Beneath the ancient streets of London, the Vanguard's headquarters buzzed with quiet urgency.
A circular chamber illuminated by soft blue runes was filled with the city's most powerful Awakened—or those who claimed the title.
Kai and Mina arrived last, the weight of travel and the Rift battles still fresh on their shoulders.
Lucien Graves stood at the head of the room, his constellation-like eyes flickering with calm purpose.
"Welcome," he said. "You've all answered the call."
Rika was already there, her sword resting against the wall but her eyes sharp and wary.
Elias entered last, his smirk unsettling in the dim light.
Lucien's gaze swept the room. "We face a crisis unlike any before. The rifts are growing, and monsters will soon spill into every city."
He looked directly at Elias. "Some seek to control this power for themselves."
Elias shrugged. "Control is the only way to survive."
Kai shifted, feeling the subtle weight of the Voidwalker domain stirring beneath his skin. He wasn't sure who to trust yet.
Lucien continued, "We must unite, but understand this—our goals may differ. What matters is that we stand together, or we all fall."
Rika crossed her arms. "I'm here for revenge. I don't care about politics."
Mina's fiery eyes locked with Elias. "And I'm not trusting you until you prove you're not a threat."
Elias chuckled darkly. "Trust is a luxury in a world breaking at the seams."
Kai cleared his throat. "So, what's the plan? We fight monsters, yes—but what about the rifts themselves? Where do they come from? Can we close them?"
Lucien's expression hardened. "That is what we must discover. I've seen glimpses of a source—an ancient force awakening beneath the earth. But we will need every skill, every ounce of power to confront it."
The room grew silent. The weight of the task pressed down on them all.
Lucien's final words hung in the air like a challenge:
"Together, we will face the darkness. And whatever comes next—we decide the fate of the world."