The Extra's Rise-Chapter 488: Kagu Family (3)

Aria straightened, her posture shifting instantly from casual to martial. "My father has ordered me to remain here. The Gu family believes pooling resources with the Kagu is our best option." Her orange eyes flashed with a determination that bordered on ferocity. "Besides, our coastal estates are overrun. There’s nowhere else for me to go."

Ava’s delicate features hardened. "The Peng compound remains secure, but my mother thinks I’m safer here for now. Our defensive arrays are holding, but..." She trailed off, the implication clear. Even the legendary Peng family barriers might not withstand a concentrated vampire assault.

A heavy silence fell over the table, broken only by the soft sounds of silverware against porcelain. The reality of our situation pressed down on us—five students in the third-year of our education.

"Well," Ian said finally, his voice forcibly bright, "at least we got out with our lives. And our good looks." He winked at Ava, who rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress a small smile. "And speaking of getting out—" He glanced at his communication band, which had begun to pulse with a soft blue light. "That’s my ride. Apparently, my father’s impatience has accelerated the timetable."

After breakfast, we gathered in the landing bay to see Jin and Ian off. Ian’s vessel arrived first—a vibrant blue and gold craft shaped like a sea serpent, trailing iridescent mana particles that dissipated in the air like sea spray. It settled onto the landing pad with a musical chime rather than the standard pneumatic hiss.

"That’s my ride," Ian announced unnecessarily, adjusting the collar of his jacket. The momentary shadow that had crossed his face during breakfast had vanished, replaced by his usual sunny disposition. But I’d known Ian long enough to recognize the strain behind his smile, the deliberate effort it took for him to maintain his cheerful demeanor.

He embraced each of us in turn, ignoring all protocols of formal leave-taking. When he reached me, he gripped my shoulders firmly.

"Don’t do anything heroically stupid," he said, suddenly serious. "I’ve got tickets to the Southern Sea Luminescence Festival next season, and I’m counting on you being alive to use the second one."

I managed a smile. "I’ll do my best."

"Your best is terrifying," he replied with a wink, then stepped back and offered a surprisingly formal bow to my father. "Thank you for your hospitality, Sir Kagu."

My father inclined his head. "Safe travels, Young Viserion. Tell your father..." He paused. "Tell him the Kagu family stands with the South."

Something passed between them—an understanding that transcended the traditional rivalries between our continents. Ian nodded, suddenly looking older, more like the heir to one of the South’s most powerful families.

Then, with a final wave and his trademark grin, he bounded up the ramp to his transport. The vessel rose with a musical hum, its mana engines pulsing with blue-gold light, and then it was gone—streaking southward, leaving a trail of luminescent particles that hung in the air for several heartbeats before fading away.

Jin’s transport arrived next—a sleek, gunmetal gray vessel emblazoned with the Ashbluff family crest of interlocking mountain peaks. It hummed with suppression technology, designed to mask both its mana signature and physical presence. Typical Western engineering: pragmatic, efficient, and utterly without flourish.

Jin said his goodbyes with characteristic reserve—a formal bow to my father, respectful nods to Aria and Ava, and a firm handshake for me.

"The Western continent won’t abandon the East," he said quietly, his normally impassive face showing the faintest trace of emotion. "Whatever happens, remember that. My father may be cautious, but he’s not blind to the threat."

I nodded. "Take care of yourself, Jin."

"Always do." He glanced in the direction Ian’s ship had disappeared. "Keep an eye on that one when he returns. His heart is bigger than his sense."

"When?" I raised an eyebrow. "Not if?"

Jin almost smiled. "You think anything could keep Ian Viserion away from a fight? Especially one involving his friends?" He shook his head. "The Southern blockade will hold for a while. But Ian... he’ll find a way back. It’s in his nature."

As Jin boarded his transport, I caught a glimpse of something in his expression—a flicker of concern, perhaps even fear, quickly masked behind his stoic façade. For someone as controlled as Jin Ashbluff to show even that much emotion spoke volumes about the gravity of our situation.

We watched until both vessels disappeared from sight. The landing bay felt emptier, the reality of our situation more stark. Two continents retreating, securing their borders. The East left to stand alone against the vampire tide.

"Come with me," my father said abruptly. "All of you."

We followed him through the complex network of hallways that comprised the Kagu family residence, descending several levels via a secure elevator that required both a mana signature verification and retinal scan. The air grew cooler, charged with the distinctive crackle of high-level containment wards. I recognized our destination just before the massive doors came into view—the Void Chamber, the heart of the Kagu family’s military operations.

The doors swung open silently, revealing a cavernous space dominated by a circular platform surrounded by holographic displays. Around the platform stood a dozen men and women in the distinctive midnight-blue uniforms of the Void Vanguard—the Kagu family’s elite combat unit, comprised of only the most powerful and trusted fighters.

My father strode forward, and the assembled Vanguard snapped to attention. "At ease," he said, taking his position at the head of the platform. He gestured for us to join him.

"For those who don’t know," he began, addressing Aria and Ava, "this is the command center for the Void Vanguard. Typically, only Kagu blood-members are permitted entry, but these are not typical times."

His gaze swept the room, taking in both the seasoned Vanguard members and us three students. "The Eastern continent stands on the brink. The Vampire Monarch has made his move, and we have suffered our first major casualty."

A murmur ran through the Vanguard. News of Aunt Selene’s condition had clearly not yet been disseminated.

"Selene Kagu, the Twilight Ice Sovereign, lies in a mana-induced coma of unknown origin," my father continued, his voice steady despite the weight of his words. "Our strongest fighter, incapacitated without a single mark upon her body."

The silence that followed was absolute, heavy with implications. If Aunt Selene could fall...

"We cannot wait for the Vampire Monarch to press his advantage," my father said, breaking the silence. "The Void Vanguard will deploy immediately to secure key strategic locations and establish a defensive perimeter around the central territories."

He turned to me, his violet eyes burning with an intensity I’d rarely seen. "Ren. You have the God’s Eyes. Your ability to see mana patterns is unmatched even among the Kagu. I am assigning you to the Vanguard’s reconnaissance division, effective immediately."

The room spun briefly around me. The Void Vanguard? Me? I was barely into my third year at Starcrest, nowhere near completing my training. And yet... the God’s Eyes. My curse and gift, the reason I could see the world in ways others couldn’t, perceiving the intricate patterns of mana that flowed through all living things.

"Aria Gu and Ava Peng," my father continued, "your families have agreed to place you under Kagu protection and command for the duration of this crisis. Your skills will be invaluable—Aria’s combat prowess and Ava’s barrier techniques complement our existing capabilities."

Both women straightened, their expressions a mixture of surprise and determination.

"This is not a decision I make lightly," my father said, his voice softening slightly. "You are young. In an ideal world, you would have years more training before facing a threat of this magnitude. But we do not live in an ideal world. We live in one where vampires have taken Starcrest Academy, where a Radiant-ranker lies unconscious from an unknown attack, and where our entire way of life hangs in the balance."

He looked at each of us in turn, his gaze lingering on me. "The Vampire Monarch thinks he has struck a decisive blow. He believes the East will crumble in fear, that our strongest fighters will retreat to protect themselves and their families." His fists clenched at his sides, power rippling visibly beneath his skin. "He is wrong."

I stepped forward, my decision made before I even realized it. "I accept the assignment," I said, my voice steadier than I expected. The God’s Eyes—so long a source of alienation and whispered rumors at Starcrest—would finally serve a purpose beyond making me an oddity.

Aria moved to stand beside me. "The Gu family has never run from a fight," she declared, her hand moving instinctively to the hilt of her ceremonial dagger.

Ava joined us, her delicate features set in uncharacteristic resolve. "The Peng barriers will hold the line," she said softly but firmly.

My father nodded, satisfaction and sorrow mingling in his expression. "Then it’s settled. Welcome to the Void Vanguard. May the ancestors guide your steps and strengthen your hearts." He turned to the assembled warriors. "Prepare for deployment. Dawn tomorrow, we take the fight to the enemy."

As the meeting disbanded, I caught a glimpse of myself reflected in one of the darkened display screens—violet eyes glowing faintly with the power of the God’s Eyes, white hair almost luminescent under the chamber’s lights. I barely recognized the determined young man staring back at me.

I was no longer just Ren Kagu, third-year student at Starcrest Academy.

I was Ren Kagu of the Void Vanguard, and the vampires would learn to fear the sight of my eyes.

We had all changed in the span of mere days. The carefree days of Mythos were behind us.

The war had truly begun.