Marcus had followed Rio's orders to the letter.
In the hidden vault beneath Ryunn Villa, the RYUNN GODWAR SUIT stood like a silent titan. Sleek and obsidian black, it shimmered faintly with layered kinetic plating. Intricate circuits pulsed beneath the armor's surface, exuding next-gen tech and raw, unspoken power. Embedded deep within its chest was the Dimensional Warp Drive, restricted even by military command.
"Master Rio," Marcus said, his voice laced with concern, "at least let me accompany you—"
Rio placed a hand on his shoulder, smirking. "I need you to grab food packs and a dozen military-grade stimulants from Vault C-9. Hurry. It's urgent."
Marcus didn't question him. He turned and sprinted.
By the time he realized he'd been deceived, the suit had already activated. A sonic boom ripped through the atmosphere as the hangar doors flared open.
Rio was gone.
---
Outer Space
Stars stretched endlessly in all directions, each one a silent witness to his rebellion.
Inside the cockpit, Rio's heartbeat synced with the GODWAR suit's systems. The hum of the thrusters became his pulse. His fingers hovered over the celestial scanner.
"So this is what freedom feels like," he murmured. "No more lectures. No more stares."
Earth's broken outline emerged on the screen—fractured continents floating like puzzle pieces in the dark. A far cry from the ancient tales. Yet still alive.
"If there's even one Tiercraft artifact left on that planet…" he whispered, eyes narrowed, "...I'll find it."
With a surge of power, he plunged toward the dying world.
---
Ruins of Earth – Sector X
Ash fell like snow across a desolate skyline. Skyscrapers leaned like forgotten titans, their windows shattered, their bones hollow. Every footstep echoed like a memory.
As Rio touched down, the environment flickered.
For a moment, the city shimmered—restored, golden, vibrant. Then it snapped back to its ruined state.
Then again. And again.
"A feedback loop?" he muttered. "No—an illusion field. Layered... sophisticated."
His HUD pinged—a neuro-hallucinogen in the air. The source: a leaking drum balanced atop a collapsed tower, shimmering with iridescent pink fluid.
He rose to investigate—then stopped mid-air.
An old man stood on the building's edge. Gaunt. One-eyed. Cloaked in rags.
Rio blinked.
(What...?)
The old man turned, as if expecting him.
"You. Warrior." His voice cracked like old parchment. "Do you bring supplies? Or is it another test? Perhaps food...?"
Rio hovered cautiously. "I'm just... doing recon. I don't even have food for myself. Sorry."
He turned to leave.
(How the hell did he get up there...?)
Then it hit.
A shockwave slammed into Rio, flattening him mid-air. The GODWAR suit absorbed the brunt, but he was sent spiraling.
When he regained focus—the old man was gone.
In his place: a hulking figure with skin like armored clay, veins pulsing with raw energy, and a grin that twisted reality.
"Another God of War…" the creature hissed, voice inhuman. "Delicious."
Rio's HUD blinked.
> [TIER-5 ENTITY DETECTED]
"With the GODWAR suit," Rio calculated, "I can manage this."
Then the air trembled.
From the fog and ruins, dozens—then hundreds—emerged. Twisted humanoids with vacant grins and gleaming eyes. Their bodies moved like puppets—but something darker controlled them.
"It's not just him…"
Panic clawed at Rio's throat. He redirected all energy to emergency thrusters and activated Warp Sync.
Blue light exploded around him.
He vanished.
---
Location: Unknown
> SYSTEM LOG: Coordinates Untraceable.
Terrain Composition: 97% Volcanic Carbon Alloy.
Rio tumbled onto cracked obsidian. The air was thick with smoke—ghostly, sentient. The ground reeked of fire long dead.
He lay still, gasping. "What the hell… was that?"
Then movement.
A silhouette crested the ridge—cloaked in black, with wings like obsidian daggers. The figure's presence twisted gravity. Power radiated from him in tides.
Even the GODWAR suit's sensors vibrated.
> WARNING: Aura Level – Unclassifiable
Recommend: Immediate Concealment
Rio ducked behind a jagged mound, shutting down all active systems except life support.
Power reserves: Critical.
Another figure stepped into view, just as monstrous. They were not simply winged men—they were something older. Hungrier.
The first turned, speaking like a blade drawn across iron.
"Mortal... What are you doing here?"
His voice pierced the silence.
"You came to spy? Warn your people? Or did you stumble here like prey seeking death?"
Rio didn't breathe.
He knew in that moment—this wasn't about Tiercraft anymore.
He'd just trespassed into something far bigger than Earth.
Bigger than the upcoming Tournament.
He had stepped into a war that hadn't yet begun.