Dimension System: SSS Rank Talent Awakening

Chapter 194: Breathing Room

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The world outside the chasm was unnervingly still, the aftermath of their battle leaving an almost oppressive silence.

Faint light from the approaching dawn spilled over the jagged cliffs, casting long shadows that stretched across the rocky terrain.

Each breath the group took was heavy, ragged, and punctuated only by the distant groaning of the chasm settling into its eerie rest.

Dabi sank to one knee, exhaustion catching up to him as the adrenaline ebbed away. In his hand, the Aetherial Core pulsed faintly, its once erratic glow now subdued yet persistent.

The artifact felt heavier than before, its energy wrapping around him like invisible chains. He shifted his grip, his knuckles whitening under the strain, as if letting go would mean losing something far greater than he could comprehend.

His eyes scanned the group, lingering on Zen and Jeni. Both were battered and bloodied, their faces pale, their postures sagging under the weight of their injuries.

"Is everyone okay?" Dabi’s voice came out rough, the words scraping against the dryness in his throat.

Zen looked up, sweat slicking his hair to his forehead. "Alive," he grunted, though his voice lacked its usual sharpness.

His hand gripped the hilt of one of his twin swords like a lifeline, the blade buried into the dirt to support his weight.

Blood oozed from a deep gash in his leg, pooling beneath him in a dark, ominous stain.

Jeni was slumped against a nearby boulder, her hand clamped tightly over her arm, where blood seeped through torn fabric.

Her ice pendant flickered faintly at her neck, its magic nearly depleted. She managed a weak, bitter smile. "I’ve had better days," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Loira, the least injured of them, immediately knelt beside Zen. Her

staff glowed softly, and she muttered

an incantation under her breath.

Warm light blossomed from her hands, bathing Zen’s wounded leg in its glow. The gash began to close, but the strain on Loira’s face was evident.

"You need to stop doing this to yourself," she said sharply, though concern softened her tone. "You can’t keep taking hits like this. You’re no good to us if you can’t stand."

Zen’s jaw tightened, but he gave a curt nod, his eyes fixed on the magic working its way across his wound.

Loira moved to Jeni next, her hands brushing against the younger woman’s arm. "Hold still," she instructed.

Jeni winced, her lips pressing into a thin line as the healing magic seeped into her skin. The bleeding slowed, and the torn flesh began to knit itself back together. "Thanks," she muttered, her voice soft but sincere.

"We can’t stay here long," Dabi said, forcing himself upright. His gaze swept across the horizon, where the surroundings loomed in the distance, a dark silhouette against the glowing sky.

"The Core’s energy will draw attention. If anything picks up on it, we’ll be fighting again before we’ve even caught our breath."

Loira finished her spell and stood, wiping her brow with the back of her hand. "You’re right, but we need at least a few hours to recover. Jeni and Zen won’t make it far in this state."

"And neither will you," Zen added, his sharp eyes narrowing at Dabi. "You think we haven’t noticed? That thing’s doing something to you."

Dabi’s grip on the Core tightened instinctively. He could feel its energy thrumming against his skin, a pulsing rhythm that was both intoxicating and unsettling. "I’m fine," he said curtly.

"No, you’re not," Loira countered, her gaze unwavering. "The Core isn’t just affecting the environment— it’s affecting you. Your aura has changed. It’s stronger, yes, but it’s unstable."

"I can handle it," Dabi snapped, his voice firm, though the tension in his shoulders betrayed his unease.

Loira frowned but said nothing more. She turned toward the forest. "Let’s find shelter. Somewhere the Core’s energy won’t be so exposed."

The journey through the forest was arduous, every step a struggle against the uneven terrain.

Twisted roots and fallen branches littered the ground, forcing them to move slowly and carefully. Dabi led the way, his sword drawn and his senses on high alert.

The shadows beneath the dense canopy seemed alive, shifting and writhing as if watching their every move. The air was thick with humidity, clinging to their skin and making each breath feel heavier than the last.

Behind him, Jeni and Zen trudged along, their steps uneven and faltering. Jeni clutched her side, her face pale but determined, while Zen leaned on his swords for support, each step sending a jolt of pain through his injured leg.

Loira stayed at the rear, her staff glowing faintly as she scanned the trees around them. Her lips moved in a constant murmur, casting minor wards to keep predators at bay.

"How far do we have to go?" Jeni asked, her voice strained.

"Far enough that the Core’s energy won’t attract everything in the region," Loira replied. "But not so far that you two collapse before we get there."

Zen snorted. "Comforting," he muttered under his breath, though the hint of a smirk tugged at his lips.

After what felt like hours, they stumbled upon a small clearing sheltered by towering rock formations.

The walls rose high on either side, their jagged edges forming a natural barrier. The ground was uneven but solid, and a narrow entrance made it defensible.

"This will have to do," Dabi said, scanning the area.

Loira moved toward the Core, her face grim. She knelt beside it, her hands hovering over its faintly glowing surface.

"Its energy is leaking," she said, her voice heavy with concern. We need to do something. The situation looks very bad.

"How bad is it?" Dabi asked.

Loira looked up, her expression serious. "Bad. Its energy is reacting to everything— the air, the earth, even the magic in the environment. If we don’t stabilize it, it could trigger another disaster."

Dabi’s grip on the Core tightened. He could still feel its pull, a subtle yet constant presence in his mind. "Can you stabilize it?"

"Not permanently," Loira admitted. "I can suppress the instability for now, but we need proper tools to handle something like this."

Zen groaned, collapsing onto a flat rock. "Great. So we’re carrying a time bomb."

Dabi ignored the comment, focusing instead on the task at hand. "Do what you can," he said to Loira.

Loira nodded, her staff glowing brighter as she began weaving protective sigils in the air.

The symbols hovered around the Core before forming a thin, translucent barrier that encased it.

The glow dimmed slightly, and the oppressive energy in the air lessened.

I have done what I can. I used gatekeepers barrier magic. It is the best magic I can use right now.

"This will hold for now," Loira said, though her tone suggested she wasn’t entirely confident.

Rest is upto our fate. Let’s hope we don’t encounter any danger on our way back home. This barrier magic will stay active for around eleven to twelve hours.

I can’t cast it infinitely. So we have to move hurry after some rest. We can’t waste time.

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After the barrier was created. Dabi left a relief, as if like a huge pressure was lift from his body.

He flex his arms and walk some step to fell the relief. I fell much better than before, thinking himself.

The group settled in for the night, taking turns keeping watch. Dabi sat by the Core, his sword resting across his knees as he stared at the artifact.

Its faint pulsing cast long shadows across the clearing, each thrum tugging at the edges of his mind.

Loira approached him silently, her footsteps soft against the ground. "You’re drawn to it," she said quietly.

"The Core’s power... it’s affecting you more than you’re letting on."

Dabi’s gaze didn’t waver. "I’ll deal with it."

"You don’t have to deal with it alone," she said, her voice firm.

For a moment, Dabi said nothing. Then, with a faint sigh, he muttered, "Thanks."

As dawn broke, the group prepared to leave the clearing. Jeni and Zen moved slower than usual, still recovering from their injuries, but determination burned in their eyes.

But unseen to them, a shadow moved in the distance. Perched atop a cliff overlooking the forest, a group of figures clad in dark, polished armor watched the clearing.

Their forms were obscured by the morning mist, but the gleam of weapons and the faint glow of enchanted sigils etched onto their armor hinted at their purpose.

"Still no movement?" one of them asked, his voice low and sharp.

"Not yet," another replied. He adjusted the grip on his spear, his gaze never wavering from the forest below.

"They’re moving slower than expected, but it’s only a matter of time."

The leader of the group, a tall woman with piercing silver eyes, turned to the others.

"Remember, we don’t engage until they leave the chasm’s influence. Let them think they’re safe. Then we strike."

The figures melted back into the mist, their presence as silent as it was menacing.

Far below, Dabi’s group trudged on, unaware to the ambush waiting ahead.....

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