*** Billion's PoV
I stood at the edge of the forest, arms crossed, staring at the distant volcano. The air was heavy with the scent of ash and earth, even though the eruption hadn't started yet.
The sky was clear, a bright morning sun casting long shadows across the land.
It was too calm. Too quiet.
Steve stood beside me, his sword resting against his shoulder, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.
He had been silent for the past few minutes, only occasionally glancing at the volcano before looking back at me.
"This feels weird," he finally muttered.
I nodded. "Yeah. Like the calm before a storm."
The volcano hadn't erupted yet, but we knew it was coming.
The whole unit did. Today would be the start of something different, something harder.
For the past two weeks, we had fought Abominations, but this one was supposed to be on a whole different level.
A test, a challenge, or maybe just a slaughter.
I rolled my shoulders, feeling the slight ache from yesterday's training session.
My knuckles were still sore from all the Seismic Fist practice.
My uniform well, what little of it I actually wore was already covered in faint burn marks from previous fights.
I had a feeling it wouldn't survive today.
Steve sighed.
"How long do you think we have?"
I glanced at the volcano.
"Not long. Maybe an hour. Maybe a few minutes."
Steve groaned.
"Great. Love the unpredictability."
I smirked.
"Keeps things interesting."
He gave me a look.
"Yeah, well, you can find it interesting. I'd rather not be burned alive."
I chuckled but didn't say anything. My focus was on the mountain. I wasn't scared, but there was something about facing an enemy like this that made me… eager.
I took a deep breath, letting my gaze drift from the volcano to my own hands.
Strength. Skill. Talent. I had them all.
But was it enough?
In the past two weeks, I had grown stronger at an insane rate.
My stats had shot up, my body had adapted, and my skill set had expanded.
Seismic Fist was now one of my strongest attacks, but I was still figuring out how to use it efficiently.
It was powerful, but it drained me fast.
My Generator talent was my biggest advantage. Energy absorption and Essence generation, I had barely scratched the surface of what I could do with it.
Right now, I could absorb energy, use it to generate Essence and boost my physical abilities, but I knew there had to be more.
I just needed to push myself further.
The problem was that no one could guide me.
Most warriors had skills passed down from generations, teachers to refine their techniques, and a clear path to follow.
I had none of that. My talent was unique. I had to figure it all out on my own.
That didn't bother me. If anything, it excited me. I didn't want to follow someone else's path. I wanted to carve my own.
But to do that, I needed to keep growing. Keep pushing. Keep winning.
And today, the volcano would be my next step.
A low rumble shook the ground beneath my feet.
Steve stiffened beside me.
"That's—"
Before he could finish, the sky darkened.
A deep, guttural roar echoed from the mountain, a sound so loud and raw that I felt it in my bones. Then, with a deafening explosion, the volcano erupted.
Flames shot into the sky, a massive pillar of fire and smoke twisting upward like a living thing.
Ash and molten rock spewed from the crater, tumbling down the mountainside in a blazing cascade. The ground trembled violently, and I had to brace myself to keep from stumbling.
Steve swore under his breath.
"Well. That's definitely awake."
Chunks of burning rock the size of houses crashed into the ground, sending shockwaves through the earth.
The heat hit us next, a wave of scorching air that felt like standing too close to a forge.
Then came the figures.
Silhouettes moved within the smoke and fire, shapes emerging from the inferno.
Abominations.
Their bodies twisted and molten, some covered in jagged black rock, others dripping lava as they stomped forward.
They didn't just crawl out—they marched. As if they had been waiting for this moment.
My fingers curled into fists, and a slow grin spread across my face.
"Now this," I muttered, "is more like it."
I narrowed my eyes as I scanned the Abominations emerging from the volcano, each one more terrifying than the last.
At the front were the [Inferno Hounds] massive, four-legged beasts standing nearly six feet tall.
Their bodies were covered in blackened, cracked hide, glowing faintly with the heat trapped inside. Their eyes blazed like embers, and each step they took left a trail of scorched earth behind them.
Even from this distance, I could hear their guttural growls, deep and menacing.
Behind them, towering figures marched forward: the [Magma Golems]. These hulking creatures stood at least eight feet tall, their bodies appearing as if they had been molded from volcanic rock itself.
Their hardened, blackened exteriors were cracked and jagged, glowing veins of molten lava pulsing beneath the surface. Each step they took sent tremors through the ground.
To the sides of the golems, another group of creatures moved with unsettling agility [Smoldering Apes].
They were nearly as tall as the Inferno Hounds but far bulkier, their thick chests and broad shoulders giving them a monstrous strength.
Instead of skin, their bodies were lined with glowing magma veins, sizzling and hissing with every movement.
Drool, thick and burning, dripped from their mouths, melting the ground beneath them.
Then, I saw something that made me pause. Another group of creatures emerged, ones I hadn't expected to see [Blazing Orcs].
Their sheer size rivaled that of the Magma Golems, but unlike the slow-moving titans, these creatures were built for war.
Their skin was a deep, molten red, glowing faintly from the magma coursing through their veins. Jagged, rock-like protrusions jutted from their shoulders and backs, adding to their already menacing forms.
Each orc carried a massive club, its surface covered in molten cracks, the spikes on it glowing with intense heat.
I exhaled slowly.
This wasn't just a random eruption of Abominations. This was an army.
Silence stretched across the battlefield, heavy and suffocating.
The only sounds were the distant rumbling of the erupting volcano and the steady, thunderous march of the Abomination army.
There were only two battlefronts for this fight—one on our side, where we stood, and another behind the volcano, where more Abominations were likely gathering.
The creatures continued to emerge, splitting into groups as they moved toward both battlefields, their numbers growing by the second.
I shifted my gaze, scanning the warriors of Unit 02 scattered around me.
Many stood frozen in place, their faces a mixture of shock, disbelief, and fear.
Some gripped their weapons tightly, knuckles turning white, while others trembled at the sheer scale of what we were up against.
I glanced around, searching for Logan, but I couldn't find him anywhere. The last time I saw him was back when I was leaving for Checkpoint 22.
Had he fallen behind? Or had he chosen to fight at the other battlefield? I made a mental note to look for him later.
Finally, my eyes settled on a familiar figure standing with her group, North.
And, as if she could sense my gaze, she turned and met my eyes.
She was still wearing my uniform, the sleeves rolled up, the pants adjusted to fit her better.
Her fingers curled tightly around her longbow, her stance steady despite the tension in the air. Her expression was unreadable brows slightly furrowed, lips pressed together as if lost in thought.
I held her gaze for a moment, unsure of what was going through her mind. Then, unable to stop myself, I smiled.
For a second, she didn't react. But then, slowly, her expression softened. Her grip on the bow relaxed, and she smiled back.
Even with the battle looming ahead, that moment made everything feel a little lighter.
I shifted my gaze away from North and focused straight ahead.
Rolling my shoulders, I cracked my knuckles, feeling the anticipation settle into my bones.
One last check of my status, everything was perfect.
My Essence store sat at full capacity, 10 out of 10.
Taking a deep breath, I funneled all 10 points into Dexterity, pushing it to 36.
Immediately, my body felt lighter, more responsive. Speed was going to be my biggest advantage here.
My plan was simple—cause as much havoc as possible. I'd tear through the battlefield, smash apart some Abominations, and get a feel for how each type moved, attacked, and reacted.
Closing my eyes for a brief second, I activated my talent.
"Power Up."
A deep, rhythmic thrum pulsed from my chest as my Generator Core roared to life.