Dimension System: SSS Rank Talent Awakening

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Dabi said take this, handing the core to Loira, who began examining it with careful precision.

Aldric nodded approvingly. "Good. The Ancient Ones will be stopped ."

Loira placed the core on the central table, The faint glow spread across the table, illuminating the cracks in the map of dimensions etched into its surface.

"It's not enough," Loira said, her voice heavy. "We need to find two more fragment shards pieces to restore the core to fully."

We came back to stabilize the core energy. After that we have to continue our journey again.

The council fell into a tense silence. Each of them understood the stakes, but the path ahead seemed increasingly insurmountable.

We will rest for while. You should stabilize the Aetherial core energy. Dabi said to saint Aldric.

Later that night, Dabi stood on the balcony of the temporary quarters he shared with Loira and Selene. The energy of the core glows still lingered in his mind, as did the vision it had shown him. Strength through unity. Bonds that could not be broken.

But even as he pondered those words, a cold whisper snaked through his thoughts.

You think unity will save you? Foolish child.

Dabi tensed, his hand instinctively reaching for his blade. The whisper was unlike anything he'd heard before— cold, old but young voice, and filled with malice.

Each fragment shard you claim draws you closer to me. You may defy me now, but your fate is sealed.

"Show yourself, who fu¢k are you?" Dabi growled, scanning the empty balcony.

The whisper turned into a chilling laugh.

I am the Ancient Ones leader who you are fighting, and you are but a fleeting spark. Your light will be extinguished.

Before Dabi could respond, the presence vanished, leaving him alone under the starless sky.

Dabi couldn't tell it was his dream or real. How could someone talk with him inside his mind? And he didn't sense anyone mana on him. Without using mana it's impossible to do.

The next morning, Dabi recounted the experience to Loira and Selene.

"They're testing you," Selene said, her expression grim. "The Ancient Ones thrive on fear and doubt. They'll use every tool at their disposal to weaken your resolve."

They are alive for thousands of years. They might find a way of hiding their mana.

Loira said. Remember I told you all magic and mana use were invented by them. There are many mysteries we don't know yet. We have to be careful, they are playing with us.

"Then they're wasting their time," Dabi replied, though his clenched fists betrayed his unease.

Loira placed a hand on his shoulder, her touch warm and grounding. "We've faced their shadows before, Dabi. We'll face them again, together."

Selene nodded. "But we must be cautious. The core is growing stronger, and so are the forces aligned against us. The next dimension we enter may not offer us the chance to return."

With little time to spare, the Saints gathered once more to open the portal to their next destination.

The room was filled with an electric tension as Loira and Selene worked to stabilize the gateway. The fragment shards they had collected pulsed in unison in the core, their energy feeding into the portal's swirling vortex.

"This next dimension is known as the Nexus of Whispers," Selene explained, her voice steady despite the gravity of her words.

"It's a realm of illusions and deception. The Warden there doesn't rely on brute strength but on breaking the minds of those who enter its domain."

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"Sounds fun we have already face two of those types dimension," Dabi muttered, earning a sharp look from Loira.

"Stay focused," she said firmly. "This isn't just about strength. If we lose sight of reality, we lose everything."

With a final surge of energy, the portal stabilized, its swirling colors shifting between hues of silver and blue.

Stepping through the portal, they were immediately engulfed by an eerie silence. The Nexus was a realm unlike any they had encountered— a vast, endless expanse of shifting mirrors that reflected not only their appearances but fragments of their memories and fears.

"This place is same as previous ones," Loira whispered, her voice barely audible.

Dabi studied his reflection, which seemed to move independently of him. In the glassy surface, he saw fleeting images of Mira and Eli, their faces twisted with fear.

"It's already messing with us," he said, gripping his blade tighter.

Selene's eyes glowed faintly as she scanned the area. "The Warden is here. It's watching us."

The one you previously face was the imitation of this world. Be careful.

As they ventured deeper, the mirrors began to distort, showing them scenes from their pasts. Loira paused in front of one, her face pale as it displayed the moment she lost her family. Selene's reflection showed her standing alone, surrounded by shadows.

Dabi's reflection revealed a scene he couldn't bear to watch— his siblings crying out for him, their voices drowned by the roar of destruction.

"Don't look," Loira said, pulling him away. "It's trying to break us."

The air grew colder, and the shifting mirrors began to close in, forming a maze of glass. At the heart of the labyrinth stood the Warden of the Nexus— a spectral figure draped in robes of shimmering light, its face obscured by a mask that constantly shifted between different visages.

"Why do you seek what is not yours?" the Warden asked, its voice echoing from every direction.

"We don't have time for games," Dabi shot back. "Hand over the fragment shard, or we'll take it by force."

The Warden laughed, a sound that sent shivers down their spines. "Force means nothing here. Only those who can face the truth may claim the fragment shard."

Without warning, the mirrors around them shattered, and each of them was plunged into darkness. Dabi found himself alone in a void, surrounded by echoes of his own voice.

You think you can save them? You'll only bring them pain.

Images of Mira and Eli appeared before him, their faces etched with disappointment and fear.

"No," Dabi said, his voice shaking but resolute. "I've made mistakes, but I won't let them down."

The illusions intensified, but Dabi closed his eyes, focusing on the connections he had forged with his family and friends. A surge of energy coursed through him, shattering the darkness.@@novelbin@@

When the void cleared, he found himself standing with Loira and Selene once more. Both looked shaken but determined.

The Warden reappeared, its form flickering. "You have faced the truth and emerged unbroken. The fragment shard piece is yours... for now."

A glowing fragment materialized before them, radiating a strange, otherworldly light.

As Dabi reached for it, the Warden's voice echoed one last time. "Beware the enemies. They are closer than you think."

With the shard in hand, they prepared to leave the Nexus, their resolve strengthened but their path growing darker with every step.

The trio emerged from the Nexus portal into the Council Hall, the faint glow of the newly acquired fragment shard in Dabi's hand casting flickering shadows on the walls.

The once- busy chamber was eerily quiet, save for the faint hum of the Aetherial core in the center of the room.

Loira placed a protective barrier around the fragment shard and stepped back, her eyes scanning the council table for any sign of the others.

Selene was the first to speak. "Something's wrong. Where is everyone?"

Dabi's grip on the fragment shard tightened as he glanced around. "Aldric would never leave the Hall unguarded. They should be here."

Loira reached out with her magic, her fingers glowing faintly as she extended her senses. Her face paled. "There's... a disturbance in the city's energy. It's coming from the eastern district. Something powerful."

Selene unsheathed her sword, its sharp edge gleaming in the dim light. "We need to move. If the Ancient Ones have sent another envoy, we can't afford to wait."

As they approached the eastern district, the signs of conflict became clear. The streets were littered with debris, and scorch marks lined the walls of nearby buildings.

A group of Saints stood at the edge of the district, their weapons drawn and their faces tense. Among them was Raghnall, his usually calm demeanor replaced by a grim expression.

"Dabi, Loira, and unknown lady," Raghnall called out as they approached. "You're just in time. We have a situation."

"What happened?" Dabi asked, his eyes scanning the group.

Raghnall gestured toward the heart of the district. "An envoy of the Ancient Ones appeared not long after you entered the Nexus.

It's unlike anything we've faced before an illusionist with the power to manipulate reality itself. We've lost( very injured) three Saints already trying to contain it."

Selene cursed under her breath. "An illusionist. Just what we needed after the Nexus."

Loira stepped forward, her voice steady. "Where is it now?"

Raghnall pointed toward a large, ruined building. "Inside. It's using the shadows to conceal its presence. Every attempt to engage has ended in disaster."

Dabi looked at the building, his jaw tightening. "Then we flush it out."

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