The sky had turned into a battlefield.
Dark fractures stretched across the heavens like cracks in shattered glass, pulsing with a deep, unnatural rhythm. The largest Abyss Gate loomed above the wasteland—massive, unstable, and alive.
It wasn't just a portal anymore.
It was evolving.
Below it—
An army gathered.
Thousands of Abyss creatures covered the land like a sea of darkness. Twisted forms, monstrous bodies, and burning eyes filled the battlefield, each one radiating killing intent.
And standing before them—
Humanity's last line of defense.
---
### The Battlefield
Wind howled across the ruined plains.
Dust and ash swirled in the air as the strongest warriors from around the world stood united.
Viktor Volkov stood at the front, lightning dancing across his body.
Elira Vance stood nearby, her silver aura sharp as a blade.
The masked fighter remained silent, his red energy flickering like fire.
And behind them—
Hundreds of elite fighters prepared for battle.
At the center of it all—
Arata stood.
His presence alone was enough to draw attention.
Ren leaned toward him.
"…No pressure, right?"
Arata didn't respond.
His eyes were fixed on the sky.
On the Gate.
Lyra stepped beside him.
"This is it."
Arata nodded.
"Yes."
Kaito walked forward, stopping just ahead of them.
His blue aura flickered faintly.
For once—
He looked completely serious.
"No more holding back."
He glanced at Arata.
"…And no reckless moves."
Arata smirked slightly.
"No promises."
Kaito sighed.
"…Figures."
---
### The First Clash
Without warning—
The Abyss army moved.
A deafening roar shook the battlefield as thousands of creatures charged forward at once.
The ground trembled.
The air cracked.
Ren grinned.
"Finally!"
Ice energy exploded around him.
"FROST STORM!"
A massive wave of ice surged forward, freezing dozens of creatures instantly.
Lyra followed.
"LIGHT CASCADE!"
Golden energy rained down like arrows, piercing through the advancing horde.
Viktor raised his hand.
Lightning gathered.
"THUNDER BREAK!"
A massive bolt of electricity slammed into the battlefield, obliterating an entire section of enemies.
The war had begun.
---
### Chaos Unleashed
The battlefield erupted into madness.
Explosions.
Crashes.
Screams.
Energy clashed from every direction as humans and Abyss creatures collided in a brutal war.
Arata moved through the chaos.
Fast.
Precise.
His glowing hand released wave after wave of energy.
"Resonance Pulse!"
Each attack wiped out multiple enemies.
But for every creature that fell—
More took its place.
Endless.
Relentless.
Ren shouted from nearby,
"THEY'RE NOT STOPPING!"
Lyra responded,
"They're stalling us!"
Arata's eyes narrowed.
"…For what?"
Then—
The sky answered.
---
### The Descent of Heralds
The Abyss Gate pulsed violently.
Dark energy poured out like a storm.
And from it—
Multiple figures emerged.
One.
Two.
Three.
Five.
Heralds.
Each one different.
Each one terrifying.
The battlefield froze.
Even the strongest fighters felt it.
That pressure—
It was overwhelming.
Ren whispered,
"…There's five of them."
Lyra's voice trembled slightly.
"This wasn't a battle…"
"…It's an execution."
Kaito stepped forward.
Blue energy surged around him.
"…Not if we stop them."
---
### War Against Gods
Without hesitation—
The Heralds descended.
Each one landed in a different area of the battlefield.
And instantly—
Destruction followed.
One Herald raised its hand—
A wave of darkness erased dozens of fighters instantly.
Another moved like a blur—
Tearing through defenses like paper.
Viktor roared,
"DON'T FALL BACK!"
Lightning exploded around him as he charged one of them.
Elira moved next.
Her silver aura sliced through the air like blades.
Kaito disappeared—
Reappearing directly in front of the nearest Herald.
"Let's see what you've got."
The clash shook the battlefield.
---
### Arata's Struggle
Arata stood still.
Watching.
Analyzing.
Feeling.
His heart pounded.
The power inside him stirred violently.
The First Gate.
The Second Gate.
Both were reacting.
But it wasn't enough.
Not against this.
Not against them.
Inside his mind—
The Ancient Entity spoke again.
*You feel it now.*
Arata clenched his fist.
"…Yeah."
*This is beyond your current power.*
Arata's voice hardened.
"Then give me more."
The voice remained silent for a moment.
Then—
*You are not ready.*
Arata's eyes sharpened.
"I don't have a choice."
In the distance—
He saw it.
Ren struggling against a massive creature.
Lyra barely holding back a Herald's attack.
Kaito fighting two at once.
And the battlefield—
Slowly collapsing.
Arata closed his eyes.
"…Then I'll force it."
---
### The Breaking Point
A Herald appeared in front of him.
Silent.
Deadly.
"You are the successor."
Its voice echoed.
"Your existence ends here."
It raised its hand—
Dark energy gathered.
Arata didn't move.
Instead—
He stepped forward.
Golden energy erupted around him.
"Come."
The Herald attacked.
Faster than anything before.
But Arata reacted.
Barely.
Their clash exploded across the battlefield.
Shockwaves tore through the ground.
But even then—
Arata was losing.
Slowly.
The Herald's attacks were sharper.
Stronger.
More precise.
A strike landed.
**BOOM**
Arata was thrown across the battlefield.
He crashed into the ground.
Blood filled his mouth.
His vision blurred.
"…Damn it…"
The Herald approached slowly.
"You are not enough."
Arata tried to stand—
But his body refused.
Inside his mind—
The Ancient Entity spoke again.
*This is your limit.*
Arata clenched his teeth.
"No…"
His fingers dug into the ground.
"I'm not done yet."
The Herald raised its hand.
"This ends now."
---
### The Awakening Begins
Time slowed.
The battlefield faded.
And in that moment—
Something inside Arata broke.
Or perhaps—
Something awakened.
The golden mark on his hand burned.
Brighter than ever before.
Then—
Cracks appeared.
Black and gold energy mixed violently.
The air trembled.
The ground shattered.
Inside his mind—
The Ancient Entity spoke one final time.
*You have chosen this path.*
*Then accept the consequences.*
Arata's eyes snapped open.
They weren't just gold anymore.
They had changed.
Deeper.
Darker.
More ancient.
"…Third Gate."
To be continued...