The flash of light faded, and Victoria, Jack, and Amano stumbled back onto the training field outside the Gate.
Around them, other teams were appearing as well—some bruised, some exhausted, a few cheering at their successful runs. Instructors and medics were already moving through the returning cadets, checking injuries and collecting mission data.
Victoria blinked, scanning the field. Her expression was sharp as always, but her gaze slid past the empty space where Kylen should have been.
"…Team Eleven, return successful," one of the staff noted, tapping a clipboard. "No casualties."
Jack scratched the back of his head. "That last monster… it was insane. At least we got pulled out before it noticed us."
Amano puffed her cheeks, hands on her hips. "Ugh, yeah! Totally unfair, right? Like, how were we supposed to deal with that thing? No way, no way~."
Victoria exhaled slowly. "We'll file the report. Lizardmen, ruins, then evacuation. Simple."
None of them noticed.
Not a single word about Kylen.
Not because they didn't care—because something had plucked the thought right out of their minds.
The memory of Kylen's presence blurred, smoothed over, replaced with a clean, perfect illusion: that Team Eleven had always been just the three of them.
They didn't even realize the silence where Kylen's voice should've been.
---
◇◇◇ [Kylen's POV]
I ran through the ruined streets, lungs burning, every uneven bronze stone threatening to trip me. The ground shook behind me—those things were fast, far faster than I could ever hope to be.
And then I remembered.
My Dexterity stat is absolute trash.
The claws raked across my back before I could dodge, hot pain flaring through me. My vision blurred for a second, blood soaking into my jacket.
One thought screamed louder than the pain:
If I stop running, I die.
So I ran.
I stumbled through a broken archway, ducking behind what remained of a collapsed tower. My breath was ragged, each inhale stinging my chest. The monster's growls echoed nearby… then faded.
Five minutes passed. I counted every second.
Finally, silence. The pack had turned back toward the temple.
I let out a shaky exhale and pressed myself against the cold bronze wall. My hands trembled, the pain in my back throbbing with each heartbeat.
"…Alright. Think. Don't panic."
"Skill list."
The window flickered into existence, bright text hovering in the air.
____
[Skill List – Commander Class]
1. Ally Buffs – A Rank [Restricted]
2. Ally Heal – A Rank [Restricted]
3. Mark Enemy – B Rank [Restricted]
4. Swap Position – B Rank [Restricted]
5. Heal – B Rank
Cooldown: 30s
Effect: Restores 25% HP to a single target.
6. Mana Outburst – C Rank
Cooldown: 1 min
Effect: Consumes 30% of user's mana to empower the next attack.
Attack +30% | Speed +15% | Defense –25%
____
Half of my kit—useless. Everything that needed allies.
And I didn't have any.
My back throbbed again, blood sticking to my shirt. I clenched my jaw.
"…Guess it's down to Heal and Mana Outburst, huh?"
I pressed my palm to the wound and whispered a Heal. Warm light flickered across my skin, knitting flesh back together. The bleeding slowed, color creeping back into my face.
"It's okay, Kylen… the pain will go away… surely."
The words were shaky, almost like I was trying to convince myself.
Then—ding.
A system window blinked into view.
[Your Talent has decided to assist you.]
[ADAPTING…]
____
CONGRATULATIONS.
You have acquired a new skill:
____
____
[Pain Tolerance] – Lv.1 – Passive
As long as your will is strong, you can endure even the most hurtful things you can imagine.
____
The pain dulled immediately, like a heavy blanket had muffled it. Not gone, but enough to stop the shaking. The sting and burn from the monster's claws still lingered, but at least now it wasn't crippling.
I let out a slow breath, gripping my gun tighter. "Guess I'm not dying yet."
I crouched low, peeking out from behind the ruined wall. The monsters had wandered back toward the bronze temple, their massive forms fading into the distance.
"…Safe." I muttered.
Forcing my legs forward, I limped through the ruins. Every step sent a dull ache through my back, but I pushed on until I reached a collapsed house. The inside was dark, colder than the outside air, dust hanging thick in the air.
The place had clearly been abandoned for centuries—yet scattered across the floor were weapons.
Rusty swords, broken blades, a shattered bow.
But one weapon stood out.
A bronze spear, surprisingly intact.
I picked it up, brushing off the dirt.
___
[Ancient Bronze Spear]
Rank: C+
Description: Attack +150
___
[Compatibility: 81%]
[Effectiveness adjusted due to Commander Class – Stat Sync 30%]
___
No enchantments, no skill imbues, nothing fancy. Just raw metal.
Still… it felt heavier, sturdier than anything I'd held before.
Not like I ever touched another weapon besides the mana gun.
I twirled it clumsily in my hand. The balance was decent, though my Dex stat was too low to really use it well.
"…Not bad."
In this kind of place, even a plain stick could be the difference between life and death.
"Now let's make a plan."
When someone enters a Gate, there are only a few ways to get out:
1. Find an exit Gate.
If you search hard enough, sometimes there's a hidden one leading straight back to Earth.
2. Defeat a boss monster.
Bosses often drop an item called a [Return Stone]. With it, you can tear open space and make your own Gate.
3. Forced extraction.
Like what happened with my teammates—someone outside can forcibly pull you back.
From all of this, there are only two realistic ways for me.
Either I find a Gate… or I kill a boss.
"Searching might be the safest play."
I glanced out the doorway.
The light was dimming. Shadows stretched long across the ruins.
"But there's one problem."
Night.
In Archana, night isn't just darkness—it's a death sentence.
When the sun sets, monsters gain buffs. Strength, speed, ferocity. Even rank increases—an F can jump to D, a D to C.
It's basically suicide to fight them.
I gripped the spear, knuckles white.
"Then there's only one option left."
My reflection in the bronze blade stared back at me, tired but determined.
Kill the boss and go back home.
As I stepped out of the collapsed house, a monstrous cry split the night, echoing through the ruins.
I gripped the spear tighter, my pulse quickening.
"…Forget it. I'll fight tomorrow."
I sat in the dark, pretending I could sleep while the city itself growled outside.
Yes... I'm a coward...
To Be Continued...