Time drifted by as they ventured deeper into the forest, the air growing colder with every step. Frost clung to the trees, and a quiet stillness settled around them like a heavy blanket. Azrael, partially shielded by the warmth of his hoodie, walked in silence. Beside him, Lyra moved through the cold without complaint, her Egyptian battle wear offering little protection against the chill.
He never offered his hoodie true to who he was but to his surprise, she bore the cold with calm grace, as if it didn't touch her at all. That quiet strength silenced any words he might've spoken, and they continued on. The forest remained unnaturally quiet, each footstep echoing in the hush. Both Variants felt it the tension beneath the silence, the restless itch beneath their skin. They were ready. Waiting. Hoping something would break the stillness.
"Could you explain the guilds to me?" Azrael asked, his voice quiet but curious.As they are no monsters for now.
Lyra's eyes lit up. "Hmm… that's a good idea," she murmured, more to herself than him.
And just like that, she began to talk nonstop.
Her voice, animated and clear, filled the quiet of the forest as she launched into an explanation without pause. There was a spark in her tone, something alive, as if this was a topic she actually enjoyed, something that gave her a sense of purpose.
"As the world got breached," Lyra began, "so did the foundation of our governments. Chaos reigned, and it became clear we needed a new way to control the powerful humans who'd begun awakening. People with strength so great, they saw ordinary humans as insects. Killing them wasn't a crime to those with power. It was boredom. Amusement."
She glanced at Azrael and smirked before continuing.
"To stop this spiral into madness, six of the strongest awakened individuals came together. Strangely enough, they all shared something in common an old, almost forgotten knowledge... the logic of gamers. It was a gamble, but it worked. From that common ground, they created something new. A structure. A purpose."
"They created Guilds."
Lyra's eyes gleamed with pride and nostalgia. "These six guilds became the pillars of humanity, known as The Big Six. But as always… good things attract evil."
Azrael raised a brow, silently intrigued.
"The six believed they were unmatched," Lyra continued, her tone darker now. "But one of their own, a Warlock who hid in plain sight, disagreed. When he learned of the guilds, he realized he couldn't hide forever. So he founded his own a guild twisted by one belief: Warlocks should rule humanity."
Her voice dropped. "He despised taking orders from the Alliance President, a non-Awakener. And from that hatred, the Dark Variants were born a guild devoted to the mass slaughter of those who couldn't awaken."
Azrael's eyes narrowed slightly, his silence heavy with thought.
"The Big Six, upon witnessing the carnage caused by their generosity, swore to purge every last Dark Variant. Across the Alliance, they spread their influence and might."
Lyra raised a hand, counting off each name.
1. Lionheart Guild – Based in Europe.
"Led by James Carter, an X-rank Warlock with unmatched physical prowess. He can beat down three other X-rankers in a fair fight. They call him the Undefeated Bestial King and he's earned it."
2. Evercrest Guild – Based in Japan.
"This one… is personal," she said softly. "It's my family's guild. My father, Almond Evercrest, was the first Awakener. My mother used to lead it, the legendary Savage Ice Queen until she was murdered by the leader of the Dark Variants."
Azrael glanced at her, surprised by the shift in tone.
"My father took over after that. He's an X-rank Warlock too, known as the Ruthless Ice King and the Legendary Sword God. Ice runs in our blood. Though strangely enough, I awakened with blood magic instead. It suits me, but... my father won't take it well. Especially with my six older brothers watching."
3. Moonfrost Guild – Based in South Korea.
"No one knows their exact location. They're assassins shadowy figures that strike fast and vanish faster. They aim to protect humanity… but their methods? Not exactly clean."
"Their leader's identity is unknown to the public, but in the First Plunge, he revealed himself in combat. That day, the world named him the Slaughter Beast, the Dark God of Death. Where he walks, blood follows."
4. Cloverings Guild – Based in Nigeria.
"More like a church than a guild. They don't fight like the others. Most of them are known as Monster Borns for their absurd regeneration and healing magic."
"Their leader, Kamsi Chijioke David, is an X-rank Warlock. His first ability? Healing every living being with good intent within a 100-kilometer radius."
Azrael's jaw dropped.
Lyra giggled. "Exactly. But don't be fooled. His second ability is what makes him terrifying he can curse any being within that same radius with internal bleeding, causing a slow, painful death. They call him the Double-Edged Sword."
"The guild only accepts healers or those with regeneration abilities. But their combat style? Violently unorthodox. They weaponize healing magic. Their enemies call them the Black Pullers because they'll drag your dying body out of death's grip… only to make you awaken stronger and healthier r."
5. Black Bulls Guild – Location: Europe
"They're clowns. Not literally, but jokers comedians, even during battles. Their humor is so offbeat, it throws enemies off balance. But here's the twist…"
She leaned in slightly.
"They use Curse Magic. Their laughter and jokes are laced with cursed energy. The more emotional chaos around them, the more powerful they become."
"Their leader, Haru Osama, is called the Nightmare Summoner. He gathers strength through fear and summons spirits to war. His second ability is even more insane Foresight. It's said he knows the exact moment every guild leader, including himself, will die."
6. Zenith Order Guild – Based United states of America.
"They accept all types assassins, healers, mages, warriors. A versatile force."
"Their leader is Dung Ho, the Flame Demon and Fire God of Humanity. He can incinerate an entire 1,000-kilometer radius. His second ability? Acid rain the ability to kill friend and foe in a rain of acid and its the same range."
Azrael blinked. "A thousand kilometers?"
Lyra nodded. "Yeah. These six are humanity's protectors. But even they needed oversight. That's why the Hunters Association was born. Six bases, one in each region, to monitor the guilds' activities. All of it overseen by Roman Maul a non-Awakener. The Alliance's leader."
Azrael was silent for a moment, letting it all sink in.
Then he asked, "If humanity's this strong... why are rifts and gates still a problem?"
Lyra smiled. "Simple, you brute. Some beings are just bastards."
She walked ahead as she spoke, her voice steady.
"They're born with X-rank power—as infants. They don't train. They don't fight to grow stronger. They just exist, and they evolve by breathing, living, existing."
"Some say the gods blessed them with the potential of demigods. But when they reach that limit... they stop growing. And yet, even at that level, they're enough to keep humanity from reclaiming its lost lands."
Their conversation was abruptly cut short when the ground trembled beneath their feet. A deep, reverberating rumble echoed from the icy cliffs. Both Azrael and Lyra turned toward the source and there, nestled in a hollowed-out cavern of jagged frost and stone, was a massive ice-coated wolf.
The beast lay still at first, her body coiled protectively around a swarm of tiny pups at least fifty of them. Her fur shimmered like pale moonlight, breath curling in the air like storm clouds. She was beautiful… and terrifying.
Azrael took a slow step forward, hoping to get a better look, perhaps even a stealthy advantage. But the wolf's eyes suddenly snapped open, glowing like two frozen stars. Her ears twitched. And She sniffed the air.
Then came the low growl deep, guttural, like the shifting of a glacier she growled. And sniffed the air again. Her muscles became tensed.And then… she howled.
Awooooooooo!
The mountain echoed with it, a scream of anguish that stabbed through the air like icicles. The pups whimpered and joined her chorus, a haunting sound of pain and mourning.
She had caught the scent. The blood of her mate. Oozing out of the two humanoid things she saw.
Azrael felt the temperature plummet as a wave of freezing aura exploded outward. Ice bloomed across nearby rocks. And Frost bit at their skin.
"She's enraged," Lyra whispered, voice taut with tension.
Azrael glanced at the shattered hilt of his dagger still clutched in his hand. Worthless now he said. It was Useless. His jaw clenched. "Screw it." He slammed his palm into the snow and opened his system interface, dumping his free stat points into STR and AGI.balancing his physique. Muscles surged.as His blood roared.
"Lyra!" he barked. "Create a distraction! I'll go in!"
Without hesitation, Lyra sliced open her wrist. Blood spilled like liquid rubies, and her Crimson Threads writhed to life. She crouched low and sent them whipping forward, not at the mother wolf, but toward one of the pups at the back of the den.
The wolf snarled, watching the threads approach. Her legs coiled beneath her, preparing to pounce. But then the threads passed her.
Her eyes snapped to her children.But it was too late.
Azrael was already on the move, dashing low across the snow like a blur. But the mother wolf was faster. She spun around in a flash of white, massive paws crashing down toward him. Azrael barely had time to cross his arms.
CRACK!
He was hurled through the air like a ragdoll, skidding through the snow and slamming against a ridge. His arms were torn open, blood pouring from long claw slashes. He coughed, gasping for air, as his vision began spinning.
"Damn... she's strong..." he muttered through gritted teeth.
Lyra's eyes widened at the sight. Her fury flared.
She twisted her threads in the air and redirected them, lashing out at the beast's underbelly. The blood-forged tendrils shot forth like spears but the moment they made contact, they shattered like glass.
Crack!
The wolf didn't even flinch.
Lyra stared at Azrael, her face pale. "What do we do…?" her eyes asked the question she couldn't voice.
But then Azrael noticed something strange Happening.
The mother wolf stopped attacking.She didn't lunge,nor strike.
She simply stood at the entrance of the cave, growling, pacing,and her ice-coated tail flicking in warning. Her body shielded the pups completely.
Azrael coughed again and pushed himself up, blood dripping from his arms. But he smiled.
A slow, calculated smile.
"She's not fighting us," he said quietly, more to himself than to Lyra. "She's guarding."
He wiped his lip and rose to his feet, wincing as his wounds stung.
"She won't leave the cave… not unless she's sure her pups are safe."He narrowed his eyes.
"That's her weakness."