MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

Two days flashed by.

The cavernous halls of Floor 0 exuded an air of palpable tension, the collective unease of countless adventurers coursing through the space like an undercurrent of electricity.

As the minutes passed with deliberate precision, the adventurers gathered in groups, their hushed conversations laced with equal parts apprehension and resolve.

The countdown to the mission continued, ticking like the drumbeat of fate, and soon, the long awaited notification materialized.

A soft, azure light emerged from the crystal devices embedded into their gauntlets and amulets, a synchronous flicker that demanded their attention.

The designated meeting location illuminated their displays: the Nexus Assembly Hall, a vast chamber at the heart of Floor 0.

A ripple of movement surged through the crowd, adventurers exchanging nods of acknowledgment before moving with purpose.

The hall was a marvel of architectural ingenuity.

Towering crystalline spires stretched toward the vaulted ceiling, their surfaces etched with intricate runes that pulsed faintly with dormant energy.

The air buzzed with the faint hum of mana saturation, a subtle reminder of the immense power wielded by the Rank 0s.

As Anthony arrived first among his newly formed trio, his expression stoic yet exuding an air of unshakable confidence, his companions, Daelen and Mira, followed shortly after, their faces betraying the faintest hints of awe as they surveyed the assembly.

"Lorian"

Daelen began, his tone half expectant.

"This feels... monumental, doesn't it?"

Anthony offered a faint smirk, his black irises gleaming.

"Perhaps. But let's not get caught up in theatrics"

Around them, adventurers of all ranks began to converge.

The air was thick with whispers, many of them conjectures about the mission's nature, the Forsaken Cult, and the sheer significance of the Rank 0s' direct involvement.

At precisely the appointed hour, an imperious voice sliced through the cacophony.

"Silence"

The speaker was one of the Rank 0s, their aura an overwhelming tide that demanded absolute attention.

Clad in robes interwoven with threads of pure mana, they exuded an authority that could not be questioned.

Their piercing gaze swept across the gathered adventurers, silencing even the most restless among them.

"The Forsaken Cult"

The Rank 0 began, their tone measured and severe.

"Has eluded us for decades. Their stronghold lies not within our world but in a secret realm, obscured from ordinary detection. However, through means both ingenious and perilous, we have obtained the coordinates to this hidden bastion"

A murmur of astonishment rippled through the crowd, though it was quickly quelled by the Rank 0's unwavering gaze.

"This intelligence did not come without sacrifice"

They continued.

"A spy, embedded within the cult at great personal risk, has relayed critical information. It is their vigilance that has afforded us this opportunity"

The whispers grew louder now, the adventurers' collective curiosity piqued.

The idea that a spy had infiltrated the Forsaken Cult, an organization known for its secrecy and paranoia, was nothing short of astounding.

"How did they manage to infiltrate the cult so deeply?"

One Rank 2 adventurer asked, their voice low.

"Who knows"

Another replied.

"What matters is that they drew a teleportation circle from within the cult's sanctum. That alone speaks volumes of their resolve"

"They must be remarkable"

Mira mused quietly to Daelen.

Anthony offered no comment, his thoughts unburdened by speculation.

For him, the means mattered little compared to the outcome.

All that interested him was the promise of a challenge worthy of his attention.

This mission, this rare opportunity, was certain to test his limits.

The Forsaken Cult had long been a phantom, its existence veiled in secrecy.

Now, one of the veils would be torn away.

The Rank 0's voice cut through the murmurs once more, commanding their attention.

"We know where they are, and we know how to reach them. Our spies have provided us with everything we need. The circle we are about to open will be our entry point. Once we step through, there is no turning back. Prepare yourselves"

With those final words, the Rank 0s turned to the center of the hall, where a vast, rune-inscribed platform awaited them.

The teleportation circle, glowing with faintly shimmering blue light, was no ordinary circle.

To open a path to a secret realm was a feat beyond the capabilities of most adventurers, even those of high rank.

But the Rank 0s were no ordinary adventurers.

The assembly fell into a hushed silence as the Rank 0s began their intricate work.

Their hands moved in deliberate, synchronized gestures, each flick of their fingers drawing lines of energy through the air.

The runes upon the platform pulsed and shifted, glowing brighter with each passing moment, as the mana from the environment was channeled into the formation.

The air itself seemed to bend, thickening with the immense pressure of the energy being concentrated into a singular point.

"This is beyond extraordinary"

Murmured one Rank 3 adventurer, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"To weave a teleportation circle into a secret realm…"

Another whispered, shaking their head.

"Even among Rank 0s, this is unparalleled mastery"

As the last rune was inscribed, the circle erupted in a surge of raw energy.

The mana within the hall seemed to draw a collective breath before exhaling in a radiant pulse.

The adventurers stood mesmerized, their gazes fixed on the glowing circle as it took form.

It was a thing of beauty, elegant, complex, and undeniably powerful.

Anthony, his sharp black eyes reflecting the circle's blue light, remained unfazed.

He had seen many things in his time, but this was something far beyond the mundane.

"All adventurers"

One of the Rank 0s announced, their voice cutting through the reverence like a blade.

"Step into the circle. You will be teleported as one. Once within the secret realm, there will be no retreat. Steel yourselves"

The adventurers began to move forward, some hesitant, others eager.

Many had prepared for this moment their entire lives.

For some, this would be their final journey.

But for Anthony, it was nothing more than another opportunity to showcase his prowess.

As he stepped forward, his companions, Daelen and Mira, followed closely behind.

The moment their feet crossed the threshold of the circle, the runes flared to life, their glow intensifying as they activated the teleportation sequence.

The air crackled with raw mana, and the adventurers felt their bodies hum with energy.

Anthony's eyes gleamed with anticipation.

This was what he had been waiting for, the unknown, the dangerous, the thrilling.

With a final incantation from the Rank 0s, the circle exploded in a burst of light, and the world seemed to collapse in on itself.

The adventurers were swallowed by the blinding brilliance, their forms bending and twisting as space itself was torn apart.

For a moment, there was nothing but the sensation of weightlessness, a boundless void that stretched infinitely in every direction.

Then, as swiftly as it had begun, the light faded.

The adventurers found themselves standing on solid ground once more.

The air was thick, heavy with an acrid scent that made Anthony's senses prick with awareness.

The landscape before them was desolate, a twisted and alien world that seemed to stretch on without end.

Jagged rocks pierced the crimson sky, casting long shadows over a barren, despoiled land.

The ground beneath their feet was cracked and scorched, and the faintest traces of malevolent energy radiated from the very air they breathed.

The Forsaken Cult's secret realm.

The reality of their mission sank in.

The air was suffocating, the chaos saturated with a dangerous, corrosive presence that clung to everything like an invisible poison.

Yet, despite the oppressive atmosphere, Anthony felt no fear, only the burning anticipation of what was to come.

"This is where it begins"

He muttered to himself, his gaze fixed ahead.

The Forsaken Cult was out there, hidden somewhere within this twisted domain.

And Anthony, confident as ever, would find them and crush them beneath the weight of his katana.

Behind him, Daelen and Mira stood silent, their expressions serious.

They too understood the gravity of their mission, but there was no fear in their eyes.

Only the determination of those who had come to face the unknown head on.

Together, they would carve their path through the darkness of this forsaken realm.