Karean, separated from his group to train in a secluded location, was making his way back to their base. The echo of his footsteps in the empty hall was interrupted by another sound—a faint but distinct rhythm growing closer. Suddenly, a voice called out from the shadows.
"Karean."
He stopped, his hand instinctively brushing the hilt of his sword as a figure emerged from the darkness.
"Roulin..." Karean muttered, narrowing his eyes. "You have a ticket, don't you?"
Roulin smirked. "I do. And you don't, right?"
Karean didn't reply. Instead, he drew his sword in one fluid motion, the blade gleaming coldly under the dim light. "I know why you're here, so let's not waste time."
Roulin's grin widened as he unsheathed his sword. "Fine by me."
The silence between them broke as their blades clashed, the sound of those swords reverberating through the streets , Roulin moved first, launching several Slashes , They Clashed , Clashed and Clashed [Arie Roulin Style: Horizontal Folds], a flurry of precise, sweeping strikes.
Karean retreated with quick leaps, dodging and parrying as he countered with invisible slashes that appeared and vanished in an instant. Roulin, however, blocked them with good effort .
"Ugh" Karean groaned a bit as a sudden graze on his arm sent a sting of pain through him.
Their relentless duel echoed through the corridors, the clanging of blades drawing the attention of Regulars nearby. Karean knew they were heading toward the streets—and with them, potential ticket holders.
Karean wasn't a "natural defect" but one by choice, cast out of the Arie Family for refusing their ideals. His only loyalty lay with his deceased father's sword , he had the ideals the family didn't need despite being a prodigy among the prodigies he refused to Change , there was a promise he'd made to himself: to carry the sword which was the reason he existed and was alive now , even if it meant being labeled a defect and exiled.
His cousin, Roulin, like the other kids of The Arie , believed the falsehood. To them, Karean was simply a failure—a defect unworthy of the Arie name. But Roulin was about to learn the truth.
Karean after having tapped into a flow state , remembered today's training , shifting his stance , he gripped his sword even tightly ,
"[Karean Style: Thirtyfold Horizontal Slashes.]"
In an instant, a storm of slashes filled the air and the street while consuming the darkness with pure white Slashes , each one precise and blindingly fast. The sheer speed and force overwhelmed Roulin, his sword flying from his grasp, shattering somewhere in the chaos. He staggered back, blood streaming from his severed hand and a mangled arm on the verge of breaking completely.
"Aghhh!" Roulin screamed, collapsing to his knees. His mind reeled in disbelief. Karean—a defect—had overpowered him in mere seconds .
Karean stopped, his blade steady as he watched his cousin writhe in pain. As soon as Roulin regained his composure slowly taking in what happened , a creepy and twisted smile appeared on his face , wild and unnerving, as his [Armory Inventory] appeared. It opened, revealing an array of weapons. Roulin grabbed a grenade-like device without hesitation.
With a press of a button, he hurled it at Karean.
Karean's instincts flared as he leapt backward, swinging his sword to deflect the device. But the grenade detonated midair, unleashing a devastating wave of compressed Shinshu.
"Boom!"
The explosion ripped through the street, the shockwave shook the area and left it in ruins Dust and debris clouded the scene, as the ground trembled under its force.
Roulin, using a teleportation device from his inventory, vanished before he got hit ,
Karean, trapped under the rubble, was left unmoving , no way of knowing whether he was dead or alive .
----
The area was crowded with Regulars, all drawn by the deafening sounds of swords clashing and the blinding flash of the explosion. Yet, when they arrived, they were too late. All that remained was the aftermath: rubble, smoke, and whispers of destruction.
From amidst the crowd, a group leaped into action, descending into the rubble. These weren't ordinary Regulars—they were the Defects, here to rescue their leader, Karean, who was rumored to be trapped beneath the debris.
"Do you really think he's under there? The explosion was too strong. He couldn't have—"
"Stop, Ravian."
The sharp voice of Ark, the Defects' deputy leader and a member of the Khun Family, cut through the tension. Ravian flinched but fell silent. Ark's expression was cold, his eyes sharp as he signaled Ravian and Lira to focus on the task at hand.
As the Defects turned toward the rubble, the surrounding Regulars began murmuring. The whispers grew louder, a mix of curiosity and scorn.
"Hey, I don't see their leader here. Isn't that strange?"
"I heard that Ari guy saying their leader is stuck under the rubble"
The Regulars snickered, their disdain for the Defects evident. To most, the Defects were pathetic—a group of outcasts from the prestigious 10 Families, surviving only by sticking together. But the Defects didn't care about their reputation.
Lira, her patience wearing thin, summoned a wave of flames. Though she was labeled a defect, the fire that danced in her hands was unmistakably from the Yeon Family. The crowd hesitated; no one wanted to provoke her. After all, what if her control slipped? A berserk Yeon was a risk none were willing to take.
At the same time, Ravian raised his needle, his sharp gaze daring anyone to come closer.
Suddenly, the tension in the air thickened as a group of Ticket Holders arrived, their reputation preceding them. At the forefront was their leader, Dusk, who unleashed a barrage of Shinshu attacks. The relentless strikes forced Lira and Ravian to retreat momentarily.
Before things could escalate further, Ark intervened. With a snap of his fingers, a storm of lightning tore through the area, scattering the attackers. Then, in an instant, Jane appeared in front of the group, his sheer strength sending them flying into the crowd with a single strike.
"If any of you want to die, feel free to try again," Ark said coldly, his sharp tone cutting through the chaos. His piercing gaze silenced most of the Regulars, though a few stubbornly remained.
Lira responded by engulfing the area in flames, creating a barrier that made it impossible for anyone to approach without risking incineration. At the same time, Ravian summoned an array of Shinshu needles, blocking every conceivable path to their location. The only way through was to jump directly into their defenses—an act of suicide.
Amid the growing tension, Jane worked tirelessly to clear the rubble. Finally, they uncovered Karean, his body battered and bloodied, a deep wound visible across his chest. Ark's face darkened with rage as he took in the sight.
Jane carefully lifted Karean, while Ark immediately tore a piece of cloth to staunch the bleeding. His hands worked quickly, his focus unwavering despite the chaos around them.
"We're leaving," Ark ordered sharply. "Take him to the nearest residential zone and get him treated immediately."
Jane and the others didn't hesitate, moving swiftly to follow his command. But Ark wasn't done. His eyes turned back to the Regulars who still lingered, watching. Without a word, he leaped onto the rubble, his Shinshu sparking dangerously.
Propelling himself into the air, he unleashed his technique: [Ark Style Lightning Technique: Dragon Flight]. Lightning engulfed his body as he soared, a torrent of energy cutting through the sky. His message was clear—stay away, or face destruction.
---
Some Days Earlier :
Meanwhile, on the 50th Floor, far from this , a different meeting was taking place. Lian stood outside his floating ship, his sharp blue eyes fixed on the entrance to the Nest. Opposite him was Chim, a member of the Lo Po Bia Family, his expression unreadable.
"You're lucky no one from the Lo Po Bia Family is involved with the Defects," Lian said with a wry smile.
Chim scoffed. "Let's skip the pleasantries. I already know why you're here"
Chim Continued his tone light but edged with caution. "Do you really want to go through with this? If anyone from your family—or mine—finds out, it'll mean trouble for both of us."
"We were in trouble the moment we chose the Rebellion Order," Lian replied firmly.
Chim chuckled softly but didn't argue. Chim the Handed Lian a small, carefully wrapped package before turning back toward the Nest. Lian returned to his ship, settling into the captain's seat with a satisfied sigh.
He was ready to set out to the lower floors more specifically- ...
----
Some Hours after the Incident in The Arie Residential For Arie Regulars To Prepare for The Hell train :
The Room was silent save for the faint , irregular drip of blood from the ragged stump where Roulin's Arm Used to be .
Roulin sat motionless on the cold floor , his back against the wall , staring blankly at the ground and remebering his defeat , The sound of his Sword Shattering in an instant and the Moment When he Groaned in pain at first echoed in his mind .
His breathing was shallow , his body trembled—not from pain—but anger , the realisation that he had failed and even that from a defect ?
"That Bastard..." He muttered , his voice raw and hoarse , The memory of the fight replayed endlessly in his mind , the blinding storm of Karean's slashes , the searing pain as his arm was severed , the sound of his sword Shattering , the very foundation of his pride had been torn apart ,
The Door Creaked open , and soft footsteps echoed in the room . A Figure emerged—A Ranker From the Arie Family , Her silver hair flickering light , Celis .
Celis , Stepped closer "You were supposed to represent the family , Roulin , Yet here you are defeated"
Her Words struck like daggers , Celis Crouched infront of him , her expression darkening "Did he take your pride too , or just your arm ?
"He didn't take anything , that thing isn't worth of the Arie Name"
Celis Smirked , Leaning Closer "Then why are you here broken , While he roams free"
"He isn't roaming free he must've been dead by now" Roulin spoke as he Glared at Celis ,
Roulin's expression darkened "And even if he's not , he'll pay the price" he spoke out with venom , "I'll strip him of his group and of himself , his life , I'll take it , piece by piece I'll remind him that he shouldn't have .."
Celis stood up , Smirking "Good Hold onto that hatred , you'll need it to fuel yourself"
She turned to leave , puasing at the doorway "Remember Roulin , Failure isn't Fogiven in this family , if you don't kill him the next time you meet him , you'll be the one to die"
The door slammed shut , Leaving Roulin alone with his hatred , With a guttural Roar he grabbed a sword and smashed it into the wall "Karean.." He growled his voice dripping with malice , "You stole .. my pride , my honour , my name , I'll carve it back from your flesh and when I'm done even the defects you lead will turn against you , well only if I'm able to hold back so that they'll stay alive .."
His eyes glinted with a dangerous light , his mind twisting in on itself as his hatred festered , in the corner of the room—a faint glow flickered to life—a storage device containing an arsenal or weapons he'd been provided by Celis
As the device activated , Roulin stepped towards it , Roulin reached out an selected a blade—black , jagged and reeking of malice as it came in touch with Roulin , It wasn't a weapon made in the Arie Family but something darker , Something retrieved from the depths of The Tower "I'll show you .. I'll show you Karean , What happens Whèn you awaken a demon" .