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 echo of Zeid's body hitting the floor hadn't even fully faded when Riku felt it—two surges of pressure approaching from the next corridor. The air turned heavier, more violent. The walls of the bunker groaned as if sensing what approached.

From the shadows stepped two figures—one tall and lean, the other shorter but radiating volatile essence like an untamed storm. Both wore jet-black cloaks, etched with glowing crimson emblems that pulsed like heartbeats.

Riku's eyes narrowed."So... two more High Codes."

The taller one spoke first, his voice calm and composed:"I am Veylan."

The shorter one cracked his knuckles, grinning with vicious intent."Name's Torga. Let's make this fun."

Before Riku could reply, Torga launched forward like a missile, his body coated in kinetic force. Riku sidestepped with a blur, countering with a palm strike that sent Torga spiraling through a steel pillar.

Veylan moved next—silent and precise—appearing behind Riku with dual short blades made of shadow essence. He slashed, but Riku twisted mid-air and blocked with his forearm. Sparks flew, but no blood.

"You'll have to do better than that," Riku muttered.

Riku spun and delivered a brutal roundhouse kick that cracked Veylan across the chest, launching him back. Torga roared and returned, essence coating his fists. He punched the ground, sending a wave of distortion toward Riku.

Riku leapt over it and dropped down with a devastating axe kick—Torga barely blocked it with crossed arms, but skidded back with a deep grunt.

"He's too fast," Veylan muttered."But not invincible," Torga said.

They attacked together now—Torga with explosive rushes, Veylan weaving between the gaps with deadly precision.

Riku smirked.They were coordinated—but not enough.

He weaved between their strikes like water flowing through cracks, his form shining with the silver-white fractal light of his Triad Divine Avatar. His counters were clean—punches to the ribs, kicks to the legs, open-palm blows that disoriented them on contact.

But as Torga feinted left and Veylan slashed right—one of them managed to clip Riku in the side with a high-powered essence slash.

The impact singed his coat, and he staggered half a step.

Veylan's eyes lit up."We landed a hit."

Riku looked down at the tear in his side—barely bleeding, the wound already beginning to glow with healing energy.

He slowly raised his eyes, unfazed."You did..."

Then he vanished and reappeared behind them.

He struck both of them at once—Veylan with a reverse elbow to the temple, Torga with a gut punch that caused the entire hallway to tremble. They crashed into opposite walls, gasping.

Riku stepped forward, energy crackling at his heels, eyes glowing bright blue."Two down… let's see how long you two last."

Chapter 169: Twin Shadows of the High Code