The next morning—
Andrei arrived at the Military Defense Line.
"You're late."
Lyra didn't hide her irritation.
"Doesn't matter. We're starting with introductions."
She turned to the group.
"Sera Blush. Book-Type Gear."
A girl with short pink hair gave a small wave, her energy noticeably brighter than the rest.
"Rowan Saffron. Gauntlet-Type."
Tall. Relaxed. Confident.
"Darius Russet. Warhammer-Type."
He spoke calmly, despite his imposing build.
"Marek Slate. String-Type."
A quiet nod.
And then—
"Andrei Scarlet. Bracer-Type."
His voice was less certain.
Sera leaned forward immediately.
"Wait—Scarlet? As in the Scarlet House?"
"Enough."
The interruption was immediate.
Heavy.
A man approached.
Each step deliberate.
"I'm the Commander."
A glance across them.
"Call me whatever you want. Doesn't matter."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Why are a bunch of kids standing at my line?"
Lyra stepped forward, handing over her emblem.
"We're Specialists. Requesting entry into the Black Region."
He examined it briefly.
Then chuckled.
"Specialists?"
He handed it back.
"The Board must be desperate."
He turned away.
"You all have Gears?"
"Yes."
"Good."
A pause.
"Because going in without one gets you killed."
He glanced back.
"…Going in without a board?"
A faint smirk.
"Suicide."
"A board?" Sera asked.
The Commander exhaled.
"Your Gears let you fight."
"Chromatic Boards let you survive."
He gestured beyond the line.
The Black stretched endlessly.
Shifting.
Alive.
"It devours anything it touches."
His voice lowered.
"Even a graze."
Silence followed.
"The boards keep you above it."
He pressed a button.
"Iris. Six boards."
Moments later—
A woman approached.
"Iris Lavender. Executive Officer."
Calm.
Efficient.
She handed them compact devices.
"Channel your hue."
Andrei focused.
The device responded instantly—unfolding beneath his feet into a hovering platform.
"…Just like Gears," Rowan muttered.
"Listen carefully," Iris said.
Her tone sharpened.
"Avoid contact with the Black at all costs."
A pause.
"If contamination begins…"
She didn't finish the sentence.
She didn't need to.
"Maintain altitude."
"And don't die."
Descent
They rose.
Higher.
Higher.
The Defense Line shrank behind them.
Below—
The Black shifted endlessly.
"Wait."
Lyra raised a hand.
They stopped.
"We move together."
Her eyes scanned the terrain.
"No one acts alone."
She pointed.
"There."
A single creature.
Isolated.
"Fast strike. Then we leave."
They nodded.
And descended.
Silent.
Precise.
The creature turned—
Too late.
Andrei moved first.
No hesitation.
Flames surged from his bracer—forming a blade mid-motion.
One clean strike.
The creature collapsed.
Its form breaking apart—
Dissolving into nothing.
"…That's the Scarlet for you," Rowan said, clapping his shoulder.
"It was nothing," Andrei replied lightly.
They rose again.
"Next target," Lyra said.
Darius dropped first this time.
Warhammer crashing down—
Impact.
Marek's strings snapped outward—catching him mid-fall, pulling him back up.
"Reckless," Lyra snapped.
Then—
Everything changed.
The air shifted.
More appeared.
Not one.
Not two.
Dozens.
"Gain altitude!" Lyra shouted.
They rose—
But not fast enough.
Some of the creatures followed.
"They can fly?!" Rowan shouted.
"I'll hold them—" Andrei started.
"Move!" Lyra cut him off.
"Behind you!" Sera screamed.
Too late.
A creature dropped from above—
Slamming into Marek.
They crashed downward.
"Marek!"
The black mass latched onto him instantly.
"No—get it off—!"
It spread.
Faster than fire.
Crawling across his skin—
Consuming.
"Help me—!"
No one moved.
Not fast enough.
His voice broke—
Twisted—
Then stopped.
Silence.
What stood there—
Wasn't Marek.
It turned.
Slowly.
Its eyes—
Empty.
Andrei froze.
His body wouldn't respond.
Just moments ago—
They were fighting together.
Now—
"MOVE!"
Lyra's voice cut through everything.
"Fall back! Now!"
No one argued.
They turned—
And fled.
No one looked back.
Return
They crossed the line—
And the world changed instantly.
Light.
Air.
Silence.
They landed.
Stepping off their boards.
One missing.
No one spoke.
Iris approached.
Slowly.
"That was fast."
A glance.
"What happened?"
No answer.
Her eyes moved across them.
Counting.
She understood.
"…I see."
She turned away.
"Don't blame yourselves."
A pause.
"In this line of work…"
Her voice lowered.
"Death is expected."
Another pause.
"Don't let it break you."
She walked off.
The group didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Because now—
They understood.
This wasn't training.
It was survival.