[SYSTEM: "TRUE POWER ISN'T MEASURED IN LEVELS… BUT IN WHAT YOU'RE WILLING TO LOSE FOR YOUR TEAM."]
The system's warning still echoed in Kikoshin's mind when the sky turned scarlet.
It wasn't the barrier.
It was something worse.
Above the northern district, black clouds spiraled into a cosmic eye.
From its center, golden lightning struck like spears, splitting entire buildings in half.
"What the hell is that?" Sumo shouted, shielding his head.
"Magic," Samune said, pale. "But not from the system. It's… ancient."
[SYSTEM ALERT: ELITE TEAM DETECTED]
Name: Shadarra Shoo
Rank: #2 (Ascended)
Abilities: Arcane Summoning, Mythic Dominion, Blood Rituals
Warning: This team has eliminated 7 teams in 12 hours.
Current Objective: Eliminate Captain #1 – Kikoshin SuYo.
"Great," Rioyin spat with a bitter laugh. "Now we fight gods."
"They're not gods," Kikoshin said, activating the Tactical Map. "They're Players. And they have weaknesses."
But before he could plan, the ground shook.
From the cracks torn open by lightning, creatures emerged.
Not Echos.
Not goblins.
Mythological beasts:
—A griffin with steel wings and flaming eyes.
—A three-headed hydra, black-scaled and venom-breathing.
—And at the center, Shadarra Shoo.
Tall. Cloaked in black robes embroidered with golden runes.
Her eyes burned with the same fire as the lightning.
In her hand, a bone-white staff.
"Kikoshin SuYo," her voice boomed like thunder.
"The system has raised you… but you are unworthy of the throne."
"I don't want a throne," Kikoshin said. "I just want to survive."
"Then die with honor," she said, raising her staff.
[RITUAL: MINOR LEVIATHAN SUMMONING – INITIATED]
The earth split open.
Black water surged, forming a serpentine beast of liquid scales.
"Defend!" Kikoshin shouted.
Darius charged the griffin with the Echo Blade, but the beast's claws sent him crashing into a wall.
Broken ribs.
Sumo tried to hold off the hydra, but one of its heads bit deep into his shoulder.
Poison.
"Miojo!" Lucas yelled.
She ran—but Shadarra raised a hand.
"Soul Bind."
Golden energy chains wrapped around Miojo and Lucas, freezing them in place.
"Your healers won't save you today, Captain," Shadarra said.
Kikoshin felt panic rise.
But he didn't show it.
"Rioyin, Eli—target the Leviathan's joints.
Samune, Talia—disrupt her rituals. Find the magic focus.
Nia—coordinate Darius and Sumo. Don't let the hydra split them.
Mira… stay with me."
Rioyin glared at him, fury in his eyes.
"And you? Hiding again?"
"I'll end this," Kikoshin said, voice cold. "But I need you to trust me."
"Trust doesn't win battles," Rioyin snapped. "Blood does."
But he obeyed.
Chaos erupted.
Eli and Rioyin leapt across the Leviathan, driving knives into its weak points.
Each strike slowed it—but didn't kill it.
Samune and Talia decoded the ritual patterns.
"The staff!" Talia shouted. "It's the focus!"
"We can't get close," Samune said. "Her magic shields disintegrate us."
Meanwhile, Nia guided Darius and Sumo in a deadly dance against the hydra.
Every time a head fell, two more grew.
"We can't win like this!" Sumo yelled, bleeding.
Kikoshin watched.
Analyzed.
Thought like a Captain.
Then he saw it.
Shadarra wasn't moving.
Every spell required her feet to stay on the ritual's sacred ground.
"Mira," he said. "Can you break the magic circle?"
"It's pure energy," she said. "But if I do… I'll lose my bond with you for 30 seconds."
"Do it," Kikoshin said. "I trust you."
Mira nodded.
She ran to the circle's edge and pressed both hands to the ground.
White light exploded.
The circle shattered.
Shadarra screamed, staggering.
"Betrayed by your own blood!"
"Now!" Kikoshin roared.
Darius, with his last breath, hurled the Echo Blade straight at the staff.
The weapon pierced the magic barrier…
and split the staff in two.
The Leviathan dissolved into black water.
The hydra collapsed, lifeless.
The griffin roared… and fled.
Silence.
Shadarra rose, eyes blazing with cosmic fury.
"You think this is over, boy," she said.
"You've only glimpsed true power."
She raised her hands to the sky.
The black clouds spun faster.
And at the center, something far greater began to awaken.
[SUPREME RITUAL: TITAN OF SHADOWS INVOCATION – LOADING: 47%...]
"We have to go!" Samune yelled.
"No," Kikoshin said. "If we run, she'll summon it elsewhere.
We hold… until the system stops her."
"You're insane!" Rioyin stepped closer, knife trembling. "She'll kill us all!"
"Then we die together," Kikoshin said, locking eyes with him.
"But I won't run. Not while I have a team to protect."
Rioyin stared at him for a long moment.
Then, with a look of contempt, he turned away.
"Do what you want, Captain.
But if Miojo dies because of your pride…
I'll kill you myself."
The silence that followed was heavier than any spell.
Shadarra laughed.
"The real enemy was never me, Kikoshin.
It's your own team."
[SUPREME RITUAL: 63%...]
The ground trembled.
Shadows stretched.
And on the horizon, a colossal figure began to rise.
Kikoshin activated the Amulet of Synchrony.
"Team… get ready.
This isn't a battle.
It's a test."
And as the Titan of Shadows awakened,
the Captain of Shadows
refused to retreat.