Location: Shadow Arena – Codex Mirror Zone 7, Sub-Realm Access Point
The arena wasn't real, but it felt like it was.
A flat obsidian floor stretched endlessly, reflecting the flickering stars above like a broken sky. Cold mist slithered across the ground. The air was still, silent.
Then came the system prompt.
[Trial Initiated: Rogue Unity Protocol]
Mode: Mirror Match (Squad vs. Reflections)
Difficulty: Adaptive
Victory Condition: Eliminate all Shadow Versions
Bonus Victory: No deaths or unconscious allies
Reward: Sync Amplifier + Team Formation Boost
Time Limit: 15 Minutes
Ren stood at the head of Squad 07, eyes forward. Beside him, Nyx prowled, silent and focused.
In front of them… emerged their shadows.
Twins of flesh and code. Perfect reflections.
The same team. The same beasts. The same weapons.
But soulless. Cold. Perfectly optimized to exploit every weakness they each held.
Sana stepped forward, eye narrowing.
"They move like us. Think like us."
"But they don't fight like us," Ren said sharply. "Because they're just copies. They don't bleed. We do. That's our edge."
[Squad Sync Rate: 41% → 52%]
Morale Boost Triggered: Command Resonance
The battlefield shifted.
Countdown: 3… 2… 1… Begin!
Phase I: First Strike
The Mirror Squad didn't wait. They moved immediately, perfect formations, crisp reactions.
Mirror Ren pointed, his copy of Nyx blinked into three shadows and launched at the real one with a wide, spiral slash.
[Skill Mirrored: Shadow Veil II – Triple Illusion Variant]
Warning: Distorted Variant Skills Active
"Nyx, spiral dodge! Sana, cut the left flank!"
Sana was already moving.
"Levi, Neurobite!"
Her serpent launched like a bullet, slamming into Mirror Gura's Rockhide with a hiss that turned into a violet mist cloud.
Meanwhile, Graveboy began laughing as blood symbols erupted around his feet.
"Let's see if your ghosts out-curse mine!"
He slammed his hand into the ground, his beast, the Bloodchant Wyrm, erupted in a howl of crimson chains, latching onto Mirror Dro's Winddrake and tearing it down.
Bronn and the Meko Twins leapt into melee, while Lin Ya's spider vanished into stealth, hunting her own double silently.
But Ren wasn't done.
He looked at Mirror Ren.
And charged.
Phase II: Leader vs. Leader
Blades clashed.
Specter against specter.
Nyx versus Void Nyx.
Ren ducked under a high slash, rolled, then called out:
"Phantom Pounce, double feint!"
[Combo Chain Triggered – 2-hit Prediction Break]
Mirror Nyx intercepted the clone
But missed the real Nyx biting low from behind.
CRUNCH!
[Critical – Enemy Nyx Disrupted – Illusion Field Broken]
[Enemy Leader Vulnerable – 4 Seconds]
Ren didn't waste it.,
He charged through and slammed his fist 'glowing with Codex glyphs' into his own mirror's chest.
[Direct Impact – Codex Lock Triggered]
Mirror Ren: Destroyed.
The illusion shattered into black dust.
[Squad Sync: 52% → 66%]
[Timer Remaining: 07:12]
Mirror Leader Eliminated – Enemy Coordination Faltering
Across the field, the tide turned.
One by one, Squad 07 began carving through their shadows.
Sana's Levi constricted her mirror and injected it with poison so corrosive it melted into smoke.
Graveboy whispered curses faster than the system could log, and his beast devoured the echoes with bloody hunger.
Even Riven 'who hadn't summoned a beast yet' stepped forward and cut down his reflection with a bare hand, eyes glowing with an eerie amber light.
[Error – Unregistered Skill Signature]
Anomaly Detected: ???
Riven Status: UNKNOWN
Ren made a mental note to ask a lot of questions later.
Final Phase: Unity Pulse
Only one Mirror Beast remained.
A fused copy of the Meko Twins' foxlings, merged into a double-headed shadow fox.
It let out a screech and launched its final attack: a void-collapse pulse meant to disintegrate the entire field.
Ren raised his hand. "Squad! Final strike, unified cast!"
[Combined Skill Execution Detected: Team Link Formation – "Fangfall Requiem"]
All squad members aligned
System Boost: +15%
Result: Overload Triggered – Target Destroyed
The final mirror shattered.
Light swallowed the arena.
[Trial Complete!]
Time: 13:47
Casualties: 0
Bonus Achieved: Perfect Survival
Reward Granted:
– Sync Amplifier (Team-Wide)
– Squad Unity +25%
– Tactical Option: Beastlink Formation Techniques (Now Available)
Return to Reality – Starroot Academy, Barracks Courtyard
The squad awoke around the summoning glyph, breathing heavily.
Sana was the first to speak.
"…That wasn't just some warm-up."
Ren nodded, staring at the sky.
"That was the system asking: are we ready to fight together, or die alone?"
One by one, the squad stood.
Not because they were told to.
But because for the first time, they believed in each other.
[Squad Update: Rogue Team 07 – Formation: Blackline]
Rank: Bronze Tier Squad – Rising Class
Traits Unlocked:
– Team Fusion Chain (Unlocked at 80%)
– Bonded Tactics: Dual Beast Execution (Available)
Command Sync: Stable
System Notice: Squad Eligible for Frontline Rift Deployment
Later That Night – Rooftop Outside Ren's Dorm
Ren sat in silence, staring at the swirling core of the Beast Egg glowing beside him.
Nyx lay curled behind him, quietly purring for the first time in weeks.
A soft voice spoke beside him.
"…You know they'll start depending on you now, right?"
It was Riven, leaning against the ledge, amber eyes half-lidded.
Ren didn't look up.
"I'm used to people turning on me the second things go wrong."
"That might've been true before. But not anymore."
"Why?"
Riven smiled faintly. "Because tonight, you didn't just command us. You led us."
Ren closed his eyes.
In the distance, thunder rumbled.
Location: Starroot Frontier – Black Zone 13 Deployment Line
THRUMMMMMMM!
The world screamed.
Wind ripped through the trees, turning leaves to blades. Mana surged through the atmosphere, warping it into violent currents. Cracks spread across the sky like veins of lightning and at the center of it all, a pulsing black gate tore itself open in midair.
[World Event Triggered: Beast Tide – B-Tier Breach Confirmed]
Location: Rift Gate #47 – Black Zone 13
Beast Classification: Ferals – Multi-Elemental
Estimated Wave Density: 135+ Entities
Threat Levels: D- to B+
Vanguard Orders: Hold. Delay. Disrupt.
Ren stood on a hovering transport glyph with his squad, gazing down at the swirling maelstrom forming below.
Squad 07: Blackline
Role: Disruption Cell – Rearline Sweep
Codename: "Shadow Fence"
Deployment: Direct to Outer Collapse Zone
He clenched the handle of his weapon, Nyx crouched beside him, eyes glowing faint silver. The rest of the squad stood prepped, grim, focused.
Sana spat over the edge. "So this is what death looks like."
"No," Ren said. "This is where we prove we were built for more."
A second later, the glyphs blinked green.
[Deployment Initiated]
Countdown: 3… 2… 1…
And they dropped into the storm.
Zone Entry – Black Zone 13
The moment their boots hit earth, the system kicked in.
[Zone Entry Complete]
Squad Bonus Active: Unity Chain +10%
Proximity Warning: Beast Hostiles Incoming (Southwest – 30 meters)
Nearby Terrain:
– Fragmented cliffs
– Mana-corrupted trees
– Collapsed ruins (Unknown origin)
Mission Objectives:
– Establish Relay Beacon
– Prevent Flank Breach
– Survive
Ren didn't hesitate.
"Bronn, Gura, front line. Graveboy, mist ward, now!"
The moment the Bloodchant Wyrm's crimson runes lit up, fog bloomed around their position, covering their location in chaotic interference.
[Mist Veil – Area Confusion + Blur Field Activated]
Duration: 60 seconds
Visibility Reduced by 70% for Hostiles
Growls came from the edge of the trees.
Then beasts emerged, dozens of them.
[Beast Type: Feral Hounds – Mana Infected]
Rank: D+
Speed: High | Intelligence: Low | Aggression: Extreme
Skill Detected: Mana Fang, Pack Howl, Bone Split
They charged.
And Ren met them head-on.
Combat Phase: Initiated – Squad Tactics Online
"Nyx, Veil Lock and intercept. Don't kill. Stall."
[Command Accepted – Shadow Veil II: Twin Decoys Activated]
Nyx split into three shadows 'two illusions, one real' dancing between trees and drawing the beasts off balance. The Meko Twins darted through the mist, slicing tendons with pinpoint precision while their Void Foxlings shimmered like ghosts.
Sana's beast shot neurotoxic mist into the backline, causing three of the charging ferals to collapse instantly, paralyzed.
Ren surged forward with his blade infused in Codex light.
[Skill Activated: Voidstep Pierce – Laceration Confirmed]
[Enemy Feral Eliminated – Beast Core Obtained (Grade D)]
But just then
A low roar echoed.
One louder than the rest.
[Warning: Elite Detected]
Beast Name: Steelhide Juggarbeast
Class: B
Size: 3.7m
Element: Earth-Iron Variant
Status: Unstable Mutation
Ability: Ironskin | Shockwave Slam | Regenerative Core
Threat Level: HIGH
The trees exploded as it crashed through, metal hide gleaming beneath cracked skin. Its eyes burned like molten gold.
It stomped, shockwaves ripping up the terrain, sending Dro and Bronn flying.
"Pull back!" Ren shouted. "Sana, distract, I need six seconds to set the sync pulse!"
But the Juggarbeast turned on Nyx.
Its claw slammed into the Specterfang, pinning him into a crater.
"NYX!"
[System Sync Spike Detected]
Sync Rate Surge: 74% → 81%
Beast Emotion Link: Critical Threshold Reached
New Evolution Node Flickering...
Unlock Condition: Survive Battle | Emotional Trigger Active
"Hold on…"
Ren sprinted.
His hand glowed with spectral glyphs.
And as the Juggarbeast reared back to finish Nyx
Ren leapt
"BOND SURGE: ACTIVATE!"
[Codex Bond Override – Soul Spike Engaged]
Temporary Beast Buff: +25% Speed, +18% Power
Passive Triggered: Nyx – "Ghostblood Survivor"
Counterstrike: Specter Rend
Nyx twisted mid-air, shadow blades blooming from his tail.
He struck the Juggarbeast directly across the neck.
A horrible tearing sound rang out.
[Critical Hit – Juggarbeast Jugular Severed]
[Beast Core Acquired: Grade B+]
[Elite Enemy Eliminated]
Silence fell.
Then the mist cleared.
And Squad 07 stood.
Alive.
Exhausted.
Victorious.
System Reward Panel Displayed
[Victory Condition Met – Flank Breach Prevented]
Squad Bonus:
– Beast Core Fragments x7
– Tactical Rank Up: Bronze → Bronze II
Special Notice:
– Nyx: Beast Evolution Path "Shadow Sovereign" Unlocked
– Riven: ??? Skill Signature Reached Observation Threshold (Analysis Pending)
New System Feature Available: Codex Fusion: Dual Sync Channeling (Locked)
Requires: Additional Beast or Spirit Contract
Aftermath – Temporary Encampment
As the squad tended to wounds and collected cores, Ren stood over the body of the Juggarbeast.
He felt the power in it.
The pressure.
He glanced at Nyx, who sat silently nearby, licking at his wounds, but eyes glowing fiercer than ever.
"We're getting stronger," Ren whispered. "But something's coming. That wasn't the real storm."
Riven walked past him, pausing.
"You're right."
He turned, golden irises glowing in the dark.
"That was just the thunder."
End of Chapter 9