Dimension System: SSS Rank Talent Awakening

Chapter 188: Vanguard’s Gambit

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His strategic use of dimensional magic turned the tide of the battle in critical areas, giving the defenders a fighting chance.

The Rift Stabilized Temporarily

As the battle raged on, Loira’s efforts began to pay off.

The rift’s chaotic energy began to slow, the rate of creatures emerging decreasing slightly.

She let out a shaky breath, her hands still glowing with magical energy.

"It’s not perfect," she said to herself, "but it’ll hold for now."

She looked up at the battlefield, her heart sinking at the sight of the carnage. "Now we just need to survive the rest of this."

As if in response to her thoughts, the air around the rift began to hum with an ominous energy.

A figure stepped through the swirling portal, its form tall and imposing. The Vanguard had returned, its shadowy body radiating an aura of power that sent a wave of fear through the defenders.

The Vanguard raised a hand, and the battlefield seemed to shift around it. More creatures emerged from the ground itself, summoned directly by its will. These new arrivals were larger and more dangerous, their glowing runes pulsing with dark energy.

"Your efforts are admirable," the Vanguard said, its voice a chilling monotone. "But futile. The gates will open, and your world will fall."

Dabi teleported to the front lines, standing face-to-face with the Vanguard. His eyes narrowed, his aura flaring as he prepared for battle.

"We’ll see about that," he said, his voice steady. Dabi also used his summon skill.

A pack of fang-wolf comes in response. He gave command to stop the vanguard summon.

The Vanguard’s glowing eyes flickered with amusement. "Come then, Sovereign. Show me the strength of your resolve."

The clash between Dabi and the Vanguard was nothing short of epic.

The Vanguard manipulated shadows with terrifying precision, its attacks warping reality itself.

Dabi countered with his space magic, creating portals to deflect the Vanguard’s strikes and launching devastating spatial blasts in return.

The battlefield around them became a chaotic maelstrom of energy, the sheer power of their confrontation forcing nearby defenders to retreat.

Zen and Jeni worked together to hold off the new wave of creatures, their combined skills a testament to their bond.

"Dabi’s holding his own," Zen said between strikes. "But we need to keep these things off his back."

"Then let’s make sure he gets the chance," Jeni replied, casting a powerful ice barrier spell to shield their allies.

Despite Dabi’s best efforts, the Vanguard proved to be a formidable opponent. Its mastery over shadow and reality pushed him to his limits, and the strain of maintaining his dimensional magic began to take its toll.

The Vanguard, sensing his fatigue, smirked. "You fight well, Sovereign. But you are not prepared for what lies ahead."

Before Dabi could respond, the Vanguard unleashed a wave of dark energy that sent him crashing into the wall. He groaned in pain, struggling to rise as the creature loomed over him.

"You are strong," the Vanguard said, "but strength alone will not save you."

As it raised its hand for a final blow, a blinding light erupted from the rift. The Vanguard turned, its expression unreadable.

Dabi struggled to his feet, his eyes filled with determination, he knew one thing for certain: the battle was far from over.

The battlefield was eerily silent for a moment, save for the faint hum of residual energy from the massive rift.

A saint has launched a powerful attack at the gate. But the gate didn’t disappear. But that saves Dabi from the vanguard attack. He was distracted for a moment.

The Vanguard stood at its center, tall and menacing, its shadowy form flickering like an unstable flame. Its glowing runes pulsed rhythmically, as if syncing with the chaotic energy of the rift behind it.

Dabi faced the creature, his breathing steady but his mind racing. The Vanguard exuded an aura of raw power, unlike any foe he had faced before. The weight of its presence pressed against him, testing his resolve.

"You’ve proven yourself capable, Sovereign of Space," the Vanguard said, its voice echoing unnaturally. "But your struggle is in vain. The gates will open, and your world will belong to my master."

Dabi didn’t respond. Instead, he raised his hands, a shimmering portal forming around him like a protective cocoon. His eyes burned with determination. "Let’s finish this."

The Vanguard moved first, its shadowy limbs stretching unnaturally as it launched tendrils of darkness toward Dabi. The tendrils warped the air, bending reality as they traveled.

Dabi countered, opening a portal in front of him to redirect the attack. The tendrils disappeared into the shimmering gateway, reappearing behind the Vanguard and striking toward its back.

But the Vanguard anticipated the move. With a wave of its hand, the tendrils dissolved into mist before reforming into jagged spikes that shot toward Dabi again.

"Impressive," the Vanguard said, its tone almost mocking. "But predictable."

Dabi teleported out of harm’s way, reappearing above the battlefield. He thrust his hands downward, releasing a burst of spatial energy that tore through the ground, aiming to destabilize the Vanguard’s footing.

The creature laughed, stepping effortlessly through the cracks in reality that Dabi created. "Your control over space is admirable, but it pales in comparison to my master’s design."

The Vanguard retaliated by distorting the battlefield itself. The ground beneath Dabi twisted and warped, throwing him off balance. He stumbled, struggling to maintain his focus as the world around him became a chaotic nightmare.

From the edge of the battlefield, Loira watched the fight with growing concern. Dabi was holding his own, but the Vanguard’s power was overwhelming, its mastery over distortion threatening to break through his defenses.

"I can’t just stand here," Loira muttered, her hands trembling as she prepared a spell.

Jeni, who had been tending to wounded soldiers nearby, glanced at her in alarm. "Loira, what are you doing?"

"There’s only one way to weaken it," Loira replied, her voice resolute. "I have to use the Gatekeeper’s Brand."

Jeni’s eyes widened. "You can’t! That technique—" it very dangerous. It will use your life force. You can’t do it. If you use to much power you will die immediately.

"I know the risks," Loira interrupted. "But if I don’t do this, Dabi will lose, and the city will fall."

Ignoring Jeni’s protests, Loira raised her hands, her entire body glowing with a brilliant light. She began to chant in an ancient tongue, her voice resonating with the very fabric of reality.

The rift behind the Vanguard flickered, its energy growing unstable. The creature turned, its glowing eyes narrowing.

"What is this?"

Loira unleashed the spell, a beam of concentrated energy slamming into the Vanguard. The creature roared in pain as the attack disrupted its connection to the rift.

Dabi seized the opportunity, teleporting behind the Vanguard and launching a spatial blast at point-blank range. The attack struck true, sending the creature staggering.

But the cost of Loira’s intervention was steep. As the light around her faded, she collapsed to her knees, her energy completely drained. The glow of her gatekeeping powers dimmed, leaving her vulnerable.

"Loira!" Jeni rushed to her side, panic in her voice.

"I’m fine," Loira said weakly, though her pale complexion said otherwise. "Just... keep fighting."

At that moment, reinforcements arrived, led by Althea. Her commanding presence brought order to the chaotic battlefield as city guards and adventurers rallied around her.

"Report!" she sought, her sharp eyes scanning the scene.

Jeni quickly explained the situation, including Loira’s sacrifice and the Vanguard’s apparent connection to the rift.

Althea frowned, her mind working rapidly. "The Vanguard’s power is tied to the rift. If we disrupt its summoning technique, we might be able to weaken it further."

She turned to Dabi, who was still engaged in a fierce battle. "Dabi! Keep it distracted. I’ll find a way to sever its link to the rift."

"Working on it!" Dabi shouted back, narrowly dodging another shadowy attack.

Althea led her team toward the rift, analyzing the swirling energy with a critical eye. "There’s a pattern here," she muttered. "If we can disrupt the flow at these points..."

She directed her mages to target specific areas around the rift, their spells creating ripples in the chaotic energy. Slowly but surely, the rift began to stabilize, cutting off the Vanguard’s ability to summon more creatures.

As the Vanguard realized its power was waning, it grew more aggressive. It lashed out with ferocity, its attacks becoming wild and unpredictable.

Dabi struggled to keep up, his stamina nearly depleted. "Loira’s attack did something," he thought. "But it’s not enough. We need to end this now."

Zen and Jeni joined the fray, flanking the Vanguard and attacking its vulnerable points. Zen’s dual blades carved through its shadowy form, while Jeni’s support magic kept Dabi on his feet.

"Together!" Dabi shouted, gathering his remaining strength.

The three of them launched a coordinated assault, their combined attacks overwhelming the Vanguard’s defenses. Enjoy new tales from NovelBin.Côm

How amusing, you three are very capable for your age. The vanguard said.

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