The ship eased into the docks of Eldross just as the sun dipped lower behind a veil of gray clouds.
The port was quieter than it should have been.
Once, Eldross had been a jewel among kingdoms—its harbor filled with merchant vessels, colorful sails fluttering in sea winds, dockworkers shouting, traders bargaining loudly over spices and silk. Now, the air felt restrained. Watched.
Grand stone arches still framed the harbor entrance, but black banners hung between them—stitched with jagged demonic sigils. The once-polished marble statues near the docks were chipped and defaced. A few had been toppled entirely.
Demon guards patrolled the piers.
Their armor was darker than iron, edged with red lines that pulsed faintly with mana. Their eyes scanned civilians not as protectors—but as predators.
People moved quickly.
Heads lowered.
Voices hushed.
Reider stepped off the ship first.
Boots touching the stone dock without sound.
The others followed behind him.
He stood still for a moment, surveying the city beyond the harbor.
The streets stretched upward toward Eldross' inner districts—a blend of elegant towers and worn-down housing. Architecture that spoke of history and pride… now dulled under occupation.
"We're here," Reider said calmly.
Leona stepped up beside him.
Her altered appearance hid her identity well—but not her reaction.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"…Eldross."
Her voice dropped.
"It's worse than I remember."
Vael crossed her arms, glancing at Reider.
"So," she asked, "what's the plan?"
Reider turned to face them all.
His composure shifted slightly—not colder, but sharper.
"We split into three groups," he said. "We gather intel, map the situation, and avoid drawing attention."
Vael raised an eyebrow.
"And if we do attract attention?"
Reider's eyes narrowed faintly.
"Then we disappear before they know who we are."
There was no bravado in the statement.
Just certainty.
He gestured toward Vael and Mei.
"You two go together."
Vael straightened slightly.
"You'll monitor the noble districts," Reider continued. "If any noble families are still resisting demon control, they'll either be hiding or pretending loyalty."
He met Vael's eyes.
"They'll have information."
Vael smirked faintly.
"Sounds easy enough."
Reider turned toward Leona and Zera.
"You two move through the trade districts. Markets. Supply routes. Storage warehouses."
Leona nodded immediately, fists tightening.
"Got it."
Zera rolled her shoulders.
"As long as we get to punch something later."
Eryndra leaned closer to Reider with a grin.
"And what about us?"
Reider exhaled lightly and rubbed his temple.
"You're coming with me."
Vael and Mei reacted instantly.
"…What?" they both said at once.
Reider remained calm.
"I need to keep her from causing trouble."
Eryndra placed a hand dramatically over her chest.
"Me? Trouble? How dare you!"
Vael stepped forward, glaring.
"You could've paired her with anyone else."
Mei crossed her arms, visibly pouting.
"But nooo. You had to take her with you."
Reider shrugged.
"If I don't, she'll turn the entire city upside down in an hour."
Eryndra grinned and slung an arm around his shoulders.
"He gets me."
Vael's glare deepened.
"You better behave."
Reider began walking toward the city entrance.
"We move out. Stay in contact. Don't engage unless necessary."
The groups began splitting off.
Vael muttered under her breath as she walked beside Mei.
"I should've gone with him."
Mei nodded sulkily.
"Right? It's unfair."
Zera watched them with a grin.
"They're jealous."
Leona glanced at her.
"Are you jealous?"
Zera scoffed and looked away.
"Me? No way."
The marketplace was crowded—but tense.
Merchants sold fruit, fabric, and tools with forced cheerfulness. Demon patrols moved in pairs through the streets, their presence never far.
Reider and Eryndra blended into the flow of civilians.
Eryndra stretched her arms behind her head casually.
"So, fearless leader," she said lightly, "where do we start?"
Reider didn't look at her.
"You make it sound like a game."
She shrugged.
"Life's more fun when you don't take it too seriously."
Reider's eyes moved constantly.
Counting patrol rotations.
Measuring response times.
Tracking blind spots.
"We need guard rotations," he said quietly. "Resistance group locations. Demon headquarters."
Eryndra leaned closer.
"Or… we could just break into their base and demand answers."
Reider looked at her blankly.
"And this is why you're with me."
She pouted.
"Tch. I was half joking."
They slowed near a fruit stall.
Reider's gaze sharpened.
Across the street, two demon soldiers stood beside a cloaked merchant.
The merchant kept his head low.
The demons spoke quietly—but not casually.
Reider tilted his head slightly.
"See that?"
Eryndra followed his gaze.
"What? Some shady merchant?"
Reider narrowed his eyes.
"Look at his shoes."
She squinted.
"…They're clean."
"Too clean," Reider said. "No road dust. No wear."
His gaze shifted.
"And his hands."
Eryndra leaned slightly for a better look.
"No calluses."
"He's not a trader," Reider said. "He's a messenger."
Eryndra smirked.
"Oh? You are smart."
Reider ignored her.
"He's delivering something important."
The cloaked man began walking away from the demons—heading toward a quieter part of the district.
"Let's follow him."
They moved subtly through the crowd, maintaining distance.
The merchant slipped into a narrow alley and approached what appeared to be a solid brick wall.
He knocked.
A hidden door creaked open.
He stepped inside.
Eryndra cracked her knuckles.
"So now we go in and beat everyone up, right?"
Reider sighed.
"…No."
He placed his hand lightly against the wall beside the hidden door and closed his eyes.
Mana shifted.
Faint.
Subtle.
But there.
"There's a barrier around it," he murmured. "Weak, but intentional."
Eryndra tilted her head.
"So?"
"They don't want random people entering."
She grinned.
"Okay, smart guy. What's the plan?"
Reider glanced at her.
"You distract the guards out front."
Her grin widened.
"I'll slip in from above."
"Oh," she said, cracking her neck. "This is gonna be fun."
Two demon guards stood at the mouth of the alley.
Their expressions were bored—but alert.
Eryndra walked toward them with a bright smile.
"Hey boys~"
The guards stiffened immediately, hands tightening on their weapons.
"State your business," one growled.
Eryndra placed a hand on her hip.
"Business? Can't a girl just say hello?"
Above them—
Reider moved.
Silent.
He leapt onto a nearby rooftop with barely a sound.
From above, he watched as Eryndra continued.
The demons stepped forward cautiously.
She tilted her head sweetly.
Then—
She tossed a small object at their feet.
It exploded into thick smoke.
"An attack!" one guard roared.
The alley erupted into chaos.
Within the smoke, Eryndra laughed lightly as she danced just out of reach, provoking them further.
Reider dropped silently behind the building.
A narrow window—slightly cracked.
He slipped inside.
The room was dimly lit.
Crates lined the walls. Papers scattered across a central table.
The cloaked merchant stood before another figure—taller, wrapped in darker robes.
Reider crouched behind stacked boxes.
Listening.
Watching.
Maps covered the table.
His eyes focused sharply.
Marked points across the city.
Red circles.
X symbols.
Arrows.
He shifted slightly closer, silent as a shadow.
Resistance hideouts.
Demon patrol routes.
Supply depots.
And at the center—
A heavily guarded fortress district.
Reider reached slowly, carefully lifting one of the papers.
His eyes scanned rapidly.
"This is exactly what we need," he thought.
Suddenly—
The cloaked figure stiffened.
His head snapped toward the window.
"…Someone's here."
Reider froze.
The merchant panicked immediately.
"Is it them? Have they found us?"
Outside—
Eryndra dodged a blade swipe, laughing as smoke continued to swirl around the confused guards.
"Hope you're moving fast, Reider~"
Inside—
The cloaked figure's presence shifted.
Mana thickened.
Searching.
Reider remained perfectly still.
Breathing slow.
Heart steady.
The room felt smaller now.
Tighter.
One wrong move—
And this quiet infiltration would turn into open battle.
The merchant's hands trembled.
The cloaked figure slowly extended a hand, dark mana coiling faintly around his fingers.
"Show yourself," he said coldly.
Reider's eyes narrowed slightly.
Calculating.
Timing.
Outside, steel clashed.
Eryndra laughed again.
The guards were fully distracted.
Inside—
The air grew heavier.
The hunt had begun.
And Reider—
Still crouched in shadow—
Prepared to move.