I've received offers from two people so far — one from the Headmaster and one from Joshua — but I'm not going to join anyone just yet. Maybe later… once I meet the King of the Abyss.
Right now, the Battle Force is a secret organization, unknown to the world, but two years from now, the government itself will reveal it. And I know this much — in the future, this organization will become one of the strongest forces not just in this country, but in the entire world.
As Zack is thinking all this, a notification suddenly appears in front of him. The screen reads:
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"Zack, the King of the Abyss wants to meet you. Enter the Abyss and head south from the Awakener's Main Headquarters. After traveling for five days by vehicle, you will see the King of the Abyss's altar — that is where your meeting will take place."
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"So, the time has finally come to meet the King of the Abyss."
Zack needed a body armour and a pistol.
He walked into a local store. They had plenty of gear on display, but the prices were sky-high. Still, he approached the counter and asked the store caretaker:
"Do you have anything cheap or maybe something for one-time use?"
The caretaker looked him up and down with disdain and scoffed,
"If you can't afford it, why are you even here?"
That was it.
Zack snapped. Without thinking, he landed a solid punch straight to the man's face. The caretaker flew back, slammed into the wall — hard enough to crack it — and collapsed, unconscious.
"Bastard. Got a little too mouthy..." Zack muttered, still seething.
Then it hit him.
"Shit… he's out cold. I need to get out of here before someone sees me."
Without wasting another second, Zack slipped away unnoticed.
A few blocks down the street, catching his breath, he muttered,
"That was close... Guess I'll have to hit the black market instead."
That night, Zack made his way to the underground market. He managed to get his hands on a second-hand bulletproof vest and an old pistol.
"This should do for now," he said, checking the weapon's weight.
"I picked the pistol because in my previous life, I got used to them. I might not be as strong yet, but my mind… it still remembers everything."
The Next Morning
Zack was ready.
Wearing his second-hand armor and a pistol strapped to his side, he stood under the pale morning light. Today was the day — his first step into the Abyss.
He made his way toward the Abyss Portal located near his city. Around the massive portal stood ten awakeners, stationed as gatekeepers. All of them looked seasoned, alert, and heavily armed.
As Zack approached the portal, one of the awakeners stepped forward to stop him.
"ID, please."
Zack pulled out his Awakener ID card and handed it over.
The man glanced at it, and a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"E-Rank? My dear brother, you're E-Rank… and you're going in alone?"
"We can't stop you — it's not our right. But it's our duty to give you some advice: don't go in alone. It's suicide."
Zack replied calmly, his voice cold but steady:
"I can handle it. Just give me clearance."
The awakener chuckled.
"Looks like you're in a hurry to die. Fine — you're clear."
Without another word, Zack walked through the portal.
---
Inside the Abyss
As he stepped into the other side, a new world greeted him — thick forests, strange echoing sounds, and a heavy, unfamiliar atmosphere. But Zack didn't waver.
He had a destination: The Main Academy Headquarters.
Back when humans first discovered and entered the Abyss, they managed to establish a secure base deep inside — a massive fortress that would eventually become the Main Headquarters. Today, that structure served as the core command center for all training and exploration inside the Abyss.
In Country 11, there were ten regional academies that trained young awakeners for two years. But all of them answered to one central body: the Main Academy, led by a legendary awakener — Relai.
Every year, this academy organized a prestigious event: the National Awakening Program, where 20 elite students were selected from each regional academy to compete, train, and prove themselves.
And Zack… he was on his way to that main academy headquarter in the abyss
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Four Hours Later
Zack's journey through the Abyss was grueling. He moved carefully through hostile terrain — silent, alert, reacting to every sound, every shadow.
And finally, it came into view.
The Main Academy Headquarters.
He stopped on the edge of a rocky cliff, staring down at the immense structure below.
His eyes lit up with wonder.
"No matter how many times I see it… it always stuns me."
It looked like a fortress city — enormous walls, dozens of buildings, glowing protective barriers, training zones, towers, and a constant buzz of awakeners moving in formation. A whole civilization carved into the heart of the Abyss.
To be continue...