“THE HORNED ARE CONSIDERED THE FASTEST….OF THE ANOMALIES. THESE ENIGMATIC BEINGS ARE DISTINGUISHED BY THEIR GRAY, KERATINIZED SKIN AND IMPOSING HORNS. THEIR MOST STRIKING FEATURE, HOWEVER, IS THEIR UNIQUE ABILITY TO EXTRUDE AND/OR FIRE BONY PROTRUSIONS FROM ANY POINT ON THEIR BODY, WHICH THEY EMPLOY BOTH AS AN DEFENSIVE MECHANISM AND AS A DEADLY OFFENSIVE WEAPON…” {A.H ORWYCK, THE WARDEN'S GUIDE TO HUNTING} The flame bolt from the handblazer tore off the Horned's arm, sending it crashing into the floor next to Sanji. Neon took aim again, but in that split second, it flipped over and aimed at him with the other palm. He ducked just in time as a bone missile whistled past his ear. "How the hell are these things so fast?" The beast had sprung to its feet. Reaching down, it grabbed Sanji and hauled him up into the air. "Hey!" Barked Neon. He pointed the blazer at the Horned. "Hey, let him go!" His finger hovered above the trigger while he gritted his teeth, contemplating

7.54 AM, GIICHI'S STORE, ROJU ALLEY, WEST BLOCK, RADALTHRA. "You are on your own from here on out," Giichi said as the elevator dinged, signaling their arrival. The doors didn't slide open though, and Hikaru raised a brow at his former mentor. "What?" "I just thought it over. I don't want anything to do with your Warden investigation, whether you've got something in it for me or not." "It's brilliant what an elevator ride can do to one's resolve, eh?" Hikaru said dryly. "You got ten minutes before I kick your ass out. Try not to attract attention in there before then. A disguise could work. Honestly, it's a miracle they haven't slapped your face on some Wanted poster." "Right. Thanks anyhow." Hikaru pulled a hood over his face with a sigh. "Ten minutes." In the years when the wars were being fought, there were a web of underground networks that had been built below the districts close to Noderyn. Some say their purpose was to transport supplies for soldiers, others s

“Chapter Three: Radalthra: A Record Of Resilience.…..During the Great War, the landmass now known as Radalthra served as a major front for the Aethorian armies, owing to its unique geography and vantage point.….After the War and the Unraveling, the city’s founders, wise to the dangers of Anomaly invasion, divided Radalthra into North, South, East and West blocks to facilitate swift response and decisive defense. The North Block, with its proximity to the Veil, served as the primary hub for Hunter activities…The South Block was dedicated to research and development…the East Block, with its reinforced defenses, serves as a secure residential area for citizens and a retreat area in times of crisis….the West Block is the commercial heart of the city. This, of course, was (and parts of it remain so) the order of things before the sudden ‘colonization’ of Radalthra by the Rogue Hunters.”{THE ATLAS OF AETHORIA: A GEOGRAPHIC COMPENDIUM BY ELLIAN MARKUS}8.06 AM, ROJU ALLEY, WEST BLOCK, RADA