The Legendaries Awaken

The next morning, Kai stood in the war room again, the weight of the previous night's revelations still hanging heavily on his mind. The Abyssal Core rested in a containment chamber, surrounded by security wards, its dark energy pulsing ominously as if it were alive, breathing. Kai could feel the pressure it exerted, even from across the room.

Beside him, Commander Choi stood with a stern expression, her arms folded.

"I can see it in your eyes, Kai. You understand now what this is." Her voice was low, serious. "This isn't just a fight for survival. This is a war to reclaim our world, and the stakes couldn't be higher."

Kai nodded, trying to steady his breathing. The excitement of being ranked up had worn off, and now, the gravity of the situation was fully sinking in.

His C+ rank felt like a fragile thing in a world that was falling apart at the seams.Survival was no longer enough. He had to become stronger—not just for himself, but for everyone who was depending on him.

The mission was clear. They had to find every Abyssal Core scattered across the world, destroy them, and stop the Abyss Order before it was too late.

"Where do we start?" Kai asked, his voice steadier than he felt.

Commander Choi glanced at the holographic map that flickered in front of them. "We've tracked several possible core locations.These are the hot spots where the portals are most active." She pointed at several locations on the map: Seoul, Shanghai, Tokyo, and New York.

Kai's eyes narrowed. The sheer number of threats was overwhelming. And if the Abyss Order was involved, they were likely pulling the strings in every region.

"Your team will be sent to Shanghai," Commander Choi continued. "Intelligence indicates a portal is opening there, and we need to close it before it expands. But be warned: the Abyss Order is likely already on the move. You'll face more than just monsters. They'll have their best hunters after you."

Jiro's expression darkened. "Sounds like a suicide mission."

Eun-Seo crossed her arms, her tone more measured. "I don't like it. If they're targeting us, it's not going to be a regular raid. They'll try to cut us off, isolate us."

Kai glanced at his teammates. They were all ready for this. They had no choice. The world was on the line.

"We'll go," Kai said. "And we'll make sure this doesn't become a bigger problem."

The team was quickly transported to the Shanghai Exclusion Zone, a quarantine area heavily patrolled by both military forces and awakened. The portal was located deep within the ruins of the city, an area long abandoned after the first breach.

As they walked through the desolate streets, Kai felt an unnatural chill in the air. The world felt off, as if something was watching them.

"We're close," Eun-Seo murmured, her sniper rifle in hand, eyes scanning the skyline.

Han, always the optimist, cracked his knuckles. "Just another day at the office."

Kai wasn't sure how to respond. There was nothing normal about this fight. But they couldn't afford to hesitate.

The portal loomed ahead, a swirling mass of dark energy, crackling and distorting the very fabric of reality around it. It was just as bad as the rumors had described—a permanent rift to the Abyss, a place where monsters and horrors from beyond the world could enter at will.

But as they approached, Kai's system pinged, warning him of something else.

[SYSTEM ALERT]

Multiple Hostile Entities Detected.

Warning: High-Rank Awakened Forces Incoming.

Kai's instincts screamed. He drew his sword, his body tensing. "We're not alone."

Suddenly, the ground beneath them shook, and the sky above them darkened, casting a shadow over the group.

The moment the first figure appeared, Kai's mind flashed back to the assassin they'd encountered earlier. This was no ordinary opponent.

A man in dark armor, his eyes glowing with an eerie light, emerged from the shadows. He carried a massive two-handed sword, the hilt crackling with dark energy.

His presence was suffocating, and Kai could feel the power radiating off him—far beyond anything he had ever faced.

"You've come at a bad time," the armored figure said, his voice low and menacing. "The Abyss Order welcomes all who seek power… but those who defy us will be erased."

Kai clenched his fists, his pulse quickening.So it begins.

"Move!" Jiro shouted, and the group sprang into action.

Eun-Seo darted to the side, setting up her sniper position. Han charged in, his fists glowing with mana.

Kai focused, activating his Mana Dash.

[SYSTEM ALERT]

Skill Activated: Mana Dash (Rank D)

- Boosts movement speed for a short time.

He lunged at the armored figure, his blade aimed for the man's exposed flank. But before Kai could land a strike, the figure swung his massive sword, sending out a shockwave that sent Kai flying back.

Kai hit the ground hard, barely managing to roll with the impact. His stamina bar flickered in the system window. The attack had drained more of his energy than he'd anticipated.

Jiro's sword collided with the enemy's, sparks flying as the two blades clashed. But the armored figure barely seemed affected, his smirk widening as he pushed Jiro back.

"Foolish."

Eun-Seo fired a shot, but the figure deflected the bullet with a flick of his wrist, the bullet shattering into the air.

Han wasn't about to let up. He charged again, his fists glowing with rune-enchanted power. But the armored man parried effortlessly, sending Han sprawling onto the ground with a single blow.

"Your power is nothing," the armored figure sneered. "You are insects to us."

Kai gritted his teeth. This enemy was far stronger than any of them had imagined.

But he wasn't going to back down.

As the figure raised his sword for another devastating strike, Kai saw his opening. He used the Mana Dash to get behind the enemy, and before the armored figure could react, Kai stabbed his sword into the back of his armor.

A flash of light erupted as the blade sunk deep, the enemy's form flickering.

"Is that it?" Kai growled. "I've fought worse."

The armored figure's expression twisted into a snarl. "You're not fighting just anyone, child."

With a roar, the figure unleashed a burst of dark energy, blasting Kai and the others backward.

The world around them spun.

Then, the voice came again—cold and calculating.

"The Abyss Order has only just begun."

The world seemed to pause for a moment as Kai was thrown back by the dark energy explosion. The force of the blast was enough to knock the wind out of him. His body crashed into the rubble of a nearby building, the sharp edges of concrete and twisted steel scraping against his skin.

For a few seconds, all Kai could hear was the dull ringing in his ears. His vision blurred, and his breath came in ragged gasps. The Mana Dash had given him an advantage, but the armored figure had overwhelmed him with sheer force.

He struggled to his feet, spitting out blood. The air felt thick, heavy, charged with dark mana. His system interface flickered in his vision, showing warnings about his health bar and his mana reserves.

But before he could check his status, the ground shook again, and the ominous voice of the Abyss Order member echoed through the broken streets.

"You cannot stop what has already begun."

Kai's heart pounded. His body was battered, his energy drained, and the portal loomed in the distance. If they didn't act now, the city would fall—and so would humanity's last hope.

"Get up!" Jiro shouted, his voice strained. Kai turned to see his teammate struggling to his feet as well. His sword was chipped from the earlier clash, but he was still standing.

Eun-Seo had repositioned herself, her sniper rifle aimed at the armored figure, though she knew a headshot wouldn't be enough to stop him. Han was up as well, his hands crackling with energy as he struggled to contain his mana output.

"We can't win like this," Eun-Seo said, her voice tight with frustration. "We need a strategy."

Kai's mind raced. They had no time for strategy. The enemy was far stronger than they had expected. But they had to try.

"Everyone, hold your ground!" Kai shouted. "We'll make our move when he's vulnerable."

The armored figure slowly turned to face them, a cold, mocking smile tugging at his lips. "Foolishness. You cannot outwit me. I am beyond your comprehension."

Kai clenched his fists. "We'll see about that."

He glanced at the others, his mind running through the options. He had to use every advantage he had—his system, his wit, his skills—and most importantly, the team he had with him.

"Jiro, go for his legs. Distract him," Kai ordered, his eyes locking onto the enemy. "Eun-Seo, aim for his core. If you can break his concentration, we might be able to make a move."

Jiro grinned. "Finally, something to work with." He dashed forward, his blade flashing as he went for the armored figure's legs, hoping to trip him.

The armored figure's eyes flashed with disdain, and he swung his massive sword down toward Jiro. But Jiro was already **in motion**, his body flowing with unnatural speed as he dodged, slashing at the figure's legs. The strike didn't pierce the armor, but it managed to stagger the enemy.

Eun-Seo immediately took the shot. Her sniper crackled with energy, and a high-caliber round shot out, aimed directly for the armored figure's heart.

For a moment, the enemy seemed to freeze.

But in an instant, he raised his sword and deflected the bullet, the impact sending a shockwave through the air. The force of the blow knocked Eun-Seo back, and she gritted her teeth, trying to recover.

Kai moved.

With all the speed and strength he could muster, he dashed forward, targeting the opening he'd seen—a small gap in the armored figure's defenses. His sword flashed through the air, and for a fleeting second, it looked like he might land a blow.

But the armored figure shifted at the last moment, his armor glowing as if it were alive. He parried the strike with the edge of his blade, sending Kai stumbling backward.

"You are persistent," the armored figure said, his voice dripping with venom. "But you are outmatched."

Kai gritted his teeth. His sword was cracked, his body exhausted, and his mana reserves were dangerously low. The Abyss Order member was still standing strong, and the portal was still growing larger.

He glanced back at his teammates. Han was still trying to regain his composure, but the damage had been done. They were on the edge of defeat.

But then, the system alert flashed in his vision.

[SYSTEM ALERT]

New Skill Available: Tactician's Insight (Rank B)

- A strategic ability that grants the user enhanced perception of the battlefield.

- Allows the user to predict enemy movements and exploit weaknesses.

- Mana Cost: Moderate

Kai's eyes widened. He had leveled up. The battle was far from over, but now, he had a tool to help turn the tide.

"Everyone, hold on!" Kai shouted, his voice now more determined. "I've got an idea. Trust me!"

With his newly acquired skill, Kai activated Tactician's Insight.

His mind immediately cleared, and the world around him slowed down. The movements of the enemy became predictable, and he could see the gaps in the armored figure's defenses—small windows of opportunity, just waiting to be exploited.

"Jiro, now!" Kai shouted.

Jiro, still in motion, lunged forward again, this time feinting a strike to the enemy's left. The figure reacted, raising his sword to block.

But that was exactly what Kai had anticipated.

With lightning speed, Kai dashed to the side, cutting across the battlefield with his sword. His blade slashed at the exposed side of the armored figure, and this time, it found its mark.

The enemy's armor cracked under the blow, and a shockwave of energy rippled through the figure's body. He staggered, his shield of dark energy flickering.

"Now!" Kai shouted.

Eun-Seo fired again, her shot aimed directly at the gap Kai had created. The bullet tore through the weakened armor, finding its mark deep in the armored figure's chest.

The enemy roared in agony, his body flickering as if the dark magic sustaining him was beginning to unravel.

But even as the figure staggered, he activated something—an emergency mana burst that shattered the remaining defenses around him.

"You cannot kill me," he sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "I am the chosen of the Abyss."

But as the figure raised his sword to strike, Han's voice cut through the air.

"Enough talk."

With a final, devastating strike, Han unleashed a massive energy punch that sent the armored figure flying backward. The figure's body slammed into a nearby building, and the force of the impact left a crater in its wake.

For a moment, everything was still.

Then, the figure's body flickered one last time and vanished, his presence disintegrating into dark energy.

Kai stood there, panting, the weight of the battle settling in his bones. The enemy was gone, but the portal was still there, its dark presence looming over the city.

"We did it," Jiro said, though his voice was tired.

Kai nodded, but there was no joy in his heart.

They had won this battle, but the war was far from over.

And they still had no idea what the Abyss Order had planned.

The portal continued to grow, and the world outside was slowly slipping into chaos.

This was just the beginning.