"Hah!"

Flynt roared as he slashed his long sword at his opponent. The featureless humanoid parried the attack effortlessly, its movements smooth and well practiced.

Flynt didn't let up. He pressed forward with a flurry of slashes and thrusts, each attack was faster than the last. His opponent evaded, parried, and dodged his strikes with minimal movements, its sword waiting patiently in its grasp. When Flynt finally lost steam, it struck back. Its blade stabbed out like a viper's bite—sudden and fatal.

'[Jolt]!'

Flynt hastily activated his new skill. Radiant white runes flicked onto his pale yellow eyes. The deadly thrust slowed down to a crawl in his vision. Flynt felt a surge of power course through him as he readjusted his form, parried the attack, and struck out with a deadly hack all in the blink of an eye. His motions were rigid and almost inhuman.

This blitz of movement caught his opponent off guard as it was swiftly decapitated, its body disintegrating into nothingness. Flynt immediately stumbled forward to a knee, steam rising from his form as his muscles burned. His body shook from pain and overstimulation as he took a deep breath and thought with a sigh.

'I still can't use [Jolt] for more than a second without risking severe injuries. It's already been two weeks as well, maybe I bit off more than I can chew this time. I just hope it will be enough for the mission.'

He sank to the floor and rested for a few minutes. When he finally caught his breath, he placed his sword in its sheath and gingerly headed out of the training facility. On his way out, the simple grey clothes he wore cleaned themselves automatically as he passed through the door.

Walking through the facility's halls, he could see other users moving towards various training rooms. A decent amount moved with unfocused gazes and calm smiles. Flynt thought nothing of this as he was already used to such sights.

When he got near the entrance, he opened his palm and his Synap was ejected from his body and floated above his palm. He was about to place it in his pocket when he received a message.

{Ana: Don't forget, tomorrow's the day of the mission. Don't go crazy on training, okay?}

As he read the message, a warm smile unknowingly crept on his face as he replied with.

{Flynt: Of course, Ana. I'm heading home now. See you tomorrow.}

{Ana: Good. Good night, Flynt.}

Flynt stowed away his Synap and headed out the door. He was greeted by a bustling city night. He checked the time and realized it was already 7:56 PM. With a tired sigh, he walked to the bus stop and took a ride home. Apart from a few looks since he was carrying a sword on his back, no one interacted with him. A majority of the bus riders not even noticing him as they sat in blissful silence.

Once he got to his two room apartment, a soft light glowed on his chest and his sword vanished from his back. He headed straight to the bathroom for a proper shower. Thoughts on how to improve his [Jolt] skill dotted his mind while he showered but he ignored them. The fact that he trained today was already very selfish of him, he couldn't risk getting injured before the mission once more.

He dried up and left the bathroom after about five minutes. He wore his white and star patterned pajamas as he laid in bed browsing his floating Synap which had become a holographic display.

After watching a few 2-star rated domain dive videos, he decided to check out the news. For once he saw something that actually caught his interest.

{BREAKING NEWS

Sky Gazer News: Historic Partnership Announced Between Beastkin Empire and Prismari.

In a groundbreaking move, the Beastkin Empire and the Prismari have joined forces to establish the One World school of higher learning. This unprecedented collaboration aims to promote unity and progress across the planet.

Notably, the Prismari and the Beastkin Empire have announced plans to complete the One World academy of higher learning in the vibrant city of New Dawn. To achieve this ambitious goal, the two partners will pool their resources, combining the Prismari's renowned technological expertise with the Beastkin Empire's impressive architectural prowess.

The construction process is expected to be completed in phases, with the first phase focusing on the development of state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure. The school's design will incorporate innovative, domain-friendly features, showcasing the Prismari's commitment to sustainability and the Beastkin Empire's passion for harmonious coexistence with nature.

According to sources, the institution will offer specialized programs for exceptional students. Applications for special case students will be made available, providing opportunities for talented individuals to thrive.

However, for regular students, tuition fees have been set at 50000 credits. This cost is expected to provide students with access to top-notch facilities and esteemed faculty from both the Beastkin Empire and the Prismari.

Details on the application process, admission requirements, and scholarship opportunities are expected to be released in the coming weeks.

This historic partnership marks a significant milestone in the planet's pursuit of unity and advancement. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.

Live Update

We're seeing reactions pour in from across the planet, with many hailing this partnership as a major breakthrough. Others have expressed concerns about the tuition fees and the potential for unequal access to education.

We'll continue to bring you updates and analysis as more information becomes available.}

As Flynt read further, the more impressed he got and the more hopeful he felt. He wasn't arrogant about his talents by any stretch of the imagination but he knew his own abilities. Being self taught and being an orphan wasn't a recipe for a talented Domain diver, but somehow at just seventeen years old he was currently the top 1-star diver.

'Maybe if I get selected, I will finally get proper guidance… No, I can't just assume I will be selected. Let's save up for the school fee. This is even more reason for this dive to succeed…'

He couldn't help but fantasize about such a thing but he knew reality could be quite cruel so he prepared his mind. His drive to succeed in tomorrow's mission went through the roof.

———

Flynt's Synap buzzed at 6:00AM sharp, waking him with an audible groan. He yawned and left for his bathroom with sluggish steps. He brushed his teeth and took a quick, warm shower. After grooming himself, he headed back to his bedroom.

He opened his wardrobe and grabbed a black case on the floor. The case was relatively featureless apart from the very fine grooves embedded into its surface. Running his palm across the surprisingly warm and smooth metal, Flynt could feel it buzz with a latent power.

He pulled out his Synap and placed it on the case. The Synap fused with the case and it rapidly transformed into a dark and sleek suit of armor. A vast array of Runes peppered its ergonomic design giving it a unique look, like a fusion of technology and mysticism. Its helmet was composed of a dark yet transparent glass-like material with no visible runes on it. Flynt placed a hand on the suit and thought with a small smile.

'Never gets old seeing it transform like that.'

In under a minute, he wore his armor but held his helmet in his hands. A soft light glowed from his chest and the helmet in his grasp vanished. He looked into his dressing mirror and nodded to himself before leaving, the door locking itself behind him.

As he left his apartment, Ana and the others were already outside waiting for him. They each had their own armors on and stood outside a trickied out off-road vehicle with Jaxsyn behind the wheel.

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"Took you forever to get ready as always SL. Do you think we will be getting paparazzi drones at the gate?"

Dahn said with feigned annoyance as he opened the door of the car and got in. The women just smiled and got in as well. Flynt awkwardly smiled and got in through the front passenger seat. They all greeted each other and Jaxsyn started the car and drove to Stargazer city's gate.

The gate was not overly elaborate but it had quite few vehicles moving in and out. Thankfully, the squad headed out early so there wasn't much traffic.

After a quick scan at the gate, the squad drove away. As they headed to the coordinates of the Domain, Flynt did one last mandatory check.

"Everyone has their rift key right?"

The squad affirmed. Flynt just nodded, his expression becoming serious. Even though he hadn't know his squad mates for long, they already shared a strong bond. If he lost any of them to such a silly mistake, he would never forgive himself.

The squad got quiet as they closed in on the mission location. The calm grassland giving way to a menacing forest. Through the windows, the squad could see numerous beasts and wild life in their natural state. The loud engine of Jaxsyn's vehicle attracting their attention.

As the ride went on, the squad collectively felt a mild dread and could tell something was wrong. The closer they got to the location, the more dramatic the feeling became. They all knew by now that ignoring your gut instincts on this job was a recipe for disaster.

Eventually, the squad found themselves at the mission's coordinates. As the group stepped out of the vehicle and faced a narrow cave entrance whose foul air caused their sensitive noses to wrinkle, Flynt couldn't help but speak up, his voice tight.

"We can turn back now, you guys know that right? I'm sure you all felt it as well, this dive is probably going to be the most dangerous one yet. I don't want to—"

Jaxsyn stepped up and placed a hand on his shoulder. His chiseled face lighting up in a small smile as he spoke with a slight playfulness.

"For a second there, I almost thought you were our mom, SL."

This brought a small chuckle out of everyone as he continued, his expression growing serious.

"It's okay, Flynt. We all passed the DD tests on our own and we all have good heads on our shoulders. Trust us as much as we trust you, okay?"

Flynt looked to the rest of the group and saw steel in their gazes. They were their own people and they understood the risks. Flynt's gaze hardened as well as he nodded to Jaxsyn and summoned his helmet.

"Weapons ready."

Four lights flashed as the squad took out their weapons. Dahn wielded a 75 centimeter long, slim, pulse rifle with a holographic scope. Very faint lines of blue energy could be seen tracing its surface as Dahn hung it on his back.

Jaxsyn summoned a heavy looking, 120 cm rifle. Its dark form was engraved with a series of complex light blue runes, giving it an enchanted appearance. Thunder clap—the name was quite fitting since each round was capable of reaching hypersonic speeds. As Jaxsyn wielded this weapon, his aura immediately became as solid as a boulder.

Ana pulled out what almost looked like a gauntlet but it didn't cover her fist. It encased her entire forearm but made no direct contact with her armor.

This weapon was called an echo smasher. It was a cylindrical structure with dense runes inscribed on it. As she tightened her grip, the runes glowed a bright white then dimmed with a barely audible, low hum.

Next up was the silver haired Vai who summoned a photon reaper. It was a slim, 130 cm railgun. Its body was smooth as glass while it hummed with the faint growl of thunder. She placed a palm on the rifle, it visibly extended and changed in size.

Lastly, Flynt pulled out a pulse rifle and a sheathed longsword. He placed the sword on his back and it stuck to him like he was a magnet. He then summoned his helmet and secured it in place, the rest of the squad followed.

"Squad sync in 3, 2, 1—"

A flash bang of thoughts and emotions went through the squad's mind for an instant before dimming back to almost normalcy. They could now all feel each other's emotional state and could directly share mental burdens.

This process disoriented them for a few moments but the squad easily bounced back.

With the link in place, the Runes on their armor finally activated. They glowed faintly with white light as they enhanced their physical capabilities drastically. With everyone suited up properly, Flynt sent a mental message.

/Move out./

The rest of the squad just pinged him and moved in a simple diamond formation, headed towards the unknown. Jaxsyn took the front and Flynt brought up the rear. Vai and Dahn flanked Ana who was in the center as they moved in.

When they got to the cave's mouth, Jaxsyn didn't hesitate and stepped through the entrance. He immediately felt much lighter. Keeping up his vigilance, Jaxsyn looked around the entrance and saw it looked much wider than it did from outside.

Seeing there were no immediate threats, the squad followed him in. When everyone got in, Jaxsyn and Flynt stood on guard as Flynt asked.

"Dahn, Status report."

Dahn used his Synap enhanced suit and their linked minds to filter through and analyze the tons of data he was getting. After a few short seconds, he sent some simple text files to all the group members. It read.

{Domain core status: Unknown

Gravitational strength. 5.25 kg/m2

Space-time continuum: Unstable

Spirit Energy density: Faint}

Flynt read the report with a straight face, his mind processed the information in a heartbeat as his eyes scanned the cavern they had just walked in.

/Keep your eyes peeled, something is off. Dahn, scout ahead./

Dahn pinged Flynt before a soft light flashed in front of him. When the light disappeared it revealed a small fleet of tiny, mechanical drones. The drones immediately shot forward into the cavern while the squad followed behind in their diamond formation.

They proceed through the cavern at a steady pace. Their weapons were drawn as they moved deeper and deeper into the cavern. After about an hour or so of not running into anything in the winding and numerous passages, the squad could almost taste the tension in the air. All this while, Dahn had kept track of the Spirit energy density which was constantly rising.

Suddenly, they heard it. A very pleasant melody echoed throughout the entire cavern like a mother's voice. It beckoned each of them to come help it, as if it was in extreme distress.

/Don't give in to it, squad. It's the core, it's probably going through a… surge! Rift keys now!!/

The moment Flynt realized the significance of that sound, he immediately ordered a full retreat, his voice shaking slightly. But it was too late.

The squad felt the sound increase in amplitude and the surrounding Spirit energy immediately went berserk. The energy flowed in bizarre patterns which caused the entire cavern to stretch and compress in plain sight. Dahn, now broken out of his trance, gave a report. His voice was frantic.

/We can't SL. If we make the jump now, we will end up canned meat on the other side. The best we can do now is wait it out./

Flynt clenched his teeth tightly but he knew this wasn't the time to panic. He asked,

/Dahn, any feedback from your drones?/

Dahn pinged him twice in quick succession, indicating a negative. Already expecting this, Flynt issued his next command.

/Cross formation. Put down anything that moves./

The squad moved into position like a well oiled machine. Flynt, Dahn, Jaxsyn, and Vai stood in a cross shape while Ana stood secured in the center, her echo smasher letting out a menacing hum as she held it steady.

With the squad's concentration at its peak, something strange happened. From the ceiling of the constantly writhing tunnels, a giant centipede creature dropped in. Its appendages were razor sharp and gave off a cold light.

The instant it noticed the squad it lunged at them from Flynt and Vai's side. Flynt opened fire with his rifle. The kinetic pulse accurately destroyed the centipede's head through its vulnerable compound eye. Its head exploded in an shower of gore, with its body thrashed violently before collapsing to the ground.

/Save your energy. We don't know how long we will have to fight through this./

The squad pinged him indicating they understood. After the first monster appeared, more soon followed. Bats, crimson rats, Slimes, neon colored snakes, and many more appeared. The squad easily handled these threats.

Jaxsyn and Vai took out the bigger and more dangerous monsters like armored beetles with their more powerful weapons while Flynt and Dahn took out the weaker but more numerous creatures with almost perfect accuracy.

Ana was saving her Spirit energy the most because she was the most vital member in the squad—the medic. She just scouted the cavern, looking for possible escape routes and reporting on creatures closing in.

After ten minutes of the intense firefight, the creatures weren't declining. If anything, their numbers were increasing steadily. They didn't just attack the squad, they also viciously attacked each other further adding to the chaos.

Flynt frowned as he felt his Spirit reserves nearing the 80% mark. If he had already consumed this much, the squad would be faring much worse.

/Jaxsyn, Dahn, switch to melee. Ana, Vai cover us./

Flynt ordered as his rifle vanished with a soft light. He stepped forward with his hand around his long sword's hilt. A rather large insect lunged at him, its mandible snapping forward with the promise of violence.

Flynt calmly slashed out his sword with a simple stroke, the blade buzzed as it was coated in a layer of plasma.

ZZTCHH!

The blade cleaved through the insect like a bullet through fog, instantly killing it. Warm ichor splattered on the ground as Flynt moved on to his next target.

Jaxsyn pulled out a rectangular shield and a heavy short sword. He charged forward into an incoming beetle like a bullet train, the fierce wind blowing back his purple hair and showcasing his piercing gaze.

Boom!

At the moment of impact, something unusual happened. Jaxsyn's shield released an intangible pulse of energy that covered both him and the beetle before shrinking into his shield.

They froze in place for less than a second before the beetle was blasted away like a missile with its head bashed in while Jaxsyn stood like a monolith.

The beetle's massive frame smashed into numerous cavern creatures and gave the squad some much needed breathing room.

/Nice!/

Vai exclaimed through their mental link as she watched the destruction. Using this opening, the squad went on a rampage. Corpses piled up into small mounds as they let loose their various techniques. About thirty minutes later, the monsters slowed down into a trickle.

With a precise stab from his spear, Dahn took out the last remaining rat. The cavern fell back to an eerie silence as the squad cautiously looked around. As the squad regrouped, Flynt transmitted out.

/Dahn, is it safe to do the jump now?/

/Negative Flynt. The surge is still ongoing. The good news is, it seemed to have plateaued. And since most monsters head to the core, we should be—/

Before Dahn could finish his transmission, the squad heard a heavy crash ahead of them. Soft lights flashed in front of them as they conjured and aimed their guns at the new threat.

When the dust settled, dread coiled in their chest at the sight of the new arrival. The pressure it exuded put them on edge. It looked humanoid, standing rather tall at almost two meters. It's dark brown skin had heinous burn marks all over it, making look like a torture victim. Its black, metallic bones could be seen through multiple deep wounds it had across its form.

Its facial features were even more haunting given that its eyes were burned out while its nose, lips, and ears had become charred flesh.

The burn marks across its face giving it a gruesome visage. It struggled to its feet with its four muscular tendrils before it snapped its head at the well armed group. This creature was—Lucas Maverick.

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