Dimension System: SSS Rank Talent Awakening

Chapter 199: Shadows and Revelations

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The group barely had time to catch their breath when a chilling hum of shadow magic filled the air again, sharper and more oppressive than before. The faint tremors in the ground grew into rhythmic pulses, each one louder than the last.

"They’re back," Loira whispered, her grip tightening on her staff. Her voice quivered, not with fear, but with the anticipation of a storm about to break.

From the darkness of the ravine’s remnants, a larger force of Shadow Agents emerged.

Their numbers were double what they had faced before, their movements more synchronized, their presence more ominous.

Each wore runed masks that glowed an eerie red, and their coordinated advance sent chills down even the most seasoned warriors’ spines.

Zen muttered under his breath, drawing his dual blades. "How many of these things are there? It’s like they’re endless."

"It doesn’t matter." Dabi stepped forward, his sword shimmering faintly as it caught the remnants of the evening light. "We’ll cut them all down. Every last one."

Raghnall hefted his warhammer, the sacred weapon glowing faintly with divine energy.

His massive form exuded a calm, unyielding resolve as he called out,"Form up! Protect Calvin and the Core at all costs. They must reach the sanctum."

Before the Shadow Agents could launch their assault, a commanding voice echoed across the battlefield, shaking the very air.

"ENOUGH!"

The sound wasn’t just loud; it carried an undeniable authority, silencing everything. Even the Shadow Agents, so synchronized and disciplined, hesitated mid- advance.

From the eastern horizon, a wave of golden light surged forward, cutting through the agents like a cleansing fire. Their runed masks cracked and fizzled, their movements faltering as they lost their cohesion.

Out of the light stepped a man clad in ornate golden armor, the intricate engravings on his chestplate shimmering with celestial energy.

A red cape billowed behind him, his every step exuding power and command.

His piercing eyes swept over the battlefield, settling on the Shadow Agents with a disdain that bordered on fury.

"Who dares deploy shadow operatives on sovereign land?" he demanded, his voice sharp and unyielding.

Jeni gasped, her grip loosening on her dagger. "That’s Aldric Valorin... the Commander of the Sovereign Guard."

A Shadow Agent stepped forward, their mask sparking with unstable energy. They raised a hand to cast a spell, but Aldric was faster.

With a swift motion, his golden sword ignited, blazing with radiant energy. His movements were blindingly fast, each swing precise and devastating.

The Shadow Agents fell like wheat before a scythe, their bodies disintegrating into black mist with every strike.

Within moments, the battlefield was silent, the once- threatening swarm reduced to nothingness.

(Note: Aldrich knows how to easily defeat the shadow agent. Cause he is the one who invented the training technique.)

Aldric turned to the group, his expression unreadable but heavy with implication. "These were not Council operatives."

Calvin, still clutching the Core with trembling hands, stepped forward. "Not Council? But they bore the sigils—"

"Forged sigils," Aldric interrupted, his tone cold and deliberate. "Whoever sent these agents has gone to extraordinary lengths to mimic the Council’s methods. This is no simple skirmish. This is subterfuge."

Dabi sheathed his sword, his brows furrowing in thought. "If it’s not the Council, then who? What’s their game?"

Aldric’s gaze darkened. "That’s what I intend to find out. Training and deploying personal shadow operatives is a capital offense. Whoever orchestrated this will pay."

Loira hesitated. "And the Rift Gates? Can your forces help us close them?"

The commander shook his head. "My duty lies in uncovering the source of this treachery. But you are not alone. The Sovereign Guard stands with you, as do the Saints. If you need aid, call for us."

He turned to Raghnall, his tone softening slightly. "Take them to the sanctum. If the Core is unstable, it is the only place capable of handling it."

Raghnall nodded, his expression grim. "Understood."

The sanctum was hidden deep within a labyrinthine forest, its entrance concealed by layers of enchantments.

When they arrived, its towering stone walls glimmered faintly with ancient runes, pulsating like a heartbeat.

"This place," Loira whispered, awe struck as they stepped inside, "it feels different than other places."

"It should," Raghnall said, leading them through the cavernous halls.

"The sanctums were built by the first Saints. They’re conduits for Rift energy, designed to stabilize the world when its balance is threatened."

At the sanctum’s heart was a vast chamber. Its domed ceiling glowed with constellations of light, and in the center stood a pedestal surrounded by four towering obelisks.

The obelisks hummed with dormant power, their surfaces covered in intricate carvings.

Calvin placed the Core on the pedestal, and its glow dimmed as it began to synchronize with the sanctum’s energy.

"How does this work?" Zen asked, his gaze flickering between the obelisks.

"The sanctum draws unstable Rift energy from the Core," Raghnall explained. "The obelisks act as stabilizers, channeling that energy back into the Rift Gate to force it closed."

"And the risk?" Dabi asked bluntly.

Raghnall’s expression grew grim. "If the obelisks fail, the energy will tear the sanctum apart... along with everyone inside."

As the Core synchronized, the ground beneath them trembled. A low, ominous hum filled the air, sending chills down their spines.

Loira’s eyes darted to the sky. "Do you hear that?"

Above the city, previous opened Rift Gate shimmered into view, its edges crackling with unstable energy.

Unlike the one they had seen before, this gate was massive, its presence dominating the skyline.

"How long has that been there?" Zen asked, panic edging his voice.

"It must’ve been dormant," Calvin said, his tone grim. "But now it’s fully active."

Through the gate came a new threat. Monstrous creatures poured through

a horde of Vanguard soldiers, their towering forms and jagged weapons gleaming under the Rift’s malevolent glow.

Behind them came the Harbingers, their jagged armor radiating an aura of dread. These elites were far deadlier and stronger than the previous ones, their weapons crackling with destructive energy.

"They’ve crossed through already!" Dabi shouted, drawing his sword. "If they reach the city, it’s over!"

"We hold the sanctum!" Raghnall ordered, raising his hammer. "The Core must be stabilized before we can close the gates!"

Dabi looked at the glowing Rift Gate in the sky, his jaw tightening. "Then we don’t waste time. Let’s finish this."

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