Nato7

The Awakening: Around 150 years ago, a mysterious event known as "The Rift" caused a dramatic shift in the world. This event opened portals from another dimension, bringing Essences—mysterious and powerful entities—into the world. These Essences granted some individuals extraordinary abilities and set in motion a global conflict.

Essence Warriors: These are people who possess the power of an Essence, which can take various forms depending on the individual’s soul and affinity. Some are born with their Essence powers from birth, while others awaken them later in life. These warriors are ranked according to their power level, and the rankings play a significant role in their status, training, and missions.

Essence Reborn

The battle chamber exploded in silver and blue flashes, walls crumbling as Riku and Zeid clashed at near-imperceptible speed. Essence howled like a storm caught inside the earth, each strike between them shaking the metallic bunker like an earthquake waiting to break free.

Riku shot forward, fractal wings of light bursting from his back in his Triad Divine Avatar form. His silver-white aura roared with every movement, making Zeid's dark essence crackle violently on impact.

"You're faster than Korav," Riku said, his voice level despite the sheer velocity of their fight. "But you're sloppy."

Zeid skidded backward, the floor beneath his boots splintering with silver cracks. He wiped a thin line of blood from the corner of his mouth. "And you're arrogant."

He spun, vanished in a streak of deep blue essence, and darted into the next corridor.

Riku paused for a second. "Running?"

From the next chamber, a wall of metal caved inward—Zeid was already three rooms ahead, crashing through barriers like a phantom. Riku dashed after him, phasing through the wreckage. Sparks flew with each motion. Silver tendrils of light traced behind him like trails of comets.

Room after room, Zeid moved like a blur. Automated turrets from the bunker's defense systems sprang to life, trying to hold Riku back. They failed.

Riku blasted through them, ignoring the artificial attacks.

"Coward," Riku muttered, punching through a reinforced door with one glowing fist.

But as Riku entered the sixth room, Zeid stood still now—hands raised, smirking. He'd led Riku somewhere deliberately.

The room pulsed with containment glyphs. Strange glowing essence tubes circled the ceiling.

Riku narrowed his eyes. "You were stalling…"

Zeid cracked his neck. "Not stalling… charging."

Suddenly, the glyphs glowed crimson. The energy in the room shifted—tense, toxic, almost cursed.

Zeid's aura flared. No longer defensive. He wasn't running anymore.

Riku's body instinctively braced, fractal patterns intensifying. "So you've got another form. Good."

Zeid grinned. "Let's see if the Triad Divine Avatar can survive this."

Chapter 167: Zeid the Elusive