Dimension System: SSS Rank Talent Awakening

Chapter 189: A Hidden Gate

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Dabi opened a massive portal above the creature, unleashing a torrent of spatial energy that engulfed it completely.

When the dust settled, the Vanguard was still standing, though its form was flickering and unstable. It laughed, a hollow, echoing sound.

"You have delayed the inevitable," it said, its voice calm despite its condition. "But the harbinger is coming. Prepare yourselves, for your world will burn."

With those final words, the Vanguard stepped back into the rift, Dabi take this opportunity create a space channel near the vanguard. His blade goes through the vanguard stomach.

’Vanguard disappear with Dabi’s blade stuck inside his stomach.’

The defenders stood frozen, their victory tempered by the knowledge that the battle was far from over.

Dabi collapsed to one knee, exhaustion washing over him. Zen and Jeni rushed to his side, their faces a mix of relief and concern.

"You okay?" Zen asked, helping him to his feet.

"I’ve been better," Dabi admitted, forcing a weak smile. How’s Loira?

Nearby, Althea approached Loira, who was still recovering from her sacrifice. "You were reckless," Althea said, though her tone was softer than usual. "But you may have saved us all."

Loira managed a faint smile. "Let’s hope it was worth it." I only use my life energy. I wouldn’t die soon, my life is just shorter now.

As the group regrouped, the rift began to shrink, its energy finally dissipating. But the Vanguard’s warning lingered in their minds, a chilling reminder of the greater threat looming on the horizon. Their master is the ring-leader.

Far above the city, hidden by the clouds, a new rift began to form. Its energy was darker, more ominous than any before.

And within its depths, a massive figure stirred, its presence radiating an aura of destruction.

"No one is aware of that gate."

A deep, unnatural stillness settled over Celestial City as the first signs of something catastrophic began to take hold.

The air itself seemed heavier, crackling faintly with an unseen energy. Above, dark clouds churned in a way that defied the natural flow of wind.

Flickering green and purple lightning illuminated the skies, casting ominous shadows over the city.

Citizens huddled in their homes, whispering prayers to gods they hadn’t spoken to in years.

Adventurers and city guards paced nervously along the walls, their gazes locked on the swirling vortex in the sky.

And at the heart of it all, Dabi stood on the battlements, his eyes narrowed as he tried to make sense of the chaos.

The faint glow of his spatial magic shimmered around him, a constant reminder of the power he wielded and the responsibility it brought.

The strange occurrences extended beyond the sky. Buildings groaned as if alive, their foundations trembling.

Fires spontaneously ignited and extinguished in a mocking dance, and the once-clear waters of the city’s fountains darkened to an inky black.

"Dimensional instability," Loira murmured, seated in a chair.

Though still pale and visibly weakened, her sharp mind was undiminished. "The barriers between worlds are collapsing."

Jeni, who had stayed close to Loira since the last battle, glanced out the window nervously. "How much time do we have before it gets worse?"

Loira didn’t answer immediately. She closed her eyes, letting the faint energy of her restored powers guide her senses. When she spoke, her voice was tinged with dread.

"Not long. The Harbinger is close."

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In the main chamber of the council hall, a heated debate raged. The room was packed with city leaders, adventurers, and representatives of neighboring regions. Fear hung thick in the air, feeding the discord.

"This city is doomed!" shouted Councilman Vekram, his face flushed with panic. "The distortions are centered here. If we stay, we’ll all die!"

"And where would you propose we go, Vekram?" Althea retorted sharply, her voice slicing through the clamor.

"Abandoning Celestial City isn’t just cowardly—it’s idiotic. There’s no guarantee that the distortions won’t follow us."

Others in the room muttered in agreement, but the councilman wasn’t swayed. "You’re risking every life here for the sake of pride?"

"It’s not pride," Althea snapped. "It’s strategy. This city has resources, defenses, and trained fighters.

Running would make us vulnerable, and we’d lose any chance of stopping this invasion."

Dabi, leaning against the wall with arms crossed, finally spoke. His voice was calm but carried an edge of authority.

"We’re wasting time. The Harbinger doesn’t care about our arguments."

The room fell silent at his words. Even Vekram looked chastened.

"Those who want to run can run," Dabi continued. "But don’t think for a second that the fight won’t find you eventually.

For everyone else willing to stand and defend what we have—prepare yourselves. This will be the hardest battle we’ve faced."

In this meeting no saint was present. They have been summoned by the government in secret location.

Later that day, Loira lay on a cot in the infirmary, the soft glow of healing magic surrounding her. Dabi entered quietly, his expression softening as he saw her pale form.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, pulling up a chair beside her.

"I’ve been better," Loira admitted, managing a faint smile. "But I’ll recover. My race have a long life span."

Dabi said never do anything like that again. "We’ll need you. The city—"

"I know," she interrupted. "I can feel it. The Harbinger is... powerful. More than the Vanguard. Its presence is like a weight pressing on my soul."

Her voice trailed off, and she closed her eyes. Images swirled in her mind—fragmented visions of fire and shadow, of an enormous being that seemed to embody destruction itself.

"It’s not just power," she whispered. "The Harbinger is... intelligent. It’s calculating, methodical. It won’t rush in like the others. It’s testing us, waiting for the perfect moment to strike."

Dabi’s jaw tightened. "Then we’ll give it something to think about."

Loira opened her eyes, meeting his gaze. "Be careful, Dabi. The Harbinger isn’t just an enemy—it’s a warning. If we fail to stop it, worse things will follow."

The rest of the day was a whirlwind of activity. The city’s defenses were bolstered, with barricades and magical wards erected around key areas.

Adventurers sharpened their blades, and mages chanted protective spells over the walls.

Althea took charge of organizing the troops, her commanding presence a beacon of stability in the chaos.

Zen and Jeni worked tirelessly to fortify weak points in the city’s defenses, while Dabi focused on refining his spatial magic.

As night fell, the unnatural phenomena intensified. The vortex in the sky grew larger, its swirling colors casting eerie shadows over the city. The air was thick with anticipation, every breath heavy with the promise of battle.

It began with a low rumble, a sound that seemed to come from the earth itself. The rumble grew into a roar, shaking buildings and sending people scrambling for cover.

Then, without warning, a massive explosion rocked the city. A pillar of dark energy erupted from the vortex, striking the ground just outside the city walls.

The shockwave knocked people off their feet, and a deafening silence followed.

From the heart of the explosion, a figure emerged.

The Harbinger was massive, towering over any creature the city had faced before.

Its form was humanoid but monstrous, with jagged, obsidian-like armor covering its body.

Its eyes glowed with an otherworldly light, and its presence radiated an aura of destruction so intense that even the bravest fighters hesitated.

The Harbinger took a step forward, the ground cracking beneath its feet. It raised one hand, and the vortex above shifted, releasing a torrent of creatures that poured down like a storm.

Dabi, standing on the wall with Althea and Loira, stared at the monstrosity. His hands clenched into fists, spatial energy flickering around him.

"Here we go," he muttered.

Althea barked orders, her voice cutting through the chaos. "All units, hold the line! Focus on the smaller creatures—leave the Harbinger to us!"

Dabi turned to Loira, who was leaning against the wall for support. "Can you stabilize the vortex again?"

Loira shook her head, frustration evident on her face. "Not in my current state. I’ll do what I can, but..."

"I’ll cover you," Dabi promised, teleporting to the ground to join the battle.

Zen and Jeni were already in the thick of it, their movements a blur as they fought off the horde of creatures.

Zen’s dual blades flashed like lightning, cutting through enemies with precision, while Jeni’s support magic kept their allies on their feet.

Dabi appeared beside them, creating a spatial barrier to protect a group of civilians caught in the crossfire.

"Keep pushing forward!" he shouted. "We need to clear a path to the Harbinger!"

As the defenders fought valiantly against the horde, the Harbinger raised its massive hand again. A sphere of dark energy formed in its palm, pulsating with raw power.

Dabi recognized the danger immediately. "Everyone, fall back!" he yelled, teleporting to Zen and Jeni to pull them out of harm’s way.

The Harbinger unleashed the sphere, and the resulting explosion leveled an entire section of the city wall. The ground trembled, and a deafening silence followed as the dust settled.

When the smoke cleared, the Harbinger stood unscathed, its glowing eyes scanning the battlefield.

"You are brave," it said, its voice deep and resonant, echoing through the minds of everyone present. "But bravery will not save you. This world is already doomed."

Dabi stepped forward, his fists glowing with spatial energy. "We’ll see about that."

As the Harbinger raised its hand to attack again, the vortex above began to shift once more.

A new energy surged through the battlefield, heavier and more ominous than before.

Loira, watching from the wall, gasped. "It’s opening another rift. A bigger one."

The Harbinger leader smiled, a chilling expression on its monstrous face.

And with that, the ground beneath Celestial City began to crack, glowing fissures spreading outward as the dimensional distortions reached their peak.

The final battle was about to begin.

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