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The sky above Blackridge was grey. Not cloudy—just... stained. Like something had burned the blue out of it. The sun was rising slow, but its light didn’t reach here. Only a cold kind of gold that touched nothing.
The gate loomed ahead like a wound in the world.
Tall. Twisted. Its surface shimmered with warped reflections, like it was breathing slowly, waiting. A jagged black ring encased the portal, with glyphs carved deep into the earth around it—old, faded runes that pulsed with red-orange flickers. The wind around the area didn’t move right. It circled, like the air was confused. Wrong.
Class Zero stood at the edge of the gate’s boundary.
Everyone was fully geared.
Evelyn wore lightweight battle-armor—a combat weave modified with thin circuits across the ribs and gloves for spell-casting sync. Vyn was in full dark robes, cloak over her shoulders, black eyes steady as ever. Reia had her tactical blades slotted into her suit’s back rings. Silas wore a coat reinforced with plated cores, and his arms were already humming with energy nodes.
And then... there was Lucian.
He looked like someone heading out for a walk. Or maybe a nap. His hair wasn’t even combed properly.
Athena turned from the gate and looked at him.
"You planning to die pretty, or you gonna wear your gear?"
He tilted his head, smirked faintly.
"Doesn’t look like it."
He just shrugged. "Give it a second."
She exhaled and turned back toward the gate. "I swear to god, if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were trying to stress me into an early grave."
The rest of Class Zero stood just behind her. No one said a word. The wind carried the gate’s hum now, a low sound like something distant growling in its sleep.
Athena turned to face them all. Her eyes scanned each one carefully.
"You’re not cadets anymore," she said.
Her voice was clear. No softening. No lecture tone. Just real.
"I don’t care what rank the academy gave you, or how many drills you’ve passed. After today, you’ll either be Hunters... or names carved in stone."
Silas rubbed the back of his neck.
"You think that’s supposed to be encouraging?"
She didn’t smile. "No. It’s supposed to be real."
Her eyes moved to Reia.
"You’re the brain. When everyone else loses their mind, you’re the one that has to keep moving. Think. Adapt. You lead not by shouting—but by staying upright when others stumble. Don’t forget that."
Reia nodded once, silent.
Athena looked to Vyn next.
"You’re quiet. But you’re never blind. Watch their backs. That’s your job. No one in this group dies unless you say it’s okay. If anyone breaks formation, drag them back. I don’t care if they scream."
Vyn said nothing. Just locked eyes with her.
"Vyn," Athena said next, softer. "You scare me."
"Don’t lose yourself."
Athena nodded, then turned to Silas.
"You’ll want to crack jokes. You’ll want to play it light. But if you hesitate, even once—"
Silas looked serious now. "Yeah. I do."
Athena didn’t say anything for a second. Then she finally turned toward Lucian.
The wind moved again.
"You’re the outlier."
Lucian tilted his head. "Always."
"If they break... you don’t."
"If something tries to separate you—"
"If you feel like giving up—"
Lucian cut her off with a smile.
She stared at him for a second.
"...God, you’re annoying."
He grinned. "You love it."
The moment lingered. Heavy, but warm. Like something real passed between them. Like student and teacher didn’t quite cover it anymore. Like she was sending off something more than a soldier.
She turned back to the gate.
"Alright," she said. "You know what to do."
Everyone stepped forward.
The mist surrounding the gate rippled. A strange kind of static buzzed through the air now. The portal’s surface had changed—darker, faster. Like it could feel them.
Lucian took one step forward.
And then, without a word, the change began.
It was subtle at first. The edge of his sleeve shimmered. The fabric rippled, darkened—then unfolded outward like liquid shadow. The black shirt melted into a sleek, seamless suit. A high-tech bodysuit formed from his collar down, molded to his frame like a second skin. Thin crimson lines pulsed faintly along his sides and forearms.
Then the trench coat.
Flowing down his back like ink, split at the sides, silent as mist.
His boots reshaped. His hands were now gloved, fingertips sharp with retractable claws.
The transformation finished in under five seconds.
And when he looked up again—
Everyone was staring.
"...What the hell," Silas muttered.
"Is that even legal?" Evelyn whispered.
Reia stepped half a step back, not in fear—just instinct.
Athena turned slowly, eyes narrowing.
"...You’re really doing this."
Lucian smiled faintly. "It was just on cooldown."
A sound rang out—like a heartbeat across metal. The portal opened wider.
They stepped through together.
First Evelyn. Then Reia. Then Silas and Vyn.
As he walked through the gate, the air around the ring screamed.
The black shimmer turned crimson.
The glyphs pulsed blood-red.
The entire frame of the gate shook violently—ground splitting at the seams as the hum turned into a roar.
Behind them, Athena’s eyes widened.
She took a step forward.
The gate color shifted fully—no longer black.
"...Oh shit," Athena whispered.
And the world stopped breathing.
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