Outside the port, the driver leaned against the vehicle, cigarette in hand, impatience etched across his face.
"Why are these brats taking so long?" he muttered. "Killing Newborns shouldn't take this long… I better go see what's going on."
*****
The Fledge's arm wrapped around Tyla, dragging her closer and closer to its gaping jaws.
Lyle gritted his teeth. 'I won't make it in time!'
Inches from being swallowed, a blur streaked through the air — then the Fledge's limb was severed cleanly from its body.
Reol shot past on his hoverboard, Tyla cradled in his arms. Shock flashed across her face, quickly replaced by relief.
"Sorry, Tyla," Reol yelled over the wind. "But I had to break your rule."
She stared at him for a beat, then a sly smile curved her lips. "You'll have to be punished for that," she said lightly.
Reol swallowed. "I'm not entirely sure… but I think I've noticed something. Tyla… I know I'm inexperienced, and I've been acting like a—well, difficult—this whole time, but…" He met her eyes. "I need you to trust me."
Tyla held his gaze, seeing someone willing to risk everything for survival. Then she grinned.
"I wouldn't say you were acting difficult," she said. "Fine. What's this crazy idea?"
The Fledge screeched, its claws slicing through the air toward Reol. He twisted sharply, turning and diving with Tyla cradled in his arms as wind tore past them.
"System," Reol muttered quickly, lips barely moving. "Relay these instructions to Lyle."
[Initializing… message sent to Lyle Greenstone.]
Below them, Lyle's grin widened.
"What?! That's insane," he muttered. "I love it."
The Fledge lashed out with its Revna, ripping a container free and hurling it toward Reol while its claws tore through the air right behind it.
"Hang on, Tyla!"
Tyla clutched him tightly, her face buried in his chest.
Reol twisted midair, threading past the claws. He skimmed along the edge of the flying container for a split second, then kicked off, sparks bursting beneath his board, as he pivoted and shot toward the beams hanging from the gantry crane.
"Tyla!" he screamed.
"Right!"
Chains burst from her palms, wrapping around the suspended beams. She swung them forward with brutal force toward the Fledge.
It didn't dodge.
The beams slammed into its body, tearing through its form. Flesh writhed and stitched itself back together.
Reol grinned. "Just as I thought… now then, Lyle."
Lyle, braced against a container, unleashed rapid shots into its back. Holes tore open, revealing flashes of red beneath its black skin, but they regenerated instantly. Its crimson core flickered beneath the surface.
Reol accelerated straight at it. Lyle's heartbeat thundered in his ears as he fired relentlessly. The Fledge screamed, but it didn't turn toward him.
Instead, it focused on the oncoming Reol and Tyla. Its Renvra coiled, preparing to strike.
"Now, Tyla!" Reol shouted over the wind.
Chains erupted from the ground, snapping around its Revna and arms, yanking them tight and pinning it in place. The Fledge wailed, straining as cracks formed along the chains, its chest exposed, core pulsing violently beneath unstable, regenerating flesh, but Reol was already above it.
He leapt.
The hoverboard smashed straight into its chest. The core shattered. The Fledge's scream distorted as its body dissolved into smoke.
Reol hit the ground hard, rolling with Tyla still in his arms, gasping for breath.
"You're… you're crazy, you know that…" Tyla said, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "You'll fit in just fine with us."
Reol returned the smile, exhaling slowly. "Now I'm actually kinda nervous about it."
Lyle lay slumped against a container, his eyes returning to their normal color as relief washed over him.
"Damn," he muttered. "The minute I get back to headquarters, I'm filing for leave."
[Voletiles exterminated: Mission Complete. No casualties.]
The system's voice echoed faintly.
From a distance, an engine growled as a van pushed through the fog, its headlights cutting across the wreckage. Jeff's eyes widened at the destroyed containers.
"These kids made this much of a mess… just fighting Newborns?" he muttered.
He parked and rushed inside, spotting Lyle first — bloodied, battered, one leg clearly broken. Jeff sprinted toward him.
"Kid, why the hell do you look like you fought a whole army?!"
Lyle chuckled weakly through the pain. "Long story, old man…"
"Where are the others?!" Jeff shouted, panic creeping into his voice.
"Relax," Lyle replied. "They're fine."
Jeff helped him up and loaded him into the van before heading back out. That was when he spotted Reol approaching with Tyla still in his arms.
"So, uh… Reol," Tyla said, raising a brow, "you know I can walk just fine on my own, right?"
Reol smiled faintly. "Yeah. But you and Lyle were both injured, and I barely have a scratch. At least let me do this."
Tyla smirked. "Oh? I see… Mr. Prince Charming."
Reol's cheeks reddened as he looked away. "Enough…"
Jeff finally reached them, shaking his head in disbelief as he ushered them into the van. Moments later, they drove off, leaving the ruined port behind.
The Newlands Port mission was officially closed but the questions it raised were only just beginning.
Reol sat at the back of the vehicle, staring out the window, reflecting on his first encounter with a C-rank Voletile.
'I can't believe we actually survived that…' he thought. 'This world is bigger than I realized… and today, I crossed its threshold.'
His hand clenched into a fist.
"For my siblings' future…" he whispered. "I'll thrive in this new world… no matter what."
*****
In a world ruled by Fortextiles and Voletiles, there exist two sides — predators that feast on humanity and cannot be slain by ordinary weapons, and hunters who wield Manifestos, weapons forged to kill these monsters.
These hunters are known as Carriers. To combat the endless threat of Voletiles, special departments were formed known as the Fortextile Departments, tasked solely with their eradication in a war that has raged on for centuries.
Among Carriers exists a rare few who can turn ordinary human weapons into Manifestos, they are called... Enhancers.
Reol is one of them.
And with his first battle behind him, he has unknowingly stepped into the heart of that war.
*****
The next day, Reol and Tyla stood at Lyle's bedside, his injured leg now fitted with a prosthetic.
"You don't look like someone who was injured," Reol said.
Tyla scoffed. "He's just happy he doesn't have to be on the field for a while. Lucky bastard."
"That's not true at all," Lyle replied, leaning back. "But hey, it's not like I can go hunt Voletiles with one leg now, can I?"
A smug look crept across his face as his gaze shifted to Reol.
"Back there," Lyle continued, "when you told me to keep firing at the Fledge's core… how did you know it wouldn't try to evade my shots?"
Reol answered calmly. "I've fought enough low-ranked Voletiles to know they rely heavily on regeneration. If something can't break their core, they won't bother dodging unless they feel it's actually in danger. That's why it avoided close-range attacks but took long-range fire head-on."
He paused, then went on, "Its skin acts like a protective layer. While you were shooting, it was constantly regenerating, which meant it couldn't fully shield the exposed core. Then...." he smirked, "—bam!. I nailed it with my board."
Tyla and Lyle stared at him, a gleam in their eyes.
"Wow…" Tyla said. "Reol, you're actually smart?"
Reol glanced at her.
He thought. 'Why does she look so surprised I can use my brain?'
Lyle chuckled softly, more subdued than usual. "Well, whatever the case, we made it out in one piece." He raised his fist for a bump. "I'm looking forward to working with you more."
Reol's eyes widened before a grin spread across his face. He met Lyle's fist.
"Yeah. Me too."
Tyla cleared her throat. "Cute, guys. But Reol and I need to report to the commander."
They left the room together, heading straight for Commander Zackery's office. The room was adorned with accolades, a portrait of him from his younger days, and two other people standing beside him. He stood by the window, hands clasped behind his back, eyes fixed on the sky as a bird soared past the glass.
Without turning to face them, he spoke.
"First of all, congratulations on successfully completing your mission. I want to hear the details directly from you."
He turned toward them.
Tyla stepped forward and explained what had happened, including the false report and the fact that they had faced a Fledge — a C-rank Voletile.
Commander Zackery's eyes widened for a moment before a faint smile tugged at his lips.
"I see. So this was no ordinary Voletile incident. That makes your achievements carry even greater weight." His gaze shifted to Tyla. "You continue to show steady growth."
Then he turned to Reol, pride lingering in his gaze.
"Most fail their first mission. Some don't come back at all. The fact that you're standing here should give you pride."
The door opened, and Felicia walked in carrying a briefcase.
"Ah," Commander Zackery said. "So it's ready."
Felicia nodded, smiling as she opened the case.
"Congratulations Reol, you're now a licensed Carrier."
Reol took the license, his eyes filling with awe, until he saw the photo. It was from when he had been dragged in, exhausted and imprisoned the first day.
Tyla barely managed to hold in her laughter.
Felicia cleared her throat. "Apologies, but those were the only usable photos we had. We couldn't exactly wait for you to return from your mission just to take another."
Reol sighed inwardly.
He thought, 'Great… this is what everyone's going to see every time I have to identify myself.'
Commander Zackery spoke again.
"For now, you're registered as a Cadet. That means you're not yet authorized for official missions."
Reol blinked. "Then how do I change that?"
Felicia's smile sharpened.
"The Sergeant Exams."