The central plaza was packed.
Hunters. Civilians. Students. News drones hovering overhead.
Banners hung from the towers.
A symbol burned bright across every screen:
Eclipse Vanguard.
The most famous guild in the city.
Not the only SSS-ranked guild.
But the most respected.
The one that had protected the city for decades.
And once—
Led by the strongest hunter in its history.
A ripple passed through the crowd.
"They're here!"
A convoy of armored transports rolled into the plaza.
The doors opened.
One by one, elite hunters stepped out.
SS ranks.
SSS ranks.
Their presence alone made the air heavy.
Even trained hunters instinctively straightened their posture.
Narukaze stood with his group near the outer ring of the crowd.
Riku stared in awe.
"That's SSS rank… you can feel it."
Hakari's eyes narrowed slightly, studying them.
Narukaze just felt pressure.
Like standing near something massive.
Something unreachable.
Then the Acting Leader stepped forward.
Calm.
Controlled.
Level undisclosed.
But clearly monstrous.
"The Eclipse Vanguard has returned under directive of the Higher Ranks," he announced. "The recent breaches will not repeat."
The crowd erupted in cheers.
Civilians cried.
Children waved flags.
Safety had a face.
And that face wore the guild crest.
A voice from the crowd shouted:
"What about the former leader?!"
The plaza quieted slightly.
This question wasn't new.
It was old.
Fourteen years old.
The Acting Leader didn't hesitate.
"He attempted to assassinate a Higher Rank. He was banished from the city. The Vanguard does not protect traitors."
Murmurs spread.
Some shook their heads.
Some whispered.
Most had already accepted it long ago.
History had settled.
Narukaze blinked.
Something about that statement tugged at him.
But he didn't know why.
He had grown up in an orphanage.
He didn't know the name.
Didn't know the face.
Didn't know the connection.
To him, it was just a story from before he could remember.
Suddenly—
Emergency sirens blared.
A large monster burst through a partially repaired sector near the plaza.
Panic.
Civilians screamed.
Before any High-Rank moved—
One SSS guild member stepped forward.
Aura exploded outward.
Students nearby staggered from the pressure.
The monster charged.
It didn't get far.
One strike.
Clean.
Effortless.
The creature split apart mid-motion.
Silence.
Then applause.
Relief.
Admiration.
This was power.
Real power.
Not school missions.
Not Level 20 growth.
This was something else.
Narukaze stared at the remains of the monster.
His system flickered quietly.
Level 1.
Later that evening.
In a private chamber.
The Eclipse Vanguard stood before the Higher Ranks.
Formal.
Disciplined.
Loyal.
"The city will stabilize quickly," the Acting Leader said.
A Higher Rank nodded.
"We trust the Vanguard completely."
No mention of the past.
No mention of the truth.
No mention of the God Sister watching from above.
Only silence.
And lies buried fourteen years deep.
Final shot:
Narukaze standing beneath a massive banner of the Eclipse Vanguard.
Wind moving the fabric.
Unaware.
The man they call a traitor.
The strongest leader the guild ever had.
The one who vanished fourteen years ago.
Was his brother.