The battle with the mutated awakener raged on, each clash echoing through the ruins of the core zone. Dexter darted to the side as the creature’s massive claw smashed into the ground, sending debris flying. Ava moved in tandem with him, her sword slashing at the monster's flank.“Keep it distracted!” Dexter called over the chaos, his system flashing new options. Skill suggestion: Phantom Step – Use to dodge multiple incoming attacks.Without hesitation, Dexter activated it. His body flickered like a ghost, vanishing from one spot and appearing behind the creature in the blink of an eye. His dagger gleamed as he stabbed at the beast's exposed back. The creature howled, stumbling under the onslaught.Ava grinned. “Not bad! Keep it up!”But the monster wasn’t done. With a furious roar, it released a pulse of energy that knocked them both backward. Dexter hit the ground hard, his ears ringing from the blast. His system buzzed again: Warning: Energy field detected. Approach with caution.“
The night was unusually quiet as Dexter leaned against the edge of his apartment balcony, watching the stars overhead. A storm was brewing—not in the sky, but deep in his soul. The message from Dead Skull still echoed in his mind like a drumbeat. "Enjoy your little victories. They won’t last long."He wasn’t naïve. Dead Skull wouldn’t wait long to make his move, and every moment of calm was simply the eye of the storm. Dexter’s system pinged softly, delivering an update:Mission Alert: Complete Shadow Fang's initiation and earn faction trust. Objective: Infiltrate rogue guild—Deadline: 48 hours.He flexed his fingers, feeling the faint buzz of energy ripple through him. His system showed that he had leveled up again after the last skirmish—Grade B, Level 9. Skills were coming together, but he needed more than that. He needed ruthlessness.---The next evening, Dexter made his way to the rogue guild hideout, deep in the industrial wasteland of the city. Rain hammered against the crumbl
The aftermath of the encounter with Dead Skull left Dexter shaken, though he would never admit it. The rogue’s hideout lay in ruins around him, and the storm outside had grown fiercer, mirroring the turmoil within him. Every muscle ached from the brutal fight, and the system continued to ping critical alerts:Warning: Physical status at 32%. Recovery recommended.But rest wasn’t an option—not yet. The core shard burned in his pocket, a reminder of the mission he had completed but the larger battle yet to come. Dead Skull’s parting words haunted him."Next time, I won’t hold back."Dexter gritted his teeth. He wouldn’t be anyone’s prey. He needed to become stronger, faster, and deadlier before the next confrontation. There would be no second chance.---Back at his apartment, Dexter collapsed on the floor, his breath ragged. Sweat dripped from his brow, and the room spun slightly, but he forced himself to sit upright. His system opened with a soft chime, and the interface flickered in
The night’s cold air pressed against Dexter’s skin, but he welcomed the chill—it sharpened his senses. Perched on the ledge of an abandoned building, he stared down at the first warehouse. His system pinged softly, highlighting the structure with red markers indicating enemy positions."Lieutenant Kirath detected. Threat level: A-rank.""Elite guards: 12 confirmed. Reinforcements possible."Dexter’s jaw clenched. Kirath was no small-time thug—he was Dead Skull’s right-hand man, a brutal warrior known for his deadly precision. Taking him down would send a loud message to Dead Skull, but it wouldn’t be easy. One wrong move, and this mission could end before it even began.The system chimed again.Mission: Neutralize Lieutenant Kirath and his squad before they regroup. Optional: Interrogate for intel.Dexter smirked, rolling his shoulders to loosen them."Optional, huh? Let’s see if I’m feeling chatty."Without further hesitation, he activated Phantom Step. His body flickered from view,
Dexter sprinted through the night, the cold wind biting into his skin as the system displayed hostile forces closing in on his location. He could feel the weight of Kirath’s death lingering over him like a storm cloud, but there was no time to process it. Dead Skull knew, and now the game had changed. The clock was ticking.His boots hit the cracked pavement as he weaved through alleyways, moving faster than the average eye could track. The Void Elixir still coursed through his veins, giving him a second wind, but he knew it wouldn’t last. The system pinged in his mind, marking his escape routes and highlighting enemies ahead. They were closing in from all directions.A group of Dead Skull’s enforcers appeared at the street's end. They were armed to the teeth—awakeners carrying magical weapons with glowing enchantments, their eyes burning with deadly intent. Dexter exhaled, drawing his dagger. He didn’t want this fight, but there was no way around it.One of the enforcers, a towering
The energy of the Core pulsed around Dexter as the upgrade settled into his bones, leaving him feeling lighter, sharper, and more dangerous than ever. His breathing steadied, and the hum of the system’s new abilities echoed in his mind. He could feel the power waiting, coiled and ready to strike at his command. There was no more room for hesitation. Dead Skull’s shadow loomed closer, and Dexter knew the next step would be critical.The portal out of the Core shimmered, pulling him back into reality. Dexter landed silently in the back alleys of the city, crouching low as he scanned the surroundings. It was dark, the streets quiet except for the occasional distant sound of passing vehicles. But the tension in the air was thick. His system had warned him about high-value targets, and he knew they were nearby. These weren’t just ordinary enemies; these were Dead Skull’s top lieutenants. The ones who would die for him, no questions asked.Dexter moved like a shadow through the streets, tes
The night was still thick as Dexter sprinted through the alleyways, heart pounding but mind sharp. His system buzzed, alerting him that the reinforcements were close. Dead Skull was coming—and this time, it was personal. Dexter had killed the warlord’s most trusted lieutenants, and revenge wasn’t just expected. It was inevitable.He darted through the city’s labyrinth of dark streets, every shadow a potential enemy. He knew Dead Skull would show no mercy. And this fight wasn’t going to be like the others. Dead Skull wasn’t just another enemy—he was an S-rank awakener, a living legend, a monster who had killed countless others without blinking. Dexter had to think several steps ahead.The system chimed softly, offering another prompt in his mind:"System Task: Survive Dead Skull's Assault. Estimated Difficulty: Extreme."A map flickered in Dexter's vision—an old ruin just outside the city limits. The system’s advice was clear: a place where he could use his environment to his advantage
The battle with Dead Skull left Dexter bruised but sharper. His mind was already churning, preparing for the next trial. The system’s ominous message about the Midnight King echoed in his thoughts, but he knew better than to obsess over it now. There were missions to complete, skills to unlock, and a growing list of enemies ready to hunt him down.He was back in his apartment the next morning, wiping dried blood from his face when the system activated without warning:“New Mission: Locate and eliminate rogue awakeners infiltrating the Mage Academy.” Difficulty: High. Reward: Shadow Stalker Cloak.”Dexter raised an eyebrow. “Back to school, huh?” he muttered, pulling on his jacket. A mission so close to home felt off. Rogue awakeners? Infiltrating the academy? It reeked of something more sinister. But a reward like the Shadow Stalker Cloak—one of the rarest items in the system—was too good to pass up.He checked the clock. School started in an hour. With a sigh, he grabbed his bag, sli