—
"Back to Kent-" The moment he stood and commanded the souls, "come here" the energy that surged through him altered his very being. It wasn’t just his physical form that had been enhanced—it was his spiritual essence.
The powers of the Forsaken Gate were now his to wield, but the question was: what exactly could he do with them other than using them to earn some SP?
The phantom ghost says, its voice low and haunting. "Lord Kent, you have unlocked the first tier of the Throne’s power. Now, you may draw upon the souls of the Forsaken to enhance your abilities."
Kent raised a brow. "You mean I can use them like spiritual energy?"
"Yes," the ghost replied. "The souls are bound to the Forsaken gate, and as you control the gate, you may absorb their power. They are yours to command."
Kent clenched his fists, testing the power. It felt strange. It was as if he could feel the weight of every soul trapped here. It wasn’t an easy energy to control—it was raw, dark, violent, unpredictable.
But he knew he could use it to his advantage.
"I don’t need to absorb the soul," Kent muttered. "I will just control them to get what I want."
[Ding! The system advises you not to use the Souls as energy. You don’t have the right skills. It will be harmful to you. You might lose your mind.]
Kent sighed! Alright, I won’t use it. I already know about that. Now tell me how we can leave. What will happen to the ghosts once we (Nima and Kent) leave?
[Ding! The ghosts will remain here until they get summoned by the host. Once they get out, they can’t enter the Forsaken gate. The host should summon them with caution.]
Before Kent can ask anything about why the ghost can’t return, Nima comes yelling.
"Kent… big brother… Are you okay? I felt a strange disturbance just now. What’s going on? Did any ghost bully you?" Nima’s voice rang out, trembling with both concern and a fierce determination to protect her elder brother.
Kent slowly turned toward her, the residual echoes of spectral energy still humming in his ears. His eyes, still faintly aglow from the power of the Forsaken gate, met Nima’s worried gaze. For a long, weighted moment, he simply exhaled as if expelling not just breath but the tumultuous energies of the Void Domain itself.
"I’m fine, Nima," he answered at length, his voice steady despite the storm of emotions swirling inside him. "It was just a ripple—a minor disturbance in the ghost energy. I took control over this gate."
He paused, his mind racing with recollections of that overwhelming surge from the Forsaken. "I sensed a shift—a faint echo that reminded me of the inherent chaos of this power. But there’s no harm done. The system’s warnings are clear: I must exercise caution, and I will."
Nima’s eyes softened slightly, relief mingling with her natural impatience. "Kent, let’s go and beat all the ghosts. We need to find a way out. Auri must be looking for us."
... Wait, I forgot about Auri. He was with us when we jumped from the building and landed on the ground. But when we were forcefully sucked inside this pocket dimension. Auri didn’t come with us. He is outside—in the real world.
Nima replied, "That’s why I want to hurry. I bet Auri is scared. He is my underling, I need to take care of him. Now, let’s go. Once we defeat all the ghosts, I think we can go outside."
Kent managed a slight smile, though his gaze remained distant as he continued. "Don’t worry, we can go outside anytime we want. You don’t need to beat everyone. These ghosts will be your servants in future." I have full control now. Give me a second, and I will create the exit.
Before Nima could press further, a familiar chime resonated through the expanse of the pocket dimension, echoing off the dark, newly-formed walls of the merged realm.
[Ding! System Notification: Initiating Return Sequence. The portal to Azure Bay City is now available. Destination coordinates: Azure Bay City.]
A ripple of relief passed over both siblings as they prepared to leave the dark clutches of the pocket dimension.
Kent closed his eyes, gathering his spiritual energy one final time. With a measured motion, he raised his hand and conjured a swirling portal—a shimmering gateway of iridescent blues and purples, edged with flickering ghostly light. The portal pulsed steadily, beckoning them back to the world they knew.
"Time to go," Kent said firmly, turning to Nima. "We’ve controlled the chaos here; now, let’s return. Auri’s waiting."
Hand in hand, they stepped toward the portal. The last vestiges of the forsaken realm receded behind them, swallowed by the vortex as they crossed the threshold. In an instant, the oppressive darkness was replaced by the familiar sights and sounds of the real world.
Emerging from the portal, Kent and Nima found themselves on a rooftop overlooking Azure Bay City—a city that, despite its scars, still pulsed with life and determination.
The distant rumble of the sea, the clamour of street vendors, and the subtle hum of everyday resilience greeted them like an old friend. The air was thick with salt and the lingering scent of impending chaos.
Yet, even as the city’s comforting tumult embraced them, a new disturbance made itself known. From the direction of the harbour, a deep, resonant bellow cut through the air—a sound that sent shivers down the spines of even the hardiest citizens. Kent’s eyes narrowed as he recognized the familiar threat: the sea monster they had encountered before.
Down at the harbour, the beast was still there. Massive, sinewy tentacles emerged from the churning waters, and its eyes glowed with an unearthly light. The creature’s presence was a dire omen—a reminder that while one chaos had been tamed, another lurked in the depths.
On the front lines of this unexpected aquatic assault were two defenders led by a scrappy tier-4 officer—Captain "Crusty", and the ever-determined Enforcement Lady, Sergeant Sparkle. Captain Crusty, who looked as if he’d been forged from discarded beach chairs, bellowed, "Alright, maggots, let’s show this blob that our city isn’t for squishy-eating!"
Sergeant Sparkle, whose uniform shone with the kind of pristine brilliance that would make a freshly polished trophy weep, added, "Remember, team: if you get slimed, wipe it off and keep fighting! This isn’t a mud-wrestling contest!"
The roar of the sea and the crash of splintered docks still echoed through Azure Bay City’s battered harbour. Despite the earlier assault, the monstrous sea creature had not yet been vanquished—it still thrashed its massive, sinewy tentacles in the churning waters like a beast determined to wreak havoc. Amid this chaotic scene, Kent’s voice cut through the tumult:
"Alright, Nima—the sea blob’s still out there. But first, let’s find Auri. I can’t go help the watchers until our feathered friend is safe!"
With that, Kent broke away from the fray. He weaved his way along the narrow, salt-sprayed lanes near the port, dodging overturned crates and splashes of seawater. His mind raced not only with battle tactics but also with worry for the little bird who’d been missing since the sudden, tumultuous jump from the building.
After a few tense minutes of scouring the debris-strewn docks, Kent finally heard it—a tiny, unmistakable chirp amid the clamour of crashing waves and distant shouts. He followed the sound until he reached a quiet corner near an abandoned warehouse. There, perched on a rusted railing and looking both indignant and heroic, was Auri.
"Chip chip!" the little bird squawked, his tone a mixture of relief and reproach. "I thought you guys left me! Where were you? I was looking for you for hours! You know I don’t have that money thingy—getting stuck in a city I’ve never been before is downright terrifying!"
Kent knelt beside the railing and gently extended his hand. "Hey, Auri, I’m sorry, little buddy. We got so caught up in a situation and fighting that we lost track of you." His voice softened as he carefully petted the tiny bird’s head. Auri tilted his head, then let out another small chirp to say, "I’m glad you’re here now."
Not far behind, Nima hurried over, her eyes wide with both concern and relief. "Auri, you rascal! I was worried sick. Come here, let me give you a proper cuddle." She scooped the little bird into her arms and ruffled his feathers, murmuring soothingly. "It’s alright now—you’re safe with us."
Auri, still a bit indignant but comforted by Nima’s warmth, snuggled against her. For a brief moment, the chaos of the harbour faded into the background as the trio shared a tender reunion.
Brushing a stray hair from his forehead, Kent surveyed the distant battle. "Listen, Nima," he said, his tone firm yet gentle as he looked down at his sister cradling Auri. "I’ve got to go help the watcher forces out there. The sea creature isn’t done yet, and they need every bit of help we can muster." Experience tales at freewebnovel
Nima gave him a playful nudge. "So I get babysitting duty for Auri while you go off and play with a giant sea blob? Fine, you go. Holding her, she says, I need some snack money. I am very hungry.
Kent chuckled, shaking his head. "Deal. Just promise me you both won’t cause any trouble, alright?"
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With one last affectionate pat on Nima and Auri’s heads, Kent took a deep breath and dashed back toward the harbour, where the battle raged on.