The city had changed overnight.
Sirens replaced silence.
Military drones filled the skies.
Energy barriers rose across key districts of Astra Prime.
And above it all—
The fracture remained.
Wider.
Darker.
Alive.
Inside the War Command Center—
Tension gripped the air.
High-ranking hunters.
Strategists.
Government officials.
All gathered.
Because for the first time in history—
Aetherion was under threat from something beyond its own existence.
A massive holographic display dominated the room.
It showed the sky.
The crack.
And the energy signatures pulsing behind it.
"…Report," a commander said.
A technician stepped forward.
"…Energy levels continue to rise. The fracture has expanded by 17% in the last six hours."
Murmurs spread across the room.
"…Estimated time until full breach?"
"…Unknown."
Silence.
"…Worst-case scenario?"
The technician hesitated.
"…Global collapse."
That ended the murmurs.
Because everyone understood what that meant.
Extinction.
The doors opened.
And the room fell silent instantly.
Kael Varyn walked in.
No announcement.
No escort.
Just presence.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Every eye turned to him.
Some with hope.
Others with fear.
A few—
With doubt.
"…So this is the one," someone muttered.
Kael ignored them.
"…Status."
Straight to the point.
No hesitation.
The commander stepped forward.
"…You saw it yourself. The fracture is expanding, and we're detecting multiple high-level entities beyond it."
Kael's eyes flicked to the display.
"…How many have crossed over?"
"…None fully."
A pause.
"…But partial manifestations have begun."
The screen shifted.
New footage appeared.
A city district—far from the center.
Distorted.
Warped.
And then—
A creature.
Massive.
Malformed.
Its body shifting between dimensions.
Tearing through buildings like paper.
"…We lost contact with that entire sector," the commander said.
"…S-rank team deployed?"
"…Wiped out."
Silence.
Kael's gaze hardened.
"…Location."
"…Sector 9."
He turned.
"…I'll handle it."
"…Wait," another voice cut in.
A man stepped forward.
Tall.
Composed.
His presence different.
Not overwhelming like Kael's—
But controlled.
Refined.
"…You don't move alone anymore," he said.
Kael looked at him.
"…And you are?"
"…Commander Arcturus Vale."
A pause.
"…We're initiating War Protocol."
The room shifted.
The weight of those words—
Heavy.
Final.
"…Meaning?" Kael asked.
"…All S-rank hunters are mobilized."
"…All factions unified."
"…No more internal conflicts."
Another pause.
"…We fight as one—or we fall separately."
Silence.
Kael studied him for a moment.
Then—
"…Good."
No argument.
No resistance.
Just acceptance.
Because this—
Was inevitable.
"…Then assign them," Kael said.
The commander nodded.
"…You'll lead the strike team."
The room reacted instantly.
"…What?!"
"…He just got here!"
"…We don't even know what he is!"
Kael didn't react.
But Arcturus did.
"…You saw the footage," he said calmly.
"…None of you can handle what's coming."
Silence.
"…He can."
That ended it.
The commander turned back to Kael.
"…Your team is already assembled."
The doors opened again.
And they walked in.
Zarek Voidborn
Ragnar Kain
Lyra Frost
Darius Stone
Eren Shade
Bruised.
Bandaged.
But ready.
Kael's gaze moved across them.
"…Selene?"
Zarek shook his head slightly.
"…Still unconscious."
A pause.
Kael nodded once.
"…Then we move without her."
He turned toward the exit.
"…Mission?"
Arcturus answered.
"…Eliminate the entity in Sector 9."
"…And if more appear?"
A brief silence.
Then—
"…Then you eliminate them too."
Kael smirked faintly.
"…That's simple enough."
Moments later—
The team stood at the edge of Sector 9.
The air was wrong.
Distorted.
Reality bending unnaturally.
In the distance—
The creature roared.
A sound that didn't belong in Aetherion.
Kael stepped forward.
"…Stay sharp."
His aura began to rise.
Slowly.
Controlled.
But dangerous.
"…This is just the beginning."
Behind him—
The team followed.
Because they all felt it.
This wasn't just another mission.
This was the start—
Of war.