Deep at the outer edge of the Luxoria Mist Forest, five figures in full black suits crouched low beneath the fog.
Each wore a thin Aurelius insignia on their left shoulder.
They were here for one reason: to disrupt Luxoria.
The leader spoke softly into his comm.
"Activate summon."
All five raised their wrists.
With a mechanical buzz, five black portals tore open in the air behind them.
From each portal, a shadow stepped through with no footsteps or even sound.
Five Nyxgrinds emerged.
Each one twisted and stretched with eerie smoothness.
They were like living wire and vapor wrapped in armor.
Their single glowing purple eye blinked once.
Then they stood still, completely silent.
One operative whispered, "Creeps me out every time."
The leader didn't respond. Instead, he raised his hand again.
"Begin fusion."
Each Aurelius soldier stepped forward. Their beasts didn't resist.
The moment they touched the Nyxgrinds' core plates, the fusion began.
