Two days after the Titan attack, the city was finally returning to some semblance of normalcy. Yet, the atmosphere in Guild City remained tense; everyone was aware that the attack had been no random occurrence. Somewhere, someone was orchestrating these events, and the presence of dark magic cast an ominous shadow over the city’s safety.

In the guild’s alchemy lab, Seikan stood before a massive, crystalline shard of the Titan’s core. Its dull crimson glow was unsettling, reminiscent of something alive, and Seikan’s frown deepened as he recognized a strange familiarity in the core’s structure. The guild had summoned him to aid in analyzing the core, and though he kept his expression stoic, a gnawing feeling in his gut told him this was connected to his past.

Elyra was nearby, helping arrange the smaller shards around the table for study. She watched Seikan with quiet curiosity, her nerves evident as she hovered nearby. “Seikan… if it’s alright to ask, does this… feel familiar to you? The guild officers mentioned your experience with blood magic, and you’ve been staring at it like you know something.”

Seikan sighed, keeping his voice cool but acknowledging her question. “Yes, unfortunately. This core has remnants of a particular spell structure—a type of blood crystal magic. It’s something I encountered before… when I was taken by the League of Shadows.”

Elyra’s eyes widened, her face filled with worry and a hint of pity. “I didn’t know… I mean, I knew about the League, but I didn’t realize they—”

“Don’t pity me,” Seikan interjected sharply, his gaze cutting to hers. But he softened when he saw her expression. “The League’s experiments… they weren’t just meant to control magic. They were trying to weaponize blood itself. I’ve dealt with these blood crystals before, but to see them forming a Titan core…” He trailed off, lost in thought.

Meanwhile, in a training room elsewhere in the guild hall, Kalsei was practicing with his reality-shifting abilities. The impact of the Titan attack had left him feeling the need to be stronger, to protect his friends better. Until now, he’d primarily used his reality manipulation to enhance himself in battle, making himself faster or his strikes more accurate. But today, he was experimenting with altering objects around him, trying to extend his influence.

Steph was sitting cross-legged on a bench nearby, absently tossing a ball of healing energy between her hands, watching Kalsei with a raised eyebrow. “You know, Kal, if you break the training room, the Guild Mother will make us clean it up. Again.”

Kalsei grinned at her, waving his hand as he caused a training dummy to shift and bend as if made of liquid. “Hey, I’m just keeping things… flexible. Besides, you could use a little more excitement. Don’t tell me you’re bored?”

Steph shrugged, hiding a smirk. “Bored? Just wondering if this ‘alter the fabric of reality’ thing has any practical use. You’d better not miss when it counts.”

Kalsei laughed, rolling his eyes. “I’ll keep my aim steady, don’t worry. And besides, with you practicing those shield heals, we’ll be unstoppable. We’ll be like… the guild’s ultimate dynamic duo!”

She threw him a skeptical look, but the corner of her mouth twitched upward. “Dynamic duo, huh? Sure. But only if you stop showing off and start hitting those dummies for real.”

As the day wore on, the team reconvened in the guild hall, where Darius and Elyra waited. Darius had been training diligently, refining his sword techniques with an almost single-minded focus. He greeted them with his usual confident grin, though there was a serious edge to his demeanor.

“Kalsei, you’ve been experimenting with your powers, I hear,” Darius said, a note of pride in his voice. “Good. We’re going to need everything we can muster if the League is really behind these attacks. This is more than just defending a city—it’s about making sure no one else gets hurt.”

Kalsei gave a playful salute. “Aye, aye, captain. Just let me know when it’s time to unleash the magic.”

The Guild Mother approached their table, her gaze serious. “Thank you all for gathering. After extensive testing, we’ve confirmed that the Titan core did, indeed, contain blood crystals linked to Seikan’s blood.”

Seikan stiffened slightly, his expression unreadable.

“It appears the League has been experimenting with the samples they obtained during your… captivity,” the Guild Mother continued. “They’ve somehow managed to use your blood’s magical properties to control these Titans and possibly create more.”

Elyra’s eyes widened in horror. “They’re using Seikan’s blood to make weapons?”

Seikan’s jaw clenched. “That’s their way—to take power and use it however they see fit, no matter who it hurts. But we’ll put a stop to it. They won’t get away with this.”

The Guild Mother nodded. “Seikan, if you’re willing, we’d like you to assist in the lab to find a way to track the blood crystals’ unique signature. We’re hoping it might lead us to whoever’s behind this.”

Kalsei, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, finally spoke up, his voice serious. “Seikan, you can count on us for backup. We’ve got your back, no matter where this leads.”

Steph placed a hand on Seikan’s shoulder, giving him a nod. “And if they try to come after you again, they’ll have to get through all of us.”

Darius pounded a fist into his palm. “Let’s show them they messed with the wrong guild.”

A system message popped up in each of their fields of vision, signaling their earned experience and available skill points.

System Alert: Skill Points Available!

Kalsei's new skills acquired:

Reality Flux: Manipulate the density of nearby objects temporarily, allowing him to make them heavier or lighter at will. This skill lets Kalsei create obstacles, alter weapon weight mid-battle, or even slow down enemies by increasing their weight.

Echo Shift: A short-range teleport that leaves an unstable trace of energy behind, which detonates in a flash of disorienting light and sound. This makes it difficult for enemies to predict his movements, allowing Kalsei to stay one step ahead in combat.

Seikan's new skills acquired:

Blood Seeker Rune: Engrave a complex rune that allows Seikan to track any entity containing his blood. It can penetrate magical wards and barriers, giving him an advantage in locating targets over long distances.

Runic Erasure: Channel dark energy into Seikan’s runes, dissolving or deactivating nearby magical barriers, illusions, or animated constructs. This advanced technique demands high mana and focus but is effective against magical defenses.

Steph's new skills acquired: Sanctuary Shield: Summons a radiant barrier that heals allies within its radius while gradually restoring their stamina. The shield also absorbs limited damage, making it an ideal defense in long-lasting encounters. Darius' new skills acquired: Tempest Strike: Imbues his blade with elemental energy—fire, ice, or lightning—releasing it in a powerful sweep. The energy clings to enemies, inflicting prolonged elemental damage and creating small environmental effects, like lingering flames or frost patches. Elyra's new skills acquired: Aqua Prism: Forms a shifting lattice of water that deflects incoming projectiles, slowing them and altering their path. With concentration, Elyra can solidify the lattice into sharp, crystalline spikes, using her opponents’ own attacks to counter.

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Kalsei’s eyes sparkled with excitement as he read through his new skills, grinning widely. “Reality Flux? Looks like I’m getting all kinds of tricks to mess with these League guys.”

Seikan’s smirk was dark and satisfied. “Blood Seeker Rune. Fitting. Now they’ll have nowhere to hide.”

Darius gave an approving nod, his hand on his sword. “This just might be the edge we need. We’ll make sure they think twice before messing with Guild City again.”

Elyra glanced around, her voice steady but her gaze serious. “If we’re really up against the League, we have to be ready for anything. They won’t hold back.”

The team exchanged glances, each member sizing up their new abilities and preparing for the next step. The tension in the room was thick; they knew what was at stake. This wasn’t just a routine mission—this was a direct threat to everything they’d worked for, and no one was interested in letting the League get the upper hand.

The Guild Mother watched them discussing their new-found skills before speaking again, her expression grave. "We've confirmed that the League of Shadows is behind the Titan attack. They’ve gone to ground since the incident, but we have leads on possible hideouts around the city’s outskirts. Your assignment is to flush them out and neutralize any further threat."

Darius nodded, ready for action. "Understood. If they're hiding, we'll make sure they don’t stay hidden for long."

Seikan’s gaze was steely. “Let’s get this over with. I don’t intend to let the League keep any advantage.”

Kalsei cracked his knuckles, a smirk creeping across his face. “Time to make some noise then.”

They suited up and headed out, navigating through the busy streets toward the city’s edge, where abandoned warehouses and empty structures made the perfect cover for anyone looking to avoid detection. Their path was clear; they would systematically hit each suspected location, driving out or eliminating any League members they encountered.

They reached the first hideout, an old storage facility. Darius motioned for silence as they approached, scanning the area. Steph readied her staff, and Kalsei took point, his Reality Flux at the ready.

Seikan’s voice was low. “If they’re here, they won’t be expecting all of us. Let’s use that to our advantage.”

Kalsei grinned, activating Echo Shift to move in closer. His form shimmered briefly, leaving a faint trace of energy behind him that exploded in a flash, momentarily blinding the guards stationed at the door. Seikan followed up with Blood Seeker Rune, sensing the unmistakable presence of his own blood magic being used inside the facility.

“They’re here. Let’s move,” he said coldly.

With swift precision, they stormed the facility. Darius took point, unleashing his Tempest Strike on a group of stunned guards, flames crackling as his blade cleaved through their defenses. Elyra moved alongside him, forming Aqua Prisms that slowed down projectiles from hidden archers, while Steph’s Sanctuary Shield gave them cover as they advanced.

In the midst of the chaos, Kalsei warped objects in the guards’ hands, making weapons suddenly too heavy to wield or barriers too flimsy to block his attacks. The team moved with brutal efficiency, taking down the League’s agents with calculated strikes and minimal hesitation.

As the last guard fell, Seikan stepped forward, searching the room for signs of additional blood crystals. His rune glowed as he traced it through the air, the lines shifting and pulsing as it locked onto a hidden compartment beneath the floor.

“Here,” he said, voice clipped. He knelt and traced a second rune to open the hidden cache, revealing several blood crystals pulsating with dark energy.

Darius eyed the crystals with disgust. “They’re using your blood to create these… monstrosities?”

Seikan’s gaze was icy. “Yes. But not for much longer.”

They took the crystals, knowing the guild’s scholars would need them for analysis. With the first hideout cleared, the team regrouped, ready to move on to the next. If the League of Shadows thought they could control the city, they were about to learn the hard way how wrong they were.

With the first hideout dismantled, the team made their way to the second location, an abandoned warehouse on the far edge of the city. The atmosphere was tense but resolute; they had no illusions about the danger waiting for them. This was a full-scale assault, one they were prepared to finish.

Seikan held the blood crystals they'd confiscated, studying them as they walked. The faint red glow of the crystals pulsed rhythmically, as if responding to his proximity. His jaw clenched, his thoughts veiled behind his usual cold stare.

As they neared the warehouse, Darius raised a hand, signaling them to pause. "Alright, same approach. We go in fast, take down anyone who resists, and search for more blood crystals. The League knows we’re onto them by now, so expect a fight."

Kalsei grinned, flexing his fingers as he activated Reality Flux, testing its effects on a nearby piece of stone, which became as light as air in his hand. “Hope they put up more of a fight this time. The last batch barely knew what hit 'em.”

Seikan cast Blood Seeker Rune into the air, his dark energy radiating out in pulses. The rune glowed as it locked onto several blood signatures scattered around the warehouse. “I’ve got a fix on at least four of them inside. They’ll know we’re here soon enough, so let’s not waste any time.”

Elyra summoned Aqua Prism, forming a defensive lattice around them as they approached the doors. "Ready when you are. Let’s give them something to regret."

With a nod from Darius, they moved in. Kalsei surged forward with Echo Shift, blinking through the shadows and detonating an explosive trace behind him. The flash disoriented the guards stationed just inside, giving Steph and Elyra an opening to strike.

Steph raised her staff, casting Sanctuary Shield around their group, healing any minor scrapes and absorbing incoming fire from crossbows aimed in their direction. Elyra twisted her hands, condensing water from the air into sharp spikes that shot toward the hidden archers, pinning them to the walls.

Darius charged in with Tempest Strike, his sword radiating lightning that crackled as it struck down one of the League members in a single blow. The energy rippled outward, disabling nearby traps that had been set around the entrance.

Meanwhile, Seikan walked calmly toward the center of the warehouse, his expression unreadable as he traced his hands over another rune in the air. “Runic Erasure,” he murmured, and the rune pulsed, sending out waves of dark energy that began dissolving magical barriers hiding the rest of the League members. Within seconds, cloaked figures became visible as their illusions shattered.

Kalsei, catching sight of one of the exposed League agents, grinned and activated Reality Flux, making the floor beneath the agent as unstable as sand. The man staggered, trying to regain his footing as Kalsei lunged forward, delivering a blow that sent him sprawling.

More League agents poured into the room, but Steph was ready. She summoned Sanctuary Shield again, layering it over her allies and giving them a brief respite from the fray. The glow of her shield also had a demoralizing effect on the League members, who faltered as they realized they were outmatched.

Darius and Elyra held the line, working in tandem as he cleaved through the ranks with elemental-infused strikes, while she used Aqua Prism to deflect incoming attacks, even reflecting them back toward their attackers. The once-formidable defenses of the League began to crumble.

Seikan strode toward a tall figure at the far end of the room, who wore a mask and cloak embroidered with runes—clearly one of the League’s leaders. The figure held another crystal, this one much larger and crackling with malevolent energy.

“Come to reclaim what’s yours?” the masked figure sneered, holding up the crystal. “You’ll never stop the League. This is just the beginning.”

Seikan’s eyes narrowed, his voice cold. “You’re deluded if you think you’ll make it out of here alive.”

The leader laughed, raising the crystal, which began to glow brighter. “You have no idea the power we possess now. Your blood is just the start.”

In one swift motion, Seikan activated Blood Seeker Rune, and the crystal in the leader’s hand flared, reacting to the rune’s energy. The masked leader staggered, clearly not expecting Seikan’s control over his own blood to extend to the corrupted crystal.

Kalsei saw the opening and activated Echo Shift, appearing directly behind the leader and striking at his legs, forcing him to one knee. “What’s wrong? Losing your footing?” Kalsei taunted.

With a snarl, the leader attempted to raise the crystal again, but Seikan moved faster, casting Runic Erasure. The rune dissolved the crystal’s protective wards, leaving it vulnerable.

Darius charged forward, his sword crackling with Tempest Strike as he slashed through the crystal, shattering it in the leader’s hand. The shards fell to the floor, their glow fading as the leader screamed in rage and pain.

Elyra and Steph maintained their guard, watching the room for any reinforcements, but it became clear that the League’s defenses were crumbling. The remaining members who hadn’t already fallen tried to flee, but Kalsei and Darius intercepted them, quickly bringing them down.

The warehouse fell silent, the only sounds the clinking of broken crystal shards and the heavy breathing of the team. Seikan approached the masked leader, who was slumped against a pillar, bleeding and disoriented.

“You took my blood,” Seikan said, his voice low and devoid of emotion. “Now tell me who’s behind this.”

The leader laughed weakly, his mask slipping off to reveal a scarred, bitter face. “You think this ends here? The League is everywhere. You can’t stop what’s coming.”

Seikan’s gaze darkened, and he raised his hand, channeling Eldrich Grasp into the man. “Where. Are. The others?”

The leader convulsed, his face twisting as Seikan’s power forced him to answer. “The… the marshlands. We’ve fortified the marshlands…”

The man slumped further, his life force draining rapidly. Seikan released his grip, standing back as the leader’s form faded, leaving only silence.

Darius turned to the others. “The marshlands… that’ll be tough to navigate, but it sounds like that’s where their main forces are gathering.”

Kalsei crossed his arms, his grin fading into a look of resolve. “Then that’s where we’re going next. Let’s finish this before they pull anything else.”

Steph nodded, her gaze hard. “We’ve taken down two of their strongholds. Let’s make sure the third is their last.”

They gathered the remaining blood crystals and any documents they could find before leaving the ruined warehouse. Their next objective was clear. The League of Shadows had made their move, but now it was time for Guild City’s defenders to return the favor.