A Second Chance by the System

Chapter 72: The Vanguard's Heartbeat

The ground collapsed beneath Ethan, plunging him into a suffocating darkness. Debris rained down, crashing against his shoulders as he struggled to find balance. The sound of the detonator’s click still echoed in his mind, followed by the stranger’s chilling smile.

His descent was sudden, violent, and disorienting. The world above became a distant memory as he fell deeper into the depths below. When he finally hit the ground, the impact sent shockwaves through his body, and he lay there for a moment, catching his breath.

Above him, the echoes of battle faded, replaced by an eerie silence. The air was damp and smelled of mildew, and the only light came from faint cracks in the debris above, casting dim beams into the cavernous space he had fallen into.

“Ethan!” Lila’s voice broke through his haze, sharp and filled with concern. “Are you alive down there?”

“I’m... I’m here,” Ethan croaked, wincing as he moved. He checked himself for injuries. Bruised ribs, a likely sprain in his left wr