The wind roared in their ears as the seven Sky Boys descended from the floating island like a falling star. Orced led the formation, white hair streaming behind him like a battle flag caught in a hurricane. His expression was calm, focused, but there was that familiar spark in his eyes—the one that said this was exactly where he wanted to be. Below them, Perpa City sprawled out in all its chaotic glory: glass skyscrapers reflecting the afternoon sun, crowded streets filled with honking cars and rushing pedestrians, the distant sparkle of the harbor where fishing boats bobbed like toys. The coastal city looked peaceful from up high, but everyone knew better. Curses didn't care about skylines or traffic lights.
Macker flew on Orced's right, brass knuckles already glowing with restrained electricity. "Finally! Real mission time. No more training dummies or C-class pushovers. I'm ready to break something big today."
Kruna glided on the left, twin blades sheathed but hands loose and ready. His black hair whipped across his face. "Don't get cocky, Macker. This might be a C-class sighting that have upgraded overnight. Stay sharp or you'll end up as curse chow."
Aftor trailed slightly behind, knife already in hand, scanning the ground below with narrowed eyes. "I smell trouble. The air's too still down there. Like the city is holding its breath."
Ema flew with his bow slung over his shoulder, arrows nocked and ready. His messy brown hair was tied back for once, but a few strands still escaped. "Thermal's picking up something massive near the old harbor district. Big signature. Definitely not C-class anymore. It's moving… and it feels pissed."
Nix grinned like a kid on Christmas morning, gauntlet humming with barely contained energy. "Good. I've been bored out of my mind. Let's make this one loud."
Sano brought up the rear, massive shield strapped across his back like a dark cape. His deep voice carried easily over the wind. "I'll take point on defense if it gets ugly. Stay behind me if things go south. No attack unless Orced says so."
Orced's voice cut through the wind, clear and confident. "Eyes open, everyone. We hit hard, we hit fast, we end it clean. Sky Boys doesn't do half-measures. Let's show Perpa what real protection looks like. No civilian casualties. No mistakes."
They touched down on the rooftop of an abandoned warehouse near the harbor with barely a sound. The city noise rose up around them—car horns blaring, distant sirens wailing, the low murmur of people going about their day completely unaware of the seven figures who had just dropped from the sky. No one below had noticed them yet.
Orced raised a hand, signaling the group to fan out. "Spread out. Scout the harbor. Ema, thermal sweep. Nix, keep your explosions on standby but hold back today—Macker, you're on explosion duty. Kruna, flank. Aftor, look for weak points. Sano, rear guard. Move."
They dropped down to street level and moved through the narrow alleys leading to the water like shadows. The harbor was eerily quiet—too quiet. Fishing boats bobbed gently at their moorings, but there were no fishermen. Warehouses stood silent, doors half-open, crates untouched. The air felt thick, heavy with something unnatural, like the world itself was waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Ema's voice crackled over the small earpiece they all wore. "Thermal spike. Big one. Old fish processing plant, two blocks ahead. It's moving… and it's smart. Not mindless. Definitely A-class. Half-intelligent. And it's angry."
Orced's eyes narrowed. "Confirmed. Everyone converge on the plant. Weapons ready. We try talking first—if it listens. If not, we end it."
They regrouped at the entrance of the large, rusted warehouse. The double doors were hanging off their hinges, and from inside came a low, guttural voice—not the mindless roar of a C-class, but actual words, distorted and wet, laced with pure frustration and venom.
"…stupid… stupid little humans… always running… always hiding… I just wanted to eat in peace and you bastards keep sending your little toy soldiers…"
The creature stepped into the dim light filtering through the broken skylights.
It was huge—easily four meters tall, humanoid but horribly wrong. Its body was a shifting mass of white and deep crimson flesh, tendrils writhing like living whips from its shoulders and back. Multiple glowing eyes dotted its torso, all of them narrowed in irritation. Its mouth split into a wide, toothy grimace that looked more annoyed than hungry.
It tilted its head, multiple eyes focusing on the group. "Oh great. More of you. The white-haired one looks like the leader. Let me guess—you're here to 'save the city' or some heroic bullshit? Spare me the speech. I'm already in a bad mood."
Orced stepped forward, hands open at his sides, voice calm and steady. "We're not here to fight if we don't have to. You're hurting people. Feeding on the city. Scaring civilians. That ends today. Talk to us. Tell us why you're here. Maybe we can find another way."
The curse let out a bitter, bubbling laugh. "Talk? You want to talk? After your kind has been hunting us for years? You think I'm stupid? You're all the same—pretty words, then blades and explosions. I'm done being polite."
It lunged without warning, tendrils whipping forward like spears.
Orced's voice cracked like a whip. "Sky Boys—engage! No holding back!"
The fight exploded into motion.
Macker charged first, brass knuckles blazing with red energy. "My turn to tank and explode! Come on, ugly!"
He slammed into the curse's midsection with a thunderous crack. The explosion was massive—contained but devastating. Black flesh tore open, ichor sprayed everywhere, and the creature staggered back with a furious roar.
"You little shit! That actually hurt!"
Kruna moved like a shadow. "My turn." For the first time in front of the whole team, Kruna activated his hidden ability. His body shimmered, and suddenly there were twelve identical Krunas—each one solid, each one armed with twin blades that were now longer than his own height, curved and deadly, gleaming with curse energy.
The twelve Krunas spoke in perfect unison. "Let's dance, you fat bastard."
They attacked from three directions at once. Long blades sliced through tendrils, carving deep gashes that didn't close fast enough. The curse roared and tried to swat them away, but the clones were too fast, too coordinated.
One Kruna ducked under a swing and slashed upward, severing a major tendril. "Too slow, you oversized worm."
Another leapt onto its back and drove both blades into its spine. "Weak point found. Keep pressure on!"
One Kruna stayed back, directing. "Don't let it regenerate! Hit the core!" The curse screamed in fury, tendrils thrashing wildly. "Tricks! Cheap tricks! You think numbers will save you? I'll crush every last one of you!"
Orced watched, eyes glowing faintly. "Good. Keep it distracted."
He stepped forward, raising one hand. For the first time in front of the team, he unleashed his radioactive water ability. A sphere of glowing blue-green water formed above his palm, swirling with dangerous, corrosive energy.
It wasn't ordinary water—it was infused with curse radiation, lethal with long-time.
"Time to end this," Orced said quietly.
He thrust his hand forward. The radioactive water shot out like a high-pressure jet, slamming into the curse's chest. Where it touched, the flesh sizzled and melted, black smoke rising in thick plumes. The curse howled in agony, tendrils thrashing.
"It burns! It burns, you radioactive freak! What the hell is that?!"
Aftor darted in, knife flashing. "Weakened core on the left side! Go for it!"
Ema fired a volley of glowing arrows, pinning several tendrils to the ground. "Pinned! Finish it!"
Sano charged with his shield, slamming into the curse's legs and knocking it off balance. "Now! Hit it hard!"
Orced leapt high, white hair blazing in the sunlight. "White Comet Strike!"
He drove his fist—wrapped in radioactive water—straight into the exposed core. The impact was catastrophic.
A bright explosion of blue-green light filled the warehouse.
The curse let out one final, ear-splitting scream before its body began to dissolve from the inside out, melting into black sludge that evaporated on the wind. Silence fell over the warehouse. The team stood panting, covered in ichor, but victorious.