The cities of the human realm were enclosed within a vast, shimmering barrier that spanned their entire perimeter, know as the Fortress. This magical dome enveloped them completely, safeguarding the inhabitants from the perilous world beyond. Outside the barrier lay untamed wilderness, infested with ferocious, man-eating monsters that prowled the land. The only way for people to travel between cities was through the network of teleportation gates, which connected the cities across the empire. These gates formed an intricate web, allowing instant travel between distant locations, ensuring the empire remained united despite the dangers lurking outside the protective barriers.
Inside the barrier, a massive wall surrounded the city, where the gatekeepers stood watch, guarding it day and night.
The Wall had a single gate that opened to the dangerous wilderness beyond. This gate was heavily guarded by the O.R.D.E.R.'s elite Awakeneds, known as the Gatekeepers. These Gatekeepers were composed of high bronze-rank and low to mid silver-rank Awakeneds, all trained to defend against the monstrous threats lurking outside the barrier.
"Uuuugh, so boring," Kora yawned, stretching his arms. "Why do we even have to guard this gate? We all know no monster's ever going to break through," he grumbled, frustrated after an entire night of uneventful duty.
"You fool, stay focused. Just because no monsters have broken through before doesn't mean we can relax," the senior Gatekeeper scolded him sternly.
"Yes father."
"While we're on duty, you call me General. How many times do I have to tell you?"
"Sorry General."
Kora was a short, muscular boy, giving him an unusual appearance for his size. His greenish hair and blue eyes stood out, but despite being awakened for three years, he lacked any particular talent in the Arts. This made him an easy target for bullying at the Awakened Academy, a place meant for the most gifted students. Frustrated by his lack of progress, his father arranged for him to join the Gatekeepers. Despite the challenges, Kora was a person who never gave up. He trained relentlessly every day, building his impressive physique through sheer determination.
The General sighed, then slowly reached out, placing a hand on his head and gently ruffling his hair.
"I know it's hard on you. Death is a terrible thing to face, and you've been through so much. But hang in there. I've always believed in you, son."
"Didn't you just say not to call you 'father' a minute ago?"
"Well, I did, but as the General, I get the final say," he replied, then coughed awkwardly.
"That's called abuse of power," Kora complained.
'BOOOOOOOOM!' A deafening sound echoed from deep within the wilderness.
"What? What was that sound?" Kora asked, turning to look in the direction of the noise.
Monsters surged toward the Fortress in a chaotic horde, a terrifying array of sizes and shapes. Some were massive, towering figures with rippling muscles, while others were smaller but agile, darting between their larger counterparts. Kora stared in disbelief, trying to count their numbers as they charged forward.
His eyes were drawn to a particularly formidable creature that stood apart from the chaos, remaining still in the distance. This beast was cloaked in natural armor, its hide glistening like polished stone and appearing nearly unbreakable. Its intense gaze was fixed on the Fortress, a predatory focus that sent chills down Kora's spine.
Prominently protruding from its head was a giant horn, sharp and blade-like, gleaming menacingly in the fading light. The creature possessed bat-like wings that unfurled from its back, their membranes stretching wide, ready to take flight. Four powerful arms extended from its body, each ending in claws that looked capable of rending steel.
Kora's heart raced as he realized this monster was not just part of the horde but potentially their leader, a formidable force that could inspire the others. The air was thick with tension as the creature's presence loomed, a harbinger of the storm about to break against the Fortress's defenses.
"Wh… What is that monster? It's at least 10 feet tall," Kora stammered in disbelief.
"It's not just a monster; it's an abyssal creature," the General said, his eyes widening in alarm.
He warned Kora to stay in the safe zone and ran ahead to lead the Gatekeepers.
The horde of monsters charged at the fortress, slashing the barrier with their claws. Yet the barrier didn't even flinch. They roared in frustration, struggling to break through.
After a long struggle from the monsters, the Abyssal creature finally stirred. It opened its maw, concealed by its exoskeleton, revealing an abnormally long tongue that slithered out, hissing as if it had a will of its own. The tongue shot toward the fortress, killing any monsters in its path until it slammed against the barrier with a thud. Yet, the barrier remained unaffected.
"That's it?" Kora sighed, disappointed. He had expected the creature to be more powerful. Looking back at the tongue, he noticed something—upon closer inspection, a gooey substance oozed from it, the same infection spreading through the monsters.
[Skill: Infaction(IV)]
The substance rapidly spread across the barrier, weakening it. Suddenly, the fortress collapsed with a sound like shattering glass.
"What?! The fortress fell!" Kora's eyes widened in shock.
He looked down from the top of the observation tower, his heart pounding in his chest as chaos unfolded beneath him. The gatekeepers fought valiantly against the onslaught of monsters, their movements swift and coordinated. Normally, creatures like these were manageable, falling within threat levels of 2 or 3. But something was different this time. The monsters were more vicious, their strength far surpassing what it should have been. Kora's brow furrowed as he realized this was no ordinary attack.
The gatekeepers, trained to hold the line against such threats, were struggling. One by one, they began to fall. Kora's fists clenched as he watched the horrifying scene unfold below. The monsters swarmed over the fallen, their grotesque forms ripping into flesh with savage hunger. The gatekeepers, those once-awakened protectors of the city, were torn apart as the creatures fed upon them, their deathly sharp fangs.
Kora's gaze fixed on one group of gatekeepers desperately trying to hold their ground. Their blades cut through the monsters with precision, but it wasn' t enough. The creatures seemed endless, driven by an unnatural fury. He could see the panic in the eyes of those still standing, their faces contorted with fear as they were forced to watch their comrades being devoured alive. The screams of the dying filled the air, piercing through the clamor of battle.
As the tide of monsters surged, the battlefield descended further into a nightmare. Blood splattered across the ground in thick pools, staining the earth beneath. The smell of death hung heavy in the air, mixing with the iron tang of blood. It seemed like the monsters were feasting not only on the bodies of the fallen but on the very life force of the battlefield itself, growing stronger with every kill.
Kora's stomach churned as he continued to watch helplessly from the tower. He had never seen a battle like this. This wasn't just a fight; it was a massacre. The monsters weren't simply killing-they were annihilating everything in their path, turning the once orderly battlefield into a scene of utter carnage. Blood was smeared across the ground, splattering armor and weapons, while dismembered limbs lay scattered among the chaos.
The air was thick with the echoes of horror, the gut-wrenching screams of those still alive mixing with the frenzied snarls of the monsters. The constant clash of weapons, desperate and unrelenting, rang out in a discordant rhythm. It was a symphony of terror, a scene straight out of hell. And in the middle of it all, Kora could do nothing but watch as the monsters continued their relentless advance, tearing through the gatekeepers and spreading death wherever they went.
"I... I need to go and... help them," Kora said, his voice trembling.
He remembered his father's words, telling him to stay put, but the urge to help was overwhelming. Ignoring the warning, he tried to stand. His legs, shaky and unsteady, gave way, and he collapsed back onto the ground. "Damn it!" he cursed, frustration boiling over. "Stand up, damn it!" he screamed at himself, but his legs refused to obey, drained of strength and hope. All he could do was watch helplessly as the carnage unfolded, unable to intervene until it was all over.
He watched as the battle neared its grim conclusion. Most of the gatekeepers had fallen—or worse, been devoured. But his father still stood, fighting with fierce determination. With every strike, he cut through the monsters in his path, his movements fueled by a deep, burning anger. Kora could see the pain in his father's tear-filled eyes as they scanned the battlefield, searching desperately for something—or someone. Then, his gaze locked onto the Abyssal creature looming in the distance, standing ominously amidst the chaos.
"You bastard!" he gritted through clenched teeth as he charged toward the monster.
[Battle Art: Beast Strength]
He leaped toward the monster and struck it with his gauntlet.
As he landed, a loud metallic clang echoed through the air. His fist collided with the creature's exoskeleton, but there wasn't even a crack on its surface.
"What?!!"
"Weak human, get out of my way," the creature snarled.
[Skill: Shapeshift (I)]
The creature's left arm transformed into a blade, and with a swift swing, it decapitated the General effortlessly.
"N-No... Father...!!" Kora screamed at the top of his lungs.
***************
"Oh, great. Where am I now?" Jin muttered as he found himself teleported to an unfamiliar location.
"What are you doing here?" a familiar voice called out. It was Luke, sporting his usual ragged cloth wrapped around his neck.
Jin glanced at him. "Oh, it's you."
"So, what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at the Azure Palace?"
"Azure Palace? You mean Albedo's domain."
"That's Lord Albedo to you," Luke corrected sharply.
"Ah, I see... So you're his disciple?"
"Yes, I am. In fact, I'm his only disciple."
"You don't say," Jin replied dryly.
During their conversation, a deafening sound of shattering glass echoed through the air. Startled, they looked up at the sky. The fortress was breaking apart, its fragments falling but disappearing before they could reach the ground.
"What?!! The fortress is destroyed! Is this an attack?!!" Luke exclaimed, panicking as he prepared to run toward the city gate.
"Wait, I don't think you'll survive if you go," Jin said, stopping Luke from rushing to the gate.
"I know," Luke replied, "but I can't just stand here while someone's attacking the city."
'What a fool. He knows how weak he is, yet he still wants to go,' Jin thought. 'For some reason, he reminds me of you.'
"Very well. Let me help you break this limiter of yours," Jin said.
"What limiter?" Luke asked, confused.
Jin placed his right hand on Luke's head.
[Mathematician: Information calculation]
'How interesting,' Jin thought. 'Something's blocking him from reaching his full potential. It doesn't seem like Albedo put it there, but he must have known about it.'
[Mathematician: Limiter ×0]
"Wow, it feels like a weight has been lifted off me all of a sudden," Luke marveled, amazed by the newfound sensation.
"Alright, let's get going," Jin said, his tone more serious now. "There's no time to waste."