The sun rose over the World Union outpost, casting long rays of light over the battered walls and restless figures moving within. The battle against the Shadow Syndicate had shaken everyone, but it had also ignited a fire of determination. Ling stood on the balcony overlooking the training grounds, his thoughts swirling like a storm.
The quiet hum of his holographic interface broke through his reverie. Ling glanced at the translucent blue screen hovering before him, its soft glow contrasting with the morning light.
[Ling Chen]
Strength: 14
Agility: 16
Intelligence: 18
Potential: Infinite
Skills:
Light Burst – Level 3
Radiant Pulse – Level 1
Absorption Log: Shadow Energy Residue (Syndicate Operative – Minor), Lesser Void Beast Traits (Agility +1)
[XP Progression: 210/300]
Ling tapped on the Absorption Log, scrolling through the entries. One line in particular caught his attention again:
[Shadow Energy Residue – Warning: Corruption Detected.]
He frowned, his finger hovering over the warning. He hadn't yet told anyone about this—not even Mei Lin or Kai. What if this energy was affecting him in ways he didn't yet understand? The system hadn't provided any further explanation beyond the vague warning, leaving him in a state of uncertainty.
"Ling?" Mei Lin's voice called from behind him, pulling him out of his thoughts.
He turned to see her standing in the doorway, her expression soft but concerned. "You've been up here for a while. Are you okay?"
Ling hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, just… thinking about everything that's happened."
Mei Lin stepped closer, her gaze searching his face. "You're carrying a lot on your shoulders," she said gently. "But you don't have to do it alone."
Her words struck a chord within him. He wanted to tell her about the corruption warning, about the doubts that had been gnawing at him since their last mission—but something held him back. Instead, he forced a smile and said, "Thanks, Mei Lin. I'll be fine."
She didn't look entirely convinced but didn't press further. "Well, Armitage wants to see us in the briefing room. There's something new he wants to discuss."
Ling nodded and followed her down the stairs toward the command center.
A New Mission
The briefing room was filled with familiar faces—Kai was leaning casually against a wall, Rina sat cross-legged at a table, and several other awakened individuals from their team were scattered around the room. Professor Armitage stood at the front, his usual calm demeanor tinged with urgency.
"Thank you all for coming," Armitage began as a map flickered to life on a large holographic display behind him. It showed an area just beyond their current location—a ruined city overtaken by nature and dotted with glowing red markers.
"This is Sector 7," Armitage explained. "It was once a thriving city before the meteor impact and subsequent monster outbreaks. Recently, we've detected unusual activity in this area—dimensional gates are opening at an accelerated rate, and monsters are pouring through faster than we can handle."
The room fell silent as everyone absorbed this information.
"Our mission is twofold," Armitage continued. "First, we need to secure key areas within Sector 7 to prevent further incursions into nearby settlements. Second…" He paused, his expression darkening slightly. "We've received intelligence suggesting that members of the Shadow Syndicate may be operating in this region."
A murmur rippled through the room at this revelation.
"We believe they're using these gates to harvest energy for their own purposes," Armitage said grimly. "If that's true, it's imperative that we stop them before they gain more power."
Ling felt his pulse quicken at the mention of the Shadow Syndicate. Their last encounter had left him with more questions than answers—and now it seemed they were about to face them again.
"Your team will lead this mission," Armitage said, looking directly at Ling and his group. "You've proven yourselves capable in battle, and I trust you'll handle this task with diligence."
Kai grinned confidently from his spot by the wall. "No problem! We'll take care of it."
Ling exchanged glances with Mei Lin and Rina—they all knew this mission would be far from easy.
Into Sector 7
The journey to Sector 7 was tense but uneventful. As they approached the outskirts of the ruined city, Ling activated his holographic interface to scan their surroundings.
[Scanning Area...]
[Dimensional Gates Detected: 3 Active]
[Hostile Entities Present: Moderate Threat Level]
"Three gates," Ling said aloud as he relayed the information to his team. "We'll need to close them one by one."
"Let's start with the closest one," Rina suggested, pointing toward a faint glow visible through the crumbling buildings ahead.
They moved cautiously through the ruins, their senses heightened as they scanned for any signs of danger. The air was thick with tension, and every sound seemed amplified—the crunch of debris underfoot, the distant growls of monsters echoing through the empty streets.
As they neared the first gate, Ling's interface flickered with new information:
[Gate Analysis Complete.]
[Gate Type: Lesser Rift]
[Hostile Entities Emerging: Void Imps x4]
"Void Imps incoming!" Ling warned just as four small but agile creatures burst forth from the glowing portal.
The team sprang into action immediately—Kai charged forward with his enhanced strength, delivering powerful blows to two of the imps while Rina darted around them with blinding speed.
Ling focused on channeling energy into his hands as one of the remaining imps lunged toward him. He unleashed a burst of light that struck it midair, sending it crashing into a nearby wall.
"Nice shot!" Mei Lin called out as she prepared to heal Rina after she took a glancing blow from another imp.
Within moments, all four creatures were defeated, their bodies dissolving into shimmering particles as they fell.
"Good work," Ling said as he approached the gate itself. His interface displayed new options:
[Dimensional Gate – Lesser Rift]
Status: Active
Options: Close Gate / Absorb Energy Residue
Ling hesitated for a moment before selecting Close Gate, watching as tendrils of light extended from his hands toward the portal. The gate shimmered briefly before collapsing in on itself with a soft hum.
"One down," Kai said with a grin as he dusted off his hands. "Two more to go."
The Shadows Strike
As they moved toward the next gate, Ling couldn't shake off an uneasy feeling—like they were being watched. His suspicions were confirmed when his interface suddenly flashed red:
[Warning: Hostile Entities Detected!]
Before he could react, dark-cloaked figures emerged from behind a nearby building—members of the Shadow Syndicate armed with weapons crackling with dark energy.
"Well, well," one of them sneered as they stepped forward. "Looks like we've got some pests to deal with."
Ling felt adrenaline surge through him as he prepared for battle once more—but this time there was something different about their enemies' presence… something darker and more dangerous than before.