《Banished by Unknown Forces, I Rise to Crush Their Dominion》 Chapter 1:New Identity I sat on the cold metal bench, feeling the chill slowly creep into my hands, as if the metal was trying to claim me. The spaceship''s monotonous hum was the only sound, and the people around me sat motionless, breathing shallowly and without emotion. It was as if their will had been completely shattered. No one spoke, no one moved, no one questioned out loud why we were on this spaceship¡ªwhy we were even here, lost in the darkness of space. The oppressive silence was driving me to the brink of madness. I had to stop myself from screaming. My thoughts kept circling back to the same person: Teacher Ramis. If it were up to me, I would''ve punched that damned teacher already, broken his nose. He was the reason I ended up here. About a week ago, I noticed that Ramis, my sports teacher, had been acting strange. At first, I thought it was nothing serious. Maybe he was just stressed or having a bad day. But then, I realized something was very wrong. Ramis had gone completely silent. The usually lively and talkative teacher wasn''t saying a word anymore. He just stared blankly ahead, like all the joy had been sucked out of him. I was the only one who seemed to notice his change, while the other students carried on as if nothing had happened. So, I decided one night to follow him, to find out what was going on. That decision landed me on this cursed spaceship. Now here I was, surrounded by people who didn''t seem to care, and all I wanted were answers. But no one was talking, and I got the feeling that no one here would be able to tell me what was going on. My patience was running thin. I was just about to get up, to confront Ramis¡ªto either get some answers or give him a well-deserved punch¡ªwhen the heavy door behind me slid open. Two men in immaculate blue uniforms entered. Their presence was commanding, their eyes cold and hard. Above their right eyebrows, they had a symbol engraved, something that looked like the sign of Aries, but it gave off a menacing, otherworldly vibe. Without a word, they walked through the room, ordering everyone to line up. The others obeyed immediately, without question, like they had been conditioned to follow. I hesitated. Every instinct I had screamed at me to fight back, to resist. I wanted to stand up, to challenge them, but something held me back¡ªmaybe it was a shred of reason, or the understanding that resistance, for now, would be pointless. I couldn''t tell for sure. But I stayed seated. It wasn''t because I was scared. Fear wasn''t something I felt often. Even as a kid, I had developed abilities that set me apart from everyone else. I was stronger than most people, my endurance almost limitless. My teachers had always been amazed at what I could do. But it wasn''t just my strength¡ªit was my senses too. I could see farther, hear better than anyone else. Those abilities had saved me from danger more than once. Now, though, since being on this spaceship, that constant sense of threat was hanging over me, growing stronger with each passing moment. The officers stopped in front of us and pulled out a strange device¡ªa scanner, I guessed. It looked like it was designed to check people for something¡ªinfected? Was that what they were scanning for? I had no idea. But I could feel it: the moment where everything would change was close. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. When the officer pressed the scanner to my chest, it beeped. "Infected." The word echoed in my head. Infected? What the hell did that mean? I felt fine. I was sure of it. But what did the scanner know that I didn''t? I froze, my mind racing, like I was trapped in a nightmare I couldn''t wake up from. The officer showed no reaction to the scanner''s result, walking past me as if nothing had happened. I was left standing there, my thoughts spiraling out of control. Should I be relieved that I hadn''t been "exposed," or should I be worried? The scanner said I was infected, but infected with what? Was I sick? Or was something else entirely going on? Before I could process it further, the officer in front of me reached into a compartment and handed out clothing¡ªblack uniforms with glowing green lines, like some kind of circuitry running along the fabric. I grabbed one, feeling the strange material buzz slightly against my fingers. It felt alien, and my stomach churned. Along with the clothing came a headband made of metal, with a pulsing green stone embedded in the front. "Put these on," the officer barked. "Once you are dressed, place the headband on your forehead. Then say your human name." I was hesitant again, but I slipped into the strange black outfit, feeling the green lines glow faintly against my skin. The others were quick to obey, donning the uniforms and placing the headbands. The green glow from the stone pulsed, creating an eerie rhythm that matched the silence in the room. Reluctantly, I placed the metallic band on my forehead. The moment the stone made contact with my skin, it flashed to life, brighter now. I could feel something¡ªsome energy¡ªflowing through me. The officer''s command cut through the strange sensation. "Say your human name." I took a breath. "Light." The instant I said it, a transparent screen materialized in front of me, floating in mid-air. My name¡ªLight¡ªappeared at the top. But then something else showed up beneath it. "Xyrr." I blinked, my mind reeling. Xyrr? What the hell was that? My heart pounded in my chest as I stared at the alien name. It didn''t make any sense. How could there be an alien name attached to me? I was human¡ªat least, I was sure of that. I had always been human. My breath hitched, and I couldn''t comprehend what was in front of me. Was this some kind of sick joke? Had I been lied to my entire life? I wasn''t an alien. I couldn''t be. But the name was there, right in front of me, clear as day. Xyrr. My mind screamed for answers, but I didn''t have any. Only questions. Before I could unravel any of it, the officer snapped me out of my confusion with a loud command, his voice grating against my thoughts. The screen in front of me vanished just as suddenly as it had appeared. "Move! We''re running out of time." I shook my head, trying to clear the chaos from my mind, and fell into line with the others. We were herded down the glass corridor, with a view of the vastness of space all around us. The endless black of the universe stretched out before us, and despite the turmoil in my mind, I couldn''t help but lift my head and look. A massive planet loomed in the distance, surrounded by a glowing ring of light. And far off, I could see a city floating majestically in space, its lights twinkling like stars. It was beautiful, breathtaking even. But that beauty was short-lived, shattered by a familiar sensation¡ªdanger. I snapped my gaze downward. White smoke was rising from somewhere, and immediately, I knew something had gone wrong. My body reacted before my mind could process it. My muscles tensed, but before I could do anything, a wave of dizziness hit me. The smoke thickened around us, and I tried to fight it off, tried to stay conscious. But it was too late. The world blurred, and the last word I spat out before darkness consumed me was, "Bastards¡­" Chapter 2:A Deal with the Astral Fang I awoke with a splitting headache, my eyes fluttering open to the harsh morning light flooding through massive floor-to-ceiling windows. Where was I? The last thing I remembered was being in that dark spaceship, my mind buzzing with fear and confusion. Now, I found myself in a huge room at the top of a skyscraper, complete with polished floors and an expansive view of a strange city below. The sight was breathtaking, but the uneasy feeling in my stomach quickly reminded me that this wasn''t a vacation. All around me, people were stirring¡ªthose same silent, pale-faced individuals I''d seen on the ship. At least they seemed a bit more alive now, if still disoriented. I felt dizzy myself, like my body had been put through a washing machine spin cycle. My legs shook when I stood, and I had to steady myself by gripping the nearest wall. Before any of us could gather our wits, the door on the far side of the room slid open with a crisp whoosh. A woman entered, and my first thought was how tall she was¡ªmaybe around 185 centimeters. For me, a mere 165 centimeters, that felt enormous. But there was something else about her that drew my eye: the symbol on her eyebrow. It was similar to the Aries-like mark I''d seen on the spaceship guards, except hers had a small yellow star hovering just above it, as though signifying a higher rank. Her violet hair fell down her back in a glossy curtain, and when she finally spoke, her voice snapped me out of my daze Before I could even finish processing it, she snapped at us. "Listen up, worms!" she shouted, loud enough for the room to fall dead silent. "You all have aliens implanted inside you. That''s why you can''t remember anything. And if you refuse to follow orders, those same aliens will take over your body again, and trust me, it won''t be pretty." I froze. Aliens? Implanted? What the hell? My mind was racing, trying to process it all, when a large man from the back of the room burst out laughing. He was built like a tank, with a cocky smile plastered on his face. "Yeah, right. You think I''m gonna buy this alien crap? I''ll knock the shit out of anyone who tries to stop me." He started walking toward the door, but then something weird happened. His arm twitched, then snapped up¡ªright into his crotch. He punched himself in the nuts over and over. He groaned and went down, eyes wide in pain as he blacked out from the repeated hits. Everyone just stared, horrified. My stomach dropped. This is real. The tall woman arched an eyebrow. "And that," she said, almost casually, "is what happens when you resist. The alien inside him responded to his hostility, forcibly taking control. Remember this, unless you want the same fate." A few people let out shaky breaths, and I heard someone gulp. My mouth felt dry, and my heart hammered in my chest. This was real¡ªterrifyingly real. With the man unconscious on the floor, she continued, "Now that you understand your situation, I have good news. Each of you will receive 100 points on your personal ''Arsenal.'' You can see this by opening your Monograph." At the word Monograph, something in my mind clicked. A translucent screen flickered to life in front of my eyes, visible only to me. It displayed my personal stats: Human Name: Light This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Alien Name: Xyrr Age: 17 years old Height: miniature pioPoints: 100 I stared at the word miniature, my face flushing hot. "You''ve got to be kidding me," I muttered under my breath. "Of all the things to list, it has to call me miniature? This shittygraph must have a sense of humor." Then came the points. 100 points. That''s it? I scrolled through the Arsenal. Holographic weapons, armor, and utilities floated in front of me like a video game store. There was so much to choose from, but everything was expensive. My 100 points wouldn''t get me far. "Let''s see," I murmured, scrolling through the options. Swords with crazy attributes¡ªgravity changes, physical enhancements, invisibility. There was even armor with speed boosts. My eyes skimmed over each one, but none of them felt right. My eyes lit up as I examined a sleek katana with an invisibility trait. I imagined myself turning invisible mid-battle, sneaking behind an enemy for a sneak attack. That would be so cool¡­ My face heated slightly at the thought of using invisibility for more, uh, mischievous endeavors, but I quickly shook off that daydream. Focus Light. As I was about to finalize the katana, something strange happened. A soft whisper brushed against my mind. At first, I thought it was one of the other recruits talking to me, but no one was near. Then I realized the voice was coming from somewhere else¡ªsomewhere deeper. Hey, short stuff¡­ Over here¡­ My gaze snapped toward the far corner of the arsenal display. A spear hovered in the holographic lineup, its design sleek and deadly. It had an elongated, metallic shaft with glowing lines etched into the surface. A swirling cluster of energy formed the spearhead, giving it a cosmic vibe. As I moved closer, the whispering intensified. Finally noticed me, huh? I nearly jumped out of my skin. "What the hell¡ª?" The spear''s name caught my eye: Astral Fang. I selected it, and a detailed description popped up: Echo Strike: Once activated, you can throw the spear, and a phantom copy remains in your hand, allowing you to attack twice simultaneously or at different ranges. Precognitive Reflex: Grants brief glimpses of future movements, helping you dodge attacks or strike with near-perfect timing. Arrogant Ally: The spear has a mind of its own¡ªand it''s not shy about letting you know who''s in charge. Dissolving Form: The spear can revert into a tattoo on the wielder''s right hand, changing shape at will. Cost: 100 points. I gulped. "All of it? Seriously?" Got a problem with that, shorty? The voice was dripping with sarcasm. I''m worth every point. I rolled my eyes. "Look, maybe I want to spend my points on a weapon and some armor. You know, spread it out a little." Oh sure, you could get some cheap plastic swords and a tin helmet. Have fun with that. You''ll probably die in your first real fight, but hey, at least you saved some points, right? "Shut up Bastard" I hissed under my breath. A couple of other recruits glanced in my direction, but they seemed too absorbed in their own Monographs to pay me much attention. I clenched my teeth. The spear was unbelievably cool. Echo Strike and Precognitive Reflex sounded like abilities that could really save my hide. But if I spent all 100 points on it, I wouldn''t be able to get any armor or healing items. Then again, the pickings were getting slim¡ªother recruits were finishing up, and I didn''t want to be left with worthless scraps. "Fine," I muttered. "But you''d better not break or something. If you do, I''m returning you for a full refund." Ha! Good luck with that. You''re stuck with me now, pipsqueak. I tapped the purchase button. Immediately, the holographic display flickered, and the spear materialized in front of me, hovering for a moment before clattering to the floor with a metallic ring. I stooped to pick it up, noting how surprisingly light it felt in my hand. "You weigh less than I thought," I murmured. I''ve been on a diet, the spear quipped. You know, cutting back on the cosmic calories. Gotta keep my figure. I nearly dropped it. This thing had jokes. "You''re insane." I prefer the term ''charismatic.'' Now, shall we get going, or do you want to admire me some more? Chapter 3: The Arena鈥檚 First Trial After everyone had chosen their weapons, Light took a moment to survey the crowd. It was a habit of his¡ªhe''d always felt more like an observer than a participant, even back in school. Most of the people here looked fairly ordinary, some around his own age, others possibly in their mid-twenties. It made sense that these aliens wouldn''t pick frail or elderly hosts. They needed bodies that could fight. Light''s eyes lingered on the guy who''d rebelled earlier¡ªthe one whose alien forced him to smash his own crotch. He''d had no chance to buy a weapon and was now yelling at the guards to reopen the Arsenal. Of course, they completely ignored him. Next, Light noticed that most people had chosen pretty standard gear: swords, axes, simple armor. He couldn''t help but wonder why so many opted for heavy metal suits that would kill their mobility. There was only 3 people Light was interested in. The first one was a man with long white hair. Light wasn''t sure if his hair was dyed or not. He was about 180 cm in height and had a slender build, but you could see his defined muscle structure on his arms. He had no armor like Light, but the weapon he chose was a bow. There was a handful of men with a bow, and the only one who looked like he could handle a bow was this man. I eyed this white-haired guy. He stood calmly off to the side, away from the chaos. His posture was relaxed, but something about the way he held himself¡ªback straight, shoulders poised¡ªsuggested real skill. Maybe a former athlete or a martial artist. My gut told me he wasn''t someone to underestimate. Light shifted his gaze to a woman¡ªor should he say a girl? She was small, but she was the same height as Light? No, Light refused this thinking and cut it short. The girl had messy black hair and her face looked like she needed sleep and some bathing. The girl looked innocent and not dangerous at all, but the weapon in her hand was special. She had a chained spikeball as big as a human head. Light gulped and shifted his gaze to a fully black clothed young man that was approximately in his age. He had nothing special about him, just a katana and a black neckband as a utility accessory. Light was interested in what the neckband was for, but before he could go up to him, he was interrupted by a voice that followed him since middle school 1 class. "Yo, Light! Fancy seeing you here, buddy. What wind blew you into this shithole?" Light''s eye twitched. You bastard... He turned to see Ramis, that infuriating sports teacher who was the reason Light was even on this cursed journey. Ramis looked as carefree as ever, like this was just another day at the gym. "You did, you jerk," Light hissed. Ramis blinked, feigning confusion for a moment, then brushed it off. "So, what weapon did you pick, Light? Bet it''s something puny." Light started to summon his spear from its tattoo form, ready to show off, but Ramis barreled on without letting him answer. "Check these out!" Ramis spun two nunchakus in a flashy display, nearly whacking Light in the face. Rolling his eyes, Light sidestepped the swirling weapons. He''d had enough. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. At that moment, the tall woman shouted again and said that they would need to be in a group of 4 to enter the first competition. The deadline was just 5 minutes. Light went to search for a group. He thought that the best choice would be to get the strongest people in his team, but there are quite a few problems. First of all, you can''t really know who is strong and who is weak. Because the power system here is about the weapon you choose, but that doesn''t mean that a strong physicality isn''t a factor. Light knew that he was here one of the strongest, saying that the spear said "You know, with all these clueless meatbags around, you''re basically a superstar, short stuff." Light smiled and said "you bastard can read my mind too." Despite my annoyance, Astral Fang wasn''t wrong. I did feel like I might be stronger than most here. The second thing is that Light didn''t know what type of competition it would be¡ªmaybe having a strong group could be a bad move. Suddenly, time was up. Light found himself grouped with three others: The big man with the broken crotch (still scowling, but apparently recovered). The white-haired archer. The messy-haired girl. Without warning, the world around them shimmered. The floor beneath their feet vanished, replaced by a new setting¡ªan arena, circular walls rising high all around. Light blinked in confusion, adjusting to the abrupt teleportation. Silence fell as the four of them took each other''s measure. The archer stood calmly, expression neutral. The girl''s face was unreadable, though she clutched her spiked ball with ease. The big man, of course, broke the tension by pounding his chest like an ape. "Alright, losers," he roared, "I''m obviously the leader. You¡ª" he pointed to the white-haired man, "you''re my sniper. And you¡ª" he jerked a thumb at the girl, "you can cook for us or something. Might as well be useful." I felt a surge of irritation. Cook? She had a giant spiked ball that could flatten a car, and he wanted her to be the cook? I glanced at her, trying to gauge her reaction, but her expression remained as unreadable as the archer''s. Then he turned his gaze to Light. "And you, you''ll be my side chick." Light''s jaw clenched. He could feel anger bubbling up, especially after everything that had happened. His spear tattoo started to glow, and Astral Fang materialized in his hand. The big man''s eyes widened, realizing he might have crossed a line. Before Light could teach him a lesson, a robotic voice echoed through the arena. "First task: You have five minutes to kill one of your teammates. Failure to comply will result in unknown consequences." A grin tugged at my lips. So that''s the kind of game we''re playing. I glanced at the big man. A dark thought flitted through my mind: Maybe you just volunteered yourself as the target. A tiny, almost childlike voice piped up. It was the messy-haired girl, and she spoke in a sweet, babyish tone that didn''t match her lethal-looking weapon at all. She cocked her head at the big man and said: "Aww, look at the big baby. Didn''t you already lose one ''head'' to your own fist? Maybe you wanna lose the other one, too?" I nearly snorted. The big man''s face turned an alarming shade of red. He opened his mouth, but no words came out¡ªmaybe he was too angry or embarrassed to respond. The archer let out a tiny smirk, and I realized he might be enjoying this. Meanwhile, my mind was racing. We have five minutes to kill one of our teammates. Do we really have to do this? Is there a way out? What happens if we don''t comply? My alien¡ªXyrr¡ªwas silent, but I could feel a certain¡­ anticipation under my skin, like it was ready for blood. Astral Fang''s voice hissed in my head, sounding amused. This is going to be fun, short stuff. Which one will it be? Five minutes. One teammate had to die. Light could almost taste the tension crackling in the air. The girl''s little joke only highlighted the absurdity of their situation¡ªand the dangerous reality that they were now each other''s targets. Chapter 4: A Death in Four Minutes The robotic voice spoke again: "Time remaining: Four minutes." A tense hush fell over the arena. The big man, still flushed from the messy-haired girl''s mocking remark, stood at the center, chest puffed out. His gaze darted from Light to the archer to the girl, as if he were trying to size up the weakest link. The white-haired archer''s posture tensed, his fingers grazing the bowstring. The girl cradled her massive spiked ball with casual ease, looking bored, but her eyes danced with mischief. Light took a step back, spear in hand. His heart pounded, adrenaline pumping through his veins. He could feel the hum of Astral Fang, the spear''s presence in his mind. Kill one of your teammates in five minutes or suffer the consequences. The ultimatum echoed in his head. It was kill or be killed. "You want to show him who''s boss?" A dry, mocking voice seeped into Light''s thoughts. "He did call you his side chick, after all." Light''s fingers tightened around the spear. Stop reading my mind, you jerk, he silently chided the weapon. Meanwhile, the big man cleared his throat, obviously trying to reclaim some authority. "Alright, listen up," he barked. "We just gotta pick someone who''s¡­ not needed. We take ''em out, we pass this stupid test. Simple." His eyes lingered on the messy-haired girl. She stared back with an unreadable expression, the spiked ball resting on the ground like a loyal dog. Light half-expected the big man to pounce on her, but instead, he turned and glared at Light. "You," he growled. "You think you''re so tough with that fancy spear. How ''bout we just get rid of you, yeah? You''ve been a pain since day one." Light''s pulse hammered, but he forced a smirk. "Day one? You don''t even know me." The big man pounded his chest again. "Don''t matter. I can see you''re trouble. And I like that." An arrow whizzed past the big man''s head, so close it ruffled his hair. Everyone''s attention snapped to the white-haired archer, who was already nocking another arrow. "Time is running," the archer said coolly. "We should get this over with." The big man''s lip curled. "Watch it, twig. You almost gave me a haircut." A sinister giggle broke through the tension. The girl cocked her head, swinging her spiked ball in slow circles. "Aww, does the big baby not want a new hairstyle?" she cooed in that babyish voice, eyes shining with dark amusement. "You can always smash your crotch again if you need a distraction." The big man''s face turned beet-red. "Shut it!" He lunged at her¡ªfast, for a guy his size. But the girl sidestepped, letting him rush past. Her spiked ball grazed his leg, tearing through his pants. He hissed in pain but managed to skid to a stop. Light took the opening. He whipped Astral Fang in a quick slash, forcing the big man to jerk away. The big guy wasn''t unskilled, though; even without a purchased weapon, he had brute strength and decent reflexes. He lunged at Light, trying to grab him by the arm. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Light darted back, thanks to the Precognitive Reflex attribute of his spear. He''s stronger than he looks, he thought. "You know," Astral Fang''s voice chimed in his mind, "maybe let him grab you. Could be funny. I''ll just stab him mid-hug." Light ignored the suggestion. Instead, he pivoted, letting the big man''s momentum carry him forward. The brute stumbled, nearly colliding with the archer, who smoothly danced out of the way. "Three minutes," the robotic voice announced. The girl''s eyes flicked to the giant scoreboard hovering in midair. She grinned. "We''re wasting time, boys. Someone''s gotta die. Who wants to volunteer?" The big man snarled. "You''re the volunteer, sweetheart!" He lunged again, aiming a massive fist at her. The girl raised her spikeball, a dangerous glint in her eyes. Light was certain she''d crush his skull in one swing, but at the last moment, she sidestepped, letting the chain''s momentum carry the ball around in a wide arc. The ball slammed into the big man''s back, sending him stumbling forward with a pained grunt. Light felt a moment of admiration for her technique¡ªshe moved like she''d been using that monstrous weapon her entire life. "Two minutes," the voice droned. This is insane, Light thought, chest heaving. We''re actually going to kill each other. Is there really no other way? Light did not care about the big man''s life, but he was not happy about being used as a slave and being commanded around. But the muscular man''s next move forced Light''s hand. Instead of rushing the girl, he whirled around and bolted straight for Light, eyes burning with rage. "You''re dead!" he screamed, swinging a wild punch. Light raised Astral Fang to parry, but the impact jarred his arm. The man was strong, no question. He followed up with a kick that nearly knocked Light off his feet. Astral Fang hummed in Light''s hand, as if eager for blood. "C''mon, short stuff, let''s finish him," the spear urged. As the big man charged at me, I threw the spear to the ground on my left side. The move must''ve caught him off guard because he hesitated for just a second. That was all I needed. My fingers twitched as I activated Echo Strike, manifesting a second spear in my right hand. Without a second thought, I hurled it straight at his head. But this guy wasn''t dumb. He used his forearm as a shield, blocking the strike¡ªbut it cost him. Blood oozed from the deep cut on his arm, and his face twisted in pain. Before I could react again, his massive hand was wrapped around my neck, squeezing the life out of me. I gasped, struggling, as he bared his teeth like an animal. Wait¡ªwas he really about to bite me to death? I could feel his hot breath, and the pressure from his teeth was only centimeters away from tearing into my throat. This is it, I thought. I''m dead. Then, without warning, an arrow shot through his left eye with so much force it pierced into his brain. His grip loosened instantly. Blood splattered everywhere as the big man collapsed in front of me, hitting the ground with a heavy thud. I stood there, frozen, my heart pounding so loud it felt like it might burst out of my chest. What the hell just happened? Before I could even process it, that cold robotic voice chimed in, "Task Completed. You have been raised to the next stage. You will be rewarded based on your personal achievements." I just stared at the corpse, still in shock. The adrenaline was fading, but my mind was a mess. I could''ve died... Then I noticed someone stepping toward me. It was the guy with the bow¡ªthe white-haired archer. He offered his hand to help me up. As he got closer, I realized how annoyingly good-looking he was. Like, really good-looking. It kind of pissed me off. "You owe me one," he said in this annoyingly smooth, deep voice. "My name''s Thadric, and the girl over there is my sister, Anys. What about you?" I blinked, glancing at the girl with the messy hair. Wait, they''re siblings? I couldn''t stop myself from blurting out, "You two are related? Did they mix you up at birth or something?" Thadric smirked slightly, and Anys just rolled her eyes like she''d heard that one a hundred times. I felt a little embarrassed, but hey, I just barely survived a death match¡ªI figured I deserved a pass on the social graces. Chapter 5: Adaptive Frustrations I was sitting in the dining room on an uncomfortable, cold chair¡ªone of the few things I''d learned about these pathetic living things on this planet: they have neither a taste for good architecture nor for food. I was so close to puking. The meal tasted exactly like bat soup. (Not that I''d ever eaten bat soup¡ªand I wouldn''t in the future either, unless I planned on starting a pandemic worldwide.) At least the water was normal; I gulped a few swigs, silently thanking whatever god cared about liquid refreshment. While trying to suppress the urge to hurl, I checked my monograph for the reward I''d received after completing the task. The display blinked into view, its cold, mechanical tone inescapable in my mind: Task Completion Grade: C Task Reward: Adaptive Armor A grade of C made my stomach twist worse than the food ever could. I couldn''t help feeling a sting of embarrassment¡ªback in school, I''d never been so humiliated when everyone else got an A and I got left with scraps. I forced myself to keep a neutral expression, not wanting anyone to notice how pissed I was at the "system." Across the table, I noticed the siblings in front of me. They, too, had given up on swallowing the revolting food and were busy checking their rewards. "Thadric, what grade did you get? Mine is an A," Anys asked, though her tone carried a hint of challenge. Thadric replied coolly, not bothering to flex but with a slight air of smugness, "Mine is an S grade. Probably because I was the one who gave him the last strike." I swallowed my cough and prayed desperately that my face wouldn''t turn red. I really wanted to give the "system" a good curse session¡ªbut first, I had to check my own reward. I pulled up the details for the Adaptive Armor: Adaptive Armor Attribute: Self-learning defense system that, as it takes damage, analyzes the impact, reinforces the weakened areas, and strengthens itself to become more resilient against future attacks. Defense Status: None I muttered under my breath, "The fuck do I need armor for when it doesn''t even defend me at first? How in the hell am I supposed to survive until it strengthens itself?" My teeth clenched in anger as I gritted them. Before I could stew any longer, I felt a sudden, invasive heat near my face. Anys had moved in close¡ªso close that I could feel her hot breath against my skin. I jerked my head back just enough to avoid toppling off the chair, which, by the way, still offered no warmth to my frozen body. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. "Why are you looking at me like that?" she teased, her voice warm and playful. "You want to bite me too, like that bastard in the arena?" She punctuated her words with a smirk and a suggestive glint in her eyes¡ªa sexual joke that was as funny as it was disarming. I felt my cheeks burn and was at a loss for words. Then came a bombshell: Thadric, the younger one of the siblings¡ªyes, the younger of the two, which completely shocked me when he mentioned it after the system kicked us out of the arena. He didn''t seem to care at all about whatever Anys had done a moment ago; instead, his attention was entirely on his glasses. They looked expensive¡ªsleek black frames with a subtle silver tint that made them look like a high-tech accessory straight out of a sci-fi thriller. I knew they were probably part of his S-grade reward. I didn''t dare ask him about them¡ªnot because I wasn''t curious, but because if I did, he''d ask me about my C-grade reward, and I wasn''t about to embarrass myself further. After that awkward conversation, we were all assigned rooms in the skyscraper. Unfortunately, we weren''t allowed to leave or even approach the exit without confronting the guards. It was as if they didn''t want us to have any contact with the outside world. I hated two things in this godforsaken place: bad food and being imprisoned. And here I was, trapped with both. I lay on my bed later, my eyelids growing heavy. But before sleep could claim me completely, I needed some answers. I was lucky enough to have a friend on this planet¡ªeven if he did bully me sometimes. I glanced at the tattoo on my right hand¡ªa middle finger shaped tattoo pointed directly at me, a constant reminder of both defiance and the irony of my situation. Ignoring the tattoo, I summoned my spear. "Astral," I called silently, willing the familiar presence to materialize in my hand. The spear appeared, cool and comforting against my skin. I couldn''t tell if it felt heavier than before or if I was just utterly exhausted. I took a long, slow look at it. Astral was sleek and angular¡ªits blade a combination of dark, metallic shades with intricate engravings along the length. Faint glows of blue and green traced the patterns, giving it an almost otherworldly appearance. As I admired its craftsmanship, the annoying, snarky voice of the spear cut through my thoughts. "Finally decided to grace me with your attention, did you? I was starting to think you forgot how to summon me," it said, dripping with sarcasm. I grumbled inwardly, "Not in the mood, Astral." But the spear wasn''t finished. "Oh, come on, Light, why do you guys on Earth lack taste for humour?" I raised an eyebrow at that. "So you know I''m from Earth, huh? How exactly do you know that?" There was a long pause, the silence almost deafening. Finally, Astral replied, "Duh, it''s written all over you, genius. Actually, my last owner told me a lot of things about Earth, a long time ago. But I can''t tell you any more¡ªI have my restrictions, you know." I frowned. Restrictions? How in the hell can a weapon have restrictions programmed into it? I couldn''t help but wonder at the absurdity of it all. Reading my mind, the spear added, "Well¡­ actually, I wouldn''t define myself as a weapon." That caught me off guard. "How so?" I asked, genuinely curious. But the spear said nothing more. I didn''t press the issue¡ªI knew too well what it felt like to be pressured, like those dreadful school lectures where I had to solve math problems in front of the entire class. Just the thought sent a shiver down my spine. Eventually, my eyelids became too heavy to fight off, and I sank into a deep, much-needed sleep. Chapter 6:Lost in The Desert Anys'' POV "Ouch!" I hissed, rubbing the fresh bump on my head. These "Nimbus Boots" I''d received as my A-grade reward were clearly no joke. If the ceiling hadn''t stopped me, I might''ve launched straight through the roof. Grumbling under my breath, I flopped onto the bed, letting my body sink into the lumpy mattress. There wasn''t much going on in my personal life, at least not beyond my brother, Thadric. I didn''t have many friends or family back on Earth¡ªjust him. So I guess I was used to feeling alone. Still, I found my mind wandering to what Thadric might be doing right now. That smug grin he''d worn after getting his S-grade reward was proof enough he was practically bursting with pride. Then, as if on cue, my thoughts drifted to Light. "He really looks like my friend from the past," I muttered, which only annoyed me more. I smacked my hand against my face, trying to wipe away the memory. "Why am I even thinking about that lowlife? Even if he resembles him, his personality is nowhere close. My friend was way more¡­" I didn''t get to finish that thought. A sharp, crackling announcement burst from the speaker on the wall: "Attention, all participants. Gather in the main room immediately. Failure to comply will result in your alien taking control. I will not repeat myself." "Great," I groaned, pushing myself off the bed. "No rest for the wicked, I guess." The last thing I wanted was to give the alien inside me an excuse to hijack my body. With a resigned sigh, I headed for the door, boots in hand. Thadric''s POV How can a human have no weak points at all? The question echoed in my mind as I observed a certain young man with a black katana and a dark bandana draped around his neck. My new S-grade glasses¡ªthough I wasn''t sure if the "S-grade" label was an alien convention or a true mark of quality¡ªwere supposed to reveal any physical vulnerabilities in living beings. Yet here I was, staring at him for a good five minutes, and the lenses showed nothing. He had long black hair, a slender build, not much visible muscle definition. Despite that, the glasses gave no sign of a single weak point. It was almost eerie, like his entire body was somehow shielded from my analysis. He reminded me of Light in passing, but Light certainly didn''t have this kind of presence¡ªan intense aura that hinted at hidden depths. Suddenly, a loud, boisterous voice shattered my concentration. A big man in gym clothes stomped up to the katana-wielding stranger. I had no idea who he was¡ªjust that he seemed to think he could befriend everyone by being obnoxiously loud. "Hey, you!" the man in gym clothes called out, pointing dramatically. "Did you lose a bet and have to wear your grandmother''s wardrobe, or is that neckpiece your idea of fashion?" I blinked. Is this guy for real? My curiosity piqued, I turned my glasses on him, only to see his entire body glow bright red¡ªhead to toe. That meant every part of him was a weak point. I stifled a laugh. Well, that fits. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. The katana-wielding man didn''t respond; he just stared back, eyes cold and unreadable. The tension in the hallway rose, thick enough to choke on. Before anything escalated, though, a sharp crackle came over the speakers, followed by the tall woman''s authoritative voice ordering us to the main room. I sighed, pushing my glasses up the bridge of my nose. Whatever''s happening, it can''t be good news. Light''s POV I was already searching for Anys and Thadric, but the skyscraper''s loudspeakers crackled to life before I could find them. The tall woman''s voice boomed, echoing through every corridor. "Good job surviving this far," she said, her tone carrying zero warmth despite the words. "I hope you''ll manage to stay alive for what''s coming, but don''t think it will get any easier. We have a total of fifty-eight people here. Every group except one succeeded in the first task, and that group will now face the consequences mentioned by the robot." A wave of tension rippled through the crowd as we all converged in the main room. I slipped off to one side, trying to see past the shifting mass of bodies. The tall woman stood near a massive monitor, her posture rigid, eyes sweeping over us like we were mere data points. The screen lit up, listing seventy-seven names. Nineteen were highlighted in red, presumably those who''d died in the arena, leaving fifty-eight in green. I spotted Ramis among the survivors. "How the hell did that guy survive?" I muttered under my breath. "And where''d they even get a photo of me?" The image next to my name on the screen looked almost like a mug shot, complete with a glare I didn''t remember giving. Then four names appeared in orange. They had to be the group that failed. The tall woman cleared her throat. "As for the consequence: in the next game, one member of that failing group will be designated as a ''ticket.'' If any other team kills that ''ticket,'' they finish the game early. The rest of you continue under the main rules." I felt a cold pit form in my stomach. Another kill scenario. The expressions around me suggested I wasn''t the only one who''d hoped we were done with these lethal missions. But here we were again. "The group can choose which member will be the victim," she went on. Right then, a lone figure with a black katana stepped forward and raised his hand. The tall woman quirked an eyebrow. "You''re volunteering yourself as your group''s ticket?" she asked. He merely nodded, offering no explanation. She shrugged. "So be it." Her voice then rose another notch, reverberating through the main hall. "The rules are simple: protect your teammates from being killed. If one of your teammates dies your group will be disqualified forcing you to die on the spot. Or, if you want to take a shortcut, kill the designated ticket. However, only twenty-eight of you can ultimately win, and there will be no food or water sources provided in this next challenge. The game begins now. You will be teleported into a desert at random locations." My heart hammered in my chest. No food or water? And we''re supposed to kill or not kill some designated target, all while only a fraction of us can survive? I caught sight of a few relieved faces¡ªpeople who might''ve misheard the rules at first. But that relief vanished the moment they realized the implications. A desert, no supplies, only partial winners. It sounded like a slow, painful death sentence for many of us. I tried to glance around for Anys or Thadric, but before I could even call out to them, reality itself seemed to shatter. The room around me broke apart like shards of glass, and I felt my body jerk as though pulled through a vortex. In the blink of an eye, I found myself somewhere else entirely different. The sky was dusty red, and the ground was hot sand that shifted under my feet. A scorching wind whipped across my face, forcing me to shield my eyes with my arm. I turned slowly, taking in my surroundings. The desert stretched out in every direction, flat and endless. If there were other people here, they were too far away to see clearly. The horizon wavered in the heat, making everything look like a mirage. Chapter 7:Bye to Ramis Great, I thought. Stranded in a red desert with no food or water, and a kill mission on top of that. The dryness in my throat intensified, as if merely thinking about water made my body crave it more. My hand drifted to the tattoo on my right wrist¡ªAstral Fang''s resting place. The spear might be my only real defense if someone decided to come after me, or if I stumbled upon the "ticket." I swallowed hard, feeling the oppressive sun beating down relentlessly on my skin. Calm down, Light. Think, I reminded myself. First step: figure out if Anys or Thadric are anywhere nearby. Second step: survive. And third¡ªmaybe figure out if I''d have to kill someone again, or if there was a way around it. I never imagined I''d end up missing the food back at the skyscraper so much. Yet here, every fiber of my being ached for even a drop of water. I even caught myself daydreaming about having an infinite water source¡ªlike some overpowered protagonist from one of those web novels I used to read in my "free time" (though free time for me used to mean 24 hours a day, but that''s a secret no one needs to know). For three long hours, I had trudged across this desolate expanse, and there wasn''t a single sign of life¡ªonly the endless, scorching sand and the heat that seemed to smother any hope of respite. A part of me even toyed with the idea of giving up, waiting for the other groups to massacre each other until only the strongest survived. But then I remembered that if any of the siblings¡ªespecially Anys¡ªdied, I''d likely end up caught in their crossfire. Thadric, I was sure, would manage with relative ease, but Anys? That reckless girl was known for throwing herself into battle with the enthusiasm of someone who craved the adrenaline rush.. Lost in my swirling thoughts, I barely registered the sight of a massive spiked ball hurtling straight for my face. In a split second, my instincts kicked in¡ªthanks to a sixth sense which I have when facing danger¡ªand I dodged the deadly projectile, leaping aside with all the clumsiness of a man who felt more like dead meat than a warrior. "Are you out of your mind?!" I roared, my voice echoing over the relentless wind. The sound startled me for a moment, but Anys barely paused; she continued scanning the horizon, seemingly unfazed by my outburst. "Don''t know what''s worse¡ªthis miserable wasteland or your constant whining like a crybaby," she retorted . I grumbled, knowing deep down that I had little choice but to follow her lead. My legs were shaking, threatening to give out under the relentless heat, while Anys, despite everything, seemed to have endless energy. Is she even human? I wondered, feeling both admiration and a twinge of jealousy at her apparent resilience. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Then, out of nowhere, she abruptly stopped, causing me to crash right into her. It was like colliding with an immovable wall. I stumbled, nearly falling, but before I could regain my balance, I saw it¡ªa gruesome scene that made my stomach churn. Scattered across the sand were the bodies of eleven people, limbs severed and entrails spilling out, as if the desert itself had become a butcher''s floor. Just a meter away lay a severed head, its features disturbingly familiar. I froze as recognition hit me like a punch¡ªRamis, my teacher. A single sweat slid down my cheek, and I fought the rising urge to vomit. There was no time to grieve, though. My sensitive ears picked up a faint rustle behind me, a subtle shift that told me someone was sneaking up. Without thinking, I shoved Anys aside and ducked. I heard a sword slicing the air just centimeters above my head¡ªa close call that left me shivering. Had I reacted even a fraction of a second slower, I knew I''d have ended up just like Ramis. In one fluid, desperate motion, I rolled away and summoned my Adaptive Armor. I''d always dismissed it as practically useless¡ªa reward that seemed more like a cruel joke. This armor barely offers any protection until it takes damage, I thought bitterly, but I have no other choice right now. A faint shimmer enveloped my body, a fragile barrier that was far from impenetrable, yet better than nothing under the burning sun. Almost simultaneously, I called Astral Fang. Anys assumed her fighting stance, though her spiked ball took longer to materialize than a normal weapon. We both fixed our eyes on the spot from which the attack had come, but there was nothing visible¡ªno enemy, no movement. "Your brain''s fried by the sun, short stuff," Astral Fang''s familiar, sarcastic voice buzzed in my mind. "I don''t recall having ghost-hunting on my skill list." "Shut up," I snarled inwardly, irritation mixing with uncertainty. "I''m sure something attacked us¡ªI just can''t see it." If our unseen assailant were truly invisible¡ªor a ghost¡ªI had no idea how to handle that. Please don''t be an actual ghost, I pleaded silently. I have zero tricks for something I can''t even target. Before I could dwell on the thought any longer, Anys sprang into action. She gripped the chain of her spiked ball and swung it in wide, fierce arcs, sending a swirling cloud of dust and sand into the air. In the midst of that choking haze, a silhouette slowly emerged¡ªa man, his form gradually revealed by the shifting dust. Seizing the opportunity, I launched my spear. I watched, heart pounding, he managed to catch it mid-flight, displaying a surprising agility. I cursed under my breath; he was no amateur. Now armed with my own spear, he turned toward Anys, evidently planning to hurl it back. But something was wrong. As the invisible man aimed to launch the spear at her, he realized that Light was no longer where he had been letting him hesitate a moment. That''s when a sharp, agonizing pain shot through his right leg. He looked down, and there it was¡ªanother spear, identical to the one he had just intercepted, pierced through his leg from behind. What?! He couldn''t believe it. His attack faltered before it even began. The pain surged through him as he buckled. The spear he had meant to use against them slipped from his grasp as he fell to one knee, his katana dissolving into nothingness. His ability, gone in an instant. But he was still alive. Chapter 8:Fighting a dead man The dust was almost gone, letting their sight clear again. There lay a man on the ground, groaning in pain. Light had dismissed the spear long ago, intending to let the man bleed to death, but it did not seem that the man was willing to give up just yet. Anys gave Light a look, a smirk playing on her lips, and remarked, ¡°Our ticket came right to our feet¡ªhow handy.¡± Light ignored her comment and moved closer to the man lying on the ground; the figure looked familiar he was the one with the weird aura and the black bandana. They stared at each other for a brief moment before the man spoke without wasting any time. ¡°Dorian.¡± Light blinked twice. ¡°It¡¯s strange to say your name to your murderer, isn¡¯t it?¡± he said with a wry smile, then replied, ¡°Light.¡± Dorian, even as he lay dying on the ground, made no overt expression of pain, instead attempting to hide his suffering. Anys joined the conversation, interjecting, ¡°Let¡¯s get out of this damn desert. I¡¯m hungry, I need some sleep, and maybe a warm bath¡­¡± Before she could finish, Light interrupted her by materializing his spear and aiming it at Dorian. It was the first time he had seen Dorian laugh before Light could speak a word. Dorian took a deep breath, held the bandana that was wrapped around his neck, placed it in front of his mouth, and blew through it with all his might. The bandana transformed the surrounding air into a thick, green mist that enveloped all three of them. Before Light could react he felt a punch with a force that could send an average man flying. Light¡¯s vision blurred, and he felt dizzy. He could no longer be sure if he was still standing or not. The air felt suffocating, and though he desperately wanted to breathe, it was no secret that the greenish air was toxic and poisonous. Yet, with every labored breath, the stifling atmosphere became a bit more bearable. Perhaps it was the illusion the body creates before someone dies, Light thought. After what felt like an eternity, the pain subsided enough for him to focus again. Without wasting any more time he stood up with all his might and then searched desperately for Anys. It was not difficult to find her, given the shrill screaming that had erupted moments before. If Light had had a camera, he would have undoubtedly filmed her in this compromised state and laughed about it later¡ªof course, that is, once they managed to survive. He managed to pull Anys out of the poisonous cloud; she had plummeted onto the ground and was on the verge of unconsciousness, though it appeared she would probably not die from such a cheap trick. Once she was safe, Light scanned the surroundings to locate Dorian. Dorian did not hide¡ªin fact, he couldn¡¯t have hidden in a desert like this, where there were hardly any places to take cover. He stood a mere five meters in front of Light, his stance awkward, as though he were standing as clumsily as someone with a wounded leg¡ªbut, despite that, he seemed fine. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Light¡¯s eyes caught sight of a fresh wound on the right side of Dorian, a wound that looked as if it had been inflicted before their recent fight. In that instant, Light knew exactly who must have done it; the wound bore the distinct mark of a arrow, and only one man was capable of such a precise strike ¡°I see you had a little confrontation with a friend of minev¡± . Dorian smirked, ¡°You¡¯re a team of brats, aren¡¯t you?¡± Light paid little mind to that comment; his mind was preoccupied with the need to buy time. Having just escaped the poisonous haze, he attempted to manifest his spear once more, but his body was too exhausted to obey his command. That, however, did not affect Dorian. Standing upright, Dorian raised his hand and pronounced the name ¡°Ishin.¡± As he did so, a black sparkle gathered around his hand and a sword slowly materialized before them. Light tried to think of a way out, but the poison¡¯s lingering effects rendered his thoughts sluggish. It seemed as though this might be the end for him. Dorian, on the other hand, appeared to relish every moment¡ªenjoying the chaos like a true psychopath. But it would not last long. In a sudden, brutal turn, a man attacked Dorian with nothing but his bare fist. Yet, who was this assailant? Light couldn¡¯t tell at first¡ªuntil he realized something was horribly amiss. The attacker, astonishingly, had no head. ¡°Wait, what? Why the fuck is there a man with no head fighting against Dorian?¡± Light thought, his mind struggling to comprehend the surreal scene. Thanks to the distinctive clothing he wore¡ªa classic set of gym clothes¡ªLight immediately recognized whose body the headless man must belong to. It was Ramis. Then, a loud voice from the right startled Light. A head, lying on the ground, shouted, ¡°Ayo, Light! Get the fuck out of there! This man is a psychopath¡ªyou can¡¯t win against him!¡± Light tried to act on the warning, but his legs betrayed him. They gave out, and he fell to the ground, forced to watch the absurd chaos unfolding before his eyes. In front of him, Dorian wrestled with a dead body¡ªa macabre and disturbing scene that defied all logic. Before Light could process what was happening, a cold, robotic voice resounded: ¡°The game ended. Killing candidates will result in consequences.¡± Taking a deep breath, Light turned his gaze toward Anys, who was now looking up at the sky with an expression of relief. ¡°28 people survived,¡± the voice declared. Light couldn¡¯t help but think, Well, no shit, Sherlock, as he let out a bitter laugh. Ignoring the obscure scene in front of me, I summoned up my Adaptive Armour stats, letting the digital readout come into clear view before my eyes. Name: Adaptive Armour Adaptive Armor Attribute: Self-learning defense system that, as it takes damage, analyzes the impact, reinforces the weakened areas, and strengthens itself to become more resilient against future attacks. Defense Status: Mid-Low resistance against body attacks I couldn¡¯t help but smile at the display. For a brief, absurd moment, I entertained a wild thought: what if I let Anys beat me? Maybe I could purposely take more hits, push my Adaptive Armour to learn faster, to evolve into something even stronger. I shook my head, dismissing the monograph. ¡°I should think about that after getting some rest¡± Chapter 9:Dead City I never thought I''d set foot on another spaceship, not after the nightmare I endured a week ago. Yet here I was, strapped into a seat and staring at the dull metal walls, forced to confront the same claustrophobic hum of engines. I knew exactly why I was here this time. The woman from the skyscraper¡ªTatiana, or "Tate" as some people called her¡ªsat across from me, wearing a fully black set of armor that looked deceptively flimsy. I''d learned the hard way never to judge equipment by appearance alone; everything here seemed to come with hidden attributes. Tatiana herself reminded me of a comic-book assassin: black widow style, but with purple hair. The alien inside her presumably let her keep some level of control, though I couldn''t be sure if that was truly the case or just a front. She''d led us through the last challenge without so much as a flinch, so either she was used to violence or the alien was pulling the strings. I tried to distract myself by recalling what happened yesterday, when we were actually given a day off¡ªa reprieve from killing each other or starving in some twisted game. In that single day, I''d spoken with many of the other survivors, trying to figure out who I could trust. There were twenty-eight of us in total: eight women, twenty men. Among them, four were long-range fighters¡ªThadric included¡ªwhile the other twenty-three wielded melee weapons like swords or spears. A few had shields. One stood out: a guy with nunchakus. He hadn''t bought them from the Arsenal at all; apparently, he brought them from Earth. Stranger still, he spent all his points on a ring that prevented him from dying unless his heart was destroyed. A literal immortality ring¡ªthough not without its drawbacks. I remembered how, during one of the challenges, he''d been decapitated, and yet the rest of us had somehow reattached his head. The wound was still visible, slightly off-center. But that didn''t stop him from swaggering around, bragging about how he''d "protected" his student, who turned out to be me, Light. Yeah, that''s Ramis for you¡ªmy sports teacher back on Earth, who ended up here and somehow managed not to stay dead even after losing his head. While I mulled over these oddities, I overheard him chatting up two women who looked only mildly interested in his tall tales. "Yeah, I was about to die," he boasted, pointing in my direction with a cocky grin. "Head chopped clean off, but that didn''t hold me back from protecting my dear student, you know?" I wanted to shut him down with a scathing remark, but before I could speak, the ship rattled violently, like an earthquake in midair. A moment later, the engines began to whine, and the entire vessel lurched. We had landed. The main door hissed open. Tate was the first to step out, her black armor catching the weak overhead lights in dull reflections. I followed behind her, my legs unsteady from both the turbulent landing and my lingering distaste for spaceships. The rest of the group filed out in small clusters. I expected to see another wasteland or maybe a desert, like the previous challenges. Instead, we emerged into what looked like a city¡ªexcept it was dead. And I mean that in every sense: the buildings were crumbling, windows shattered, streets lined with rubble. It looked as if some colossal force had swept through, leaving only ruins behind. A heavy, stale wind drifted between the collapsed structures, carrying the faint smell of ash and decay. Tatiana gathered everyone in front of what might have once been a grand public building¡ªnow it was a scorched shell of concrete pillars and rubble. She raised her voice, somehow commanding authority without ever shouting. "All right, listen up," she began. "You''ll stick to your cohorts from the last game. Spread out. Search for any signs of life. If¡ªand I mean if¡ªyou find anything alive, do not engage. Contact me immediately using your headbands. Yes, you can make calls with them¡ªabsurd as it sounds. Just press the stone in the center and say my name. Understood?" The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. Tatiana surveyed the group. "This city is dangerous. We have no idea what caused its downfall, but from the intel we''ve received, there could be hostile creatures or worse. If you value your lives, don''t wander alone. If you can''t handle what you find, retreat and call for backup." Her instructions hung in the stagnant air. Then, with a curt nod, she dismissed us to our separate squads. Into the Ruins: We stopped in front of a battered office tower, its fa?ade barely clinging to the steel skeleton beneath. Shattered windows gaped like jagged mouths, and twisted metal supports jutted out at odd angles. Anys let out a low whistle. "So¡­ are we sure we want to go in there?" She glanced at Thadric and me, her spiked ball resting against her hip. "Because this place looks like it''s one step away from collapsing on our heads." Thadric adjusted his bow, his voice calm but tight. "We need shelter¡ªand if there''s anything worth salvaging, we won''t find it standing around outside." I exhaled, steeling my nerves. "Right. Let''s at least check the ground floor. If it''s too unstable or something feels off, we''ll back out." "Deal," Anys said, though she didn''t look happy about it. The three of us picked our way through the debris, careful to avoid stepping on loose scraps. Once inside, the temperature dropped, sending a chill across my arms. "Keep close," Thadric whispered, eyes flicking around the remains of cubicles and overturned desks. He held his bow half-drawn, ready for any sign of movement. Anys moved beside me, chain in hand, each step deliberate. Something clattered in the distance¡ªa sound like metal scraping against concrete. We all froze. Anys shot me a sidelong look. "Anyone else think we should''ve waited for backup?" Thadric inhaled slowly. "We can handle a quick recon. But be ready to bolt if it gets too hairy." I nodded, forcing down the knot of anxiety tightening in my chest. "Right behind you." We pressed deeper into the gloom. The place felt suffocating, as if the walls themselves were closing in. A sudden shuffle¡ªlike claws on concrete¡ªmade my heart jolt. Thadric raised his bow in a flash, drawing an arrow. "Did you hear that?" "Yeah," I murmured, my throat dry. It was too dangerous to turn our backs so we inched forward, and that''s when we saw it: a hunched shape, limbs impossibly long and skeletal, skin stretched over bone like a taut drum. Its face was twisted, eyes sunken into dark hollows, mouth gaping to reveal jagged teeth. The creature let out a wet hiss, scuttling sideways on all fours. A second hiss answered from behind us, and my stomach dropped. There was more than one. Thadric''s voice quivered with tension. "We''re surrounded." He released an arrow, striking one monster in the chest. It shrieked but staggered forward again, blackish blood oozing from the wound. "Shit," I growled, summoning Astral Fang. The spear materialized in my hand with a flash of cold light. Anys spun her chain, the spiked ball whooshing in a deadly arc. It smashed into one creature''s shoulder, sending it crashing into a desk. Moments later, it scrambled upright, bones cracking back into place. My pulse thundered. "They''re tougher than they look." We formed a circle, back to back. One lunged at me, claws extended. I managed to parry with the spear, slicing across its torso. A foul stench and thick fluid sprayed from the wound, but the creature barely staggered. "Thadric, any bright ideas?" Anys shouted, whipping her chain around to strike another monster. It crumpled, then dragged itself forward on its arms, ignoring a shattered leg. "I''m open to suggestions!" Thadric yelled back, firing arrow after arrow. The monsters flinched with each impact but pressed on, as if pain was a foreign concept. Panic clawed at me. We were pinned, at least six of these things closing in. I recalled Tatiana''s words about calling for backup. "We can do calls," I muttered. "Anys, Thadric¡ªcover me!" I fumbled for the stone embedded in my headband, pressing it as I dodged a sudden swipe from a creature. Astral Fang lashed out, skewering it through the neck. Beside me, Thadric slammed his bow into another monster''s face, stopping it from snapping its teeth around his arm. Anys, cursing through clenched teeth, swung her spiked ball in a tight arc, knocking two creatures aside¡ªbut they staggered back up, relentless. Static crackled through my headband, and Tatiana''s clipped voice sounded in my ear. "Report." My chest burned, every breath searing my lungs. "We¡ªfound monsters," I managed, jabbing my spear into a writhing shape at my feet. "In the old office building¡ªeast side. We''re pinned down!" "Roger that," Tatiana replied. "Hold your position if you can. I''m sending reinforcements." I swallowed, adrenaline surging. Hold our position? We could barely stand as it was. The monsters shrieked, a discordant chorus that rattled the ruined walls. The smell of rot and gore filled my lungs, and sweat stung my eyes. We can''t let them overwhelm us. Astral is overpowered I lay on the cold floor, gasping for breath, with my weapon a meter away. A snarling monster pinned me down, its twisted limbs pressing against my arms and chest. Without a weapon, humans like us stood little chance against these creatures. I could see its face up close¡ªjagged teeth, foul breath, and wild eyes brimming with killing intent. It leaned in, ready to bite my head off. In that moment, I almost thought I might die from the stench before its teeth even made contact. Despite the terror, a stray thought flitted through my mind: This is the second time some Bastard trying to bite my head off. Do I look like a snack or something? That odd humor sparked a tiny bit of defiance in me, but it did nothing to stop the monster from tightening its grip. Suddenly, I heard the rush of air. An arrow flew in from somewhere behind the beast, piercing straight through its head and exiting the other side. The monster slumped, dead before it could react. Relief flooded me, and I knew instantly who had saved me¡ªThadric the skilled archer. Scrambling up, I rushed to grab my spear. The moment my fingers closed around it, Astral Fang''s familiar voice sounded in my head: "Short stuff, that''s the second time you''ve been rescued right in front of the girl. Don''t you think we should do some hero work too?" I let out a ragged breath. "Instead of talking, how about you actually help me?" I snapped. "Your so-called attributes aren''t doing much against these things. They don''t care if I can summon a phantom spear or not." Astral Fang didn''t reply. For a second, I worried I''d offended it. Then, a swirling green energy began to glow around the spear, crackling and twisting in the air. I had no idea if this was good or bad; given everything I''d seen, the spear might blow up in my face, or do something else I''d never witnessed before. As I stared at the glowing spear, a low growl came from the shadows ahead. Another monster emerged, bigger and more intimidating than the ones we''d just fought. Its body was white, and it towered over me at nearly three meters tall. It definitely looked angry that we''d killed three of its smaller kin. Sometimes, I overestimate my strength. I tell myself I can do things I clearly can''t. But this time, I knew we had no chance. This giant beast could probably kill all three of us with ease. I glanced around for a way out. Anys was busy fighting two other monsters, jumping around with her Nimbus Boots to dodge their strikes. Thadric, on the other hand, knelt on one knee, a wound on his right leg bleeding heavily. Though he''d managed to kill four of the monsters, he looked exhausted, and he was staring at me as if silently asking for help. If I tried to run alone, I might escape, I thought, but there''s no way I''m leaving them to die. My heart pounded, and I decided I''d rather die here than abandon my friend Thadric¡ªand maybe Anys too. The white monster charged toward me, each step shaking the floor. So this is how it ends, I thought. Then, I heard Astral Fang''s voice echo in my mind: "I''m a bit rusty, not having fought in a long time. This won''t be comfortable, but I think I can manage." Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. My eyes widened as the green energy surrounding the spear suddenly spread across my entire body. It felt strange¡ªlike a tight, swirling aura wrapping around my arms and legs. Before I could figure out what was happening, I lost all feeling in my limbs. I could only move my face, which was locked in an expression of shock. What''s Astral Fang doing? I wondered, panic rising. I can''t even fight back if I can''t move my own body. The giant monster roared and lashed out with a limb that looked like a spiked whip, moving so fast my eyes could barely track it. But somehow, my body¡ªnow under Astral Fang''s control¡ªreacted in a blur. The monster''s limb was chopped clean off, thick black blood splashing onto the floor. The beast recoiled, stunned that its attack had been countered so easily. I could hear Anys''s voice from somewhere behind me: "I killed the last two bastards!" She sounded winded but victorious. She must''ve finished off her opponents. Part of me wanted to call out to her, to warn her about this giant monster, but I couldn''t. My body, still enveloped in the green energy, had its own ideas. Instead of running like any sane person, I sprinted forward, aiming directly for the towering white creature. It tried to defend itself, launching another whip-like limb bristling with fangs. My body slid underneath the strike and then jumped three meters high in a single leap, landing behind the monster. For a moment, everything went still¡ªthen the monster''s head slid off its shoulders and thumped to the floor. Its body remained standing for a heartbeat before collapsing. I stood there like some overpowered hero in a dramatic scene, while my actual face was locked in an expression of pure disbelief. I hadn''t made a single decision in that fight¡ªAstral Fang had. My eyes darted down to the spear. The green aura had started to fade, and I felt pins and needles rushing back into my limbs. "You see?" Astral Fang said in my head. "Never underestimate a spear that can speak. There aren''t many weapons like me, you know. But before I let you control your body again, I have some business." My body turned on its own once more, moving toward the decapitated monster. Without hesitation, I drove the spear straight through its chest from behind, piercing its heart. A strange energy pulsed, and I sensed Astral Fang absorbing something. "As long as you do this," the spear explained, "I can maintain my power and help you with it." Anys, sounding annoyed, called out to me. "It would''ve been better if you''d used that power before we had to suffer, you know." I wanted to retort, but Thadric spoke up, leaning against a wall for support. He was busy pressing the stone on his headband, presumably trying to call Tatiana. "We''re still alive, but there''s no reply," he said, sounding worried. "I think we have a problem. Nobody''s answering." Anys moved to Thadric''s side, offering her shoulder so he could stand upright. The three of us began retracing our steps through the ruined corridors, careful to avoid the bodies of fallen monsters. My legs still felt shaky from Astral Fang''s takeover, but at least I could move on my own again. Once we stepped out of the building, our eyes went wide. A horde of goblins, each sporting sharp teeth and crude weapons, was rushing in the direction of our spaceship. Their snarls and guttural cries echoed across the broken landscape. One glance between the three of us was enough to confirm we understood why no one was answering Thadric''s calls: we weren''t the only ones in trouble. I tightened my grip on Astral Fang, ignoring the lingering numbness in my limbs. Anys and Thadric exchanged grim looks, each aware that another fight was looming. Whatever was happening here, it was bigger than we''d expected.