Starbound Saga: The Rise of Eidolon

**Chapter 20: Breaking Limits**

The battlefield was an electrified canvas of chaotic energy as Jae-min's team faced off against Team 4. Spectators leaned forward in their seats, unable to tear their eyes away from the high-octane spectacle unfolding before them.

"Jae-min, we need to pull back!" Se-ri called out, dodging a barrage of fireballs that rained down from the opposing team's mage.

"No," Jae-min responded, his eyes gleaming with resolve. "We push forward. Min-seok, cover the flanks. Tae-jun, break their formation!"

Min-seok raised his gauntlets, arcs of lightning crackling around him. "On it!" With a thunderous shout, he unleashed a wide-range lightning pulse, forcing Team 4's vanguard to scatter.

Meanwhile, Tae-jun charged head-on, his fists glowing with intense energy. He leapt into the air and brought his fist down in a seismic slam, creating a shockwave that disrupted the enemy's positioning.

"Se-ri, now!" Jae-min commanded.

Se-ri spun gracefully, her twin blades dancing in a deadly arc as she closed in on their disoriented opponents. Her swift strikes forced them onto the defensive, giving Ji-a the opening she needed.

"Healing Aura!" Ji-a's voice rang out, and a soft, golden glow enveloped her teammates, mending their minor injuries and restoring their stamina.

Jae-min activated **Zone Expansion**, increasing his control over the battlefield. Shadows extended around him as he utilized **Shadow Step** to appear behind the enemy's mage. Before the mage could react, Jae-min struck with a precise blow, knocking him out of the fight.

"One down," Jae-min muttered, his gaze shifting to the remaining opponents.

Despite losing their mage, Team 4 fought back fiercely. Their leader, a spear-wielding warrior named Dae-hyun, rallied his team with impressive skill.

"Don't underestimate us!" Dae-hyun shouted, thrusting his spear forward. The weapon extended with a burst of energy, aiming straight for Jae-min.

Jae-min narrowly dodged the attack, but the spear's energy blast grazed his side, leaving a shallow wound. He gritted his teeth and countered by summoning a wave of shadows that forced Dae-hyun to retreat.

"This guy's good," Jae-min thought. "But he's not unbeatable."

"Tae-jun, hit him from the left! Min-seok, keep the pressure on their healer!" Jae-min barked orders as he engaged Dae-hyun in a fierce one-on-one duel.

Tae-jun rushed in from the left, his fists blazing with energy once more. Dae-hyun blocked the strike with his spear, but the force of the impact caused him to stumble slightly.

"Now!" Jae-min shouted, using **Shadow Step** to appear behind Dae-hyun again. This time, he didn't hold back. With a swift and powerful strike, he knocked Dae-hyun unconscious, effectively ending the match.

The stadium erupted in cheers as the announcer declared Jae-min's team the victors.

"We did it," Ji-a said, breathing heavily but smiling.

"Good work, everyone," Jae-min said, though his eyes were already scanning the next bracket. He knew the battles would only get harder from here.

---

**A Sudden Revelation**

Later that evening, as the team rested in the academy's lounge, Jae-min received a message from an unknown sender. Curious, he opened it, and a holographic projection appeared before him.

"Congratulations on your victory," the projection said. It depicted a hooded figure, their face obscured. "But your journey is far from over. If you seek the truth behind the dungeons and the system, meet me at the old tower tomorrow night."

Jae-min's eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"

"Someone who knows more than you're ready to hear," the figure replied cryptically before the message ended.

"What was that about?" Se-ri asked, noticing the tense look on Jae-min's face.

"Nothing. Just... something I need to check out," Jae-min replied, though he knew it was anything but nothing.

As he sat back, his mind raced with questions. Who was this mysterious figure? And what did they mean by "the truth behind the dungeons and the system"?

One thing was certain—his journey was about to take a darker and more dangerous turn.

**To be continued...**