The Last Guardian Of The Apocalypse

Chapter 9: The First Crack

"Host... run."

The System's warning echoed repeatedly in Ethan's mind.

Without thinking, Ethan dashed toward the hospital's exit.

Patients and visitors stared at him as he sprinted past.

"Young man!"

" your discharge papers have fallen!"

A nurse called after him.

Ethan didn't stop.

His instincts screamed that something terrible was about to happen.

As the automatic doors slid open, a cold breeze brushed against his face.

The sunny afternoon had vanished.

Dark clouds rolled across the sky.

"That's impossible..."

Just twenty minutes ago, the weather had been clear.

DING!

Main Mission Updated

Investigate the Dimensional Crack.

Distance: 478 meters

Reward:

Guardian Sword (F-Rank)

1,000 EXP

Guardian Coins ×100

Failure: Unknown

Ethan frowned.

"Unknown?"

It was the first time the System hadn't simply said "Death."

That made him even more nervous.

He followed the blinking arrow on the System map.

With every step...

The air grew colder.

The sounds of traffic became quieter.

Even the birds had disappeared.

Soon, Ethan reached an old public park just behind the hospital.

Children's swings moved gently in the wind.

But there were no children.

No parents.

No laughter.

Only silence.

Then—

Crack...

A faint sound echoed through the empty park.

Ethan slowly looked up.

His eyes widened.

The sky...

Had split open.

A thin black line stretched across the clouds, as though someone had cut the heavens with a giant sword.

Purple lightning flickered inside the crack.

The space around it twisted unnaturally

DING!

Dimensional Crack Confirmed.

Stage One

Stability: 2%

"What happens if it reaches one hundred percent?" Ethan whispered.

The System answered immediately.

Portal Formation Complete.

Monsters will descend upon Earth.

A chill ran down his spine.

"So... this is how it starts."

Just then...

He heard crying.

A little boy, no older than seven, stood beneath a tree.

He clutched a torn teddy bear.

"M-Mom..."

"Where are you...?"

Ethan looked around.

The park was empty.

The child was alone.

The crack above them suddenly pulsed.

Purple energy drifted downward like snow.

The little boy reached out curiously.

"What pretty lights..."

"Don't touch them!" Ethan shouted.

The boy looked up in surprise.

DING!

Emergency Mission

Protect the Child

Time Limit: 60 Seconds

Reward:

Guardian Shield (F-Rank)

Guardian Coins ×50

Compassion +10

Failure: The child will be consumed.

Consumed?

Before Ethan could ask what that meant—

The purple mist touched the ground.

It began to gather into a single point.

The earth trembled.

The grass withered instantly.

A foul smell spread through the park.

Ethan quickly covered his nose and that of the kids nose to prevent them from perceiving more of the foul smell.

The mist condensed into a black sphere, which slowly cracked open from the inside.

CRACK...

A claw emerged.

Long.

Black.

Covered in crimson veins.

Then a second claw.

A low growl echoed from within the sphere.

Grrrrrr...

The little boy froze in terror.

"M... Mister..." he cried.

The creature forced its way out.

It stood nearly eight feet tall.

Its skin resembled cracked stone, with glowing magma flowing beneath it.

Its mouth stretched from ear to ear, filled with jagged teeth.

Two burning horns curved from its forehead.

DING!

Monster Identified

Name: Abyssal Ghoul

Rank: F

Level: 5

Ethan swallowed hard.

"...Level Five?"

His own status flashed before him.

Host Level: 1

"...You've got to be kidding me."

The Abyssal Ghoul slowly turned its head.

Its glowing yellow eyes locked onto the frightened child.

Then...

It smiled.

Just as it prepared to attack—

A silver arrow sliced through the air.

WHOOSH!

THUD!

The arrow pierced the monster's shoulder, knocking it backward.

The Ghoul roared in pain.

Ethan spun around.

Standing atop a nearby stone fountain...

Was a young woman holding an elegant silver bow.

The wind gently lifted her long black hair.

Her amber eyes never left the monster.

Sophia.

She calmly reached for another arrow.

Without looking at Ethan, she spoke.

"You've got thirty seconds."

Ethan blinked.

"Thirty seconds for what?"

She finally turned her head.

A faint smile appeared on her lips.

"To decide..."

"...whether you're going to keep watching..."

"...or fight like the Guardian Kael believed you could become."

Ethan's heart skipped a beat.

"How do you know Kael?"

Sophia slowly drew her bowstring.

Her next words left Ethan completely stunned.

"Because..."

"Kael was my father."

End of Chapter 9

Sophia has revealed a shocking secret. Can Ethan and Sophia defeat their first real monster before the Dimensional Crack fully opens?