Sand. Blood. Corpses.
A young man lay on the ground, his fingers digging into the sand. His nails scraped and tore at the earth, blood oozing from his raw hands, staining the sand red. His face, a mask of blood and pain, was twisted in shock—as if he had just witnessed something unspeakable. Behind him, a large, worm-like creature lay lifeless, its massive body slumped in the dirt. But Ash didn't care. The creature was dead. He was fixated on the sand.
"No, no, no, Max, come on, don't leave us. I know you're still alive. You can't die now." His voice trembled, almost a whisper, as he clawed at the ground.
Then a voice echoed in his mind.
"[You have slain a creature of the higher stage. Gain 1 Vein Energy Point.]"
Ash didn't acknowledge it. His breath came in shallow bursts, his hands still digging, his fingers trembling.
Another voice, lower, colder, rang through his thoughts.
"You can't save him, mortal."
Ash froze, his hand hovering above the sand.
'What? That wasn't me...' The thought barely formed in his mind when a shout shattered the chaos, burning through the air like a curse.
"Dammit!!"
Ash's heart jolted. That voice.
Kael.
He snapped his head up, eyes searching the battlefield. There, hovering above the wasteland, was Kael. His body flickered with flames, the fire dancing around him in a chaotic fury. His face twisted in a snarl, the flames reflecting in his furious eyes. The remnants of his clothes were burnt away, leaving only tattered shorts. Sweat mingled with ash on his skin.
The air crackled with heat.
And then Ash saw it.
A massive shadow loomed in the distance, rising from the earth like a forgotten titan. The ground trembled beneath its immense weight. Its eyeless face was cold, its hunger palpable, and its jagged teeth gleamed in the fading light.
Ash's mind raced.
'what is that creature doing back here?'
The thought was sharp, cutting through the chaos around him.
The survivors, those few still standing, scattered across the wasteland, fleeing towards the distant settlement.
'Even if they reach the settlement, that thing is smart enough to track them all.'
The wasteland was no safe haven. Not anymore. Not with that beast on the move.
His gaze flicked back to Kael. The fire-wielder hovered in the air, his breath ragged, his body soaked in sweat, and his flames flickering weakly. His fists clenched, the flames still licking at his skin, but his expression… it wasn't just anger. It was something deeper.
Kael was running on fumes. His strength was draining faster than he could replenish it. The battle had taken more than he had left.
Ash's chest tightened.
'How did we even ended up here?'
The thought lingered, echoing through his mind, but before he could dwell on it, the memory hit him.
————
Ten days earlier.
Ash leaned back, sinking into the couch, his arms stretched out. He closed his eyes, letting the quiet hum of the base's machinery fill the silence. The steady, monotonous sound of their isolated existence.
He sighed, his mind foggy with exhaustion.
A faint pulse rippled beneath his skin, a warmth spreading through him, followed by a static tingle. Then, something ancient stirred in his mind—like an echo of something far older, far deeper.
"[Vein System Awakening...]"
The words weren't just in his ears. They were inside him, carving themselves into his thoughts, seeping into his very soul. As his eyes closed, the knowledge unfolded before him—not as a vision, but as pure, undeniable truth.
[STATUS]
Name: Ashley Burns
Vein: [Hybrid]
Vein Energy: 89% (300/300)
Veinflow: Initiated
Vitalforce: 5th Tier
Skills: [7]
His chest rose and fell with a steady breath.
"The same numbers. The same locked potential."
His fingers twitched, frustration rising.
He let out a slow breath, trying to shake off the feeling of being stuck. Nothing had changed.
Suddenly, a sharp voice broke through the silence.
"What are you doing? We still have a lot to do."
Ash didn't open his eyes. 'When would this guy ever take a break?'
"What do you mean? We're living here now. We can do it later," Ash muttered, sinking further into the couch.
A frustrated exhale followed by quick, firm footsteps. A shadow fell across him.
"What am I going to do with you?"
Ash cracked one eye open. A young man stood over him, arms loaded with tangled wires and small devices. His black hair was messy, except for the single red streak that ran through it like a burning ember. His sharp eyes bore into Ash, full of irritation.
Before he could argue more, another voice cut in. Softer, but still heavy.
"Well, he's not wrong."
Footsteps echoed across the metallic floor, and a third figure emerged—young, wearing a white lab coat. His black hair, neatly combed, hardly shifted as he walked. Every movement was sharp, controlled. His face was calm, but the tiredness in his eyes spoke volumes. He carried another box, filled with the same tangle of wires and broken parts.
The red-streaked young man shot him a look, eyes narrowing. "Wait, you're taking his side?"
The man in the lab coat nodded. "Yeah. We can pace ourselves. We've done enough today. We'll continue tomorrow."
A brief silence passed.
"If you say so."
With a sharp movement, the red-streaked man dropped the box.
CRACK.
Wires spilled across the floor in a chaotic mess of broken circuits and shattered plastic.
"HEY! What are you doing?!"
The man in the lab coat rushed forward, tripping slightly before he caught himself. He dropped to one knee, hands moving quickly, scrambling through the mess.
"You know I keep my stuff in there!"
Frustration cracked his voice as he turned over a broken device, hoping, just hoping, it could be saved.
"Why would you do that?!"
Across from him, the red-streaked young man stood unfazed, arms crossed.
"Aren't you the one who said we should take a break? Just because Ash was feeling a little tired?"
At the mention of his name, Ash cracked an eye open. The scene was unfolding exactly as he expected. His black hair, tangled from resting on the couch, fell into his vision, but he didn't bother brushing it away.
'Don't get me involved in that argument of yours.'
The man in the lab coat let out a groan, pushing his hair back with a frustrated hand. "Ah, you broke something."
"Well, it's your fault for suggesting we rest."
The red-streaked man stretched, already bored of the argument. "Since we're continuing tomorrow, I'll be in the training room."
Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked toward the open doorway, his boots clicking sharply on the floor.
The man in the lab coat exhaled sharply, muttering under his breath. "You'll pay for this."
A smirk tugged at the corner of the red-streaked man's lips. He glanced back, his eyes flashing with mischief. "I'll be in the training room if you want to pay me back."
And with that, he disappeared into the hall.
"That damn brat." Max muttered under his breath, sifting through the scattered parts. His fingers moved carefully, sorting the broken components. A deep frown settled on his face as he worked, the weight of his frustration settling in.
From the couch, Ash let out a soft chuckle. "We both know how Kael is."
Max sighed, shaking his head. "Yeah. That ego of his... and the way he keeps calling himself 'Son of Flame.'" He mimicked Kael's dramatic tone, rolling his eyes.
Another sigh followed, this one heavier. "I wouldn't even be stuck here if I had just won that damn bet."
Ash smirked, keeping his eyes closed but tilting his head slightly. "I'm glad you lost."
Max narrowed his eyes, confused. "What do you mean?"
"I wouldn't want a girl on the team. Plus, you're my brother." Ash's smirk deepened. "I don't want two family members leaving on some faraway mission, leaving me behind."
Max opened his mouth, then closed it. He stared at the floor for a moment, then let out a long, slow breath. "I guess you have a point."
Setting the box aside, Max plopped onto the couch next to Ash, rubbing his temples. For a while, neither of them spoke. The soft hum of the base filled the quiet room.
Then Ash's voice broke the silence. "I'm really going to miss everyone back at the academy." His words were light, but the nostalgic smile tugging at the corner of his lips told a different story.
Max leaned back, letting his arm rest on the couch. "Yeah, same here. But I'm stuck here babysitting you two."
'Wait, what does he mean by babysitting?' Ash thought, then turned his head just enough to glance at him.
"Babysitting? You lost the duel, so you're stuck with us. Thanks to your failure, I'm not that little kid from back then."
Max shrugged. "Say whatever you want. I bet Dad will contact us soon, telling me to lead the team."
Ash let his head fall back against the couch, his smirk never fading. "Would you really want Kael leading?"
Max shuddered. "Hell no. I'd rather let you lead than that power-hungry freak."
Ash chuckled, thinking to himself, 'True. It would be a disaster if he led.'
Max stood and stretched his arms. "Well, I'll be in my new lab. Got a lot of work to do. The cave won't fix itself, and I still need to hook up my PC to the system."
Ash didn't open his eyes. "Max."
Max paused at the doorway. "Yeah?"
A beat of silence passed. Then Ash spoke, his voice softer, almost uncertain. "Do you think Dad and the others will be okay up there?"
Max smirked, his tone shifting back to confident. "What kind of question is that? Dad's one of the strongest people alive. He's Flame, after all."
Ash exhaled slowly, his thoughts lingering on the question. "Yeah… you're right."
Max lingered at the door for a moment longer before stepping out, leaving Ash alone in the quiet room.
——
A few minutes passed. Ash exhaled slowly, pushing himself off the couch. The base was quiet—its smooth metallic walls, the steady hum of hidden machinery, the soft buzz of lights overhead. Everything had its purpose. Yet, the place felt empty.
He rolled his shoulders, loosening the tension. 'I might as well eat before it gets dark.'
The automatic door hissed open, releasing a cool draft. The faint scent of food mixed with the sharp tang of metal. His boots clicked softly against the floor as he walked down the corridor, the only sound of life in the stillness.
The kitchen door slid open with a soft swish. Inside, everything was sleek and efficient. White countertops gleamed under the bright lights. Stainless steel storage units lined the walls. A kitchen bot whirred to life, assembling a meal with smooth, mechanical precision. It didn't pause to acknowledge him. It didn't need to.
Ash didn't bother waiting. He grabbed a pre-made meal from the storage unit and turned to leave. No words. No pause. The door hissed shut behind him.
'This place is still the same as always.'
Tiny maintenance bots zipped past, their spindly limbs carrying tools and supplies. One sped by, welding torch in hand.
'Max must be busy.'
Back in the main room, Ash sank onto the couch, tearing open the meal. Warm rice. Protein. Bland but filling. He chewed slowly, his mind wandering.
Since the beginning, the Vein system had shaped humanity. The energy within their veins determined everything—who ruled, who struggled, and who survived. Power was never a privilege—it was survival.
Ash? Initiate Rank. 5th Tier Vitalforce. Strong, but not enough. His body was capable, but his elemental power remained weak. It wasn't growing, and he couldn't figure out why.
Max? Adapt Rank. 2nd Tier Vitalforce. Too weak for his age. Born weak, but smart enough to make up for it.
Kael? Master Rank. 6th Tier Vitalforce. A fire prodigy. His strength was enough to rival even the strongest, and he never stopped chasing after their father.
Ash smirked.'He's definitely in the training room. Throwing punches. Talking to himself about power and legacy.'
He finished his meal and stretched out, letting his weight sink into the couch. His limbs felt heavier now, warmth spreading through his body. The quiet hum of the base, the occasional click of bots working, the distant drone of air vents—it all blurred together.
Above, the world was a battlefield. Creatures older than time roamed the ruins of forgotten cities, their hunger never satisfied. Humanity had survived, but only because they were strong. The strong lived. The weak were devoured.
His breathing slowed.
His eyes drifted shut.
————
Ash woke to the soft thud of footsteps echoing through the base. His eyelids fluttered open, the sterile white light above him cutting through his haze. He stretched, rolling his shoulders, muscles stiff from a night spent on the couch.
The hum of machinery filled the stillness. Tiny maintenance bots zipped across the floor, their metallic limbs clicking against the ground with smooth precision. Ash rubbed his eyes, reaching for the empty food container beside him, tossing it into the waste chute.
Then, he froze.
'Why does it feel like I'm missing something?'
A subtle itch crawled up his spine. His fingers twitched, moving instinctively to feel for something—something that should have been within arm's reach.
'Wait... my blade!'
Ash shot to his feet, the grogginess vanishing in an instant. His eyes scanned the room, darting over the furniture, the floor, and the corners where shadows stretched. Nothing.
'Where is it? Where did I drop it?'
His steps quickened as he moved across the room, checking behind the couch, beneath the table. Still nothing. His jaw tightened.
'It's never gone missing before. The kitchen? Unlikely. I'm not that careless. What about my room?'
With a quick turn, he headed for his room. The door slid open with a hiss, revealing a perfectly arranged space—his bed undisturbed, the storage locker closed, a few personal items neatly lined up on the shelf. Not a single thing was out of place.
Except for his blade.
Ash exhaled through his nose, the air leaving him in slow, controlled breaths. His hands balled into fists at his sides.
'Someone's taken it. And it would be worse if that someone was Kael.' His teeth clenched at the thought. 'If that idiot got his hands on it, things were about to get annoying.'
"Max would know."
Ash exhaled, shifting his path toward the lab. "If anyone had seen it, it would be him."
His mind gnawed at the thought—'There's only one reason for Kael to take my blade, and I don't want that kind of trouble first thing in the morning.'
He reached the lab and knocked once before stepping in. The faint smell of heated metal and circuitry lingered in the air. Max sat hunched over his workstation, tapping away at a glowing console. Blueprints and disassembled parts scattered around him. The glow from the screens lit up his face, but Max didn't look up.
Ash didn't waste time. "Max. Have you seen my blade?"
Max's fingers paused, a brief moment of hesitation before the rhythm resumed. "No. Are you sure you didn't leave it back at headquarters?"
"You know I never go anywhere without it. I brought it with me."
Max leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temple. "Then where'd you last see it?"
Ash's jaw tightened. "That's what I'm trying to figure out."
Max finally looked up, his gaze sharpening. "Have you seen Kael?"
Ash shook his head. "No. Haven't run into him yet."
Max sighed, drumming his fingers against the armrest. The pieces clicked together in his mind. If Ash's blade was missing and Kael was nowhere to be found, there weren't many other explanations.
Still, Max decided to play it cool. "If your blade isn't here and you didn't leave it behind," he said casually, "you might want to check with Kael. Maybe he's seen it."
Ash's eyes narrowed.
'So, he was the one after all.'
"Right."
He turned sharply, his pace quickening as he made his way to find Kael.
Ash's mind raced, his grip tightening at his sides. 'If Kael hasn't been seen moving around the base... there's one place he's sure to be.'
A brief pause.
'The training room.'
His footsteps echoed against the metal floor, each step swallowed by the empty halls. Overhead, automated lights flickered to life, casting long shadows that stretched with his movement. The hum of machinery trailed behind him, steady but distant—too distant.
No murmured conversations. No rustling of movement. Just silence, thick and oppressive.
The door slid open with a sharp hiss. Heat rushed out, wrapping around him like a tight embrace.
The training room was a battlefield of past struggles. Charred walls bore jagged scars, the edges dark and cracked from endless battles. Glowing targets flickered weakly, some dimmed entirely, their surfaces warped from previous flames. Shattered fragments of dummies lay scattered across the scorched floor, brittle and blackened. The air smelled of burnt metal and something acrid—something alive.
And in the center of it all stood Kael.
His back was to Ash, shoulders squared, head slightly tilted as if listening. Heat shimmered around him, warping the air, blurring his form. Tiny flames curled at his fingertips, flickering and restless. The ground beneath him cracked, thin trails of ember running through the floor like veins.
Ash's gaze dropped. A glint of metal caught the dim light.
His blade.