12 HOURS LATER…
THE ASSOCIATION'S AIRCRAFT HOVERED OVER THE REMOTE MOUNTAIN RANGE.
A MASSIVE, PULSATING BLACK GATE DOMINATED THE LANDSCAPE, RUPTURING THE SKY LIKE A SCAR.
THE GROUND TREMBLED BENEATH IT—
THE ABYSS WAS AWAKE.
FINAL PREPARATIONS
HUNTERS STOOD READY ON THE LANDING PLATFORM, THEIR WEAPONS SHINING IN THE DIM LIGHT.
EVEN THE ELITE S-RANKS WERE SILENT.
ARIANA STEPPED TO RYUJIN'S SIDE.
"ONCE WE GO IN… THERE'S NO BACKUP.
STAY CLOSE TO ME AND KAI. UNDERSTOOD?"
RYUJIN NODDED, HIS EYES FIXED ON THE GATE.
KAI CLAPPED HIS SHOULDER.
"HEY, DON'T LOOK SO SERIOUS. WE'LL HANDLE THIS, TOGETHER."
"HN," RYUJIN REPLIED, GRIPPING HIS KATANA.
THE GATE OPENS
THE GATE'S ENERGY SURGED, A DEAFENING ROAR ESCAPING FROM THE ABYSS.
THE ASSOCIATION DIRECTOR'S VOICE ECHOED THROUGH THE COMMUNICATION LINE:
"TEAM SEVEN, YOU'RE FIRST IN.
GOOD LUCK… AND SURVIVE."
ARIANA RAISED HER HAND.
"MOVE OUT!"
WHOOSH!
TEAM SEVEN LEAPED INTO THE GATE, SHADOWS ENGULFING THEIR BODIES AS THEY CROSSED INTO THE UNKNOWN.
THE OTHER SIDE
WHEN RYUJIN OPENED HIS EYES, HE WAS NO LONGER IN THE MOUNTAINS.
A CHILLING, PURPLE SKY STRETCHED ENDLESSLY ABOVE THEM.
THE LAND WAS TWISTED, BONES AND BLACK STONE JUTTING FROM THE EARTH.
THE ABYSSAL REALM.
STRANGE CREATURES MOVED IN THE DISTANCE, THEIR SHAPES INHUMAN AND WRONG.
THE AIR ITSELF FELT HEAVY, CORRUPT.
KAI WHISPERED,
"I… I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS."
RYUJIN'S HAND TIGHTENED AROUND HIS KATANA.
"STAY ALERT. THIS PLACE… WANTS US DEAD."
A BAD SIGN
SUDDENLY, THE SKY RUMBLED, AND THE GROUND BEGAN TO SPLIT.
MULTIPLE ABYSSAL PORTALS ERUPTED AROUND THEM, EACH SPEWING OUT CREATURES IN WAVES.
ARIANA DREW HER WEAPON, HER EXPRESSION DEADLY.
"GET READY. THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING!"
HISSSSSSSSS!
THE FIRST CREATURES CHARGED—
AND TEAM SEVEN BRACED FOR IMPACT.