⊙---Aetherwarden

An R4… attacking the Ascension Auction Exchange?

Eudoxia's mind reeled, struggling to comprehend the situation. As an R3 awakener, she had been tasked by the Ascension System to retrieve valuable items in Greythorne on behalf of the auction house. 

She and her brother had been en route to the city after completing a quest in the nearby town when the ambush struck.

Now, trapped within the suffocating confines of the enemy's domain, she could feel her strength bleeding away. Her awakened powers, dulled. Her body, sluggish. She gritted her teeth against the overwhelming pressure.

Beside her, her brother was in no better condition, his knees nearly buckling under the weight of the R4's oppressive aura.

"Brother…" Her voice came out strained. "I can't hold on. My strength—it's slipping. If this continues, I'll—"

Her brother, his silver mask concealing most of his face, turned to her. "Eudoxia, listen to me." His voice was grave, resolute. "I'm going to activate my ultimate skill. It might give you a chance to escape. Whatever happens, tell Father—I did my best to protect you."

"No! You can't—"

A sudden blur of movement cut her off.

From the shadows, an assassin struck. Silent. Deadly. A streak of darkness moving like a phantom through the domain's pressure.

Even the R4 awakener was caught off guard.

Eudoxia barely had time to process what had happened before the masked attacker let out a startled growl. "What the—?"

The assassin was unlike anything she had seen before. His movements were impossibly fast, weaving through the battlefield with an almost supernatural fluidity. One moment, he was a shadow; the next, he was right behind the R4, blade flashing in the dim light of the domain.

And then it hit her.

This wasn't just any assassin.

Whoever he was—he was strong. Strong enough to ignore the domain's suppression.

For the first time since the battle had begun, a sliver of hope sparked in Eudoxia's chest.

*****************

The R4 awakener—an Aetherwarden—spun mid-air, eyes narrowing as he sensed Kael's approach.

"Who dares—?!"

Kael didn't give him time to finish. Shadowstep activated. His body flickered like a mirage, weaving through the battlefield in unpredictable bursts. In a blink, he was behind the enemy. His sword, coated in abyssal energy, struck—aiming for the gap in the man's armor.

Clang!

The blade met resistance. A shimmering barrier rippled around the Aetherwarden, deflecting the attack with a pulse of force. Kael was sent skidding backward, boots carving trenches into the dirt.

The air around them distorted as the domain surged. Shadows thickened, twisting unnaturally. Kael barely had time to react before a torrent of energy lashed out—a spear of pure force aimed straight for his chest.

Move!

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION:]

Warning! Engaging enemy beyond recommended combat level.

Opponent: Level 30 Aetherwarden (R4)

Class: Barrier & Energy Manipulator

Primary Abilities: Shields, Energy Transference, Area Denial

Combat Efficiency: 12%

Activating battlemode strategy… 

Kael's heartbeat pounded like war drums in his ears. Only 12% efficiency? The system was practically telling him this fight was suicide. But there was no retreat—not with his sister trapped in the domain. Not when he'd sworn to protect her.

The R4 Aetherwarden hovered mid-air, his presence an oppressive weight that crushed the battlefield. A faint violet aura shimmered around him—his barrier, reducing all incoming damage. His eyes gleamed with quiet confidence as if victory was already assured.

"Foolish," the R4 murmured. "You should've stayed out of this."

Kael didn't answer. Instead, he activated Shadowstep, his body vanishing into the darkness. In an instant, he reappeared behind the enemy, striking with Shadowfang. His sword, wreathed in dark energy, slashed toward the Aetherwarden's exposed side.

Shadowfang activated. Calculating attack effectiveness...

Critical Strike! Target HP -7%

The R4 grunted, stumbling, but a shimmering force shield absorbed the brunt of the impact. He spun, eyes narrowed, and thrust his palm forward. A shockwave of violet energy erupted from his fingertips, blasting Kael backward.

Direct hit received. HP -21%

Kael crashed against the domain barrier, gasping for breath. The pain was real. Too real. He staggered to his feet, wiping blood from his lip. He had to change tactics.

With a flick of his wrist, he unleashed Virus Cloud, a thick, noxious mist swirling around the battlefield.

Virus Cloud activated. Enemy Resistance: 30%

Effectiveness reduced. Target HP -5% over time.

The R4 coughed, his movements slowing. Kael capitalized, darting forward with Veil of Shadows, his body flickering in and out of sight. He aimed for the weak points in the barrier, slashing at the gaps in the energy field.

Weak Point Hit! Target HP -12%

The Aetherwarden cursed, stumbling. "Enough!" he roared. Raising both hands, he conjured a massive, crackling orb of violet energy. The very air trembled with power. Kael didn't need the system to tell him what it was.

Enemy Skill: [Aether Collapse] detected.

Full area attack imminent. Damage: Fatal.

If that attack landed, it was over. Not just for him—but for Lira and the silver-masked duo.

Kael gritted his teeth, his mind racing.

There was only one option left.

He activated Venomous Reprieve, feeling the toxins in his bloodstream surge through his veins, numbing his pain, fueling his movements. Then he combined Shadowstep and Shadowfang, moving faster than he ever had before.

The R4's eyes burned with fury. With a growl, he raised his hand—forcing all the remaining energy in his domain into one final desperate attack. The sky split open. A massive sphere of condensed aether formed above them, crackling with unstable power.

Kael's breath hitched.

If that thing detonates—

There was no time to think. No time to hesitate. He lunged forward.

He appeared in front of the R4 awakener in a blur of shadows, sword poised. The Aetherwarden swung, but Kael let the attack land.

A searing blast of force slammed into his ribs, shattering them instantly. Agony lanced through his body, but he used the momentum—twisting midair, sword still in hand.

This time, he didn't aim for the body—he aimed for the neck.

With a final, desperate strike, Kael drove his blade deep.

And drove it into the man's throat.