Vastarael and Elyonari strolled leisurely with their earlier shopping bags swinging lightly in their hands. The conversation drifted between light hearted banter and the odd observation about the city. Elyonari glanced towards a sleek Praesit gliding by overhead.
"I still can't believe how similar this place is to Rise. I mean, who came up with the idea of flying Praesits and spires coexisting?"
"Probably someone who's dead already."
As they walked, the sound of bustling crowds and the occasional hum of a passing hovercraft filled the air. The two of them looked like any other pair of students enjoying their free time, if one ignored the radiance they both exuded.
Then, suddenly, a low hum vibrated through the streets, followed by a series of sharp clangs. Vastarael stopped mid-step. Elyonari stopped beside him.
"What was that?"
Before Vastarael could answer, a massive portal tore open in the sky above the district. The edges of the portal crackled with chaotic energy. The air grew heavy. A faint, acrid scent seeped into the streets.
"A Passageway?"
The holographic advertisements and displays around them flickered before shifting to an urgent red hue. Alarms blared. Across the holograms, a mechanical voice echoed:
"Phase Six Passageway detected. Emergency protocols initiated. Civilians are advised to evacuate immediately. Response teams are en route. Estimated arrival time: fifteen minutes."
Elyonari's breath hitched as she glanced at Vastarael.
"Phase Six?"
Vastarael always read them in holograms and even his parents taught them about it like it was a normal phase of life.
Krepsunas.
Portals called Passageways are mysterious rifts that connect Spheraphase to a corrupted world, Dimensium, infested with creatures known as Krepsunas. These gates are a constant threat, appearing unpredictably across the world. They vary in size, danger and, the type of Krepsunas they release. Passageways are categorized from Phase One to Phase Six, each level representing an escalating degree of difficulty and the strength of the creatures within.
Phase Six and Five Passageways are often small and localized, these gates release weaker Krepsunas, handled by Essentia and Ascenders respectively.
They are also handled by moderately trained individuals such as normal academy students in the lower enlightenment levels or local militia. While they pose danger, a coordinated effort usually ensures success in clearing these gates.
Phase Four Passageways are far more dangerous, handled by those of the Divine Rank. The Krepsunas emerging are stronger, more intelligent and capable of inflicting mass destruction if left unchecked.
Gates of these levels require the involvement of highly trained academy students, veteran soldiers and experienced combatants of the Divine Rank. Clearing a gate of this level typically requires collaboration between various divisions of the military, academies or other elite forces.
Phase One to Three are world-shaking events.
Krepsunas released from these gates are so powerful that only Nexuses, Primordial Deities and Deities can handle them, Phase One for Nexuses and Phase Three for Deities. Such Passageways are rare but when they appear, entire nations mobilize to counter the threat. A single Passageway of this scale can devastate entire regions.
Krepsunas are monstrous entities twisted by the corruption of their home world. Their forms vary but they often have grotesque features such as jagged limbs, warped anatomy and glowing void-like eyes. They are not mindless beasts though. They operate with a hive-like intelligence, driven by an insatiable urge to destroy and infect.
Passageways form due to anomalies in the balance of essence across Spheraphase. Areas with high concentrations of energy are more likely to be targeted, though they can appear anywhere. Once a Passageway forms, it begins expanding. The longer it remains open, the more powerful the Krepsunas that emerge. Over time, the infection from the Krepsunas can seep into the environment, tainting it permanently.
To close a Passageway, the Krepsunas within must be eliminated or driven back. In some cases, a ritual or immense power is required to seal the rift entirely.
This was like a normal happening in Spheraphase so even a child knows about this information. Vastarael always saw it happen from time to time in Rise but they were handled in minutes. He never thought that he would be standing right in front of a Phase Six Passageway.
"Of course. Of course this happens. Every single time I hang out with a girl, disaster strikes. I swear, this Bane of mine is out to ruin my social life."
"Really? That's your priority right now?"
"I'm just saying that this isn't a coincidence. My Bane's practically a universal law at this point. It's annoying as shit..."
"Focus, Masked Prince Charming. This isn't the time to complain about your cursed Bane, whatever it is. But seriously, do you naturally invite trouble?"
"I... think so?"
Around them, panic began to ripple through the crowd. Civilians scrambled to evacuate. Their movements were frantic yet organized thanks to the city's drilled emergency protocols. Despite this, the sight of the swirling vortex and the emerging shapes within it struck terror into their hearts. Krepsunas were spilling forth from the Passageway.
They were massive two meter tall dogs with dark burning fur. They had glowing orange eyes and muscular bodies. In Vastarael's eyes, it looked like a crossbreed of a mutant dog and a werewolf on all fours except for seven of them, who were standing on two limbs with humanoid figures and doglike faces controlling their kin, all of them rising at four meters tall in height.
Elyonari's voice cut through his thoughts.
"The response teams are fifteen minutes out. We need to buy time."
"Fifteen minutes is a long time, Elyonari. Let's just ignore it, okay?"
"Why?"
"I have a feeling that this is going to be harder to deal with."
"Do you have a better idea?" She shot back, already summoning a mage staff made out of white wood. "Because I don't see one."
Vastarael let out a long sigh, rolling his shoulders as he shifted into a combat stance, materializing a sapphire glaive. He still didn't want to use his Divine Weapon at all.
"I was hoping to spend this afternoon relaxing, maybe trying on a few more outfits. But no, my Bane has other plans."
Elyonari couldn't suppress a laugh.
"Well, look at it this way. This might be more exciting than boutique shopping."
"Doubtful, but fine. Let's do this. Just so you know, this really isn't how I imagined our hangout going."
"Then let's make it memorable."
Elyonari dashed forward.
The first of the massive Krepsuna hounds lunged at her. She sidestepped fluidly before swinging her staff. The wood cracked audibly against the beast's head but it wasn't just physical force. Her emerald natural energy surged outward, sending the Krepsuna hurtling back into its kin with explosive force.
A second charged her immediately. Elyonari didn't flinch. She planted the base of her staff into the ground and with a twist of her wrist, the vines etched into the wood came alive. They burst forth in a flurry of green tendrils, wrapping around the beast's limbs and yanking it off its feet. With a sharp thrust of her staff, the vines tightened, snapping its legs with a sickening crunch before slamming it into the ground.
Vastarael, slashing the dogs with ease, watched her with a mix of admiration and awe. He had expected Elyonari to be skilled—she was ranked fourth in the academy, after all—but this?
Her precision, speed and aggression made it clear why she had earned her place. She dismantled her opponents with a level of grace and brutality that was almost artistic.
The rest of the pack swarmed toward her. Elyonari twirled her staff and with a stomp of her foot, she sent a ripple of emerald light across the street. The asphalt cracked as massive roots burst forth, forming a protective green hemispherical barrier that the Krepsunas crashed into. She used the moment of disarray to leap atop the barrier, holding her staff high.
She then landed the staff into the ground.
From the point of impact, a shockwave of emerald energy erupted, sending debris and Krepsunas flying. The humanoid commanders snarled in unison, barking orders to the remaining hounds. They adapted quickly, circling around her barrier but Elyonari was already prepared. One of the humanoid Krepsunas leapt toward her but she changed her movements, raising her staff to intercept. The wooden weapon clashed with the beast's claws and for a moment, they locked in a struggle. Then Elyonari channeled her energy directly into the staff. A burst of green light erupted, blowing the Krepsuna to pieces.
Her movements never faltered. She ducked under swiping claws, deflected attacks with her staff and countered with brutal precision. One Krepsuna lunged at her side but with a spin, she brought the end of her staff down on its head. Another came at her from the front and she thrust her staff forward with the tip glowing. A concentrated beam of energy shot out, piercing through the beast's chest.
From his vantage point, Vastarael couldn't help but whistle softly.
"Okay, I see why she's ranked fourth now."
She was holding back a lot too. To her, this was just a one-sided brawl.
The humanoid commanders seemed to realize their hounds were being torn apart. Two of them charged her together, ready to pounce on her. Elyonari didn't retreat. Instead, she slammed her staff into the ground again, summoning a barrier between her and the attackers. As they slashed through it, she leapt into the air, flipping over them and landing gracefully behind. Before they could react, she spun her staff in a wide arc, releasing a wave of energy that severed their heads cleanly.
Even Vastarael was shocked. The staff didn't have a blade on it and she decapitated two of the humanoid dogs with so much ease.
'Her Nature Energy control is amazing. Well, I better not slack off either...'