Dexter sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the glowing mission prompt floating before his eyes. His knuckles were white from gripping the edge of the mattress. His system had never handed him an assignment this dangerous.[New Mission Assigned: Hunt the Shadow Executioner][Difficulty: S-Rank][Reward: 2,500 XP + Unique Weapon Blueprint + Advancement to Grade A][Time Limit: 72 Hours]His heart thudded in his chest. A mission this intense meant only one thing—he was being pushed into the upper echelons of the system’s deadly game.---He dressed quickly, throwing on a black hoodie over his light armor and slipping his daggers into place. The Shadow Executioner was a notorious assassin who specialized in eliminating awakened beings. Dexter had heard rumors about him—whispers in the dark corners of the academy, warnings traded between guild members. No one had ever survived a direct encounter.Charlotte buzzed through the comms as he left the apartment. “You got your mission?”“Yeah,
The streets buzzed with activity as Dexter strolled through the academy gates the next morning. His hoodie was pulled low, hiding his face from the other students who milled about. Whispers followed him wherever he walked—rumors about him spreading like wildfire after the recent events."Did you hear? Dexter took down two powerful twins alone!""Yeah, right. He must've had backup. No way someone like him could handle them on his own.""Maybe the mage cops handled it. He was just there for cleanup."Dexter ignored the gossip, focusing on keeping his breathing steady. The system’s new level-up had changed him—his reflexes were sharper, his strength higher. He could feel the power thrumming beneath his skin, begging to be unleashed. But for now, he had to stay low and avoid attention.As he approached the school building, a group of students blocked his path. They were awakeners—tall, broad-shouldered, and sneering like they owned the place."Hey, look who it is," one of them said, a smu
Dexter sat in his room later that night, the events of the day replaying in his mind—the fight with the bullies, the mission from the Core, and the bounty Dead Skull had placed on his head. He cracked his knuckles, trying to release some tension, but it did little good. He felt the weight of danger loom over him, pressing on his chest like a heavy stone.His system buzzed softly, and a familiar prompt appeared in the corner of his vision.[Reminder: Infiltrate the Syndicate. Priority Mission.]With a resigned sigh, Dexter stood, stretched, and grabbed his gear. He knew the mission was dangerous, but there was no choice. If Dead Skull’s network grew unchecked, not only would Dexter’s life be in jeopardy, but the entire city—and possibly the world—could face dire consequences.“Better get started,” he muttered to himself, strapping his daggers to his belt. The cold steel felt reassuring against his skin, a reminder that he was not defenseless.---Two Hours Later – Infiltration BeginsT
Dexter staggered to his feet, breath heavy and heart pounding as the energy storm from the previous clash dissipated. The air smelled of burnt ozone, and faint tendrils of dark energy still curled from Dead Skull’s robes. The two combatants stared each other down across the wreckage, and for the first time, Dexter saw a flicker of surprise in Dead Skull’s expression."You’re persistent," Dead Skull said, his voice a low growl. "But persistence alone won’t save you."Dexter wiped blood from the corner of his mouth, his mind racing. His system was already scanning for solutions.[Analysis: Opponent’s Energy is Stabilizing.][Recommendation: Unleash System Overdrive.]"Overdrive, huh?" Dexter whispered. He clenched his fists, the glowing interface of the system flickering across his vision. The battle had pushed him far, but it was clear this fight would only end with one of them left standing.Before Dead Skull could react, Dexter shot forward, activating his [Overdrive Mode]. A surge o
Dexter crouched over the Rift Beast’s remains as they disintegrated, the air thick with leftover energy. He felt the slight buzz of his system’s interface flickering across his vision, processing the aftermath of the fight. A notification chimed in his mind.[Mission Progress: 12% – Deeper anomalies detected.]Wiping sweat from his brow, Dexter scanned his surroundings. The mist curled ominously, hiding the paths ahead, and strange energy signatures pulsed through the ground, almost like a heartbeat. He knew he was being watched.A distant growl echoed through the fog, followed by shuffling sounds. Whatever was waiting for him wasn’t alone—and it was far from friendly. He tightened his grip on his daggers, their edges gleaming with the faint glow of his newly unlocked abilities. Every encounter pushed him closer to mastering his powers, but this was different. The stakes felt heavier, and the dangers were more real.He tapped into the system, activating his [Shadow Cloak]. Darkness wr
Dexter’s breath came in heavy gasps, his muscles screaming in protest. He wiped the blood from his face—both his and Dead Skull’s. The satisfaction of victory was fleeting, overshadowed by the new system alert flashing urgently in his mind.[New Threat Detected: Unknown Entity Approaching. Estimated Power: Grade S+]His fingers twitched toward his dagger handles, but exhaustion weighed down his limbs like lead. The remnants of Dead Skull’s magic still lingered in the air, thick and oppressive, making it hard to focus.Suddenly, the temple’s foundations trembled beneath him. Stones cracked and dust rained from above as a new force ripped through the fabric of the dimension. A dark portal swirled open at the far end of the room, spilling out waves of shadow. Dexter’s instincts screamed at him to run, but he knew better—whatever was coming through that portal was far worse than Dead Skull.Out of the darkness emerged a figure that made Dexter’s heart skip a beat.A Warden of the Void.Th
Dexter’s grin faltered as the Leviathan surged toward him, its massive body moving with unnatural speed. Each of its steps caused tremors that threatened to knock him off balance. He narrowly dodged a swipe from its tail, feeling the air whistle past his ear as the sheer force of it shattered a nearby boulder into dust.He needed to think fast. The Leviathan’s armor was too thick, and his daggers, no matter how sharp or enchanted, wouldn’t be enough to penetrate it. He activated Blink again, teleporting behind the beast and slashing at the joint between its shoulder and neck. Sparks flew, and the beast let out a guttural snarl, but the damage was minimal.The Leviathan retaliated with a burst of energy from its mouth—a blast of pure chaos that carved a trench through the battlefield. Dexter threw himself sideways, rolling to safety just in time. His system buzzed urgently, feeding him real-time data on the Leviathan’s movements, weaknesses, and attack patterns, but nothing was helping
Dexter stepped through the swirling portal and landed on unfamiliar ground with a heavy thud, his boots kicking up dust. He surveyed his surroundings—a vast wasteland filled with jagged rocks and twisted trees, all bathed under a sky that seemed permanently stuck between night and dawn. The atmosphere was heavy with tension, an invisible pressure that squeezed his chest.Before he could take a breath, the system’s notification buzzed urgently.[New Mission: Survive the Core Tournament. Objective 1: Prove your strength in the Opening Stage. Remaining Time: 24 Hours.]Dexter exhaled slowly, cracking his knuckles. "Alright, system, let’s see what hell you’ve brought me into this time."He didn’t have to wait long. Shadows shifted all around him, and figures emerged from behind boulders and dead trees—other players, each with a hungry look in their eyes. Some were covered in shimmering battle armor, others held weapons that glowed with strange magic. Most of them looked stronger, faster,