⟟ Vault Seeker V ⟟
The ground trembled as the Ruinborn landed in front of the shelter entrance, its wings unfurling with a deafening rustle. The air seemed to vibrate with its unnatural presence, and the streetlights above flickered erratically as if the very light itself feared the beast. Its claws scraped against the pavement with a grating sound, leaving deep furrows as it slowly turned its head, its eyes locking onto Rowan.
He stood frozen for just a moment, then exhaled sharply, stepping forward.
"Dammit," he muttered under his breath, the beast had the entrance blocked. The civilians were all clustered behind him, eyes wide with terror. Behind them, the shelter doors were the only means of survival, but that gap was closing quickly.
Plan. Think. Move. Act.
Rowan shifted his weight and called over his shoulder to Alina, his tone steady despite the situation. "Alina, we're going to need to draw it away from the entrance. Keep the civilians moving."
Alina's eyes met his, wide and understanding, but she gave a sharp nod. She was ready.
With a deep breath, Rowan stepped out further into the open, positioning himself between the Ruinborn and the civilians. The creature's massive form shifted slightly, its tail flicking, eyeing him with an almost predatory intent. Rowan could feel the tension rising, but he didn't flinch. He couldn't.
"I'll take care of the distraction," Rowan continued, not taking his eyes off the creature. "I need you to guide them to the side entrances—quickly and quietly. Don't let anyone panic."
Alina was already moving, her hands raising to channel her Air Blast. "Got it."
The Ruinborn's eyes flicked over to Alina briefly, then back to Rowan. He had its attention—just as he planned. Rowan let out a slow breath, giving a slight smirk despite the situation. He needed it to focus entirely on him.
Rowan turned slightly to face Alina once more. "When I give the signal, use the air blast on the streetlight. It's got a nice spark to it. The flash should get its attention."
"You want me to blind it?" Alina asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Exactly. We need to stall it long enough to get everyone inside. Once we've got the civilians safe, I'll lead it away. You just make sure no one gets caught in the crossfire." Rowan grinned, though his mind was already calculating the next move.
"Understood. I'll keep an eye on them," Alina replied, her gaze sharp as she moved toward the back of the group, ready to execute the plan.
Rowan turned back to the Ruinborn, his body tense. The creature let out a low growl, stepping forward. Rowan held his ground. His movements were slow and deliberate, calculated to keep the Ruinborn's focus. He stepped further into its line of sight, making sure it knew where he was at all times.
Without warning, he kicked over a metal crate sitting near the side of the road. The sudden noise startled the Ruinborn as the crate clattered across the pavement, its rusted edges scraping against the stone. The Ruinborn's head snapped toward the noise, its eyes narrowing in confusion. For a split second, it focused entirely on the crate, claws swiping at it in a vicious, uncoordinated attack.
Perfect.
Rowan took a step backward, carefully controlling his movements so the beast wouldn't get too close. He kept his eyes on the Ruinborn's every twitch and gesture.
Meanwhile, Alina worked quickly, shouting over her shoulder to the civilians. "Side entrances! Move—move! Go now!"
Her voice was a beacon of order amidst the chaos, and the people responded, quickly following her directions to the nearest side entrances of the shelter. Alina continued to direct the civilians with practiced precision.
The distraction worked.
With the Ruinborn still swatting at the crate, Rowan felt a small surge of hope. The streetlight across the road was in his line of sight, and Rowan nodded at Alina, signaling her to move in.
"Now, Alina!"
Alina's hand snapped up, and with a sharp motion, she focused her Aether into a powerful air blast. A gust of wind swirled, and the air crackled as she directed the blast at the streetlight. The light shattered instantly, and sparks flew in every direction.
The flash of light and the sudden explosion of sound momentarily disoriented the Ruinborn, but Rowan's heart skipped a beat when the shattered streetlight's pole fell, crashing down onto the Ruinborn's back. The metal pole collided with the creature with a sickening clang, and the beast staggered under the weight. The flash and the unexpected weight from the falling streetlight forced the Ruinborn to take a step back, further disorienting it.
Rowan wasted no time. He darted to the side, leading the creature away from the shelter entrance. His legs burned, but adrenaline kept him moving as he brought the Ruinborn's attention back to himself. The creature's massive wings flared, and it began to chase after him, but Rowan stayed just out of reach.
"Almost there," Rowan muttered, glancing over his shoulder to see the last few civilians disappearing into the shelter. The doors were just starting to close.
Alina was still managing the evacuation, guiding the last people through the side entrances, her eyes flicking between the shelter and Rowan. She kept an eye on the Ruinborn, ready to react if it shifted toward the civilians again.
Rowan continued to lead the Ruinborn further down the street, away from the shelter. His plan was working—but only just. They needed more time.
Alina raised her hand and unleashed another Air Blast, this time sending a strong gust at the creature's tail, making it lose its balance for a moment. The Ruinborn growled in frustration, trying to right itself, but Rowan pushed forward, increasing the distance between the beast and the shelter.
By the time Rowan reached an open area of the road, the shelter doors were fully closed, the civilians safe inside. He allowed himself a brief moment of relief before he shouted to Alina, "Get ready. Reinforcements are coming."
She gave him a quick nod. They couldn't defeat the Ruinborn—they just needed to stall until the high-ranking dungeon raiders arrived.
With his back still to the creature, Rowan allowed himself a small smirk. "Took you long enough," he muttered under his breath.
The reinforcement came in time. A small squadron of soldiers, clearly low-tier C ranks, quickly formed up into a loose battle line. As they positioned themselves, some of them fired projectiles—small fireballs that exploded upon impact, a beam of light that streaked through the air, crackling lightning that danced along the ground, and small water balls that splashed harmlessly across the pavement. Others moved in close, engaging the Ruinborn directly with weapons and spells.
The Ruinborn, snarling, swung its mighty tail, knocking a few of the soldiers back and scattering them like ragdolls. Its wings flared, the beast clearly enraged by the attack. But the soldiers, undeterred, kept firing and launching spells, each trying to find a weakness.
Rowan, still standing on the outskirts of the conflict, watched as the soldiers fought bravely but in vain. The Ruinborn was far too powerful for them to handle on their own.
Just as Rowan began to wonder if their distraction was enough, the air crackled with electricity. A brilliant thunderbolt shot across the Ruinborn's neck, a streak of raw power that lit up the dark sky. The creature's head jerked back, and with a deafening crash, its head fell to the ground, its lifeless body collapsing soon after.
Rowan's eyes widened as the source of the attack revealed itself. From the ground, a figure stepped out of the shadows, the remnants of the thunderbolt still crackling in the air. She was a woman, her blonde hair shining in the moonlight, and her katana gleamed with a pale, almost ethereal light. The blade was etched with strange markings, though the blue blood from the Ruinborns made it difficult for Rowan to fully see the details.
The woman's features were unmistakable, and Rowan froze as he realized who she was. She looked… identical to Alina.
As the woman strode toward the fallen Ruinborn, the figure's commanding presence was undeniable. But it was her face—her striking resemblance to Alina—that caught everyone off guard. There was a tense silence that stretched as Rowan glanced between Alina and the mysterious woman. Alina's expression was unreadable at first, but a flicker of horror and hatred flashed across her face. She stood in complete silence, her gaze fixed on the woman with the katana.
Above them, four figures appeared on the roof of a nearby building, having jumped down from their perch with supernatural agility. They landed without a sound.
The first man was dressed in full tactical gear, his face obscured by a full-face mask. His shirt matched the color of his assault vest, which was the same shade, and his pants were black, blending seamlessly with the rest of his outfit. A black equipment belt hung low on his hips, holding various tools. His weapon of choice was a modified L96 sniper rifle, the barrel extending long and sleek in his grip.
The second person was a woman, with an air of elegance despite the situation. She wore a white dress shirt tucked neatly into her trousers, a black swallowtail coat draped over her form. A red bow tie completed her ensemble, while a top hat rested casually at the back corner of her head. In her left hand, she spun a delicate magic wand, the motion fluid and effortless, as though she had done this a thousand times.
The third individual was a man dressed in desert-colored clothing, his brigandine armor and leggings a muted, light gray. The color gradient of his gear transitioned from light at the top to dark at the bottom, with the armor contouring his body like a second skin. The man wielded a deadly urumi, its whip-like blade coiling in the air as if it were alive.
The fourth figure was a man wrapped in a black hooded cloak, his face obscured by a bulletproof mask that had a faint resemblance to a skull. He carried an imposing scythe, its long, curved blade gleaming in the low light.
The woman with the katana walked past Alina without so much as a glance, her eyes hard as she coldly remarked, "As always, you're useless."
Rowan, overhearing the remark, felt a surge of anger for Alina. Without thinking, he took a step forward, his fist flying in a jab toward the woman. Her reflexes were sharp, and she dodged with ease, but Rowan's punch grazed her cheek, leaving a faint mark.
The woman was momentarily stunned, her expression flickering with surprise. It was a rare occasion for someone to land a hit on her, and yet Rowan had managed it. She quickly recovered, however, her face showing no sign of being particularly bothered by the attack. Instead, she regarded Rowan with an air of bored curiosity.
"Do you know who I am?" she asked, her voice dripping with arrogance.
Rowan smirked and replied with a chuckle, "No, not even one bit."
With a flash of annoyance, the woman unsheathed her katana, the blade shining coldly as she slashed it toward Rowan's neck. But just as the edge was inches from him, she stopped, the tip of the sword hovering dangerously near his skin. Rowan, however, stood completely unfazed, his calm demeanor remaining intact.
"Very well," the woman said coldly, lowering her blade with a resigned sigh. She turned her back to Rowan, and without another word, she began to walk away, followed by the others.
The four figures—her companions—followed suit, retreating with a sense of precision and purpose.
Rowan stood frozen, his eyes flickering between Alina and the departing group. He could feel the tension hanging in the air like a heavy fog. The woman's words and actions had clearly struck a nerve with Alina, and the silence between them was deafening.
Rowan couldn't help but wonder who these people were—and why they were so interested in Alina. But for now, all he could do was watch as the figures disappeared into the darkness.
Alina, still silent, didn't move. Rowan turned to her, his expression softening with understanding. Whatever had just happened, it was something Alina had to face on her own.
For now, Rowan would wait. But a sense of unease lingered in the air, and he couldn't shake the feeling that this encounter would not be the last.
The tension from the recent battle still lingered in the air, but Rowan's attention was momentarily diverted as three officers stepped forward. Two men and one woman, their uniforms crisp and professional, approached him and Alina with a purposeful stride.
"Both of you, dungeon raiders?" one of the men asked, his voice authoritative but not unfriendly.
Rowan looked over at Alina before answering. "I'm a dungeon raider. Alina's with me." His tone was firm, but something in his voice hinted at a deeper connection.
The officers exchanged glances, clearly taking note of Rowan's words. The woman among the officers reached for a small, rectangular device clipped to her belt.
"Identification," she said, her gaze now fixed on both Rowan and Alina. "We need to verify your status."
Rowan nodded and promptly reached into his coat, pulling out his identification card and handing it over. Alina, on the other hand, was silent for a long moment. Rowan could feel the tension radiating off her, but she ultimately complied, quietly handing over her card without meeting anyone's eyes.
The officers inspected the cards carefully, their eyes scanning the details with practiced ease. The woman officer held Alina's card a moment longer, but then nodded and returned it without a word. Once they finished, they handed the cards back to Rowan and Alina.
"You're cleared," the first man said, his voice less strict now that the verification was complete. "Head into the shelter. It's safer inside."
Rowan turned toward the shelter, but before he could take another step, Alina suddenly broke into a sprint, her figure disappearing into the shadows of the nearby alleyway. The officers were taken aback, momentarily stunned by her sudden movement.
"Hey!" one of the officers shouted, but it was too late. Alina was already gone.
Rowan's instincts kicked in immediately, and without hesitation, he sprinted after her, weaving through the scattered people and alleyways. He could hear the officers' protests behind him, but they remained rooted to their position, unable to chase due to their own protocols. One of the officers quickly reached for their communication device, signaling for backup from the soldiers.
Rowan caught up with Alina just as she stopped in the middle of a dark alley. She was standing motionless, her shoulders trembling as if the weight of everything was finally crashing down on her. The glow of distant streetlights barely touched the alley's shadows, adding to the eerie quiet.
"Alina," Rowan said gently, stopping a few paces behind her. "Something is bothering you."
Alina's breath hitched, and for a long moment, she didn't speak. When she finally turned around, her face was pale, and her eyes were filled with unshed tears.
"You remember the woman," she said quietly, her voice strained. Rowan didn't need to ask who she meant. He knew instantly. The woman with the katana, the one who looked just like her.
Rowan remained silent, letting Alina continue at her own pace.
"She's my sister," Alina whispered, tears slipping down her cheeks. "The woman who killed the Ruinborn… she's my sister."
Rowan's heart clenched. He wanted to say something, anything, to ease her pain, but the words failed him. All he could do was watch her, his own emotions a tangled mess inside. This was a revelation he hadn't anticipated—not in a million years.
Alina collapsed to her knees, her body trembling as she fought to control her sobs. Rowan crouched beside her, unsure of what to do or say, but knowing that whatever it was, he needed to stay by her side.
And there, in the silence of the alley, Rowan stayed with her, as the distant sounds of soldiers rushing to secure the area faded into the background.