SYSTEM—A divine gift from the God of Creation, Gaea, granted to guide all Espers in tracking monsters, granting EXP, and unlocking new abilities. In rare cases, it may even reward otherworldly weapons. The display appears as a semi-transparent hologram floating just inches before an Esper's vision.
The System appeared after the Black Rift suddenly vanished—taking all Espers inside with it.
The air inside the active red rift crackled with crimson energy, painting the twisted stone ruins in shades of blood and shadow.
Mabel Le Blanc's finger never left her bowstring as a pack of gargoyles charged through the rubble.
Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh.
Three arrows flew in quick succession, each finding its mark in a stone chest with a shower of sparks before she glanced up at her floating System display:
[ MABEL LE BLANC
TITLE: Arrow-Shooter
ROLE: Damage Dealer
MAIN ABILITY: Arrow Rain | Arrow Generation
RANK: S
MANA: 20% | HP: 78% | EXP: +450 ]
"Fei! I need a mana buff, now!" she called out, drawing another arrow even as her reserves dwindled.
Feigel Darcy stepped forward, hands outstretched as she closed her eyes in focus. A soft chime echoed through the rift as her System flared to life:
[ FEIGEL DARCY
TITLE: Angel's Hand
ROLE: Healer
MAIN ABILITY: Rapid Health
RANK: A ]
[ACTIVATE: MANA BUFF]
A wave of warm green light washed over Mabel, and her mana gauge shot up instantly.
[MANA: 100%]
"Nice!" Mabel smirked, already nocking three arrows at once. But Fei rushed over, pressing a glowing palm to Mabel's shoulder to top off her HP. "Careful with that! Mana depletes faster when you push it this hard—you'll burn out before we clear the last pack!"
"It's fine, it's fine. You just have to stay beside me."
"MABEL—"
Fei didn't finish her words when a strong wind nearly knocked them off their feet. They turned to see Larsson Barclay send a gargoyle sprawling with a single punch, its stone jaw shattering into dust. He wiped gravel from his knuckles, laughing loudly.
[ LARSSON BARCLAY
TITLE: Iron Gorilla
ROLE: Tank
MAIN ABILITY: Strength-Based Durability
RANK: S ]
"These things are weak!" he boomed, slamming his fist into another's chest.
"Where's the challenge? I'm getting bored!"
"Larsson, please be careful! Your HP might deplete if you become reckless!" Fei shouted so he could hear her over the chaos.
But Larsson just smirked. "Don't worry, Milady. These things can't even touch me!" He slammed two gargoyles together with a thunderous crash.
While he was busy laughing, a gargoyle crept up behind him—wings folded to stay silent, claws raised to strike. But before it could land a blow, two silver knives whistled through the air—burying themselves deep in its neck.
The monster crumbled to the ground in a pile of pebbles.
"Be careful, monkey," William Lancaster said, stepping out from behind a pillar where he'd been hidden by his invisibility. "We don't want to bury you in the zoo."
[ WILLIAM LANCASTER
TITLE: Night Assassin
ROLE: Damage Dealer
MAIN ABILITY: Invisibility | Parkour Mastery
RANK: A ]
Larsson's face flushed red with anger. "Bastard! You wanna get your face rearranged? Call me monkey one more time!"
"Make me," William shot back, already vanishing from sight again as more gargoyles emerged.
The fight raged on until the last stone monster crumbled to dust. Mabel collapsed onto the grassy patch at the rift's edge, limbs heavy. "Ugh—why are gargoyles so stubborn? I swear they take twice as many hits as usual!"
Fei moved from member to member, green light washing over each to mend cuts and soothe fatigue. "Everyone's HP is back to full," she reported, worry lining her brow. "But where did our boss go? He was supposed to stick with the main group."
Mabel waved a hand dismissively, propping herself up on her elbows. "Probably off fighting the rift boss already. You know how he is—hates sharing kills."
"Should we follow him? Help out?" Fei asked, glancing toward the deeper part of the rift where the energy was thickest.
Larsson let out a booming laugh, cracking his knuckles. "Help? The boss will shoot us before thanking us! He can take down a rift boss in his sleep, we'd just get in the way!"
Mabel saw how worried Fei was about their boss, and a teasing smile crossed her face.
"You like him, don't you, Fei?"
Fei's face instantly flushed bright pink. "W-what are you talking about? I'm not," she stammered, but her nervous fidgeting made it obvious.
Mabel only laughed, teasing her more until Fei was hiding her face in her hands.
...
Deep in the rift's core, where crimson mist swirled around a massive stone throne, Avgust stepped inside a dungeon where an army of mummies shook in their cells, stretching their arms between the bars as if trying to grab him. Their groans echoed inside the dark walls, full of rot and decay.
At the end of the hallway stood a heavily built monster wearing dark, spiked pauldrons and a thick, dark skirt or robe adorned with heavy chains. Its head was covered with a brown sack stained with dried blood, and it wielded a double-headed greataxe, also streaked with dried blood.
[Rift Boss: Executioner (A rank)]
Even an experienced Esper would tremble before such a monster. Yet Avgust simply snickered, lighting his cigar as if it were nothing.
"Seriously," he muttered, puffing smoke from the corner of his mouth. "This place needs a major cleaning—it disgusts me."
The Executioner roared, swinging its massive axe down. Avgust darted aside effortlessly, leaping into the air. "Open storage: Phantom Gun."
A black magic circle materialized in his palm, and a sleek Sturm, Ruger & Co. 9MM appeared—loaded with selenite bullets forged from underworld minerals to amplify mana damage. He channeled his energy into the gun, firing.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Each shot struck true, sending red blood spraying across the filthy floor. The Executioner screamed, enraged, smashing cages and mummies charging with their mouth spread wide, splitting their cheeks.
"Don't get in my way," Avgust ordered, raising his hand. A medium-sized black magic circle appeared on the ceiling.
[Summon: Gehenna]
Suddenly, thick double doors appeared on the ceiling, set within a massive dark frame adorned with demonic carvings. When the doors opened, inferno poured out, screams echoing as sinners were pulled inside.
Chains shot out, binding all mummies and the Executioner before pulling them into Gehenna.
The Executioner thrashed, swinging its axe, but Avgust never faltered. When the axe got stuck in the wall, he landed lightly atop it, pointing his gun at its forehead.
"Be still and accept your punishment."
[Secret Technique Activated: Soul Killer]
The bullet pierced its forehead. The Executioner screamed as its body cracked like fragile glass before exploding, splashed his blood everywhere.
Avgust activated his shield, keeping blood off his expensive suit, and landed lightly. [Soul Absorption is complete.]
He stared coldly at the spot where the Executioner remains lay.
"What a waste of time."
[ AVGUST ALEKSANDR SOKOLOV
TITLE: Demon Lord
ROLE: Guild Leader
MAIN ABILITIES: Elemental: Darkness | Summoning
ACTIVE SKILL: Phantom Gun
PASSIVE SKILL: Soul Absorption
ULTIMATE SKILL: Necromancy
RANK: S+ ]
...
Outside the rift, Jullian stood staring at the crimson glow, his mind racing. He still didn't know if the man inside was truly the timid boy from his past—or if he merely inherited his appearance. Five hundred years had passed since their last meeting, yet a small part of him clung to hope.
"Mr. Bruce, what really just happened?"
Jullian turned at his leader's concerned voice. Across the clearing, their boss was speaking with a man in a black suit and sunglasses.
"Why did this rift appear inside another active zone?" the leader demanded. "That's never happened before!"
"We're still investigating," the suited man replied dryly. "But after Expedition 1 cleared the rift, you can proceed with looting."
A hand tapped Jullian's shoulder. He turned to see Clyde, eyes fixed on the arguing leader.
"Looks like he's pretty agitated," Clyde said quietly.
Jullian shrugged. "I get it. He saw us almost swallowed by the rift earlier, so Sir Hugo's feelings are valid."
"Thank you," Clyde said with a grateful smile. "If it weren't for you, I'd never have seen my family again."
Jullian smiled, giving Clyde a light smack on the shoulder. "It's nothing."
The red glow faded, signaling the rift boss had been defeated. Their leader barked orders immediately.
"Prepare for second looting! Move out once the Espers are clear!"
Jullian grabbed his pickaxe, falling in line with the other looters. Moments later, Thrive Guild members emerged—unscathed, gear spotless. The looters murmured in awe.
As a familiar man passed by, their eyes met. Jullian waited for recognition, but only cold indifference stared back. A pang of disappointment washed over him, yet he forced himself to accept the truth: no one from his past remained.
"Jullian! Let's go!" Jeffrey called, heading toward the rift entrance.
Inside the rift, Jullian was busy extracting selenite when he noticed a faint glow in the distance. Curiosity got the better of him, and he followed it past the main mining area, stopping at the mouth of a hidden cave. Stone stairs led down into a white light.
Hesitation warred with instinct—then he stepped forward. At the bottom, a glowing, unbloomed white lotus rested atop a flat rock.
Jullian reached for it, but it wouldn't budge. Annoyed, he channeled mana to boost his strength, and the lotus suddenly bloomed with a brilliant flash.
A tiny figure shot out, circling overhead with arms spread wide.
"FREEDOM!" it shouted.
The creature looked like a miniature human in elaborate prince's robes.
When it spotted Jullian, it swooped down to hover before him, beaming.
"It is my great pleasure to finally meet the former prince of Valerius, Prince Jullian Hildebrand!"