Extra Chapter ■2 - Team Abyss is ■■■ ■■■
It was a truly beautiful afternoon. The orange hue of the sunset stretched across a green plain, creating a scene that could have easily come from the most stunning painting in any art gallery. And there, amid the clear sky bathed in the first glimmers of night, a small human figure was in free fall, hundreds of meters above the ground, followed closely by a barrage of multicolored projectiles that left a trail resembling a rainbow.
A closer inspection of this strange event revealed that the one plummeting at high speed was a woman in a black suit that resembled plastic, screaming at the top of her lungs with tears in her eyes. However, after a few seconds, she chose to twist in the air and face the barrage of attacks that were closing in more and more dangerously.
[Skill: The Big Door of Emeraldhollow Lv3] [High-grade skill that allows the user to summon at will a projection of the great doors of the ancient Emeraldhollow mines in their surroundings. This projection possesses immense defensive capabilities and can nullify any attack with the [Fire] attribute. Once summoned, the doors remain fixed until the user cancels the skill.]
In front of the woman, enormous translucent green doors materialized and expanded to cover an area far larger than her own body, directly absorbing the impact of the strange projectiles and triggering a multicolored explosion that darkened the surroundings with a thick cloud of smoke. Even so, the improvised defense didn’t budge an inch, shielding the woman from any potential damage. Now, only the problem of the free fall remained, and judging by the height, it would end in about ten seconds.
“Waaaaaaaaaahh!!”
She shouted again, watching as the ground drew closer and closer, not noticing that relatively near her position, a propeller biplane—remarkably similar to the old planes used in World War I—was speeding toward her.
"There she is! In the distance, I can see her—hurry!"
Said a middle-aged man wearing a helmet and goggles, who appeared to be piloting the airplane. In the second seat behind him, a fairly young girl with gray hair, holding a massive sniper rifle in her arms, squinted in the direction he had pointed out.
"I know, I know! Don’t make me nervous!"
She replied, gripping her rifle with both hands and aiming directly at the woman who was just seconds away from crashing into the ground.
[Skill: Lock On Lv2] [The user can mark a target within their line of sight, ensuring that the next skill used by them or an ally will not miss.]
“Now!”
The girl shouted to the old man, who seemed to start focusing intently on something.
[Skill: All aboard! Lv1] [While the user is inside a vehicle, this skill allows them to transport someone considered an 'ally' to an empty seat within it. The greater the distance between the user and the target, the more likely the skill is to fail.]
“Waaaaaahh!”
Suddenly, the falling woman found herself in the third seat of the airplane, still with her arms raised and screaming as loudly as her throat would allow. It seemed to amuse the old man, who simply began to laugh heartily, but for the young girl with gray hair, it was anything but funny.
"Leila, what the hell is going through your mind?! How on earth did you think it was a good idea to jump out of the plane like that?!"
“Waaaaaaaaaah… So-sorry”
The mysterious woman falling from the sky was Leila, a member of Team Abyss within the scenarios, and those two accompanying her were just a couple of her many teammates. At first, it seemed like the young woman was scolding her for what she had done, however, their conversation had to be cut short due to a sudden squawk that resonated throughout the area and even over the plane’s engine, causing both women to cover their ears.
"There’s our target! As lively as ever."
The old man said as he abruptly spun the plane, an action that seemed nonsensical until they narrowly avoided the multicolored projectiles once again, which fortunately didn’t hit them. After stabilizing the aircraft and looking up, they were able to see their target: a gigantic bird resembling a parrot with white feathers and multicolored tips, larger than the vehicle they were in, and with a single rider on its head who appeared to control the beast as if it were his loyal steed.
"I’ll say it again, how are we supposed to do anything? It has that annoying defensive skill that protects it from ranged attacks... And no, Leila! You’re not jumping again to try and intercept it!"
The girl said seriously, with a frown, as the plane spun again to avoid another wave of projectiles, which for the second time grazed the vehicle, missing by only a few centimeters.
"B-but it’s the best way to get rid of its shield, if I manage to hit it with [Soul Predator] then..."
"I said no! It’s too dangerous!"
Leila tried to justify what she had apparently done a few minutes ago, while the other girl only grew more stressed, feeling as though her head was about to explode from the tension it was causing her.
⌠Name: Alina Zaytseva⌡ ⌠Age: 23⌡ ⌠Species: Human - Rank E⌡ ⌠P.O.I.N.T.S: 13⌡ ⌠Potential: D⌡
Meanwhile, the old man began laughing heartily, as if he were watching the funniest show ever, earning a reproachful look from Alina and a plea for moral support from Leila.
"Let her do what she needs to do. After all, if our leader says she can do it, then she can. Besides, this time I know what she’s planning—taking her above the target so she can drop down without issues will be a piece of cake!"
⌠Name: Otto von Stein⌡ ⌠Age: 68⌡ ⌠Species: Human - Rank F⌡ ⌠P.O.I.N.T.S: 9⌡ ⌠Potential: C⌡
Leila seemed satisfied with the support from her teammate, but Alina was not willing to relent, insisting that it was foolish and that the only reason the woman hadn’t crashed into the ground was pure luck.
"Besides, how do you plan to get close? Those feathers it shoots are too fast, and this plane is too slow. If we get too close, it will be impossible for you to dodge them!"
Just as she said that, a new barrage of projectiles rapidly approached their position. Otto managed to evade them by making the plane do a 180-degree turn, which terrified the two women accompanying him, as they hadn’t expected to be upside down for a few seconds.
"Hahaha, there’s no need to worry. I didn’t just pass Miss Leila’s and Miss Beatrice’s training for nothing. I’m at the peak of my youth and I awakened my 'Personal Skill' before coming here."
“Youth?! You are freaking 68, old man!”
As Otto laughed, Alina screamed and clung tightly to her seat, despite having her seatbelt fastened securely, clearly nervous from the plane’s sudden movements.
"Don’t you know? The 60s are the new 20s, hahaha!"
Immediately after these words, a strange red energy enveloped the plane, propelling it forward with a dizzying burst of speed, even causing a shockwave in the surroundings due to the sudden acceleration.
[Personal Skill: Red Baron Soul Lv1] [This skill grants the user unparalleled mastery over any flying vehicle, allowing them to perform complex maneuvers with extraordinary precision. The skill imbues the aircraft with a vibrant red aura, significantly enhancing its mechanical capabilities beyond normal limits and providing increased resistance to damage. Additionally, depending on the type of aircraft and its rank, the skill bestows unique abilities tailored to the vehicle, maximizing its effectiveness in combat or other missions.]
The sudden speed took everyone by surprise, including the rider on the giant bird, who couldn’t react in time as the plane sped past him and began to circle, gaining an advantageous position on his back. It then lock on the target and immediately started firing a barrage of bullets from some strange machine guns that had appeared on the underside of the vehicle.
“Fools!”
Shouted the mysterious rider, who yanked on the reins of his gigantic bird to stop it and turn in the direction of the incoming attacks. He wouldn’t be able to dodge the barrage of bullets, but in truth, he didn’t even try, knowing that it wasn’t necessary.
[Skill: Hunter’s Worst Nightmare Lv2] [While flying in the air, the user and their allies are passively surrounded by a protective barrier that nullifies ranged skills and physical projectiles. It doesn’t work on short distance or melee attacks.]
Every bullet struck a circular, green barrier that immediately appeared around the rider and his mount, stopping them in their tracks and causing no damage as they fell harmlessly into the abyss. The man knew that because of his fighting style, any opponent he faced would try to bring him down with ranged attacks. So, he went to great lengths to acquire the skill needed to counter that, making him a force to be reckoned with in every encounter—whether against scenario characters or other users. And this time would be no different; eventually, he would catch up to them, just as he always did.
But there was something he hadn’t accounted for. After blocking the barrage of bullets and preparing to face off against the now-red plane, a scream that initially sounded distant grew closer and closer. This caused him to look around in confusion, unable to comprehend what was happening. How could he possibly hear someone in the middle of the sky, kilometers above the ground? The answer came when the voice grew so loud that he finally looked up, horrified to realize it was coming from above.
“Waaaaaahh!”
Leila's body plummeted at full speed toward the man, who was so stunned he couldn't even react. Both of them collided violently and rolled briefly across the back of the giant bird, which halted momentarily, clearly confused about what was happening to its rider. It might have seemed like a meaningless event, as neither of them suffered significant harm beyond the pain and impact of the fall. However, the truly important moment came when a system window appeared before Leila, confirming that her skill had activated just as she'd anticipated.
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⌠Skill [Soul Predator Lv5] has inflicted status [Skill Sealing] on the objective. All skills below Lv5 have been sealed for 1 hour.⌡
It had worked! Leila got up as quickly as she could, struggling to keep her balance on the uneven surface of the giant bird's feathers. Everything around her shifted unsteadily, making it a challenge just to stay on her feet. Meanwhile, the man she had struck also rose quickly, clutching his chest where he felt a searing pain, unaware of the cause. His gaze, filled with confusion and anger, locked onto Leila, but what he didn’t know was that the real trouble was just beginning.
“What have you done, you bitch?!”
However, before either of them could speak or act, a violent jolt from the giant bird nearly sent them both tumbling again. The man's expression shifted to one of complete alarm as he heard the creature’s shrill cries. The massive bird had finally been hit by the barrage of projectiles fired from the red airplane, which now soared through the sky at such a breakneck speed that it was hard to track. What had happened? He couldn’t comprehend it—what had happened to his passive skill's shield? He rushed to grab the reins, desperately trying to command his mount to flee, but the relentless rain of bullets didn’t cease. Although the shots didn’t seem able to pierce the creature’s thick hide, they were powerful enough to halt its movements, forcing it to remain afloat and preventing any further escape attempts.
But that wasn’t all. Even amidst his confusion and desperation, the man noticed an additional window appear before his eyes—the system was warning him that he had just become the target of a skill.
⌠You have been marked by skill [Lock On Lv2], you will be unable to evade the next attack!⌡
In the distance, the man strained with great effort to notice, through much difficulty, that the red plane had tilted in his direction. He could just make out a girl with long hair aiming a large rifle at him. His mind quickly grasped the situation, and without wasting another second, he activated two skills simultaneously: [Beast Manipulation Lv5] and [Monster Berserker Lv3]. Instantly, both his eyes and those of his monster bird glowed bright yellow, and with a powerful flap of its wings, the creature surged upward, overcoming the relentless barrage of bullets.
The man was a veteran of that realm—this was neither the first nor the last life-or-death conflict he had faced. He had escaped death's grasp countless times and defeated enemies that most people could only encounter in their worst nightmares. His reactions were flawless and precise. His bird began to mutate rapidly, transforming into a monstrous form, while its ascent was nearly instantaneous. The speed at which it elevated was so swift that the sniper’s shot missed, whizzing by harmlessly.
Once the attack was evaded, the winged monster shot towards the plane like a rocket. The plane, also moving at breakneck speed, engaged in an incredible dogfight with the creature. For a moment, neither side could land a hit, as both struggled to connect their projectiles or attacks amidst the chaos of their high-speed confrontation.
"Get as close as you can, I have an idea!"
Alina shouted with all her might at her pilot companion, making an extraordinary effort to stay composed despite the suffocating wind pressure from the speed, even her hair and lips were whipped back violently as she spoke.
Without wasting any time, the old man understood and began to close the gap, moving closer and closer to the creature as they flew side by side. Meanwhile, Alina unfastened her seatbelt and shot out of her seat at full speed. Instead of getting lost in the sky or falling, she stuck to the top of the vehicle's wings.
[Skill: Perfect Balance Lv1] [No surface or movement can make the user of this ability stumble or slip. When activated, the user will remain fixed in position and will be unable to move their feet until the skill is deactivated.]
With the preparations complete, Alina readied her rifle and aimed straight ahead, not without effort, as she still felt the air pressure as if a car were trying to run her over. However, just as she had the target in her sights, the man was already mere centimeters away, staring at her intently in that brief moment they crossed paths.
As if everything were happening in slow motion, the man swiftly moved his arm and sliced Alina's rifle in two, as though wielding a sword. The moment passed in an instant, but her weapon shattered and flew from her hands, disappearing into a free fall. Now defenseless, Alina found herself vulnerable to the enemy's next attack—this time, the massive, sharp beak of the giant bird, closing in on her during another swift pass.
Everything seemed lost. Alina's eyes strained to follow the bird's movement, but her body wouldn't react in time—it was something impossible to avoid... or was it? A sharp screech from the creature signaled that something had gone wrong, causing its attack to veer off course. The rider was even more bewildered, his confusion deepening as he watched his mount start reverting to its original form on its own.
“What?!”
⌠Skill [Soul Predator Lv5] has inflicted status [Skill Sealing] on the objective. All skills below Lv5 have been sealed for 1 hour.⌡
As he turned his gaze, he came face to face with someone he'd completely overlooked due to the chaos of the moment... Leila had managed to hold on tightly to the bird's wings, using all her physical strength and sheer willpower to avoid being thrown off, even though the brutal wind had tossed her about like a flag in a storm. At first, all she could focus on was not letting go, but after some time of struggling to stay on, an idea came to her. She activated her sealing skill directly on the bird—a move that worked perfectly, blocking the ability that had transformed and empowered the creature.
“I’ll kill you!!”
“What?”
The man screamed at the top of his lungs, furious, but the only response he got was Leila making a confused expression, cupping her ear as if trying to hear him. In reality, the sound of the wind was so loud that she couldn’t make out a single word he was yelling.
The man, who could hear her perfectly, erupted into a rage and hurled himself violently at Leila. However, instead of what he expected, she simply threw herself down, pressing her chest against the feathers as if she'd stumbled. In that instant, his eyes caught sight of a black dot rapidly growing in size. And then he understood... "You will be unable to evade the next attack!" had been the system's warning. There was no way to avoid it, only defend, and defense was something he couldn't manage in time.
“Fuck…”
The bullet Alina had fired had been trailing him the entire time, but the speed of his mount had made it impossible for it to catch up—until now. As the projectile finally neared its target, the man raised both hands in front of him, realizing it was aimed directly at his head. However, just as the bullet seemed like a normal one, it suddenly began to morph. It sprouted two eyes, bat-like wings, and a small mouth with sharp fangs, its once-ordinary form twisting into something far more sinister.
Just like what had happened to the sniper, the man’s enhanced vision allowed him to see everything unfolding with crystal clarity—thanks to his beast-like sight. However, his body couldn't keep up. He could only watch helplessly as the strange creature twisted violently in mid-flight, dodging his hands that had desperately tried to block it. The bullet-turned-monster maneuvered with eerie precision, leaving him no chance to defend against the impending strike.
That was it—the man was thrown backward after the direct hit to his forehead, ending his life instantly. As a result, the enormous bird began to disintegrate, a consequence of being a possession of a deceased user. Leila, on the other hand, hadn’t thought things through, and as soon as the creature disappeared completely, she found herself plummeting through the sky once again. However, this time, before she could even scream properly, her fall was abruptly halted as a pair of arms caught her in a princess carry, holding her securely.
“I told you it was dangerous!”
Alina shouted, responsible for having rescued the woman and still with her feet firmly stuck to the top of the plane; however, Leila's response was not one of sadness or embarrassment but rather a huge smile with a few tears in her eyes.
"It wasn't, I trust you."
After saying this, she hugged the young woman who was still holding her, which was normal for her due to her strong maternal instinct to always pamper her son whenever he did something well. This, however, was completely surprising for Alina, who blushed like a tomato, and if this were a cartoon, steam would surely be coming out of her head.
"I-I didn’t do it b-because I care a-about you or a-anything!… You are just our leader and… and… Besides, I’d like to meet your son first."
“Hmm? What did you say?”
The scene was comical in its own way; Alina had started by shouting and then just murmured a few things that Leila couldn’t quite catch, completely oblivious to the embarrassment or feelings her companion was expressing. Nonetheless, it didn’t last long, as the plane they were on had descended quite a bit and was about to touch the ground.
“Hold on, ladies; we’re about to land!”
Once the vehicle had come to a stop, the three of them disembarked and touched down again, with Otto being the only one who seemed somewhat disappointed. Without wasting any more time, Leila materialized a kind of walkie-talkie in her hands and turned it on.
"Hey, Beatrice, can you hear me? We took down the flying target. I repeat, we took down the flying target. How’s everything on your end?"
After a brief moment of silence, a rough, feminine voice came through the line.
"Leila! Yes, great, we also finished off their team leader a little while ago without any casualties and freed the kingdom's captives. Everything should be wrapping up any moment now."
Leila let out a small sigh of relief upon hearing the good news, but still asked one final question.
"And the rest of their team?"
"Oh, don't worry, they're here without causing any problems. All of them were checked with 'The Eye of Truth' and are completely clean. Many of them are just beginners, so we're taking care of explaining how things work. I think we'll be able to gather enough points to finally start your plan."
That was enough. Leila said her goodbyes and made the walkie-talkie disappear again, signaling to her two companions that everything seemed to have gone well and that they should meet the rest of the team at the entrance of the HoppyBun Kingdom. This news excited Otto, as he would get to pilot his plane for a little while longer.
"I still don’t quite understand how a scenario inhabited by talking rabbits can be rated as B, but well, maybe it has some hidden aspects. I’m just glad they won’t suffer any longer."
Alina said as she boarded the airplane and settled in for takeoff.
"Eh... What are you doing?"
Leila asked, confused, as Otto laughed. Without realizing it, the gray-haired girl had climbed back onto the wings of the aircraft and stretched out her arms like wanting to carry something, as if she expected the return trip to be done in the same way they had landed.
Embarrassed, Alina blushed again and dropped from her position to sit in one of the seats without saying a word, which her companions simply attributed to her peculiar behavior. Once everyone was aboard, the elderly man started the engines and headed in the indicated direction.
Several minutes later, the trio arrived at the entrance to what appeared to be numerous large burrows scattered throughout the area, as well as a large number of rabbits wearing clothing and even some in armor—residents of this place now freely roaming around. Leila had reunited with Beatrice after confirming that everyone else was fine. Even the newbies of the opposing team were more at ease, engaging in conversations with other members of Team Abyss or with the rabbits.
“Then we’ll have enough to start the plan once we return from this scenario?”
Leila asked thoughtfully, trying to do some mental calculations but failing miserably, as mathematics—even basic arithmetic—was difficult for her due to her lack of education.
"Incredibly, it seems we do. Collectively, we have enough points to buy a total of ten 'A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing' and ten 'Invading Refugees' plot devices, enough to send ten members of our team as infiltrators scattered throughout the system and observe how everything progresses from there."
The plan was quite daring, aimed precisely at what it sounded like: testing one of the theories proposed by a team member who had been a highly skilled programmer in the real world. If the plan worked, there would be a real and tangible chance to earn the hundred points needed to escape faster than simply staying and repeating the cycle of violence, after all after the team's restructure, there had been missions where they hadn't earned a single point.
“Perfect… Just wait, Damião, I’ll be home pretty soon”
Leila said, more to herself than anyone else, to which Beatrice simply smiled warmly and gave her a couple of pats on the shoulder.
But the moment's tranquility wouldn't last long, as a massive system screen appeared before everyone, and a robotic, male voice read the content aloud—a single phrase that froze everyone's hearts.
⌠Notice: L-class Plot device: “Divine Intervention” has been used⌡
A great beam of light descended from the sky directly onto the ground among everyone present, revealing a colossal figure—larger than any person—clad in heavy white armor adorned with golden embellishments and spikes, wielding a claymore sword even larger than its own body.
⌠Team Eden’s “Lancelot” has invaded the scenario⌡