JURAL DISTRICT: VYLONIA
IRONCREST
The village lay eerily silent.
Dozens of villagers sprawled across the cobblestone streets, motionless, as though sleep had claimed them all at once.
The ground trembled rhythmically, a low pulse running beneath the village.
On a large stone chair near the center of the village sat a man, upright and calm.
His badge gleamed Gold 3, engraved neatly with his name:
KAELEN JOB
Dark chestnut hair framed his sharp amber eyes. Though his expression remained impassive, the tremor of the earth beneath him seemed to answer his subtle movements.
Kneeling beside him and examining the fallen villagers was a woman dressed in flowing ceremonial robes, ornate and layered like those of a high-class priestess from another world.
Her long, deep-brown hair cascaded down to her waist, and her presence radiated calm authority.
ALTHEA ADAM — GOLD 2
Her badge glinted in the sunlight as she moved from one villager to another, her hands glowing faintly as she examined each person.
"Their souls have been trapped within their bodies," Althea said quietly. "Soul control shouldn't be possible. It's not something that actually exists."
She carefully examined another unconscious villager.
"But this seems to be the only explanation here. Their thoughts, emotions, will to live or fight, perception, experience... all of it has been bottled up, as if they're no longer properly connected to their bodies."
She frowned.
"It's difficult to reach them. I think we should send a message to the guild. I'm afraid this is beyond me, Captain."
The shaking intensified.
Small stones bounced with each tremor, sending tiny clouds of dust spiraling into the morning air.
Despite the chaos, both Kaelen and Althea remained composed, their eyes scanning the horizon as though waiting for something.
---
Not far from the village, inside a jagged cave entrance, a golden light flickered and moved, erratic yet purposeful.
Its source was impossible to track, darting along uneven walls and disappearing into the shadows.
Along the path, the remains of dead weavers littered the ground. Their green blood streaked the stone, creating a vivid contrast against the earthy tones of the cave.
A young lady stepped cautiously toward the cave.
ANGEL JOB — SILVER 3
Her badge glinted faintly.
Her chestnut hair caught the pale light spilling from the entrance, each strand shimmering like molten bronze.
Her amber eyes were sharp, scanning every shadow and every trace of Dio energy left behind by the weavers.
She moved carefully.
The cave was dark, almost suffocating, save for the faint light seeping through the small opening at its mouth.
Shadows stretched across the jagged stone floor, twisted by the uneven terrain.
The air was thick with the metallic stench of Weaver blood, staining the ground in vivid green streaks. The lifeless bodies of the creatures lay scattered throughout the cavern like broken dolls.
Angel's hair fell over her shoulders as she carefully stepped over the corpses, her boots crunching softly against the stone.
Her voice echoed faintly against the cavern walls.
"Fenra, are you okay? You've been going at it for hours... Do you need any help?" she called.
The tremor in her voice betrayed her concern.
From deeper within the shadows came no reply.
Only the soft, irregular thuds and shuffles of Fenra's movements echoed through the cavern, relentless and unbroken.
She seemed completely consumed by her fight, barely acknowledging the world outside her focus.
Outside the cave, perched on a sturdy branch overlooking the entrance, a man observed silently.
ALARIC BASIL — GOLD 2
His badge glimmered faintly in the morning light filtering through the forest canopy.
"Stop wasting your time, Angel," he said, calm but firm, his amber eyes fixed on the cave. "She's not listening right now. She's enjoying herself."
He leaned against the tree.
"You know she could go like this all month without tiring. She's not just from any clan. She's a Lunar Clan... and not just that. She's Gold 3."
His expression remained calm.
"Fighting is her strength. Her pleasure. Just let her be."
Inside the cave, Fenra's golden eyes moved across the walls as she pressed onward, her movements becoming nothing more than a blur.
Angel's fists clenched, but she didn't move closer.
There was no need.
Fenra's intensity alone was enough to wipe them all out.
---
VALERIAN: THE GUILD
The door opened, and Selene Frosttail stepped inside, her white fox tail swaying lightly behind her.
In her hands, a stack of reports and data sheets rattled gently.
"The Ironcrest Party, the Moonveil Party, and the Dex Party have contacted the guild," she began, her voice steady but carrying the weight of the news.
"According to their information, a total of 14,000 people have been found in severe medical condition. They call it Soul Control."
She placed the reports on the desk.
"Each victim is trapped within their own body."
She turned to the next page.
"According to the report from Moonveil, they came into contact with someone capable of separating their very souls. That person is believed to be the mastermind behind everything."
Selene's expression darkened.
"Not only did they manipulate the villages, but even the weavers themselves fell under their subtle control."
She paused.
"A fragment of the soul was captured, while the remainder escaped just in time."
The guildmaster leaned forward, his hands gripping the edge of the desk as Selene continued.
"Three thousand people are missing. Four thousand have been retrieved from one of the caves."
Selene flipped through her notes.
"Ironcrest discovered a cave deep within the forest in Vylonia. The weavers were moving people from Orienta and Azura to Vylonia."
She turned another page.
"Similar caves were found in both Orienta and Azura. Each contained a smaller inner cave, and inside those caves was a massive teleportation circle."
Her gaze dropped slightly.
"All the circles in Orienta and Azura were empty. We believe they all lead back to Vylonia."
She hesitated.
"But in Vylonia, another cave was located. Inside this cave were humans and demi-humans covered in thick webs, hanging upside down with the webs covering every part of their bodies."
"There was another teleportation circle inside this cave as well."
Selene took a breath.
"A total of 4,000 people were rescued. They were covered in thick webs, but they were also unconscious."
She lowered the report slightly.
"We've given this medical condition a name."
The guildmaster looked at her.
"Soulrot."
Silence filled the room.
Selene continued, her tone tightening with seriousness.
"They also sent some Diochrome Gems to the guild for analysis. These gems were discovered within the teleportation circles across the villages."
"We've forwarded them to the researchers for detailed study."
A pause followed.
Selene glanced down at her report.
"The researchers... they've completed their tests, and..."
She faltered for a heartbeat, as if the words themselves carried a weight too heavy to release.
The guildmaster slammed his fist against the table.
"Selene, tell me! What is it?!"
Selene took a deep breath.
Her voice shook slightly.
"The Diochrome Gems... are humans and demi-humans."
The guildmaster's expression changed.
"They've been crystallized."
She tightened her grip on the papers.
"Their bodies. Their DNA. Everything has been condensed into Diochrome Gems."
She swallowed.
"That is the only logical explanation. The results from the laboratory confirm it."
The guildmaster slowly sat back, stunned into silence.
"Abduction... trafficking... right under our noses."
He collected the report from Selene.
As he read it himself, the papers slipped slightly from his grip.
The room felt impossibly heavy, the gravity of the discovery pressing down on everyone.
For a long moment, no one spoke.
Then the guildmaster whispered, almost to himself,
"Crystallized... turned into gems."
His eyes remained fixed on the report.
"Three thousand missing... and fourteen thousand suffering from Soulrot."
Selene nodded silently, her eyes fixed on the reports.
"There is no denying it," the guildmaster said. "The scale of this operation... it's beyond anything we have ever encountered."
---
DARIA: AKATSUKI HOUSEHOLD
A towering guard dressed entirely in black stood watch at the iron gates of the Akatsuki estate.
As the visitor approached, he pushed the heavy gates open just enough to step forward, his imposing frame blocking the path beyond.
"State your business," he said, his voice firm and measured. "Who are you here to see? Do you have an appointment with Mrs. Akatsuki?"
The woman before him did not hesitate.
"Tell her," she replied calmly, "that Lady Marcelline Veyra is here on business."