Somewhere on the 73rd Floor, amidst the jagged cliffs and roaring waterfalls, stood a man cloaked in a black battle robe. His face was shadowed beneath a hood, but his crimson eyes glowed faintly, cutting through the mist like embers in the night. Noir stood motionless, listening to the rhythmic pounding of the waterfall nearby, as if it were the heartbeat of the wild terrain around him.
Suddenly, his pocket buzzed to life, a familiar voice slicing through the ambient noise.
"Noir, there's a mission," Adori Zahard's commanding tone echoed.
Noir's lips curled faintly into a smirk as he retrieved his pocket. "I'm listening."
Her voice was direct and unwavering. "Recently, several influential members of the 10 Great Families have joined a rebellion. They call themselves the 'Rebellion Order.' These people are not just speaking against Zahard's rule—they're acting. Sabotage, recruiting Regulars, even disrupting the balance on several floors. Their leaders have been exposed, and I need you to eliminate them."
Noir raised an eyebrow. "A rebellion against Zahard and the 10 Families? That's bold."
Adori's tone didn't waver. "It's more than bold; it's dangerous. They're sowing seeds of chaos, and if left unchecked, this could turn into a movement. You understand the stakes, don't you?"
Noir leaned against the jagged rock wall, his gaze drifting toward the endless waterfall. "I understand. But let me guess—you've already decided I'm the one for the job. No room to say no?"
Adori's voice softened slightly but remained firm. "You're one of the few people I trust to handle this quietly and efficiently. The rebellion must be crushed before it spreads further."
Noir exhaled deeply, the faint glimmer of a smile playing at his lips. "Fine. But I'm guessing you're not sending me alone."
"You'll have support," Adori confirmed. "There's a team waiting for you on the 75th Floor. Skilled individuals who understand the mission's gravity. But make no mistake, Noir—you're the spearhead. They're there to assist, not lead."
He chuckled darkly. "Assist, huh? Sounds about right. Anything else I should know?"
Adori hesitated for the briefest moment before delivering her final instruction. "If it comes to a point where you're outmatched, don't waste your life. Retreat. I've stationed squadrons nearby to handle any fallout. This mission is critical, but it's not worth losing you for nothing."
The call ended abruptly, leaving Noir alone once again with the roar of the waterfall.
Noir pocketed the device and glanced out at the cascading water. "A rebellion, huh?" he murmured to himself. The idea intrigued him. What could drive high-ranking members of the 10 Families to betray everything they were born into? Desperation? Greed? Ideals?
He pushed off the rock wall and began walking toward his warship docked nearby, its sleek black hull blending almost seamlessly into the darkened surroundings.
As he boarded, his mind raced. This mission wasn't just another order—it was a test. A rebellion that dared to challenge Zahard and the 10 Great Families meant that cracks were forming in the foundation of the empire. And if cracks were forming, what did that mean for people like him?
Noir's warship roared to life, the engines humming with restrained power as it rose into the sky. His destination: the 75th Floor, where his team and the names on Adori's list awaited him.
---
Internal Conflict
As the ship ascended through the Tower's winding corridors of light and Shinsoo, Noir leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes. For a moment, memories of his past clawed at the edges of his thoughts—his own reasons for being loyal to Adori Zahard, his own grudges against the families.
Noir's crimson eyes opened, a flicker of resolve cutting through the turmoil. "I Wasn't There to participate in the Genesis , Whatever this rebellion is, it ends now. For better or worse, that's my job."
The warship sped onward, the cascading waterfalls of the 73rd Floor fading into the distance as Noir prepared for the storm that awaited him.
----
Ark stepped into the Ticket Lobby, his expression grim. The lobby was a warzone, a place where Regulars fought for their chance to get a ticket since finding a ticket holder was already hard and you couldn't go everywhere massacring people , Like Everyone has a limit , This year was particularly brutal, with more tickets than ever circulating, drawing in some of the most ruthless and skilled competitors.
For Ark, this wasn't just about getting on the train. His leader, Karean, lay injured, and the clock was ticking. Every second wasted was a second too long. The lightning crackling faintly around him reflected his growing impatience, his resolve sharpening as his eyes locked onto his target.
In the center of the arena stood Rugard, a towering Regular clad in steel-plated armor. Around his neck hung three tickets, a symbol of his dominance in the lobby. He had crushed every opponent so far, his war hammer leaving destruction in its wake.
"If I take him down, I can wrap this up quickly," Ark thought, his body tensing with anticipation.
He stepped forward, his presence drawing the attention of the crowd. Whispers rippled through the spectators.
"Isn't that one of the Defects?"
"What's he doing here? They're too weak to survive this place."
"This'll be over in seconds."
Ark ignored them, his focus entirely on Rugard.
"You there," he called out, his voice steady. "Fight me."
Rugard turned slowly, his eyes gleaming with amusement beneath his helmet. "You? A Defect? This'll be fun."
Leif, the Ranker overseeing the matches, smirked from his podium. "You sure about this, kid? That guy's undefeated today."
Ark didn't even look at him. "Call the match."
The Street block went silent as the match began.
Rugard wasted no time, charging at Ark with his massive war hammer , the weapon's shadow loomed over Ark as it came crashing down.
Ark sidestepped at the last second, the hammer slamming into the ground and sending shards of stone flying. He retaliated immediately, a burst of lightning streaking from his hand toward Rugard's exposed joints.
But the armor was thicker than Ark anticipated, and Rugard shrugged off the attack with ease.
"Pathetic," Rugard sneered, swinging his hammer horizontally.
Ark ducked, the wind from the swing grazing his back. He countered with a lightning-infused punch aimed at Rugard's knee joint. The attack connected, forcing Rugard to stagger, but it wasn't enough to bring him down.
The fight continued in a blur of attacks and counterattacks. Rugard's raw strength clashed against Ark's speed and precision, neither gaining a decisive advantage. But as the minutes dragged on, Ark felt the familiar, dreaded heat building in his body.
"Not now," he thought, gritting his teeth. The prolonged use of his lightning abilities was starting to overheat him, draining his stamina rapidly. Sweat dripped down his face, and his movements grew slightly slower.
Rugard noticed the change immediately. "Getting tired already? Figures. You Defects are all the same—weak and pathetic."
Ark didn't respond. Instead, he took a deep breath, his resolve hardening. He couldn't afford to lose, not here
Rugard raised his hammer for a finishing blow, aiming to crush Ark once and for all. But as the hammer descended, Ark's eyes sharpened, and his body surged with an overwhelming burst of lightning.
"Enough!" he roared, propelling himself forward in a flash of blue light [ Ark style lightning technique : Flight ]
In an instant, he was above Rugard, his body crackling with energy despite the unbearable heat coursing through him. Channeling all his remaining strength, he unleashed his most powerful attack.
"[Ark Style: Lightning Crescent]."
A massive arc of lightning erupted from his hand, slicing through the air and striking Rugard's exposed neck joint. The force of the attack sent Rugard crashing to the ground, his war hammer skidding away.
The crowd erupted in shock as the towering Regular lay motionless, defeated.
Ark staggered slightly, his body trembling from the strain. His vision blurred for a moment, but he steadied himself, refusing to show any weakness. He reached down and ripped the three tickets from Rugard's neck, holding them up for all to see.
Despite his exhaustion, Ark didn't stop. With three tickets secured, he pushed himself into two more matches. The first was against a speed-based Regular, who fell quickly to Ark's superior reflexes. The second opponent, a Shinsoo manipulator, managed to push Ark to his limits, but he ultimately overwhelmed them.
By the end of the ordeal, Ark held a total of five tickets, his body on the verge of collapse.
-----
Lira raised an eyebrow, her arms crossed. "You brought Someone ? Seriously?"
Jane tilted his head, his usual calm demeanor unshaken. "I didn't expect this."
Ravian, on the other hand, outright scowled. "What's the plan, Ark? You think we can just trust this guy ?"
Ark held up a hand to silence them. "I know it's unexpected, but we need someone like him. He's strong, and we're heading into tougher battles. Besides, Rugard knows how to handle himself."
Rugard crossed his arms, his presence towering over the rest of them. "Don't worry. I'm not here to play nice. I'll pull my weight, and that's all you need to know."
The tension in the room was palpable, but Ark's unwavering confidence seemed to settle most of the doubts.
"Give him a chance," Ark said, his voice steady. "We've all got something to prove. Let's see what he can do."
Though hesitant, the Defects eventually nodded, silently agreeing to Ark's decision.
Rugard smirked, his earlier humiliation replaced by a newfound determination. For the first time in a long while, he felt like he had a direction—a purpose.
And for Ark and the Defects, their numbers had just grown stronger, even if it meant taking a risk.
Moments Earlier Before Ark Came back :
The moonlight bathed the Ticket Lobby in a pale glow, the echoes of the earlier battle still lingering in the air. Rugard sat against the shattered remains of a pillar, his helmet discarded and his face bruised. His war hammer lay nearby, cracked and useless.
Across from him, Ark leaned against a wall, his body still radiating heat as he recovered from the grueling matches , he had been there for atleast like 15 minutes , Despite his exhaustion, his eyes remained sharp as they bore into Rugard.
The silence stretched between them, broken only by the distant murmurs of other Regulars and the occasional crackle of Ark's residual lightning. Finally, Rugard let out a deep sigh.
"You could've killed me," Rugard said, his voice hoarse. "Why didn't you , Most People Here Don't Do Anything like that , It's Strange."
Ark's gaze didn't waver. "I don't kill unless I have to. But I'm not here to give you mercy either , Also I'm not Most people".
Rugard snorted, his hand absently brushing over his cracked armor. "Tch You Idiot , You think sparing me is mercy? You humiliated me in front of everyone here. My reputation's in ruins."
"Then earn a new one," Ark replied, stepping forward. "You're strong , I'll give you that. But strength without direction is worthless. Join us, and you'll find a purpose."
Rugard's eyes narrowed as he studied Ark. "Join you? The Defects?" He barked out a harsh laugh. "You're all just a bunch of outcasts clinging together because no one else will have you. Why would I lower myself to that level?"
Ark crossed his arms, unbothered by the insult. "You've already lost everything. What's left to lower? You're no different from us now."
The words struck Rugard harder than any blow. He gritted his teeth, his hands balling into fists. "Watch your mouth, kid."
"Or what?" Ark's tone was calm but firm. "You'll fight me again? We both know how that'll end. Face it, Rugard. You're alone now. But with us, you'll have a chance to rebuild. To prove you're more than just the brute who lost everything in one night."
Rugard's glare softened slightly. He hated to admit it, but there was truth in Ark's words. His defeat had already spread through the Ticket Lobby, and his chances of regaining his status were slim.
"What's in it for you?" Rugard asked after a moment.
Ark shrugged. "We need strength, and you've got plenty of it. Besides, we're heading to the Hell Train. If you want to prove yourself, that's the place to do it."
The thought of the Hell Train piqued Rugard's interest. The stories he'd heard about it—the challenges, the opportunities, the legends—were enough to tempt even the most stubborn Regular. But his pride still held him back.
"What about your group?" Rugard asked. "The others won't want me around."
Ark smirked faintly. "They'll get over it. They trust me."
The confidence in Ark's voice was enough to give Rugard pause. For someone labeled a Defect, Ark carried himself with an unshakable sense of purpose.
Finally, Rugard exhaled deeply, the tension in his shoulders easing. "Fine. I'll join you. But don't think for a second that I'll follow you blindly. I make my own decisions."
Ark extended a hand. "Fair enough. Welcome to the Defects."
Rugard stared at the hand for a moment before clasping it firmly.
( This Chapter Was Quite Different Also Soon After I make some Small chs Consisting of Character Exploration and Building , Actual big fights which will go on for a lot of time / chs will be there , Sorry If This ch Felt short or boring )