The B-rank gate hovered above the northern defense sector like a storm trapped inside glass. Dark clouds churned within the fracture, and lightning flickered restlessly along its jagged edges.
Regulated Order stood beneath it, poised and ready. Helena Vireaux studied the atmospheric distortion carefully. "...Active storm system."
Caelum Richter rolled his shoulders, a spark of anticipation in his eyes. "Finally, something interesting."
Viktor Draeg remained silent, the heavy blade of his guandao resting against the pavement as he waited for the word. Elias Verdan looked up at the fracture one last time. Nox's voice echoed briefly in his memory: Bring grounding rods. Elias hadn't asked why; he simply trusted the warning.
"Move," he commanded.
The world twisted. Gravity vanished, then returned with a jolt.
They stood inside a massive industrial refinery. Steel towers stretched into a gray sky like a metallic forest, and tangled networks of pipelines ran across the complex. Rusted walkways hung precariously above enormous processing pits. Above it all, a violent storm churned, lightning flickering constantly within the heavy clouds.
Helena scanned the horizon. "...That storm isn't decorative."
A system window appeared:
[System Notice]
[Gate Classification Confirmed]
[Rank: B]
[Gate Type: Domain Gate]
[Objective: Neutralize Hostile Entities]
Caelum glanced at the text. "Domain Gate."
Helena frowned. "The system still isn't explaining those."
"Then we learn the hard way," Viktor said, resting his weapon on his shoulder.
Caelum grinned. "My favorite method."
Movement stirred between the refinery towers. The first creature stepped into the open—humanoid in shape, but fundamentally wrong. Its body looked like molten metal cooled into jagged armor plates, fused directly into flesh. Thin veins of electricity crawled through the cracks in its skin. Its head resembled a faceless helmet, with nothing but a glowing lightning core burning inside.
Each step it took left scorch marks across the steel floor. Then more emerged—ten, twenty, thirty.
"Construct-type enemies," Helena said calmly.
"Let's test that," Caelum replied.
One charged, its arm reshaping into a jagged lightning blade. Caelum met it head-on, thunder exploding from his palm as the two bolts collided in a blinding flash. The creature staggered, and Viktor moved instantly. His guandao swept sideways, crushing straight through the construct's torso and shattering it. Electric sparks burst outward.
[New Monster Registered]
[Species: Stormforged Construct]
[Threat Level: B]
[Behavior: Domain-linked entity]
[Weakness: Core destabilization when energy supply disrupted]
Helena studied the screen. "...Construct confirmed."
But more appeared. Electric arcs began to crawl across the refinery towers. Helena noticed the pattern. "They're drawing power from the structures."
Steel was everywhere—pipes, walkways, platforms. The entire battlefield was a massive conductor. Lightning struck a nearby tower, and electricity spread through the metal frame instantly.
"...The environment is feeding them," Elias spoke quietly.
Helena turned toward him. "You're thinking this is related to the gate type."
Elias watched the storm above, silver light flickering faintly across his eyes. "...Yes." He pointed upward. "The storm isn't random."
High above the refinery, a massive silhouette moved within the clouds, and the storm seemed to bend toward it.
Caelum's grin widened. "Well. That's convenient."
The clouds split open. The creature descended slowly—a towering armored entity forged from living steel. Electric wings spread behind its back, and lightning spiraled constantly around its frame.
[Boss Entity Identified]
[Species: Stormforged Sentinel]
[Classification: Gate Boss]
[Threat Level: B]
[Ability: Storm Dominion]
Caelum stared upward, his smile growing. "...Now that's a boss."
The Sentinel raised its weapon, gathering lightning into a massive spear above its hand. The storm intensified, and Helena's matrices shifted immediately. "Energy spike incoming."
Caelum prepared to launch himself forward, but Elias stepped ahead of him. "Wait."
Caelum blinked. "...What?"
Elias pointed toward their equipment case. "Grounding rods."
Helena understood instantly. "...You're serious."
"Yes."
Viktor drove the first rod into the steel floor. Lightning crashed down from the storm, and instead of surging through the constructs or the team, it flowed directly into the rod. Grounded.
The storm flickered. The Sentinel's wings faltered for a split second as its power source was diverted.
Caelum's grin turned lethal. "Oh. Now this fight just got fun."