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,
Dexter stumbled out of the portal, landing on uneven terrain shrouded in thick mist. The air was cold, suffused with the metallic tang of blood, and distant roars echoed through the void. He looked around, his eyes scanning the warped landscape of the Abyssal Rift—a place whispered about even among the strongest awakeners, a realm where only nightmares thrived.He tightened his grip on his daggers, heart pounding with excitement and dread. This wasn’t just another mission—it was a challenge meant to break him. And if he survived, he’d be one step closer to confronting Dead Skull.The system buzzed again.[Mission: Retrieve the Heart of the Titan. Objective: Locate the Titan's Fortress. Warning: Multiple hostile entities detected. Time limit: 72 hours.]"Great," Dexter muttered. "A whole three days to survive hell. Just what I needed."Suddenly, the ground trembled beneath his feet. Massive shapes loomed out of the mist—hulking beasts, their glowing eyes filled with hatred. They looked
Dexter felt the air around him crackle with energy as the titan unleashed a powerful roar that shook the very foundation of the fortress. He sprang into action, dodging to the side as the creature swung a massive fist in his direction, the ground beneath him splintering upon impact. He could feel the vibrations through the soles of his boots as he rolled away, his heart racing with adrenaline.[Battle Initiated: Titan of the Abyss. Threat Level: S-Class.]“Great,” Dexter muttered under his breath. He felt the familiar hum of his system guiding him, pushing him forward. “Just what I wanted—a class S monster to start my day.”As the titan prepared to strike again, Dexter activated his Lightning Step skill. The world around him slowed as he dashed toward the titan, aiming for its exposed leg. He leaped high, spinning mid-air to bring his daggers down in a vicious arc.[Skill Activated: Lightning Step. Speed increased by 50%.]The daggers bit deep into the titan's thigh, but the creature
Dexter stood in the training hall of the Imperial Guild, surrounded by the sounds of clashing weapons and heated shouts as fellow awakeners pushed themselves to their limits. The atmosphere buzzed with energy, an electric pulse of determination that resonated with him. This was his home, a sanctuary of strength where he could forge his skills alongside others who shared his purpose. But today felt different; the weight of impending danger loomed heavy over him, a cloud of foreboding that made the air feel thick and oppressive.“Listen up, everyone!” Henry called out, gathering a small group of their friends. “We have news, and it’s not good.”Dexter watched as several familiar faces turned their attention to Henry, curiosity and concern etched on their features. Among them were Charlotte, a fierce and skilled fighter whose loyalty to the guild was unmatched; Ethan, a healer with a calm demeanor that belied his potent powers; and Maya, a strategist whose sharp intellect often guided th
They sparred again, but this time with a renewed focus. As they fought, Dexter felt himself shifting into a new mindset. He was no longer just reacting to Henry’s movements; he was anticipating them, predicting his friend’s strikes and countering with calculated precision. The rhythm of their combat began to flow like a well-rehearsed dance, each move a testament to their growing synergy.“Nice! That’s it!” Henry encouraged, his voice filled with excitement as he blocked one of Dexter's punches and then retaliated with a quick jab to his ribs. Dexter grunted but managed to pivot away, using his training to regain his balance.Maya entered the training hall just as Dexter was about to unleash a flurry of strikes. “I see you two are at it again,” she said, crossing her arms with a smirk. “Let me jump in. I want to see how you handle a two-on-one.”Henry laughed, “You’re on, but just remember—no holding back!”As they squared off, Dexter felt the adrenaline surge through him, his senses
“Now!” he shouted, leading Henry out into the fray as they charged into the chaos. Dexter and Henry moved like lightning, weaving through the scattering minions, their adrenaline-fueled determination driving them forward.The minions, momentarily distracted by the illusory figures, struggled to regain their focus as Dexter and Henry took advantage of the opening. Dexter’s blades flashed in the dim light, slicing through the air as he targeted the closest enemy. He ducked under a wild swing from one of the attackers, pivoted on his heel, and retaliated with a swift strike that sent the minion sprawling.“Keep pushing forward!” Henry yelled, using his staff to knock another minion off balance. The impact sent the figure crashing into a wall, where he slumped, dazed.Dexter could see the confusion among the enemy ranks; Maya’s illusions were working. Minions were diverting their attention in every direction, trying to figure out which way to go. Taking advantage of their disarray, Dexter