Chapter 11 Night Domain Trial
972 Words
Western Raven City.
Deeper within the Gray Zone.
The previously semi-sealed Night Domain Node suddenly opened.
Less than ten minutes after the announcement—
The entire Special Observation Class was assembled.
Kane’s voice had never sounded so severe.
“The Night Domain Node was originally sealed.”
“Based on recent city energy fluctuations, it has been advanced into Phase Three of the trial.”
“Objective: Investigate the source and seal the rift.”
Lucas muttered under his breath.
“This isn’t a student-level mission.”
Ava looked at Leon.
She understood.
This wasn’t coincidence.
This was a test.
And—
It was aimed at him.
—
The transport vehicle crossed the city’s second defensive line.
The air felt different.
The Gray Zone was already oppressive.
The Night Domain felt like the polluted core itself.
The sky had turned dark violet.
In the distance, a black energy pillar slowly rose.
Like a wound tearing open the sky.
System automatic alert:
[Energy Level: Upper B-Class]
“Not C-class,” Karl said quietly.
“This is close to A-class fluctuation.”
Kane remained silent for a few seconds.
“Retreat authorization granted.”
That sentence alone meant—
The danger was uncontrollable.
—
The team entered an abandoned subway station.
Rift fluctuations pulsed from underground.
The air felt compressed.
Lucas activated A-rank perception.
“There are at least three B-class entities below.”
Ava looked at Leon.
“You can’t farm like last time.”
“This is different.”
Leon nodded.
“I know.”
But he was clear about one thing.
True limit growth—
Only came under extreme pressure.
—
Deep within the subway tunnel.
The first B-class Dark Carapace Beast emerged.
Faster than the Gray King.
More aggressive.
Lucas engaged head-on.
Karl provided long-range suppression.
Ava froze movement routes.
Leon took the flank.
The system interface appeared.
[Failure Catalyst: 20%]
He inhaled deeply.
Under B-class pressure—
He released.
First attempt.
Failure.
[21%]
A claw tore across his abdomen.
Blood instantly soaked his clothes.
Ava’s pupils shrank.
“Leon!”
“Don’t worry about me!”
Second attempt.
Failure.
[22%]
The pain intensified.
Lucas roared,
“You’ll die!”
“Not enough!”
Third attempt.
Failure.
[23%]
The air trembled.
The beast lunged.
Leon forced stability.
Fourth attempt.
Success.
The enhanced shockwave blasted the Dark Carapace Beast backward.
Lucas seized the opening.
Domain fully unleashed.
Seconds later—
The first one fell.
—
But before they could breathe—
The second attacked from the flank.
This time—
The pressure was heavier.
Karl was knocked back.
Ava’s defense shattered.
The situation destabilized instantly.
And then—
From the other end of the tunnel—
A familiar figure stepped forward.
Damian.
But his aura—
Was wrong.
Energy fluctuations were chaotic.
Dark red light flickered in his eyes.
“So you are here.”
His voice was low.
Lucas snapped,
“What are you doing here?!”
Damian sneered.
“To prove something.”
“Evolution isn’t yours alone.”
In his palm—
Fragments of a black energy chip.
Clearly—
He had used it.
His energy surged violently.
In a short burst—
Damian reached peak B-class.
The pressure doubled.
Ava was shocked.
“Illegal enhancement?!”
Damian ignored her.
His gravity domain expanded—
But this time—
Black unstable patterns intertwined within it.
The second Dark Carapace Beast was crushed outright.
Blood mist filled the tunnel.
He turned to Leon.
“You grow through failure.”
“I grow through cost.”
Leon felt the pressure.
The system flickered.
[Failure Catalyst: 23%]
If he continued failing—
It might break 30%.
But Damian was on the verge of losing control.
Ava rushed between them.
“That’s enough!”
Damian sneered.
“You’re protecting him?”
For the first time—
She didn’t deny it.
“This isn’t your private battlefield!”
Damian’s gaze turned icy.
The gravity domain pressed toward Leon.
Leon gritted his teeth.
He took it head-on.
First.
Failure.
[24%]
Bones groaned under pressure.
Second.
Failure.
[25%]
Damian roared,
“You’re still farming?!”
“I told you.”
Leon lifted his head.
“Failure is my fuel.”
Third.
Failure.
[26%]
Fourth.
Failure.
[27%]
His aura kept rising.
Damian’s black energy began to spiral out of control.
The ground cracked.
The tunnel shook.
Kane’s voice roared through comms.
“Evacuate immediately! Energy imbalance!”
Too late.
The third B-class Dark Carapace Beast charged from the depths.
Three forces—
All unstable.
True chaos.
For the first time—
Ava lost composure.
“Are both of you insane?!”
Her ice-blue domain fully expanded—
Only to be forced back.
Leon felt his consciousness blurring.
But system notifications flashed.
[28%]
[29%]
Damian charged.
His fist carried black fractures of energy.
At the instant before impact—
Leon completed his tenth failure.
[30%]
The system interface exploded in light.
[Base Amplification Breakthrough: 30%]
Next release—
Success.
The crimson shockwave was no longer linear—
It expanded in a circular surge.
It tore through the gravity domain.
Damian was blasted backward.
The third Dark Carapace Beast was overturned by the shockwave.
Lucas erupted in full power.
Karl pierced precisely.
Seconds later—
Silence returned to the tunnel.
Damian fell to his knees.
Black energy backlash.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
He looked up at Leon.
For the first time—
Not anger.
But fear.
“What… are you?”
Leon breathed heavily.
The system displayed:
[Failure Catalyst: 30%]
He didn’t answer.
Ava walked toward him.
For the first time—
Her voice trembled.
“You’re going to burn yourself out.”
Leon replied softly,
“Better to burn than to fade.”
In the distance—
Deep within the tunnel—
A darker shadow slowly retreated.
A true A-class fluctuation.
It had just finished observing.
- Writer
