I was still too weak

The Stellaris City Lord's manor was on high alert, blaring red alarms as the blast reverberated through the walls. My brother, Aiden, tossed me a set of armor, his voice stern but filled with urgency. "Avant, put this on. Now."

I didn't hesitate. My fingers fumbled with the unfamiliar clasps as adrenaline coursed through me. The armor, black and sleek with engraved symbols of the Sagittarius constellation, was lighter than I expected but carried a dense aura of protection. Aiden had modified it for speed, agility, and defense. Before I could fully adjust, an explosion erupted from the east side of the room, the shockwave slamming me into the far wall.

Instinctively, I activated my Ophiuchus Guardian domain. A shimmering barrier of serpentine energy encased me just in time to absorb the brunt of the impact. The force knocked me back, my body rolling to a stop behind a fallen beam, but I was unharmed. Through the dust and debris, I could hear Aiden shouting, his voice cutting through the chaos.

"Avant! Are you okay?"

"I'm fine!" I shouted back, coughing as the dust filled my lungs. I climbed to my feet, trying to steady myself. The east side of the manor had been reduced to rubble, with a massive gaping hole now visible through the collapsed structure. But the worst part wasn't the explosion—it was the portal that hovered within the wreckage.

I expected the vacuum-like pull that took the missing students, the same one that had almost claimed us earlier. But nothing happened. Instead, something far worse began to emerge.

The first creature crawled out of the swirling darkness—a Dark Stalker. A Rank 2 Abyss Warrior, its body twisted and grotesque, its form resembling a hunched humanoid with sharp, elongated limbs. Its black skin seemed to absorb the light, and its glowing red eyes were filled with malice. I froze for a moment, memories of our academy lessons flashing through my mind. We'd been warned about creatures like this, but nothing could have prepared me for the real thing.

Then more appeared. Two, three… no, dozens of them. Their numbers kept increasing, pouring out of the portal like ants from a disturbed nest. My shock quickly gave way to resolve. I wasn't a helpless recruit anymore. I had power—power I needed to use.

Aiden was already in motion. His Sagittarius powers flared to life, and glowing arrows of pure astral energy formed in his hands. He moved with precision and speed, his arrows shooting across the battlefield, striking down several Darkstalkers before they could fully enter our world. But they just kept coming.

"Get back, Avant!" Aiden called over his shoulder, unleashing another volley. His arrows exploded upon impact, sending shockwaves through the ranks of the creatures. But it wasn't enough to stop them.

I couldn't just stand by. Not when these monsters were flooding the place. Not when my brother was out there risking his life. I had to do something.

I focused on my Zodiac energy, feeling the familiar surge of power coursing through me. I thrust my hand forward and called upon my Ophiuchus Binding Chains. Ethereal chains of dark energy shot out from my body, lashing toward the creatures. The chains wrapped around the legs of a nearby Dark Stalker, constricting its movements. With a flick of my wrist, I sent it crashing to the ground.

But there were too many of them. Despite my efforts, the horde continued to press forward, their sheer numbers overwhelming. Just as I thought we might have a handle on the situation, the portal shimmered again, and something far more sinister stepped through.

A Berserker. Abyssal, monstrous, towering over the Darkstalkers, its hulking form radiated an oppressive, suffocating aura. Its eyes glowed with a sinister purple light as it roared, the sound shaking the ground beneath us. It wasn't just an ordinary Abyss creature—this was a mid-tier Abyss Warrior, a Berserker, one that we were barely prepared for.

The Berserker charged straight at me, its massive clawed hand swinging down with brutal force. I barely had time to react. I raised my arms, summoning my defensive skills, but the sheer strength of the creature was beyond anything I had ever faced. The impact sent me crashing through a wall, my body slamming into the ground with bone-rattling force.

I struggled to my feet, every muscle in my body screaming in pain. My energy was depleting fast. I could feel it draining with every second that passed. I needed to replenish my strength. Fast.

I glanced at the Berserker. Could I siphon its energy? I hesitated. No one knew if it was possible to absorb Abyssal energy without consequences, but I didn't have a choice. I had to try.

With a deep breath, I threw my chains toward the Berserker, wrapping them tightly around its torso. I focused on my power, drawing from the core of my Ophiuchus abilities. I felt the dark, chaotic energy of the Berserker surge through the chains and into me. For a brief moment, I felt a rush of power. My energy levels began to rise, and I could feel my strength returning.

But something was wrong.

The energy wasn't just refueling me—it was corrupting me. A vile, consuming darkness began to spread through my veins. My vision blurred, my mind fogged. I could feel the Berserker's rage, its insatiable hunger for destruction. I tried to stop the flow, but it was too late. The damage was done.

The Berserker roared again, its strength surging. It broke free from my chains with a terrifying display of power, and before I could react, it was on me. Its claws raked across my chest, shattering my defenses. Pain exploded through my body as I felt the armor crack and splinter under the relentless assault. I tried to fight back, but my body wouldn't respond. I was weakening by the second.

My vision began to darken. I could hear Aiden shouting, but his voice seemed distant, as though it were coming from far away. I saw him unleash his Astral Strike, the arrow flying straight and true, piercing the Berserker's chest and reducing it to ash. But there were more behind it. So many more.

And then I fell.

The world went black for a moment, only to be jolted back into view as I felt strong arms around me. Aiden. His face was pale, his eyes wide with fear as he held me. Blood dripped from his brow, but he didn't seem to care.

"Avant!" His voice was desperate, shaking me, trying to keep me conscious. "Stay with me!"

But I could barely move. My body felt heavy, numb. The darkness was closing in, and no matter how much I fought, I couldn't stop it.

Through the haze, I saw Alden arrive. His Gravity Arrow sliced through the hordes of Abyss creatures, curving through the air like a guided missile, taking down multiple Darkstalkers in one shot. He was a blur of motion, every shot precise, every movement lethal. When his eyes landed on me, horror spread across his face.

"Avant!" Alden sprinted toward me, his voice breaking through the din of battle. I could see him shouting something at Aiden, but the words were lost in the chaos. My vision flickered in and out as they fought to reach me, their weapons glowing with power, cutting through the endless swarm.

I wanted to help. I wanted to stand up and fight beside them. But my body refused to respond. The pain was too much. I could feel my life slipping away, bit by bit, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

My last moments were a blur. I saw Aiden's furious expression, saw him unleash another Astral Strike, obliterating a Berserker that had come too close. I saw Alden tearing through the creatures, his face a mask of rage and fear.

And then… nothing.

I heard them calling my name. I wanted to answer, to tell them I was still here, but the words wouldn't come. My lips wouldn't move. The darkness swallowed me whole.

I faded into oblivion, the sounds of battle growing distant, my brothers' voices becoming faint echoes in the void. My last thought was that I was still too weak. I had failed them. Failed everyone.

And then there was silence.