Streets of Ravetham

Kaelen's tour was unlike any other musician's journey. Billed as the Lost Strays Tour, it was supposed to be a string of dazzling concerts in every major city across the world. Fans flocked to buy tickets, expecting electrifying performances. But every time, the shows were mysteriously canceled. The fans who'd paid for tickets received refunds, but the money they got was fake—currency laced with Lira's sophisticated tech, designed to track movements, record conversations, and even sniff out secret communications. This was no tour—it was a hunt, a covert extermination of Draconian infiltrators. Each city Kaelen visited became a battlefield hidden beneath the guise of music and fame.

Kaelen moved like a phantom through the shadows of every city he visited. He was a celebrity, revered and adored, his fame and influence opening doors to places where most couldn't even dream of setting foot. But behind his tailored suits and charismatic smile was a predator on a mission. Aeliseth had sent him with one clear directive: root out the Draconians, wherever they hide, and eliminate them. These creatures, who had long embedded themselves into human society, pulling strings from the dark, were now Kaelen’s prey.

His "tour" began in Tokyo, where he navigated the neon-lit streets with ease, slipping into exclusive clubs and secret meetings. Using his vampiric charm, he drew out secrets from high-ranking Yakuza members who had unwittingly been working with Draconian spies. Kaelen never hesitated, his soul gun—a weapon summoned from the darkness—dispatching the reptilian impostors with cold efficiency. He turned one of the key informants into a fledgling, feeding on his blood and bending his will to uncover the hidden network of Draconian agents.

In Berlin, Kaelen played a different role—a wealthy playboy, throwing lavish parties for the elite. As the music throbbed and the alcohol flowed, Kaelen and his team operated in the background, Lira slipping unnoticed into the city’s underground data centers, hacking into the deepest layers of the Draconians' surveillance systems. Vanya, watching from the rooftops, eliminated any agent who got too close. Kell tended to the bodies afterward, using her vampiric alchemy to disintegrate the evidence. Draven handled the rough work, planting explosives in key locations, ensuring the Draconian hideouts were wiped from the city.

In Paris, Kaelen used the city's romantic allure to manipulate a high-ranking socialite, who had unknowingly been working as a Draconian puppet. With his glamor, he made her spill everything—the addresses of their secret bases, the names of their collaborators. He spared no one. The tour had long since ceased to be about music. This was war. His kills were brutal, efficient. A single glance from his violet eyes would freeze his prey in place before the flash of his soul weapon cut them down.

New York City was a bloodbath. Kaelen, backed by Draven and Vanya, hunted down the Draconians embedded in the mafia. They walked into a club run by a notorious crime lord, making a scene that shook the underworld. Kaelen killed the guards in seconds, shooting them point-blank with his soul gun while Draven tore through the remaining goons like a beast. They took no prisoners. The crime lord, who had been in bed with the Draconians for years, begged for mercy. Kaelen gave him none, pulling the trigger and walking away as the man's blood painted the walls.

After weeks of hunting, the team gathered in a high-rise penthouse overlooking the city. The thrill of the hunt was still fresh on their minds as they sat around in the dimly lit room, celebrating their latest success.

Lira leaned against the wall, her eyes flicking to Kell with a playful smirk. "You know," she teased, "you'd look really cute in my jacket." Her words were loaded with flirtation, her gaze lingering.

Kell, mixing her elixirs on the table, glanced up, half-smiling but quickly diverting her attention to Vanya, who was seated by the window, her sniper rifle disassembled for cleaning. "Maybe," Kell responded softly, "but Vanya looks much better in black." It was a subtle jab, but the meaning was clear—Kell had eyes for Vanya.

Vanya, without lifting her gaze from her rifle, chuckled. "I don’t mind the attention, but we all know Kaelen’s the one everyone’s after." She cast a sidelong glance at him, a hint of warmth in her otherwise cold demeanor. "Not that it bothers me. I know who his heart belongs to."

Draven laughed, slapping Kaelen on the back. "Well, at least I get to join in," he joked, though the hint of truth was there. "But let’s be real, hunting for blood with you around makes everything easier. You’re like a damn magnet for trouble—and women." He paused, lighting a cigarette. "I still remember boot camp, though. How many times did I nearly die, huh? Kell had to patch me up every other day while you walked through it like some high-born prick. Couldn’t stand you back then, but... you saved my ass more times than I can count, so I guess I’m stuck being grateful."

Kaelen grinned but said nothing. He had always known Draven felt that way, but their bond had grown stronger through the blood and the battles.

Vanya broke the silence, her eyes fixed on Kaelen. "You’ve saved us all, in more ways than one," she said, her voice soft. "I know where your heart lies, but for what it’s worth... I don’t mind things as they are. We’re all in this together."

The room fell into a comfortable silence after that, the weight of their confessions hanging in the air like smoke.

The next day, Aeliseth contacted the team through a secure link, her holographic image appearing in the center of the room. "We've run all the alien tech and transmissions you uncovered," she began, her voice carrying the weight of grim news. "The Draconians are planning an invasion. They’re not just infiltrating Earth—they're planning to go to war with the Kurs and the Annunaki. And they’re getting ready to make their move."

Kaelen frowned, his violet eyes darkening. "And the Kurs? Where do they fit in?"

Aeliseth smiled faintly. "Good question. You’ll have to ask them yourself. As of today, Kaelen, you’ve been promoted. You're now the Commander of the Space Force." Her words hit like a bombshell. "You'll be traveling to the Kur homeworld. It will take you a year to get there, but you’ll be leading the fight against the Draconian threat. You'll have one of the most advanced ships in the galaxy at your disposal—the Voidbreaker. It’s equipped with technology beyond anything you've seen."

The weight of his new responsibility sank in, but Kaelen didn't flinch. His mission had only just begun. The tour was over, but the war was about to start.

"Prepare your team," Aeliseth said before cutting the transmission. "The galaxy is watching."

The room fell into silence once more as Kaelen and his team exchanged glances.

Kaelen stood, his expression cold and determined. "Looks like we’re going to space."