Seeing the student who was targeted, Lyranthor remembered his name. He was Raven Storkleive, the number one student in their class. Little did Lyranthor know that Raven was the top prospect of Terra Concord and an overwhelmingly talented individual.
Terra Concord was the premier organization governing the remnants of humanity on Earth. Comprised of leaders, scholars, and protectors from the remaining human settlements, Terra Concord acted as both a council and a guardian. Their mission was to ensure the survival, security, and unity of humanity in their territory.
He was targeted by an organization that opposed Terra Concord, Abyssal Dominion. The Abyssal Dominion is the primary opposing organization to Terra Concord, representing a faction that thrives in the shadows and seeks to exploit chaos in the world. Formed by those who reject Terra Concord's ideals of unity and progress, the Abyssal Dominion is driven by ambition, power, and control.
Comprised of powerful and influential figures, the Dominion operates with secrecy and cunning, using any means necessary to undermine Terra Concord's efforts. The Abyssal Dominion opposes Terra Concord in governance, resource control, and ideological influence, constantly clashing with them to reshape the world according to their vision. Their ultimate goal is to seize control of the world, imposing their rule and reaping the benefits for themselves.
As Lyranthor watched, the dark figures closed in on Raven. Panic spread through the stadium, with people scrambling to find safety. The chaos was overwhelming, but Lyranthor's gaze remained fixed on the scene unfolding before him.
"Why are they targeting that guy?" Lyranthor wondered aloud, trying to make sense of the attack.
Raven, despite the suddenness of the assault, stood his ground with an air of confidence. He had been trained for situations like this, and it showed in his calm demeanour and quick reflexes. With a swift motion, he summoned a barrier of light to protect himself, the magical shield shimmering under the harsh stadium lights.
"Sister Lily, please be safe!" Lyranthor shouted, his voice cutting through the din.
Lyranthor could see Raven deftly avoiding the attacks of the dark figures, countering with spells and physical strikes that displayed his training and skill. The attackers, however, were relentless, their dark cloaks billowing as they moved with inhuman speed and precision.
Suddenly, Raven was thrown by an attack and landed near Lyranthor. The sight of his fallen classmate snapped Lyranthor out of his stupor, but fear kept him frozen in place.
"What's going on? Who are these people?" he mumbled, his mind blank with terror.
Raven glanced at Lyranthor, his eyes briefly flashing before returning to the battle. "Get back! These aren't ordinary attackers!"
Lyranthor ignored the warning because he was too scared; his mind was blank. "........" he kept mumbling.
Raven's expression turned grim when he saw one of the attackers preparing a powerful strike. "Get out of there!" he shouted. It was too late. The attack approached Lyranthor faster than he expected.
Just as the attack was about to hit Lyranthor, an old woman leaped in front of him, shielding him with her body. It was Sister Lily. The last thing he saw was her smiling face.
"It's been fun raising you, Lyranthor," she said softly, taking out a small gift from her social ring. "Sorry, this is all I can afford. And remember, I love you," she whispered as her breath slowly slipped away.
Lyranthor stared at Sister Lily's fading smile and the blood on her lips. He kept muttering, "N..No..NOOOOOOO. SISTER LILY," until he finally passed out from the emotional strain.
Raven saw this and clenched his fist. "I'm sorry," he said in a low voice. "I failed to save someone again." His tragic past flashed before his eyes. He, too, was an orphan, but he had never been to an orphanage. When he was seven years old, his entire family, including his little sister, died when the Abyssal Dominion attacked his city with monsters. Just as he was about to die, a bright screen appeared in front of him. Since then, the system has helped him through his childhood and made him the strong and talented individual he is today.
During his journey to become strong, Raven never stayed lowkey. His accomplishments were investigated by Terra Concord. A spy from the Abyssal Dominion within Terra Concord learned about Raven. Now, before he grew up, became powerful, and joined Terra Concord, the Abyssal Dominion wanted to kill him or brainwash him and control him completely.
Raven's blade flashed through the air, striking with precision and force, and his magical abilities provided both offence and defence. The dark figures, though skilled and numerous, were dumbfounded to find themselves matched by a kid. They were both F-rank, compared to Raven, who was E+.
After what felt like an eternity, the dark figures began to falter. The coordinated attacks lost their rhythm, and one by one, the attackers fell under the might of Raven.
"We can't do this; we have to use the summoning stone," one of the attackers said. The other agreed and smashed the stone into the ground to summon someone.
After the summoning stone was broken, an imposing aura erupted. "What useless pawns," the figure said before beheading his subordinates and spitting on their corpse.
Raven was shocked. He couldn't move, his whole body feeling like it was frozen. He checked his system and saw the other guy's rank. It was an A+ enemy. Fear gripped him as the man approached, his face revealed an aura of menace and authority. Standing tall with a lean, almost gaunt frame, his presence was both commanding and unsettling. His skin was pale, almost ashen, contrasting sharply with his jet-black, shoulder-length hair that flowed like liquid darkness.
The man moved with fluid grace, his dark eyes locking onto Raven with an intensity that sent chills down his spine. Without a word, he reached out and grabbed Raven by the neck, lifting him effortlessly off the ground.
Raven struggled, gasping for air as the man's grip tightened. "What do we have here?" the man mused, his voice a low, menacing whisper. "This kid is something else, defeating F ranks while being only an E+ rank."
He held Raven up, studying him intently, as if deciding whether to kill him or bring him back. The seconds stretched into an eternity, the weight of the decision pressing down on Raven like a physical force.
"This one might be worth keeping," the man finally said to himself, his grip relaxing just slightly. "Or perhaps he'll be more useful dead. Decisions, decisions..."
An aura stronger than the pale man's erupted from the entrance. The pale man looked towards the source of the aura just in time to feel a sharp pain. His hand was severed, releasing Raven. The pale man screamed in agony, clutching his decapitated hand, his eyes wide with shock and rage.
"Who are you?" he shouted, his voice a mix of pain and fury.
Stepping into the light, a woman with a curvaceous body that exuded confidence and grace approached. Her ample bosom and narrow waist accentuated her hourglass figure, drawing attention to her feminine allure. Her thick, toned legs gave her a powerful yet elegant stance, perfectly complementing her overall appearance. Each movement she made was fluid and purposeful, highlighting the strength and elegance inherent in her physique.
With a cold, piercing gaze, she stared down the pale man. "Who I am doesn't matter," she said, her voice calm yet filled with authority. "What matters is that you leave now, or you'll lose more than just your hand."
The pale man, still in shock and pain, took a step back, assessing the situation. The aura emanating from the woman was overwhelming, a clear sign of her superior strength. Realizing the futility of further confrontation, he snarled, "This isn't over," before disappearing into the shadows, leaving his severed hand behind.
The woman turned her attention to Raven, who was struggling to stand. "Are you alright?" she asked, her tone softening.
Raven nodded weakly, still reeling from the ordeal. "Thank you," he managed to say, his voice hoarse.
She offered him a hand, helping him to his feet. "Let's get you somewhere safe," she said, glancing briefly at Lyranthor, who was still unconscious. "We have much to discuss."