X - The Crimson Warning

[Summoner Status: Azea]

Level: 4

Rank: Unranked (Rising Potential)

Active Summons:

1. Amon (B-Rank)

Class: Swordmaster

Personality: Loyal, disciplined, and reserved.

2. Lyra (A-Rank)

Class: Shadow Rogue

Personality: Witty, resourceful, and playful.

3. Kael (S-Rank)

Class: Archmage

Personality: Confident, strategic, and occasionally smug.

4. Eris (Rare Tier)

Class: Knight of the Azure Flame

Personality: Proud, commanding, and slightly skeptical of Azea's abilities.

---

[Team Power Rank: C+]

"Keep building your summons to climb the ranks!"

---

The air was tense as Azea stared at the glowing system window floating before him. The words "The Crimson Tide Approaches" lingered ominously, the pulsating red glow sending shivers down his spine. The notification hadn't disappeared, as if it was waiting for him to acknowledge it fully.

---

[Quest Unlocked: The Crimson Tide Approaches]

Difficulty: B+

Objective: Defend against an unknown enemy targeting your summon.

Reward: ???

Failure Penalty: Loss of summoned units.

---

Azea swiped the window away with a deep breath. "Great. As if Alric's warning wasn't enough."

Lyra leaned over his shoulder, reading the lingering after-image. "'Loss of summoned units?' That's a pretty big penalty, don't you think?"

"No kidding." Kael leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "B+ difficulty isn't exactly a walk in the park either. We're not ready for this kind of heat yet."

"We don't have a choice." Amon's voice was calm but firm. "The quest has already been issued. That means the threat is coming, whether we want it or not."

Eris, standing nearby with her arms crossed, narrowed her violet eyes. "The system wouldn't give a penalty like that unless it believed the challenge was lethal. Whoever this enemy is, they aren't just after me—they want to cripple you entirely."

Azea ran a hand through his messy black hair. He had only been in this world for a week, and already the pressure was piling up. Every step forward felt like stepping into quicksand. Yet, as he looked at his team—Amon, Lyra, Kael, and now Eris—he felt the faintest spark of hope. This wasn't like his old life. He wasn't fighting alone anymore.

"So," Lyra said, tossing a dagger in the air and catching it effortlessly, "what's the plan, fearless leader?"

"We prepare," Azea said, his tone sharper than usual. "This isn't going to be like the Hydra fight. We're going in with a strategy this time."

Later that Day...

The group stood in an open field behind the Guild, the morning sun casting long shadows over the terrain. Azea had insisted they spend the day drilling their coordination, knowing that a poorly timed move or hesitation could cost them dearly.

"Alright," Azea said, pacing in front of them. "If this enemy is after Eris, that means they'll probably focus on separating her from the team. Lyra, you're on flanking duty. Keep their attention divided and strike from blind spots."

Lyra grinned, twirling her dagger. "Sounds like my kind of fun."

"Amon, you're the front line," Azea continued. "Hold the enemy's focus and keep them off Eris and Kael. Use your Defender's Will if things get dicey."

Amon nodded, his sword resting on his shoulder. "Understood."

"Kael, you're our artillery. Keep your distance and focus on high-impact spells. Don't waste mana on flashy moves unless it's necessary."

Kael smirked. "You mean you don't want me to summon a literal lightning storm just for the drama? Fine, fine."

Finally, Azea turned to Eris. "You're our anchor. Stay close to me, and don't let anyone isolate you. Your Flame Aegis is going to be crucial for holding the line if things get chaotic."

Eris raised an eyebrow. "Are you suggesting that I, a Rare-tier summon, take orders from an unranked Summoner?"

Azea met her gaze without flinching. "I'm not suggesting it. I'm telling you. We're a team. And if we're going to survive, we need to act like one."

For a moment, the tension between them was palpable. Then, Eris smirked faintly. "Very well. I'll trust you... for now."

As the group trained, a distant rumble echoed through the air, faint but distinct. Azea froze, his eyes darting to the horizon.

"What was that?" Lyra asked, gripping her dagger tightly.

The rumble grew louder, accompanied by faint tremors beneath their feet. Azea summoned his interface, hoping for some insight.

[Alert: The Crimson Tide has been detected nearby.]

[Time until engagement: 1 hour.]

Kael cursed under his breath. "One hour? That's barely enough time to prepare."

Amon tightened his grip on his sword, scanning the distant treeline. "We need to move. Now."

Eris stepped forward, her expression hard. "This enemy isn't giving us the luxury of time. We fight here and now."

Azea clenched his fists. "Alright. Formation! Let's treat this like a live battle. Lyra, scout the area—see if you can spot anything coming. The rest of us will hold position here."

Lyra nodded and darted off, vanishing into the shadows with ease.

***

Thirty minutes later, the enemy finally revealed itself.

A horde of creatures emerged from the treeline, their bodies cloaked in writhing crimson mist. Their forms were warped and grotesque—twisted amalgamations of beasts and humanoids. At their center was a towering figure, its eyes glowing red and its armor pulsing with dark energy.

"Great," Kael muttered. "We've got a mini-boss leading the welcoming committee."

The system interface lit up in front of Azea.

[Enemy Identified: Crimson Revenant]

Rank: A-

Abilities:

Crimson Wave: Releases a shockwave of corrupted energy.

Soul Shackle: Binds enemies to the ground, preventing movement.

Blood Drain: Absorbs health from nearby foes.

Minions: Crimson Thralls (C-Rank)

Azea's heart pounded. This was going to be the toughest fight yet, and they couldn't afford to lose.

"Positions!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the growing noise. "Amon, hold the front! Lyra, harass the thralls! Kael, light them up! Eris, you're with me!"

As the first wave of thralls charged toward them, Amon let out a battle cry, his blade flashing as he cut through the nearest enemies. Lyra appeared behind a thrall, her dagger plunging into its neck before she vanished again.

Kael raised his staff, chanting quickly. A bolt of lightning struck the ground, scattering a group of thralls into ash.

Eris stood beside Azea, her blade igniting with azure flames. "You'd better keep up, Summoner."

"I'll try," Azea said, gripping his staff tightly.