NOVEL NEXT Chapter 36: They are what—
The rift tore open with a violent hiss, slicing through the stale air of the chamber like a wound. A shimmer of unnatural light bled across the floor, and from its depths two figures emerged. Not Sera and Myia but—
Zakar stiffened, eyes wide in disbelief. "Wait… what!?"
He had expected the rifts to warn him if intruders forced their way in. His system should have screamed alarms, filled his vision with flashing alerts. But there had been nothing. Just silence until they stepped through.
His pulse thundered. If the system hadn't reacted… what level were these two?
One of them, a young man with sharp eyes and an arrogance that seemed to radiate off him, surveyed the room with disdain.
"What a pitiful sight," he muttered, his tone a mixture of scorn and amusement. "This is where we were supposed to meet the person? What a mess."
Beside him, Kyara stepped forward with a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Oh, yes. Sorry about the disappointment. You're staring at him now. The one who caught my interest."
Zakar blinked, his gut tightening. "What do you mean by that?" His voice cracked with confusion and annoyance.
Kyara only smiled deeper, her eyes narrowing in a way that unsettled him. Before he could react, the air shifted violently.
The young man beside her slammed forward with terrifying speed, using the floor itself as a propellant. His fist crashed into Zakar's chest, sending him skidding across the ground. Pain lanced up his arm as his elbow scraped against the stone, leaving his skin raw.
Zakar's voice swam. "What the hell was that for!?" he thundered, forcing himself upright.
The man smirked, his presence suffocating. "I am Kenry Wester. Kyara's best friend. Got that?" His tone dripped venom. "I don't want you near her. She's been obsessed with seeing you, and if killing you makes her stop, then so be it."
Zakar froze, staring at him in disbelief. What kind of lunatic is this freak!? His heart hammered against his ribs. Gross. Delusional. Dangerous. What the hell is he even blabbing about!?
Kenry's aura radiated danger raw, unrestrained danger.
Carene, still by Zakar's bed, trembled. Her eyes darted between Kyara and Kenry, and her knuckles whitened as she clenched her hands. She could feel it too that crushing pressur of Kenry's presence wasn't normal. It was monstrous and so also was Kyara.
"So, Zakar," Kyara's voice cut through the tension like silk. "I see you skipped the meal. Any reason you might want to share?"
Her question seemed gentle, but her tone was… strange. Too curious. Too interested.
Kenry spun on her, snarling. "Quit it already! You never ask me why I skip meals. Why would you ask him?"
The bitterness in his voice struck deep. His jealousy was plain and clear.
Zakar's eyes flicked from Kyara to Carene. She was the reason I stayed back… why is Kyara even concerned about that? His frustration boiled.
"Really? You came here just to ask why I didn't eat? Come on, you've got more reasons, right?"
Kyara chuckled softly, brushing Kenry aside with casual ease. She approached Zakar, each step deliberate, her gaze fixed. Zakar's muscles tensed as she came closer.
Before she could close the distance, Carene stepped forward, her voice trembling with anger.
'They haven't even noticed me, have they?'
She hopped down from the bed, her eyes sharp. "Hey! You two."
Both Kyara and Kenry turned sharply at her voice. They stared at each other for quite a while before breaking it.
Kyara's expression softened. "Carene? What are you doing here?"
Zakar's jaw dropped. "Wait… what!? You know each other!?"
Kyara smiled, unfazed. "Of course. We're teammates. With five thousand points, we're ranked twelfth."
Zakar's mouth went dry. "How… how is that possible? How many are you in your team?"
Kenry answered before she could. His voice was smug, dripping arrogance. "Just three. Pathetic right? You maybe, but we're doing just fine. An elite squad we are."
"Three!?" Zakar almost shouted. "Not even four!?" He whipped his gaze to Carene, confusion painted across his face.
Carene's smile was faint, almost apologetic. "Yeah. Sorry for the trouble, Zakar. But that was the only thing I could do. I had to lure you into saving me. And… I made you kill those B-rank toys."
Zakar's blood ran cold. "B-rank… what!?" His chest tightened. Did she just call B-rank monsters—
Toys!?
'System,' Zakar's thoughts raced, desperate, frantic. 'Lighten up my paused skill. Scan her.'
His interface snapped awake.
[Name: Carene Fioyza]
[Type: Offense]
[Rank: S-rank]
[System: Corpse Dead System]
[Alert!!!]
[Potential Card detected.]
[Luck: 69%]
Zakar staggered. An S-rank!? She doesn't even look it… How?!
Kyara laughed softly, her tone mocking. "Yeah, she created those dumb toys. What else did you expect from an S-rank like her?"
Zakar's system flickered again, scanning Kyara.
[Name: Kyara Zalion]
[Type: Defense]
[Rank: S-rank]
[System: Gas System]
[Alert!!!]
[Potential Card detected.]
[Luck: 72%]
Zakar's stomach twisted.
' Another S-rank!? This is insane. And what's with this damn Potential thing?! Hmm. I've got him to check on.'
Then his gaze shifted to Kenry. The man's eyes met his, a glare sharp enough to pierce skin.
The system blared.
[Name: Kenry Wester]
[Type: Offense]
[Rank: SS-rank]
[System: Mind State System]
[Alert!!!]
[Potential Card detected!!! Extreme Tremendous Power]
[Luck: 34%]
Zakar's blood froze. SS-rank!? No wonder his punch nearly broke me in half…
Kenry took a threatening step forward, his aura darkening. Zakar stared at him not flitching.
Kyara suddenly broke the tension. She reached for Zakar's hand, her touch soft, deliberate and unsettling. "Come, Zakar. We have so much to discuss."
His heart lurched. "Wait… what!? What discussion!?"
Before he could resist, a fresh rift ripped open in the chamber. Its light swallowed the space, pulling at his skin like a tide.
Zakar dug his heels into the ground, panic flooding him. System you've got to alert! Lock me down! Don't let them drag me in!
[Error: Override detected.]
[User's will compromised.]
The system's cold message chilled him more than anything else.
Kyara smiled as the rift expanded. Kenry's smirk widened. Carene's expression turned unreadable.
And Zakar helpless, furious, terrified and was pulled with them into the blinding maw of the rift.
The chamber vanished.