The weight of his battle with the Midnight King still hung heavily on Dexter’s shoulders as he returned to the waking world. Exhaustion gnawed at him, but there was no time to rest. He could feel it in his gut—Dead Skull wouldn’t let this insult go unanswered. The system’s cold, calculating voice echoed in his mind, urging him forward."New Mission Incoming: Survive. Eliminate incoming enemies. Prepare for Dead Skull's wrath."The air around him felt thick with tension. Dexter knew what it meant—Dead Skull, one of the most powerful awakeners alive, wouldn’t just sit back. And the worst part? This was only the calm before the storm.---At school the next day, Dexter forced himself to blend in, trying to ignore the growing dread gnawing at him. Despite everything, he hoped for just one normal day—no missions, no fights. But deep down, he knew better.The day progressed uneventfully until lunch. Dexter was sitting alone at a corner table in the cafeteria when a group of upper-tier awake
Dexter barely had time to recover after defeating Dead Skull. His body screamed for rest, but the system’s voice came through once again—cold and merciless."Warning: System recalibration in progress. New threats emerging. Prepare for next mission."Panting, Dexter sat on the edge of the battlefield, wiping sweat from his brow. Dead Skull had been his toughest fight yet, and he’d come dangerously close to losing. But as much as he wanted to celebrate the victory, he knew that things were only going to get worse.He didn’t get to enjoy victories—only survival.---The next morning, Dexter forced himself to attend school. He didn’t have many friends left, and with the rise in awakening incidents, the academy was a breeding ground for arrogance and competition. Students who had once ignored him now either feared or envied him, given his growing reputation.He walked into the classroom, hoping to avoid unnecessary attention. Of course, that didn’t last long.A familiar voice sneered from
The clash between Dexter and Virex intensified. Every strike from the King of Ruin sent cracks rippling through the ground, shaking the Core itself. Dexter’s energy reserves were running low, his muscles burning with every movement. Yet, there was no time to hesitate. The longer the fight dragged on, the slimmer his chances of survival became.Virex swung his massive obsidian blade, aiming to cleave Dexter in half. Dexter twisted midair, narrowly avoiding the deadly arc, and retaliated with Phantom Slash. His blade shimmered with dark energy as it carved through Virex’s side. The King of Ruin stumbled, letting out a guttural snarl, but recovered almost instantly, a cruel grin spreading across his face.“You’ve got spirit, boy. But spirit alone won’t save you.”Virex raised both hands, summoning a storm of black lightning that surged toward Dexter like a tidal wave. Dexter leapt backward, activating Shadow Shift to teleport out of the path, but the aftershock hit him hard, sending him
The sky trembled as Seraph, the Eternal, hovered in the air, radiating an overwhelming aura that made Dexter’s body feel like it was breaking under sheer pressure. The six-winged entity stared down at him, its voice a haunting melody."You survived Virex... but that was merely a test. Now, let’s see if you can last more than a breath against me."Seraph raised a hand, and a swirling sphere of black fire and golden light materialized, crackling with deadly energy. Dexter braced himself, muscles screaming in protest, but his will burned brighter. The system chimed in his mind, relentless."New Mission: Survive Seraph's assault. Rewards: Unknown. Failure: Death."Dexter rolled his eyes. "Yeah, thanks for the helpful advice."Before he could finish the thought, Seraph unleashed the blast. The ground shattered, and a shockwave rippled through the Core, flinging Dexter through the air like a ragdoll. He crashed hard into a jagged rock wall, coughing up blood as his ribs cracked from the imp
Dexter stood in the heart of the battlefield, panting, the echoes of Seraph’s defeat still ringing in his ears. The ground beneath him was cracked, glowing faintly from the residue of the magical onslaught he had endured. Blood trickled from cuts across his arms and face, his vision swimming as exhaustion began to settle into his bones.Then came that unsettling shift in the air—the very fabric of reality tearing apart. The vortex crackled with black lightning, swirling wider, as if it were alive and hungry.The moment Dead Skull emerged, the temperature seemed to drop. A wave of suffocating pressure rolled through the area, making Dexter’s knees buckle slightly. Dead Skull towered over him in a suit of jagged black armor, his crimson eyes glowing from within the skeletal helm that gave him his infamous name. This wasn’t just any opponent. This was a nightmare incarnate—a Grade S awakener, one of the deadliest beings known."You killed my men," Dead Skull rumbled, his voice a low grow
Dexter staggered to his feet, heart pounding with a mixture of exhaustion and adrenaline. He had just defeated Dead Skull, a feat he had once thought impossible, and yet here he was, facing an even greater challenge. The air around him shifted, charged with an ominous energy that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. He looked around, instinctively seeking cover, but there was nowhere to hide. The battlefield was a barren wasteland, littered with debris from the earlier fight, the remnants of Dead Skull's minions scattered like broken toys.The ground beneath him began to tremble, sending small rocks and dust swirling into the air. Dexter gripped his daggers tightly, his body still recovering from the strain of Overdrive. He could feel the remnants of power coursing through his veins, but he knew it wouldn’t last long. He had to act quickly.Then, from the swirling darkness at the edge of the battlefield, Vorn, the Abyssal King, emerged. He was a towering figure cloaked
Dexter forced himself to his feet, his limbs trembling from exertion. Dust and debris swirled around him, the air thick with the remnants of their battle. He could see Vorn, staggered but not defeated, shaking off the shock of the attack. The Abyssal King’s armor was scorched and cracked, revealing glimpses of the dark energy pulsing beneath, a sinister glow that promised untold wrath.“You think you can defeat me?” Vorn sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. “I am eternal! I have consumed entire realms and crushed those who dared to oppose me. You are nothing but a fleeting moment in my grand design.”Dexter felt a shiver run down his spine, the weight of Vorn’s words settling heavily in the pit of his stomach. But he couldn’t allow fear to take root. “You may be powerful, but I’m not done yet!” he shouted, desperation fueling his resolve. He needed to find a way to finish this once and for all."New Mission Available: Defeat the Abyssal King Vorn. Reward: Major Power Boost and N
“Bring it on,” Dexter said, his defiance shining through the uncertainty. “I’ve faced darkness before, and I won’t back down now.”Nyx tilted their head, a smirk visible beneath the hood. “Such bravado. It will serve you well, but you will need more than just courage to survive what’s to come.” The figure extended a hand, and shadows danced around them like ethereal flames. “I am not your enemy, Dexter. I can offer you knowledge, power beyond your wildest dreams, but it comes with a cost.”Dexter narrowed his eyes, instinctively wary. “What kind of cost?”“The kind that shapes destinies,” Nyx replied cryptically. “To wield the true power of shadows, you must embrace the darkness within yourself. You must be willing to sacrifice your very essence to gain strength. Will you accept the path I offer, or will you cling to your naive notions of heroism?”“Naive? You think I haven’t faced darkness?” Dexter shot back, his pulse racing. “I’ve fought through it, and I’ve lost friends to it. I w