Rebirth: 100 Days Before Doomsday

The sun had barely risen in the Starfall city when the twelve warriors of the Elite team set out for their mission.

The portal, that Davian opened for them, took them directly to the ruins of the old cities surrounding the eastern perimeter of the safe zone of Starship Country.

Their figures moved like shadows. They were silent, focused, and prepared for what lay ahead. Though they had been training for years, and had taken down countless infected and Shadow Beasts before this, the current mission was unlike any they had undertaken before.

A Class-7 Shadow Beast wasn't just strong, it was a force of nature. Its sheer size, speed, and intelligence could make it a nightmare to fight. If they failed to coordinate, the beast could wipe them out in seconds.

Valeska and Maven were right behind them at a distance, hidden within the broken cityscape. Their presence was unknown to the warriors, but their eyes remained sharp, tracking every movement.

The eastern perimeter of Starship Country's safe zone was nothing more than a wasteland of shattered buildings and crumbling roads. Abandoned vehicles were sitting frozen in time, their rusting frames half-buried in ash. The air was thick with the scent of decay, and the eerie silence was broken only by the distant howls of the infected.

But the warriors weren't here for the infected. They were hunting something far worse.

They reached the outskirts of a collapsed shopping district, where reports had placed the Class-7 Shadow Beast's last known sighting.

"We'll split into three teams," said Reynard, the leader of the group. His voice was steady, and his grip on his weapon firm. "Four of us will lure it out. The rest will be positioned at key points to attack when it appears."

The warriors nodded in agreement. They had fought together countless times, their trust in one another was unwavering.

Zara, the team's best tracker, crouched near a pile of rubble, examining the ground.

"It was here recently," she murmured. "There are fresh tracks. It's big… much bigger than we thought."

The tension among the warriors thickened at her words. No one had expected the mission to be easy, but now, as they stood before the remnants of civilization with death lurking in the shadows, reality was finally sinking in.

"Stay sharp," Reynard warned. "We engage only when we are certain we have an opening."

The team moved carefully, stepping over broken glass and avoiding unstable ground. Minutes passed, then an hour.

But there was nothing.

And then... after another couple of minutes, a deep, guttural growl echoed through the ruins.

It was close.

A shadow shifted between the skeletal remains of a collapsed building. The air turned heavy, pressing down on the warriors like an invisible weight.

They were still trying to locate the beast, when it lunged. The Class-7 Shadow Beast burst from the ruins, its colossal form a blur of black energy and jagged bone.

The warriors scattered as the beast's clawed hand slammed into the ground where they had been standing moments before, sending debris flying.

Reynard didn't hesitate. "Attack formation!"

Two warriors unleashed fire and lightning at the beast, their powers lighting up the darkened ruins. The flames scorched its thick hide, while bolts of electricity crackled across its massive frame. The beast roared and started thrashing wildly.

It was fast. Too fast.

One of the warriors barely managed to leap aside as the beast swiped at him. Even with their enhanced abilities, they were struggling to keep up with its speed.

Zara and three others circled behind the beast, slashing at its hind legs with energy-coated blades. Their attacks suceeded in drawing the first blood. It was thick, black ichor that hissed as it hit the ground.

The beast howled in fury, turning its attention toward them.

And this made Reynard notice that the beast was actually trying to learn their tactics. He immediately barked at his fellow teammates, "Fall back! We need a new approach!"

But the beast had no intention of giving them time to regroup. With terrifying speed, it lunged at one of the warriors, and its claws slashed through the armor and flesh of one of the warriors.

A scream echoed through the battlefield as Elias collapsed on the ground with blood spilling from his side.

The warriors froze for a fraction of a second... just long enough for the beast to take advantage. It leapt into the air, preparing to land a devastating blow.

Just then, a gust of wind howled through the ruins, followed by a sudden explosion of golden light.

The beast was sent flying backward, crashing through a wall.

Valeska stepped forward with the wind swirling around her like a raging storm. "You are all too slow," she remarked, keeping her voice calm yet filled with power.

Maven appeared beside her with his blades drawn. His eyes locked onto the beast as he spoke, "Let's wrap this up."

The warriors could only watch in stunned silence as the two Rank A elites moved.

Maven vanished in a blur, reappearing mid-air above the beast. His blades struck down with deadly precision, slicing through the creature's thick hide.

The beast roared in agony, but before it could retaliate, Valeska raised her hand. A massive gust of wind slammed into the creature, pinning it to the ground.

"Finish it," Maven said simply.

Reynard finally snapped out of his shock at the order. "Everyone! Attack together!"

The warriors unleashed everything they had. Fire, lightning, ice, and raw energy rained down on the trapped beast. It shrieked in pain and started writhing violently.

Then, as Maven's blades pierced its core, the Shadow Beast let out one final, ear-splitting roar before its body dissolved into nothing but black mist.

Silence fell over the ruins as the intense battle came to an end. The warriors were breathing heavily, but also feeling relieved.

Elias groaned as he stood up with the help of his teammate, clutching his wounded side. "That was… insane."

Valeska smirked. "Welcome to the real battlefield."

Maven stepped toward the remains of the beast, picking up the glowing Spirit Stone that had been left behind.

He tossed it toward Reynard. "Take it. You all earned it."

Reynard caught the stone, staring at it in awe. It was massive, radiating power unlike anything they had seen before.

A Level-Seven Yellow Spirit Stone.