multiple sources. Stealth signatures—unidentified. Category: Wraith-class.]
Raven's eyes narrowed. "Wraith Syndicate. Kael's pulling deep pockets."
Lyra frowned. "Never heard of them."
"They don't make noise," Raven said. "They make graves."
---
The bell above the cathedral tower rang once—then shattered.
A blade of pure shadow cut it clean in half.
The sound echoed like a scream through the night.
From every rooftop, figures appeared—cloaked, masked, moving like smoke.
Each carried a curved blade pulsing with black mist.
And beside them—beasts formed from shadow itself, eyes burning white.
Lyra drew her blades. "That's a lot of company."
Selene whispered a charm, hands glowing. "Barrier spells up. We hold the line."
Raven's voice was calm. "No. We break theirs."
---
The first assassin dropped from the roof, silent as death.
Raven turned—gold light flashed—his spear swept up, impaling the man mid-air.
Thud.
The corpse hit the ground before it ever screamed.
"MOVE!" Raven barked.
Lyra flipped backward, slashing through two shadow beasts, their forms bursting into black smoke.
Selene raised her staff—silver runes spiraled out, forming a dome of light as arrows of dark energy rained down.
Raven dashed forward, cloak trailing golden sparks.
Three assassins struck at once—he ducked the first, parried the second, grabbed the third by the throat and slammed him into the ground hard enough to crack stone.
The first lunged again—Raven twisted, elbowed him across the jaw, then hurled his spear backward—skewering another trying to flank him.
The courtyard erupted into chaos.
Lyra was a blur, blades flashing, each strike quick, ruthless, efficient. She weaved through shadow wolves, cutting their tendons before vanishing behind them in a flicker of motion.
Selene chanted faster, her barrier shifting from silver to pale blue, reflecting every dark strike. "Raven! More incoming!"
Raven looked up.
Five assassins leapt from the tower, cloaks billowing like wings.
He raised his hand. "Heaven's Grasp!"
Golden chains erupted from the ground, wrapping all five mid-air.
Raven clenched his fist. The chains tightened—bones cracked.
Then he yanked his hand down—slamming them into the courtyard like falling stars.
Dust exploded.
---
Vee's voice rang sharp.
> [Hostile count: 32 remaining. Elite units approaching. Detecting anomaly—dark construct forming east gate.]
Raven turned his head. "East gate."
From the mist, a colossal shadow beast emerged—ten feet tall, armor-like hide, eyes burning like coals.
A Wraith Commander rode atop it, dual scythes spinning in each hand.
Lyra cursed softly. "That's new."
Selene's voice trembled. "That thing could flatten a building."
Raven smirked. "Then we'll knock it down first."
He stepped forward, golden aura igniting around him.
His boots cracked the ground with each step.
The beast roared, charging straight at him.
Raven dashed in—speeds blurring, wind splitting around him.
He met the creature head-on, spear thrusting.
The beast raised a claw—CLANG!—sparks flew as claw met spear.
Raven spun under its arm, slashing through its ribs.
Dark smoke poured from the wound—but it didn't slow.
The commander leapt down, scythes spinning.
Raven blocked one, ducked under the other, and countered with a sharp knee to the gut.
The Wraith grinned beneath his mask. "You're not from this world, are you?"
Raven's eyes flashed. "Neither are your chances."
He slammed his palm into the Wraith's chest. "Aether Burst."
Light detonated. The Wraith flew backward—crashing into the gate wall.
The beast howled, tail whipping. Raven jumped, twisting mid-air, landing on its back.
He plunged his spear into its neck—light burning through shadow.
The creature thrashed, smashing into walls, crushing carts, roaring in agony.
Lyra shouted, "Raven! Jump!"
He didn't. He drove the spear deeper, mana flaring gold-hot.
"Break."
With one final push, the spear burst through the other side.
The beast froze, let out a low rumble—then collapsed, dissolving into smoke.
---
Selene unleashed a storm of silver bolts, cutting through what remained of the shadows.
Lyra's daggers whirled—she spun, slicing the last assassin's throat cleanly.
Silence fell again.
Smoke drifted across the courtyard.
Raven stood in the center, golden light fading, spear planted in the ground.
Lyra walked up, panting slightly. "That... was insane."
Selene lowered her staff. "I almost couldn't keep up with the mana flow."
Vee's voice softened.
> [Hostile count: 0. Siege complete. Cathedral secure.]
Raven exhaled. "They're testing our defenses. Kael's done playing politics."
Lyra kicked a fallen mask aside. "Then we take the fight to his doorstep."
Raven nodded. "Exactly. No more waiting."
---
Later, inside the cathedral's war room, Raven studied the city map.
Red marks dotted Kael's strongholds.
Selene pointed. "His main estate is fortified—mages, guards, and now he's summoning assassins. You can't just walk in."
Raven smirked. "Who said anything about walking?"
Lyra tilted her head. "You have a plan?"
"I always have a plan," Raven said. "Kael expects me to react. Instead, I'll hit him where he feels untouchable."
Selene frowned. "His mana vault?"
"Exactly. Every noble keeps one—filled with artifacts and gold. We take that, he bleeds."
Lyra grinned. "So… a heist?"
"A war heist."
Vee chimed in.
> [Mission directive updated: Infiltrate Kael's estate. Objective: Mana Vault Extraction. Secondary: Data on Wraith contracts.]
Raven's eyes gleamed gold. "Then let's prepare. Tomorrow night, we end Kael's comfort."
---
Far across the city, Kael stood before a shattered mirror, knuckles bleeding.
"They wiped out the Wraith Syndicate?"
His advisor nodded nervously. "The entire squad, my lord."
Kael's jaw tightened. "So he wants war."
He turned toward a shadowed door. "Then I'll give him one."
The door creaked open—inside, a dark chamber hummed with forbidden energy.
Chains rattled.
Something ancient stirred.
Kael whispered, "Wake up, my lovely curse. I have a name for you to hunt."
A pair of glowing crimson eyes opened in the dark.
---
Back in the cathedral, Raven stood alone on the balcony, city lights flickering below.
Selene stepped beside him. "You're not resting?"
"Rest is for those who feel safe," Raven said quietly.
She studied him. "You're not afraid?"
He smiled faintly. "Fear's just fuel."
Selene hesitated. "You're... different, Raven. Not cruel. Just... focused."
Raven's gaze stayed on the city. "The weak call strategy cruelty. I call it survival."
He looked at her finally, gold meeting silver. "And I'll survive—no matter who burns."
The wind howled through the spire.
War was coming.
And this time, Raven Cross wasn't waiting.