The reinforced walls of the house stood like a bastion against the apocalypse. Kairis had seen enough ruins, crumbling skyscrapers, and cities swallowed by monsters to know that safety was temporary, and fleeting.
This house, however, was different. The Awakeners Association had supplied it, nestled deep within the ruins of an old suburban district but reinforced with layers of energy barriers, hidden turrets, and dark matter-infused structural reinforcements. Guardians, mid-level awakened under the Association's guidance, patrolled the perimeter, ensuring no unauthorized intruder — monster or human — breached its defenses.
Elyra and Aeren moved freely inside, their curiosity tempered by the invisible walls of safety. Kairis observed them for a moment, the weight of responsibility pressing heavier than any monster he had faced.
"They're safe here," he muttered to himself, his voice quiet but firm. "As long as I make it back…"
A soft knock echoed through the reinforced door. Kairis immediately went into alert mode, coat shifting slightly as dark matter energy rippled along his hands. The door slid open, revealing Kaiyara, the girl who had first investigated him after the snake monster incident. Her stance was precise, disciplined — she had clearly grown stronger since their last encounter.
"Kaiyara," Kairis said, his tone flat but his eyes sharp. "You didn't just wander here for sightseeing, did you?"
She smirked faintly. "I've been tracking monster activity near your new stronghold. Thought I'd check on you… and your siblings."
Kairis crossed his arms, his usual arrogance returning in full. "I don't need babysitters."
"I don't babysit," she replied. "I observe… and report."
Kairis tilted his head, staring her down. "Well, observation is fine… as long as your report doesn't cost me my life."
Her lips twitched into a faint smile, unshaken. This is going to be interesting, Kairis thought.
Before leaving the house to scout nearby strongholds, Kairis's system interface briefly flashed, assessing his current state after the Gacha draw he had done the night before. A dark, elegant interface shimmered in his mind:
Kairis Ash — Level 10
Class: Gravity
Subclass: Void Warrior
Title: Apostle of Void
HP: 2200
MP: 1200
STR: 26
DEX: 23
AGI: 25
INT: 22
Divinity: 17
Authority: 19
Abilities:
Gyro-Telekinesis (Active): Manipulate objects and enemies within a limited radius.
Black Hole Lv.1 (Active, HP drain): Creates a miniature gravitational singularity.
Void Slash (Active): Infuses sword strikes with void energy, cutting through matter.
Analyze (Passive): Reveals opponent stats, not system.
Dark Matter Affinity (Passive): Gravity-based attacks stronger against awakened and monsters.
Gacha Rewards (1st Draw):
Void Energy Amplifier (Passive): Slightly increases gravity-based attack potency.
Consumables: 3x HP Infusion, 2x MP Infusion.
Kairis scrolled mentally, absorbing the data. His smirk returned. "Not bad," he muttered. "Enough to make things… fun."
The streets outside were a desolate nightmare. The apocalypse had left scars deeper than any monster could inflict: buildings half-crushed, fire-scorched walls, abandoned vehicles rusting away. Yet movement caught his eye — groaning, shambling forms approaching in a wave.
Zombie hordes.
But these weren't ordinary zombies. These were evolved, mutated by dark matter and the lingering effects of the portals. Limbs twisted unnaturally, faces melted in horrifying contortions, and some even exuded faint gravitational ripples.
Kairis's pulse quickened — in the most exhilarating way.
"Finally," he muttered, drawing the Graviton Edge from his back. The black blade shimmered, tiny void particles trailing in its wake.
The fight began.
With Gyro-Telekinesis, he leapt into the air, spinning, and used micro-gravity fields to lift dozens of zombies off the ground, slamming them into ruined buildings. The Graviton Edge sliced through hardened, mutated bone effortlessly, but he had to account for unpredictable movement; some zombies twisted in impossible ways mid-air, forcing him to adjust every strike.
"Come on! Is that all you've got?" he taunted, voice echoing across the ruined city. The smirk on his bloodied face only fueled his drive.
Minutes stretched into a cinematic display of chaos: gravity fields warping trajectories, zombie limbs flying, debris raining down, Kairis flipping and spinning with fluid, lethal precision. His system interface silently updated as dark matter flowed with every strike: experience points, minor stats, and gravity affinity growth.
By the time the last of the first horde fell, Kairis stood atop a collapsed skyscraper, breathing steadily but exhilarated. His Graviton Edge was slick with blackened blood, void energy crackling faintly along its edge.
Kairis descended into the streets, moving toward another stronghold on the map. That's when he felt it — a strange aura. Human, but twisted. Not just any awakened… rogue awakened.
He narrowed his eyes, analyzing quickly:
Rogue Awakener — Dark Matter Affinity: Kinetic Subtype
Estimated Level: 12
HP: Unknown (system cannot read fully due to rogue state)
Abilities: Unknown
The rogue materialized from a shadowy alley, smirked, and immediately launched an attack — a kinetic wave that sent the air itself whipping toward Kairis.
Kairis grinned. "Finally… someone who thinks they're a problem."
He countered instantly with micro-gravity pulls, redirecting the force mid-flight, slamming the rogue against a partially collapsed building. The rogue's laughter echoed, unnerving in its casual arrogance.
"Not bad… but you're slow," the rogue taunted, kinetic spikes forming in their hands.
Kairis tightened his grip on the Graviton Edge. "Slow? You've got no idea."
The ensuing battle was brutal. Kairis had to use every ounce of Gyro-Telekinesis, his newfound Void Warrior abilities, and precise swordplay to avoid lethal kinetic strikes. He created small black holes strategically to nullify attacks, each costing him a fraction of his HP but buying critical openings.
The fight spanned over the rubble-filled streets, debris flying, mutant zombies scattering in panic from the violent energy ripples. Kairis's mind was razor-sharp, calculating gravitational fields, adjusting trajectory mid-strike, and predicting the rogue's patterns.
Finally, after a narrow, grueling exchange, he immobilized the rogue in a localized gravity field, spinning the enemy around before delivering a void-infused strike that shattered their defenses. The rogue collapsed, defeated but alive — leaving a chilling message before disappearing:
> "This isn't over, Apostle of Void… others are watching."
Kairis wiped the blood from his face, smirk returning. "Good. I like the challenge."
Returning to the house, Kairis checked on Elyra and Aeren. "You two are safe. But if you want to survive… you need to grow. Not just in strength, but control. And you'll need patience."
Elyra frowned. "When do we start?"
Kairis tilted his head, brown eyes glowing faintly with void energy. "Soon. First… I clean up the mess outside. Then… we train."
He pulled out his system interface again, letting the Gacha spin one more time. The wheel clicked and whirred, randomly granting him:
Passive Ability: Spatial Awareness Lv.1 — enhances gravitational field control.
Consumable: Dark Matter Infusion (temporary increase in gravity-based attacks).
Kairis scrolled through the interface, smirked, and flexed his fingers. "Looks like the apocalypse just got a little more interesting."
The city outside groaned under the weight of undead, rogue awakeners, and monsters still lurking in the shadows. Kairis Ash — Gravity, Apostle of Void — was ready.
And for the first time in days, he felt that familiar thrill of anticipation.