The East Tower rose like a broken tooth on Riverhollow's horizon.
Once the city's communications hub,
it was now the most coveted prize of Day 2.
But Kikoshin wasn't looking at the tower.
He was staring at his system interface—clearly, for the first time.
After sealing the dungeon, the system hadn't just granted points…
it had granted advanced access.
[CAPTAIN LEVEL 3 – EXTENDED ACCESS UNLOCKED]
New Functions Available:
Dynamic GP Allocation
Skill Synchronization
Expanded Inventory
Real-Time Tactical Analysis
"Until now, I've only reacted," he murmured.
"Now… I command."
He gathered his team amid the rubble before the tower.
"Listen," he said, voice sharp. "We have 680 GP.
The dungeon gave us 500 more for sealing it.
Total: 1,180 GP."
"And?" Rioyin crossed his arms. "Are we splitting it like birthday cake?"
"No," Kikoshin said. "We're optimizing."
He opened the stat distribution panel.
"Sumo and Darius: 300 GP into Endurance and Strength. I need walls that don't break.
Rioyin and Eli: 250 GP into Agility and Precision. You're our blades.
Miojo and Lucas: 200 GP into Endurance and Regeneration. Healing will cost you less.
Talia and Samune: 200 GP into Intelligence and Perception. I need you to see traps before they trigger.
Nia: 100 GP into Tactical Charisma. Your commands gain +20% effectiveness.
Mira: 130 GP into Blood Bond. If you endure, we all endure."
The team felt the shift instantly.
Muscles denser.
Reflexes sharper.
Minds clearer.
"Now," Kikoshin said, "the loot."
From his inventory, he pulled three items earned by sealing the dungeon:
[Echo Blade – Level 3] – Damage: 25. Absorbs 5% HP per hit.
[Amulet of Synchrony] – +15% team synergy. Reduces ability cost in coordinated combat.
[System Tactical Map] – Reveals structural and enemy weak points for 10 seconds.
"Darius—take the blade.
Nia—the amulet.
Samune—the map."
Darius drew the sword.
Black energy rippled along the edge.
"It feels… alive."
"Because it is," Kikoshin said. "It's a fragment of the Boss.
And now… it obeys our team."
They entered the tower through the sublevel.
No lights.
Only echoing footsteps… and shadows that moved on their own.
"Traps," Samune said, activating the Tactical Map.
"False floors in the hallway. Pressure sensors on the stairs."
"Eli, Nia—disable them.
Sumo, Darius—cover our rear.
Miojo, Lucas—stand ready for emergencies.
Rioyin—with me up front."
They climbed floor by floor.
On the third level, they were ambushed.
Not by goblins.
By Team Blade—wounded, desperate, and furious.
"Kill the Captain!" their leader screamed.
Rioyin lunged first, knife in hand.
But Kikoshin stopped him.
"Wait."
He activated Tactical Analysis.
[ENEMY DETECTED: CAPTAIN BLADE – ABILITY: STEEL FLASH (COST: 50 GP)]
[WEAKNESS: Left hip. Cooldown: 8 seconds after use.]
"Strike his left hip," Kikoshin ordered. "Wait for him to use his ability."
Rioyin nodded.
He let himself get hit.
The Captain used Steel Flash…
and in the cooldown window, Rioyin drove his knife into the hip.
The enemy collapsed, screaming.
The rest fled.
"How did you know that?" Rioyin asked, stunned.
"The system isn't just rules," Kikoshin said.
"It's information. And information is power."
At the tower's peak, Team Viper awaited them.
Their Captain, shadow sword in hand, smiled.
"You're late, SuYo. We already control the core."
"No," Kikoshin said. "You only control one part."
He pointed to the floor.
Thanks to the Tactical Map, he'd seen the core had three control points.
Viper held only one.
"Team!" Kikoshin shouted. "Full Synchronization!"
Nia activated the Amulet of Synchrony.
A golden net enveloped them all.
"Darius, Sumo—break their line!
Rioyin, Eli—flank!
Miojo, Lucas—keep us standing!
Talia, Samune—jam their comms!"
The battle erupted.
Darius charged with the Echo Blade, each strike siphoning life.
Sumo blocked attacks with his body—now harder to break.
Rioyin and Eli moved like ghosts, severing tendons, disarming foes.
Miojo darted between allies, hands glowing, sealing wounds in seconds.
But Viper was strong.
Their Captain unleashed a Wave of Shadows that knocked Talia and Samune down.
"Miojo!" Kikoshin yelled.
She ran—but a poisoned dagger struck her shoulder.
She dropped to her knees, pale.
Kikoshin felt the pain as if it were his own.
Blood Bond.
"No!" he roared.
He sprinted to her, ignoring incoming attacks.
Lifted her, shielded her with his body.
"Don't move," he said, voice breaking.
"Let me save you this time."
With his last GP, he activated a skill he didn't know he had:
[ABILITY UNLOCKED: CAPTAIN'S WILL]
Transfer 50% of your max HP to an ally. Cost: 100 GP.
Golden light wrapped them.
Miojo gasped, color returning to her face.
The wound closed.
"Kikoshin…" she whispered.
"You didn't have to do that."
"Yes," he said.
"Because you're more than my healer.
You're my team."
He stood.
Faced Viper.
"Now… we finish this."
He charged—not with brute force,
but with strategy.
He used Tactical Analysis to predict every move.
Directed Darius to block the shadow sword.
Ordered Rioyin to slash the Achilles tendon.
And when Viper fell…
Kikoshin plunged his dagger into the Captain's wrist device.
The Captain screamed.
His body dissolved.
[TEAM VIPER: DEFEATED]
[CORE CONTROL: 100%]
[MISSION COMPLETE.]
[REWARD: 500 GP, LEVEL 3 WEAPONS, ACCESS TO COMMS SYSTEM.]
The team collapsed, exhausted.
But alive.
Miojo crawled to Kikoshin and took his hand.
"You did it."
"We did it," he corrected.
He checked his interface.
Level 4.
New abilities.
Stronger team.
But most importantly:
He'd learned to wield the system—not as a cage… but as a weapon.
[NEW SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Current Rank: #1.
Warning: All remaining teams will receive priority elimination missions against you.
The true game begins now, Captain.
Kikoshin smiled.
"Then let them come."
And atop the tower,
beneath the violet barrier,
the Captain of Shadows
stopped reacting…
and began to rule.