Elaine and Ian were vaulting along the splintered horizon as tops crumbled behind them. Every step was like running on borrowed time—like the world was about to disappear from beneath their feet at any moment.
⚠ TIME UNTIL NIGHTFALL: 01:14:27
Survive.
Elaine continued to scan the horizon. Those were not human eyes – dark senses peering into places light dared not go.
Shadows whispered warnings.
Monsters smelled on streets that were once comfortable; " Monsters scattered on streets that were once comfortable.
And hunters flew on metal wings above.
Ian took hold of her wrist.
"Elai… what if the guild isn't real anymore?"
"It will be," she lied.
Because if the place she'd spent years conquering, leading, and dying in was gone…
Then all her plans, too.
The building trembled with an earthquake. Using a flaming shockwave to kill the Hellbrand knight that landed behind them and demolishing the half of the roof.
BOSS: Tracking Protocol FUNCTIONING
Elaine didn't look back—she pushed Ian forward.
"Jump!" she yelled.
He paused——dread sidling up his spine.
Elaine's voice is like a razor.
"Ian. I'm right behind you."
He jumped.
She twirled just long enough to collide with the knight a second time:
CLANG—!!!
Sparks erupted.
Shadows screamed. The knight seized her wing — a half-length a moment of the divine darkness that had once embraced her. "You may not run from the King," it hissed. Elaine smirked despite the pain. "Watch me." She cut off her own wing— SHHK! The knight staggered as the detached shadows detonated in a flash of ravenous light. She threw herself off the rooftop— Falling. Racing. Praying. Arms wrapped around her waist mid-drop— Ian. He had jumped back for her.
They crashed into a lower roof, rolling hard. Elaine gritted her teeth, forcing herself up.
Ian panted, tears drying on his cheeks. "I told you I'm not leaving you."
She brushed a hand over his hair—quick, protective—then turned back toward the colossal structure now visible up close:
A towering fortress floating over the ruins—spikes of onyx steel, windows blazing with digital fire.
Her old territory.
The system pinged:
🏴 ENTERING GUILD ZONE: SHADOW FORTRESS Access Rights: Former Guild Leader — Night Reaper Status: Unknown Hostiles Inside
Elaine's throat tightened.
If her former guildmates survived the merge…they might welcome her.
But if not…
Then the deadliest players she once commanded would now be monsters wearing their faces.
She tightened her grip on Ian's hand.
"End of the line," she whispered.
Behind them—the knight roared, tearing apart the sky in search.
Ahead—darkness beckoned with open arms.
Elaine stepped forward.
And the fortress doors slowly opened.
Welcoming its queen…
or its next victim.