Rei’s footsteps echoed through the dimly lit underground passage, but his mind was miles away. The words of his squadmates played on a relentless loop, burrowing into his thoughts like splinters.

  Weak. Useless. Worthless.

  His jaw tightened. His fingers curled into fists, nails pressing into his palms. Why did it still sting? He had fought. He had trained. But the moment doubt crept in, their voices—his own voice—were there to remind him he wasn’t enough.

  The image of his squadmates, once a source of camaraderie, now felt warped, distant. Shattered, like a broken mirror.

  “Don’t waste your energy on that.”

  Raphael’s voice cut through the silence, steady and unwavering.

  Rei blinked, drawn out of his thoughts. He turned slightly, catching the sharp glint in Raphael’s eyes. The usual teasing lilt in his mentor’s voice was absent—replaced by something firmer. He wasn’t just offering advice. He was issuing a command.

  “There are bigger things ahead.” Raphael’s stride never faltered. “The raid mission. The training camp. If a few words shake you now, you won’t last long.”

  Rei exhaled slowly, unclenching his fists. The dull ache in his hands lingered.

  He wanted to believe him. He needed to believe him.

  I don’t have time to be weak.

  ---

  By the time they reached the surface, twilight had deepened into a dark indigo sky, streaked with the last remnants of sunfire. Fort Goliath’s landing zone thrummed with activity—floodlights cut through the gloom, illuminating personnel moving between docked dropships.

  Two squads—Aiden’s and Elijah’s—stood assembled near one of the aircraft, their silhouettes backlit by the glow of the engines. Tension hung in the air, crackling with quiet anticipation.

  Raphael strode forward, his voice carrying over the din. “Before we head out, I want you to meet the instructors overseeing your training.”

  A ripple of murmurs passed through the squads as five figures stepped into view.

  The first to step forward was Haruto Kageyama. He moved with a quiet, predatory grace, his sharp grey eyes scanning the recruits with unwavering focus. His sleeveless jacket revealed lean, honed muscles, and the twin short swords strapped across his back—hilts wrapped in dark leather—spoke volumes.

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  “You’ll learn to fight properly under me.” His voice was calm but edged with steel. “If you can’t handle a blade, you don’t belong here.”

  Next to him, Finn Cross exuded an effortless confidence. He stood with his hands tucked into the pockets of his dark grey leather jacket, his light blue eyes carrying the weight of experience.

  “Some of you think you’ve seen action.” His gaze flicked across the recruits, assessing. “I’m here to show you how little you actually know.” A smirk ghosted across his lips. “Try not to disappoint me.”

  Lena Arkwell was a stark contrast to the first two. She adjusted the strap of a small satchel resting at her side, warm brown eyes steady behind thin-rimmed glasses.

  “Not every fight is won by brute force,” she said, her voice soft yet firm. “You’ll need strategy, endurance, and adaptability. I’ll make sure you have all three.”

  Then came Kael Veyra, silver-haired and unreadable. His sleek navy-blue combat coat caught the light, a belt lined with small metallic shards resting at his waist. The air around him pulsed faintly with energy.

  “Long-range combat isn’t just about shooting from a distance.” His icy blue eyes lingered on each recruit. “It’s about control. Precision. I don’t tolerate wasted shots.”

  Finally—

  A hush fell over the squads as their eyes landed on Akane Kurogane.

  She stood with her arms crossed, amber eyes sharp, black-tipped fox ears twitching slightly atop her head. A bushy tail flicked once behind her, shifting with the night breeze.

  Elissa blinked. “Wait… are those—?”

  Akane’s ears flattened slightly as she shot her a glare. “Yes, they’re real.”

  Elissa hesitated. “But—”

  “Don’t.”

  She shut her mouth.

  Oliver adjusted his glasses. “She’s an outworlder”

  Elissa frowned. “A what?”

  “A term for people transported here through rifts,” Oliver explained, pushing his glasses up. “Akane is one of them.”

  Elissa’s eyes widened. “So that means she—”

  Akane exhaled sharply, rubbing her temple. “Yes, I came through a rift. No, I don’t know why it happened. No, I don’t appreciate being stared at like some rare animal.”

  Elissa looked like she had ten more questions but wisely kept them to herself.

  Raphael clapped his hands together. “Alright, enough chit-chat. Get on the dropship.”

  ---

  The low hum of the engines thrummed beneath their feet as the aircraft lifted off. Inside, the squads settled into their seats, some murmuring among themselves.

  Rei sat near the back, staring out the window. The city lights blurred as they ascended, but his thoughts were sharper than ever.

  Weak. Useless. Not worth it.

  He clenched his jaw. Shut up. Shut Up!

  Elissa tapped her chin. “So, what about the other squads?”

  Raphael raised a brow. “Other squads?”

  “You know—Alex, Victor, and Violet’s squads.”

  A low chuckle escaped him. “Alex’s squad?” He shook his head. “A bunch of prodigies who act like lone wolves. They work alone and don’t care much for teamwork.”

  Elissa made a face. “Sounds frustrating.”

  “Meanwhile,” Raphael continued, “Violet and Victor’s squad is the exact opposite. Their entire fighting style revolves around coordination and trust.”

  Elissa hummed, filing the information away.

  Then—

  Akane’s fox ears twitched.

  Her amber eyes flicked toward the window. Her expression darkened.

  She straightened. “A rift just opened. Not far from here.”

  The casual chatter in the dropship cut off.

  Raphael’s demeanor shifted instantly. “All of you, stand back,” he ordered. “The instructors will handle this.”

  The hatch hissed open, a blast of wind rushing into the cabin. Below, the rift crackled—a jagged tear in reality, pulsing with unstable energy. Shadows twisted within its depths.

  Haruto rolled his shoulders, gripping his twin swords. “Tch. Haven’t had a proper warm-up today.”

  Finn cracked his knuckles, grinning. “Try to leave some fun for the rest of us, yeah?”

  Kael’s metallic shards thrummed as he adjusted his coat. “Efficiency is key.”

  Lena sighed, already pulling gloves from her satchel. “Let’s get this over with.”

  Akane flicked her tail. “Stay out of our way.”

  Then—

  In a blur of movement, the instructors launched forward.

  Haruto’s form vanished into the night, blades glinting under the moonlight. Finn followed with effortless agility, dropping toward the battlefield below. Kael’s shards erupted in a flash of blue energy, his body vanishing in a controlled burst of speed. Lena moved with practiced efficiency, already reaching for the tools she needed.

  Akane leapt last.

  For a split second, her silhouette was framed against the storm of the rift—white hair flowing, golden eyes burning. Then she was gone.

  The wind howled in their absence.

  Rei gripped the edge of his seat, staring after them.

  The mission had begun.

  [End of Chapter]

  Akane Kurogane.

  Haruto Kageyama.

  Finn Cross

  Lena Arkwell