The impact against the wall still vibrated in Raven's bones, but the electric "buzzing" was fading thanks to his new adaptation. Daemon and Leopold approached quickly, helping him up while Kael disappeared down the corridor, leaving a faint trail of electricity in the air.
León, who was watching everything from a distance, approached with firm steps. He was the leader of the electric youth's team, but the distance between the two was visible. The newcomer emanated an aura of discipline that his subordinate seemed to have lost long ago.
"He's acting strange, Raven," León said, his voice low and his brow furrowed. "Ever since the last clearing mission we did in the Capital's North Sector, Kael has changed. He's much stronger, yes, but impatient. Aggressive. The other people on our own team can barely train with him without ending up in the medical wing with second-degree burns. Only those two following him now are still playing along with this show of his."
Raven wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, watching the followers walk away laughing. They were the types who sought crumbs of power and protection, very different from true heroes like León or Maya, who clearly couldn't stand that attitude.
"I can see that not all that glitters is gold," Raven muttered. "Let's see how long he can keep up this tough-guy act."
The following days were marked by a tense silence at the base. Raven took advantage of the forced lull—due to information updates regarding mana and dimensional shocks—to synchronize with the changes in his DNA. His basic skills finally reached Level 5. The result was an almost indescribable physical relief: the extra weight of the metallic structure beneath his skin, which previously made him feel as if he were carrying constant lead armor, simply "vanished."
Now, in his normal form, he moved with a lightness he hadn't felt since before the awakening. Even when activating his Armored Form, his body handled the excess weight naturally, as if the metal were just a dense extension of his own muscles.
During a break in an endurance training session, he sat on the cold gym floor, breathless. Sarah sat beside him, offering a bottle of ice-cold water.
"You're progressing fast, Raven. The High Command and Dr. Helena are building massive expectations for you," she commented, with a smile that tried to be encouraging but only made Raven sigh.
"Expectations... that's the word I hate most in the dictionary, Sarah," he said, closing his eyes and leaning his head against the wall. "My whole life has been a cycle of that. My parents expected me to be the top of the class; my bosses wanted me to carry the entire sector on my back just because I was 'too efficient.' Everyone always projects what they want onto me, without ever asking if I can handle the weight of all that pressure."
He opened his eyes and looked at his own hands, feeling the constant chill of mana racing through his nerves.
"Now, the world is ending and the record is skipping. 'You are the descendant,' 'you are the bridge,' 'you have to save two worlds.' No one wants to know about the Raven who just wanted a Sunday afternoon in peace, without alarms or suicide missions. They want the Hero that my grandfather's blood demands me to be. I hate this pressure to be the solution to a problem I didn't even create. It's exhausting."
Sarah remained silent for a long moment, absorbing the genuine bitterness in his voice. "Maybe they don't expect you to be perfect, Raven. Maybe they just expect you not to give up."
"It's the same thing," he retorted, standing up with a dry effort. "Giving up isn't an option when you have a bunch of useless people turning something terrible into a television show."
The conversation was interrupted by Helena's arrival. She appeared with her tablet and that professional expression the youth already associated with "imminent problems."
"The philosophical reflection moment is over. We have a new mission for your group," she announced. "A fortress-city to the north is being surrounded by a massive pack. An infestation of Giant Wolves, Rank D, with some Rank Cs leading them. They are cutting off supply routes. Go there, clear the perimeter, and eliminate the targets. Leave the bodies for the collection teams. Be fast and lethal."
The armored transport jolted toward the north. Inside, the silence was filled by the metallic sound of Daemon checking his gear. The ex-investigador sat upright, a mass of muscle and scars that seemed to ignore the vehicle's vibration. Beside him, Leopold played with an expensive lighter he had received from a former bank client.
"Customer service and various side gigs, Raven?" Leopold broke the silence with a slightly friendly tone. "At the bank, I dealt with assets that evaporated. You dealt with human hatred by the hour. In the end, we are all specialists in loss."
Raven took a sip of the cold coffee that remained. "The difference, Leopold, is that in my old job, if everything went wrong, I just got yelled at. Here, if I mess up, we become monster food."
Daemon opened his eyes, and the pressure in the cabin seemed to rise. It wasn't a trick; it was the presence of a man who had trained his body to withstand pressures that would crush a tank.
"Enough talk. The North Sector has giant wolves; though they don't have metal-protected bodies, they are just as resilient and lethal. Raven, I'll have to increase gravity to the limit if we run into problems like last time. I can handle the G-force, but you might end up as a meat rug if you're not ready."
"Dammit, I'm not mentally prepared to turn into puree, but I think I can manage," Raven replied with total seriousness, feeling that his basic skills and gravity resistance would do the trick. "Just try not to turn the battlefield into a black hole before I get close."
As they neared the fortress-city, the howling of the beasts could be heard loud and clear. The north had become a colder region due to assimilation with the other dimension.
"We're here, gentlemen," the driver of the armored car said.
As they entered the city, they could see the magnitude of the walls and the protection that lived up to the name of Northern Fortress-City. People seemed calm despite the cold outside; inside, there were heaters scattered about ensuring a pleasant temperature. On the inside, the cities were well-equipped and seemed to guarantee a decent living, but they still suffered from the usual problems: crime and segregation. Those with money and influence lived better; those without, survived however they could. Still, it was better than becoming monster food.
"Well, I guess we can go out and hunt," Daemon said imposingly, looking at the other two.
"Some of the city's 'beauties' or the monsters out there?" Leopold commented, looking and winking at Raven, who pretended not to hear.
"Let's just finish this so I can go back and rest. As much as I like the cold, it's no use if I'm just standing around," Raven commented, heading toward the exit.
Both headed to the outer part, walking for a few minutes into the nearby forest. The region remained cold, with frequent blizzards and brisk winds. The howls remained constant, the volume increasing with every step. The three stood ready as they heard the loud sound of something running. The first creature leapt from behind a tree: it was a giant wolf, the size of a car, its fur slightly bluish and scarred. Behind it came smaller but equally fierce animals. But unlike the others, the leader just watched the trio. Something inside Raven made his skin crawl; he felt an energy coming from the large animal.
Raven, preemptively, brought up his metallic armor. Daemon increased his gravity aura and Leopold prepared to fire his bolts. The great wolf, sensing its enemies, gave a great howl, making the rest of the pack retreat.
"Looks like even the wolves are lazy today, not just you, Raven," Leopold said with a wide smile.
"Strange behavior. I've never heard of monsters retreating or not showing intent to annihilate everything," Daemon commented, still processing the situation.
"Well, if these wolves aren't aggressive, what's been attacking the shipments?" Before Raven could think, a small green humanoid creature jumped out, striking a large wooden club against his head. He felt the impact, but it didn't hurt him; it was just a brief shock. The being looked like a child, at most 1.30m tall, its body very humanoid except for the wrinkled green skin, long fingers with giant nails, and small fangs protruding from its mouth.
"Is this supposed to be a goblin?" Raven asked, still a bit dazed by the surprise blow.
"What it is, I don't know, but it's aggressive," Daemon said, activating gravity on the monster.
The goblin under the investigator's feet let out a high-pitched screech as its bones cracked. But the sound wasn't one of agony; it was a signal.
"Raven, twelve o'clock!" Leopold shouted, losing his smile for a split second.
From the snow-laden treetops, ten... twenty more of those green creatures leapt down. Some rode smaller beasts, others carried bone daggers dipped in a purplish liquid.
"They're using guerrilla tactics," Daemon muttered, increasing the radius of his aura, causing the snow around the trio to settle abruptly on the ground. "Leopold, clear the field! Raven, don't let anyone get near the banker while he charges his shot!"
Raven wiped the wood dust from his head, feeling a slight pain in his neck. He clenched his fists, the metallic skin rising to his throat.
"If I get a hazard bonus for getting hit by a green dwarf, I'll fight with more heart," he grumbled, grabbing Leopold and moving him out of the gravity field.
Leopold, in turn, charged several small balls of light in front of him. Gradually, his rosy cheeks lost their color. Away from the pressure, he positioned himself and fired several beams of light, piercing the trapped enemies. All the creatures were taken down at once in a massive light show.
However, a slight tremor could be felt deeper in the forest. The three headed toward where they saw the great wolf fighting one of the green creatures, but this one was three times larger than the previous ones. It looked like a mountain of muscle, wearing armor and pelts—possibly wolf skins—and a wooden club that looked more like a tree. The bluish animal seemed very strong; ice formed around its paws and teeth.
"That wolf has ice powers!" Daemon exclaimed, alerting the other two.
But in the end, the beast was no match for the large green monster.
"In the games I used to play, we'd call this monster a Hobgoblin. It's like an evolution of the smaller ones," Raven said, preparing to fight.
Before they could do anything, the large wolf was tossed aside by a direct strike from the giant club, and a chuckle-like grunt could be heard as the large red eyes fixated on the three.
"Ready, kid?" Daemon said, increasing the gravity to the point of making the large monster stagger, but unlike the giant boar, this one was a mass of muscle; its strength was enough to stay on its feet.
The creature continued laughing and walking slowly toward Leopold, who was preparing another volley of light beams, though now he needed double the time to charge. Realizing this, Raven ran toward the Hobgoblin; now, with his skills at a higher level, it was even easier to move within the gravity besides his resistance to it.
[ Gravity increase detected! ]
[ Resistances leveled up! ]
[ Gravity Resistance: Level 6 (Rank D) ]
His body felt much lighter. He increased his speed, anticipating a direct blow from the monster and hitting it in the stomach; it fell to its knees, leaning on the giant club. Before it could react, ten light beams struck its body, leaving it pierced and bleeding.
"We beat him!" Raven shouted, turning his back on the enemy. But before he realized it, he was slammed into the ground, bleeding and breathless. The monster had stood back up; its skin was entirely red—not from blood, but as if it were in a state of absolute fury.
Daemon increased the gravity on the creature, causing even himself to fall to his knees due to the pressure. He narrowed the radius of the skill, but nothing stopped the beast from moving forward. Raven stood up totally dizzy, not understanding the situation. Leopold was further away, exhausted, trying to consume energy gel packets to recover some strength.
The youth shook his head and began to understand the situation. He ran toward the monster, but as soon as he entered the gravity's area of effect, he fell chest-first onto the ground.
[ Dangerous gravity levels! ]
[ Resistances leveled up! ]
[ Gravity Resistance: Level 7 (Rank D) ]
[ Dangerous gravity levels! ]
[ Resistances leveled up! ]
[ Gravity Resistance: Level 8 (Rank D) ]
Raven tried to stand again but failed as the Hobgoblin walked toward Daemon.
[ Dangerous gravity levels! ]
[ Resistances leveled up! ]
[ Gravity Resistance: Level 10 (Rank D) ]
Raven gave a shout and forced himself up!
[ Dangerous gravity levels! ]
[ Resistances leveled up! ]
[ Gravity Resistance: Level 1 (Rank C) ]
The system wouldn't stop beeping in his head.
[ Dangerous gravity levels! ]
[ Resistances leveled up! ]
[ Gravity Resistance: Level 3 (Rank C) ]
"Daemon is a monster, how can he withstand all this force without the resistance I have?" Raven thought, managing to walk better and reaching the opponent. He delivered a blow to the back of the monster's knees, making it fall, climbed up toward the creature's neck, and began applying a sleeper hold.
"LEOPOLD, WE HAVE ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD! WHENEVER YOU WANT TO FIRE, FEEL FREE!" Raven shouted with clear irony. Leopold smiled genuinely.
"I'LL GIVE YOU EVERY LAST DROP OF MY POWER, IF YOU CAN HANDLE IT!"
The light beam was a torrent falling from a ball that looked like a sun above the monster. The system continued to beep in Raven's head as the energy fried both him and the monster.
[ Dangerous gravity levels! ]
[ Dangerous radiation levels! ]
[ Resistances leveled up! ]
[ Gravity Resistance: Level 4 (Rank C) ]
[ Light Resistance: Level 1 (Rank C) ]
"DO YOU WANT TO COOK ME ALIVE?!" Raven shouted as soon as the light faded. The monster was dead; Raven was glowing as if his metallic body had just come out of a polishing session.
"If I had sent a concentrated beam where you were, it would have pierced you like a sheet of paper. Our best chance was believing you'd handle the heat and the monster wouldn't," Leopold said, clearly weak.
Daemon was also getting up, but time seemed to be against them. The giant wolf approached, bloodied and limping. Raven felt a sharp sting in his mind.
"...Thank you, human. My name is Fenrir, I am the guardian of this snowy forest. Those monsters were destroying the balance I was trying to maintain here. Since there is still little mana in the environment, my powers are not at their maximum."
"Great, now I talk to monsters. I've become Dr. Dolittle," Raven thought.
"The wolf is a good guy, apparently," Raven said aloud, a bit disappointed and tired.
"I noticed by the way his tail is wagging," Leopold pointed out while sucking on three energy gel packets at the same time.
"Your scent is similar to that of an old friend. I was hesitant to speak with you at first, but since you helped me, I needed to take action."
"I believe your old friend was my grandfather, who decided to become the most talked-about subject of the moment," Raven replied mentally.
"You are the hero's grandson? That explains your power. Your grandfather rescued me when I was a pup and I accompanied him until the end of his adventure. Shortly before he returned, I stayed behind as the guardian of the forest where your house stood, until the dimensions collided and everything was destroyed…"
"...Now I am here in this primitive form with reduced powers, but thanks to you I managed to protect one of your grandfather's treasures: a shrub that produces mana fruits, which help creatures like me recover mana without depending on the environment."
"Maybe with this I can help the elf wake up," Raven thought, forgetting the mental connection for a second.
"...Elf? Aeliana?"
"Herself. Unless there's another elf with that name who came here with my grandfather."
"...I didn't expect her to still be alive in this world without mana. She should have withered, aged, and died. Well, let's do this: take some fruits for her to recover. Now that mana is overflowing into this world, I will recover my strength better."
Both Leopold and Daemon watched the wolf looking at the youth while he made various facial expressions. Soon after, a small beast brought some strange fruits and left them nearby.
"Explain to me what's going on; it feels like I'm watching an old movie without subtitles," Leopold said on his tenth gel packet.
"Apparently, the giant wolf isn't a monster, but a guardian beast from the other dimension. He's friendly and can communicate via telepathy, and for some reason, he liked me. These fruits are for Helena to research how organisms from the other dimension work," Raven replied, omitting the part that the fruit was actually for Aeliana.
Promptly, the three organized to return. The wolves carried the bodies to the front of the city, making the cleanup team's job easier later. That night, the three ate and drank until they were exhausted, due to the massive stress of the day.