The war chamber in Elandor's citadel buzzed with Essence pulses as guild captains and operatives filled the room. Walls etched with glowing runes pulsed with updates — maps, sightings, incoming data from scouts across Valeria.
Kael stood near the center, arms folded.
Not as a guest.
As a leader.
Commander Sereth gestured to the central display, where a cluster of Varnok flares pulsed red across the southern border of the Myrrhfen Wastes.
"Two outposts have gone dark in less than 48 hours," she said grimly. "One squad sent — no return. We believe a Class IV surge is manifesting near the Hollow Verge fracture line."
Gasps followed. A Class IV surge meant dozens — maybe hundreds — of Varnok operating with coordinated behavior.
"They're nesting," Sereth continued, "and something's drawing them inward. Possibly a humanoid. Possibly worse."
The room grew tense.
Then Sereth turned toward Kael.
"You're not being deployed this time, Kael. You're being assigned."
That got murmurs.
Kael arched a brow. "Assigned to what?"
"You'll lead Spear Unit Delta," she said. "Twelve operatives. Blaze and Gold ranks. Two Ignis. And Leiya, once her condition stabilizes."
Kael didn't answer right away.
Twelve people?
Under him?
"Too many," he said. "I work faster alone."
"You're not being asked to work alone," Sereth said. "You're being asked to command. We've never had a Pyre-ranked adventurer under twenty. You've outgrown solo ops — even if you won't admit it."
He glanced toward the wall. The red flares were spreading.
"…Fine."
Sereth nodded. "You deploy in two days. Your support strategist will arrive tonight. A few factions requested to observe the mission. Expect scrutiny."
As the others filed out, a few stared longer than necessary — whispers of "Pyre already?" and "Stormbrand Kael" following in their wake.
Kael turned as Leiya limped in slowly from the outer hall.
"Storms," she muttered. "You get promoted while I'm off my feet for two days?"
"You heard?"
"I'm on the team, aren't I?"
He smiled faintly. "If you're cleared to move."
"I'll move," she said, stepping closer. Her voice dropped. "Just… don't go too far ahead of us, Kael. Don't disappear on me again."
His smile faded.
The way she looked at him — it wasn't the same as before the Verge. It carried weight now. Vulnerability. Trust, but fear too.
"I'm not going anywhere," he said.
Her eyes searched his. "Promise?"
"…Promise."
⸻
Two Days Later
The southern sky was bruised with haze as Spear Unit Delta stood ready at the drop site — overlooking the cratered edges of the Myrrhfen Wastes.
Kael scanned them all. Twelve in total. Two he recognized from past missions. The others were unknowns. Strong — but not ready for what was coming.
Still, they looked at him not with doubt.
But expectation.
He lifted a hand, Essence charging around his gauntlet.
"Keep formation tight. Watch for flanks. We're not here to prove anything — we're here to clear the nest."
Toren stepped forward. "And if we hit a humanoid Varnok?"
Kael's voice was calm.
"Then I'll handle it."
He stepped off the ridge — not jumped, but launched — and the team followed after, blades drawn, Essence ignited.
Operation Hollow Surge had begun.
And Kael was the spearpoint.