Dimension System: SSS Rank Talent Awakening

Chapter 192: The Sentinel’s Wrath

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Its sheer presence radiated malevolence, the air thickening with oppressive energy.

"The Sentinel," Loira breathed, her voice barely above a whisper. "It’s guarding the Core."

The creature let out an earth-shaking roar, and the team instinctively readied their weapons and spells.

"Stay sharp!" Dabi shouted, his sword blazing with energy. "This isn’t going to be easy."

The Sentinel lunged forward, its massive form blotting out the light as the battle for the artifact and the fate of Celestial City began now.

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.

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The Sentinel loomed over the group, its towering form shrouded in flickering shadows and glowing eyes that seemed to pierce into their souls.

The ground trembled beneath its steps, cracks forming in the already unstable terrain. Its roar echoed through the chasm, a sound that sent chills racing down their spines.

Dabi stepped forward, his blade humming with energy as he drew it from its sheath. "We don’t have a choice. If we want the artifact, we have to take it down."

Zen spun his twin swords in a ready stance, his voice calm but steely. "Keep its attention on me and Dabi.

Loira, Jeni—support us from a distance. If this thing’s guarding the Core, it’s not going down easily."

Loira nodded, gripping her staff tightly.

(She brings a staff for this mission. It can help her focus her magic more.)

"Understood. I’ll look for weak points in its energy patterns."

Jeni, standing slightly behind, I will support with ice magic. "I’ll keep everyones back safe. Just… don’t get reckless."

The Sentinel didn’t wait for further discussion. With a deafening roar, it lunged forward, one massive, clawed arm slashing downward. Dabi sidestepped the strike, the ground shattering where he had stood a moment earlier.

"Move!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.

Dabi and Zen flanked the Sentinel, their movements precise and coordinated. Zen’s blades flashed, slicing at the creature’s limbs, while Dabi aimed for its core, his strikes charged with crackling energy.

The Sentinel’s body shimmered, its form flickering in and out of existence. Each time Zen’s blades connected, they passed through empty air, only to find resistance the next moment.

"Damn it, it’s phasing!" Zen growled, narrowly avoiding a retaliatory swipe.

Loira raised her staff, her voice ringing out in an incantation. "Hold it steady!"

A burst of magical energy erupted from her staff, slamming into the Sentinel’s chest. It’s was a kind space type magic which can tear thought someone’s skin and deals damage on flesh. The creature staggered, its phasing momentarily disrupted.

"Now!" Dabi yelled, lunging forward. His sword carved a deep gash into the Sentinel’s torso, black ichor spilling out. The creature howled in fury, swatting at Dabi with a massive arm.

The impact sent Dabi flying, his body skidding across the jagged terrain. Jeni’s hands glowed as she cast a healing spell, soothing the worst of his injuries before he even hit the ground.

"Dabi, stay focused!" Jeni called, her voice firm despite the tension in her tone.

"I’m fine!" Dabi grunted, pushing himself to his feet. "Loira, can you disrupt its phasing again?"

"Not yet!" Loira shouted, her hands weaving intricate symbols in the air. "I need time to re- cast the spell!" Explore stories on NovelBin.Côm

As the battle raged, the Sentinel grew more aggressive. Its movements became erratic, and the air around it shimmered with malevolent energy. The ground beneath its feet warped, fissures spreading outward and releasing bursts of unstable magic.

"This thing’s drawing power from the zone itself!" Loira yelled. "If we don’t end this soon, it’ll destabilize the entire area!"

Zen darted in, his blades slicing at the Sentinel’s legs. "Easier said than done! It’s like fighting a storm!"

The Sentinel’s eyes glowed brighter, and it let out a guttural roar. From the chasm behind it, smaller shadowy creatures began to emerge— lesser guardians called by their master.

"Are you kidding me?" Jeni gasped, her pendant flaring as she cast a protective ice barrier around the group.

(Pendent boost ice magic.)

Dabi gritted his teeth. "Zen, keep the Sentinel busy. Loira, Jeni, handle the reinforcements. I’ll go for its core again."

Zen didn’t hesitate, his blades flashing as he charged the towering creature. "Just don’t get yourself killed!"

Loira focused her energy on the encroaching shadowy beasts.

They were smaller and faster than the Sentinel but lacked its overwhelming presence. Her staff glowed brightly as she unleashed a wave of her magical energy, incinerating several of the creatures in one strike.

Jeni stood close by, alternating between her teammates and creating ice barriers to deflect the creatures’ attacks.

Sweat beaded on her forehead as she pushed her magic to its limits. She also used small ice attack in support.

"We can’t hold them off forever!" Jeni called, her voice strained.

Loira’s eyes darted to the Sentinel, which was still locked in combat with Zen and Dabi. "We don’t need forever—just long enough to end this!"

She began chanting a complex spell, the runes on her staff flaring with power. The air around her crackled as the spell reached its peak.

A beam of concentrated energy shot forward, striking the Sentinel directly in its chest.

The creature shrieked in pain, its form flickering violently.

"It’s vulnerable!" Loira shouted. "Now’s your chance!"

Seizing the opportunity, Dabi charged the Sentinel, his sword blazing with energy. He leapt onto the creature’s chest, driving his blade deep into its core.

The Sentinel thrashed wildly, trying to dislodge him, but Dabi held firm.

The creature’s ichor spilled over him, burning like acid. Pain shot through his body, but he gritted his teeth and pushed deeper, his blade piercing the glowing core at the center of the Sentinel’s chest.

The Sentinel let out a final, earsplitting roar. Its body convulsed, then began to collapse, dissolving into shadowy mist.

The remaining smaller creatures disintegrated as well, their forms unraveling without their master’s presence.

Dabi fell to the ground, his body trembling from exhaustion and pain.

Jeni was at his side in an instant, her ice magic flowing over him. "Don’t move you’ve got some serious burns."

"I’m fine," Dabi muttered, though his voice was weak. "Is it… is it over?"

Loira approached, her staff glowing faintly as she surveyed the now-silent chasm. "For now. The Sentinel’s gone."

Zen sheathed his blades, his expression grim. "And the artifact?"

The crystalline structure at the far side of the chasm pulsed with a steady, otherworldly light. Its surface shimmered like liquid glass, and the air around it was thick with raw energy.

"That’s it," Loira said, her voice hushed. "The Aetherial Core."

Dabi pushed himself to his feet with Jeni’s help, his eyes locked on the artifact. "Let’s get this over with."

As they approached the Core, its glow intensified. The closer they got, the more oppressive the energy became. It felt as though the very air was pressing down on them, testing their resolve.

Loira hesitated, her expression troubled. "This thing… it’s alive, in a way. It’s sentient. Whoever tries to wield it will need to prove themselves worthy—or suffer the consequences."

Dabi stepped forward without hesitation. "We didn’t come this far to turn back now."

The moment he touched the Core, a surge of energy coursed through him, nearly knocking him off his feet. His vision blurred, and his surroundings seemed to melt away.

Dabi found himself standing in a void, surrounded by swirling lights and shadows. A voice echoed around him, deep and resonant.

"You seek to claim my power. But are you prepared to face the cost?"

"I don’t care about the cost," Dabi said firmly. "I’ll do whatever it takes to protect my team— and my city."

The shadows coalesced into a towering figure, its form indistinct but imposing. "Your resolve is strong, but strength alone is not enough. Prove your worth."

The figure attacked, its strikes swift and relentless. Dabi fought back with everything he had, his sword clashing against the entity’s ethereal blade.

Each strike sent shockwaves through the void, the battle pushing him to his limits.

Finally, with one last, desperate swing, Dabi’s blade connected with the entity’s core. The figure dissolved into light, and the voice spoke again.

"You have proven yourself. But remember—power always comes at a price. Use it wisely."

Dabi’s vision cleared, and he found himself back in the chasm, the Aetherial Core glowing faintly in his hands. His body hummed with newfound energy, and the oppressive weight of the artifact seemed to ease.

Loira and the others rushed to his side. "Dabi! Are you alright?"

"I’m fine," he said, his voice steady but laced with exhaustion. "The Core… it’s ours."

Zen nodded, his expression a mix of relief and concern. "Let’s hope it’s worth all this trouble."

Loira studied the artifact, her eyes narrowing. "We’ll need to stabilize its energy before we can use it. Otherwise, it could do more harm than good."

Dabi glanced back at the chasm, the faint remnants of the Sentinel’s shadow still lingering in the air.

"We’ll figure it out. For now, let’s get out of here first."

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