The wind shifted.
It should've been a breeze—whispering across the red sands—but it twisted, spiraled, and screamed. A storm of shrieking, howling air that knocked armored men off their feet and sent sand slicing through steel like knives through paper.
The bandits didn't know what hit them.
One moment, they were laughing.
The next, they were flying.
The last thing any of them saw was silver hair and eyes like twin stars burning cold in the storm.
Beastkin Refugees – Wildlands Edge
The beastkin—thin, gaunt creatures with fur and claw—stared up in awe.
A girl floated above them, barely taller than a teen, her bare feet drifting inches above the ground. Her hands trembled at her sides. Her chest heaved like she couldn't breathe.
One of the older beastkin, a fox-like man, dropped to his knees.
"A wind goddess...?"
Another whispered, "No… a child of storm and sorrow…"
The girl clutched her head. "Make it stop. Make it—"
The wind howled louder, like it was alive.
Until the shadows moved.
Moments Earlier – Beneath the Earth
Leo stood in the control chamber, watching through the eyes of his Stalker constructs. Six arachnid golems and two Obsidian Shades had been deployed.
Their movement was flawless—fast, silent, lethal.
"Enter from the northwest ridge," Leo commanded. "Blindspot in the cliffs."
Myra watched beside him, chewing her thumb.
"She's unstable. Emotional outburst is triggering the storm."
Naelia read the energy outputs on the arcane screen.
"She's manifesting Tier 3 elemental control—at base form."
Cael's eyes narrowed.
"She's too powerful for this world's rules. The dungeon can barely track her."
Leo exhaled.
"Then it's a good thing she's one of us."
"Stalkers—nonlethal. Suppress wind flow. Shield the beastkin. Surround the girl. Do not engage directly."
"Do not scare her."
Above – Stormfront: Lyssa's Awakening
The Stalkers emerged like whispers.
Eight shadows moved through the dunes, shimmering like obsidian ghosts.
Three dropped barriers around the beastkin.
Two anchored wind-breaking wards that carved calm into the storm.
One climbed the canyon's upper ridge and deployed a cloaking rune, scanning the battlefield.
The last two moved behind the girl.
[STALKER PROTOCOL ENGAGED – NON-HOSTILE NEUTRALIZATION][SUBJECT IDENTIFIED: TWELFTH BORN – "LYSSA"][PSIONIC SIGNATURE CONFIRMED – MATERNAL LINK PRESENT]
Leo spoke through them, his voice filtered through soft resonance.
"Lyssa."
"You're not alone."
The girl's head jerked.
The storm paused—like the sky itself was holding its breath.
"Who…?"
Her voice was small. Fractured.
"Who said that…?"
Leo's voice deepened, still soft.
"A brother."
"One who remembers the stars with you."
"I know the weight. The ache. The scream that won't stop."
She began to cry.
The storm broke.
Wind turned to rain, soft and warm, falling like tears on dust.
She collapsed.
The Stalkers caught her gently, lowering her to the ground as her powers fizzled into mist.
Dungeon – Core Room
Leo's shoulders sank slightly. His tension unwound like a coiled wire snapping loose.
"Mission complete."
Naelia exhaled.
"Minimal casualties. No beastkin deaths. Bandits routed."
Myra smiled. "You got through to her."
Cael, still leaning against the crystalline wall, tapped his clawed fingers against the hilt of his saber.
"She's strong. She's unstable."
"She could be a liability."
Leo didn't turn around.
"She's family."
"That means she's ours to protect—or fix."
Later – Subterranean Sanctuary (Lyssa's Recovery Chamber)
The dungeon formed a sanctuary space for Lyssa—a chamber of soft moss, simulated sunlight, and walls that pulsed with calm energy. Magical wards prevented power spikes. The air smelled faintly of lavender.
Lyssa lay curled under a woven blanket. Her silver hair pooled around her face, damp from sweat. She stirred.
Leo appeared—not physically, but as a projection from the Core.
His form hovered beside her, vague and flickering, like a memory made real.
"You awake?"
Lyssa blinked slowly. Her eyes still shimmered like nebulae.
"Are you… him?"
Leo nodded.
"Fourth Born. Leo."
"You're Twelfth."
She sat up.
"Where's Mother?"
Leo hesitated.
"Watching."
"But she sent me instead."
Lyssa looked down at her hands.
"I broke something."
"The wind... it's always been there. Since I woke up in that crater. Screaming at me. Trying to leave me behind."
"But I couldn't make it stop."
Leo didn't speak right away. He crouched beside her projected image, his voice low.
"None of us asked for this."
"But we're here."
"And you don't have to face it alone anymore."
Tears welled up again, but she smiled weakly.
"You talk like a hero."
"You don't look like one."
Leo chuckled. Cold. Dry.
"Good."
"I'm not one."
He stood.
"Rest. The others will meet you soon."
"When you're ready."
Elsewhere – Unknown Location
A mirror shattered.
The Second Born gazed into the void, silver threads dancing along his fingers. His voice was a soft hum, like a lullaby poisoned with thorns.
"The Twelfth has awakened."
"The First will make his move."
He looked over his shoulder at something locked behind iron bars.
Chains rattled.
Eyes blinked open in the dark.
"Wake up, Third."
"The chessboard is filling up."
"And chaos loves a crowd."
Dungeon – Command Hall
Leo stared at the map.
His influence was spreading.
Four outer tunnels stabilized. Five new rooms added.
One sister rescued.
One secret revealed.
And still… danger churned like a distant drumbeat.
He closed his eyes.
"What's coming next…?"
The system answered with a quiet ping.
[WORLD SHIFT PREDICTED – 47% Probability of Heroic-Class Adventurer Raid in 10 Days]
Leo's smirk returned.
"Let them come."
"The Dungeon has teeth now."