Asher glanced up at the dense gray canopy overhead. "You think it''ll rain today?" he asked, his tone light but his eyes distant.


    "Maybe," Anny replied, absentmindedly braiding her yellow hair.


    She turned to him with a teasing smile. "Are you nervous?"


    Asher chuckled, though the tightness in his jaw betrayed his unease. "Maybe I am."


    Anny smirked and poked him in the ribs. "And here I thought you''d be too proud to admit it."


    He rolled his eyes but said nothing. His gaze flickered toward the small group behind them—six people, each absorbed in their own thoughts. The weight of the upcoming raid hung over them like the storm clouds above.


    "You sure are confident today," Asher muttered, shifting his focus to Liber, who was deep in conversation with Seth about the raid details.


    "How long do raids usually take?" he asked.


    Anny shrugged. "A day, if we''re lucky. Weeks, if we''re not."


    The participants had already been decided: Liber’s team, Seth, Kena, Sam, and Sofia. The remaining awakeners from the House of Orgus would stay behind to defend the village until the raid was completed.


    Asher''s thoughts churned with unease. *Is House of Orgus just trying to gain fame by having Kena participate?* He had too many questions, from the raid itself to his own recent enlightenment. None had easy answers.


    Seth’s voice cut through the tension. "We’re starting the raid. Once inside the ruins, everyone follows orders. No exceptions. The raid is under House of Orgus, in the name of Lord Kena. Your life is your responsibility."


    A heavy silence followed. The casual banter vanished as reality set in. One by one, the group turned their attention forward, steeling themselves for what lay ahead.


    The journey through the forest was quiet, each person lost in their own thoughts. The rustling leaves and distant bird calls provided the only background noise. As the path steepened and the trees thinned, they reached the base of a mountain. Jagged rocks and boulders from a recent landslide littered the ground, and the air grew noticeably colder.


    Then, the ruins came into view.


    A massive, crumbling archway yawned before them, its stone blocks weathered but standing firm. Even in decay, the structure radiated an ancient, ominous power. The entrance led into darkness, a seemingly endless descent into the unknown.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    Asher swallowed hard, his silver eyes flicking over the faces of his companions. Nervousness was etched into each expression.


    "Let''s go," Kena said. His voice was firm, but his pale face and shaking hands betrayed him.


    The group moved forward, stepping onto the worn stone stairs that stretched downward into the abyss. Unlike most stairways, these grew wider the further they descended, as if leading not to a chamber, but to something far more vast.


    Asher kept to the back, his steps careful. "Are you a ranged fighter too?" he asked Sofia, who was walking beside him.


    She blinked, seemingly startled by the question. "Ah! Yes—I mean, yes, that''s correct."


    Her rushed reply made him arch an eyebrow. He noticed her biting her lip, the briefest flinch betraying the sting of a bitten tongue.


    "I use a bow," she added quickly, as if embarrassed by her own hesitation. "My element is wind."


    Asher chuckled. "Relax, I’m not interrogating you. Just trying to understand our team’s capabilities."


    Sofia hesitated before offering a small smile. Ahead of them, Gian and Seth led the way, torches in hand. When they reached the bottom, Gian lit a rusted torch holder, and one by one, the flames leapt to life along the walls, illuminating the vast hall before them.


    Asher exhaled in awe. "That''s… that''s incredible. How does that even work?"


    The grand chamber stretched out before them, its towering pillars adorned with carvings that whispered of ancient battles. Dust and decay clung to the air, yet something deeper, something untouched by time, thrummed within the stones.


    They barely had time to take in the sight before a piercing screech shattered the silence.


    Asher’s heart pounded as humanoid creatures emerged from the shadows, their crimson bodies pulsing with an unnatural energy. Their jerky, erratic movements resembled marionettes controlled by unseen hands.


    He didn’t hesitate. Taking an air step, he launched himself upward, reaching a pillar to gain a better vantage point. Below, Sofia’s eyes widened in amazement as she watched him *walk on air*.


    On the ground, Seth stepped forward, the weight of his stance making the stone tremble. The creatures faltered for a split second—just enough time for Liber and Sam to charge.


    Liber’s blade ignited, a fiery serpent coiling around it as he swung. Sam, moving with blinding speed, created a burst of wind that knocked the monsters off balance. He was on them in an instant, his blade slicing through two before they could react.


    "Keep your guard up!" Seth barked.


    Liber’s flames engulfed another creature, reducing it to ash. Meanwhile, Asher steadied his aim. *Bang! Bang!* His artifact gun sent bullets streaking toward their targets, each one finding its mark.


    Sofia, regaining her composure, fired a barrage of arrows in support. Gian and Seth remained defensive, preserving their Origin reserves while keeping any stragglers from slipping through their formation.


    A slap on his back jolted Kena out of his frozen daze. Anny’s stern gaze locked onto him. "Are you just going to stand there?"


    Swallowing hard, Kena lifted his trembling hand. Water coalesced in his palm, forming a dense sphere. His eyes narrowed with focus as he channeled his fear into his attack.


    "Now, watch this!" he declared, launching the water bullet forward.


    The projectile tore through the air, striking a monster with explosive force. The creature’s head burst apart in a spray of crimson mist, its body crumpling lifelessly to the ground.


    Asher''s eyes widened. *How did he get this strong?* Just days ago, Kena’s attacks barely did more than soak his enemies. Now, he was obliterating them.


    ‘I guess everyone has their moment of growth.’


    The battle ended as quickly as it had begun. The chamber fell into silence, the air thick with the scent of blood and charred flesh.


    "Phew, that was the last one," Asher muttered, stepping down from his perch.


    Kena wiped his forehead, trying to steady his breath. Yet, despite his newfound strength, the frustration in his eyes remained.


    Liber approached Asher, Sofia following close behind. "Your marksmanship is incredible," she said, admiration evident in her tone. "Have you trained for long?"


    Asher scratched the back of his head, slightly embarrassed. "Not really. I only started using a gun recently."


    Liber raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? Artifact guns are harder to handle than normal ones."


    Sofia nodded. "You must have a natural talent for it."


    Asher laughed. "Maybe I do."


    Kena clicked his tongue in annoyance and stalked off toward Seth. Asher watched him go, a  small playing at his lips. Looks like I''m not the only one being underestimated.


    The raid had only just begun.