Chapter 15 – The Golden Supply Drop
A pillar of golden light pierced the heavens.
It rose from the center of Elysia like a beacon, visible from every corner of the city.
The moment it appeared, the System announced its arrival.
Regional Event
Golden Supply Drop
Time Remaining: 18 Minutes
Reward Quality: Rare to Legendary
Participants: Unlimited
Warning: PvP Enabled
Azrael frowned.
"PvP?"
Elena nodded.
"It means the System won’t punish Awakened for fighting each other inside the event zone."
Seraphina sighed.
"So it encourages competition."
"Unfortunately."
Azrael looked toward the distant golden pillar.
"Let’s hope we don’t have to fight anyone."
Elena laughed.
"You’re too optimistic."
The three of them accelerated toward Central Plaza.
Ten Minutes Later
The streets became increasingly crowded.
Not with ordinary people...
But with Awakened.
Groups of two.
Groups of five.
Some traveled alone.
Most carried weapons stained with monster blood.
Everyone was heading toward the same destination.
The atmosphere grew tense.
Nobody spoke.
Nobody trusted anyone.
A muscular man carrying a giant hammer glanced at Azrael’s group before looking away.
A woman dressed in leather armor kept one hand on her dagger as they passed.
Everyone was assessing everyone else.
Strength determined survival.
Nothing more.
Seraphina quietly moved closer to Azrael.
He noticed.
"Nervous?"
She nodded slightly.
"I don’t like how they’re looking at us."
Azrael smiled reassuringly.
"As long as we’re together..."
"We’ll be fine."
She smiled back.
"I know."
Elena noticed the exchange and couldn’t help smiling to herself.
The twins always seemed to calm each other down.
Five minutes later...
Central Plaza came into view.
Once a beautiful public square surrounded by cafés and fountains...
It had become a battlefield.
More than sixty Awakened stood around the golden pillar.
Some had already formed temporary alliances.
Others waited alone.
No one dared approach the supply drop.
A transparent barrier surrounded it.
A timer floated above.
Golden Supply Drop Unlocks In
02:14
"So we wait."
Azrael looked around carefully.
Something felt wrong.
Too many people.
Too much silence.
Then...
The System chimed.
Passive Skill Activated
Instinct
Danger Detected.
Azrael’s eyes narrowed.
"We’re being watched."
Elena slowly placed a hand on her katana.
"From where?"
"I don’t know."
"But someone’s here."
Before anyone could investigate...
A familiar voice echoed across the plaza.
"Well, well..."
Marcus stepped forward.
The same man Azrael had spared earlier.
Only this time...
He wasn’t alone.
Nearly twenty Awakened stood behind him.
Azrael blinked.
"That’s... a lot of friends."
Marcus scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"They’re not here to fight."
Azrael raised an eyebrow.
Marcus took a deep breath before bowing.
"I wanted to apologize properly."
"My group wasn’t the only one stealing from survivors."
"There are gangs all over the city."
"I told everyone what happened."
"They wanted to meet the people who defeated a Regional Boss."
Murmurs spread through the plaza.
"So it’s really them?"
"The Boss Slayers?"
"I heard there were only three of them."
"I thought it was just a rumor."
Many of the Awakened looked at the twins with newfound respect.
Others looked at them with envy.
The atmosphere shifted.
Then...
A slow clap echoed through the square.
Everyone turned.
A man dressed in an expensive black suit walked confidently into the plaza.
Unlike everyone else...
His clothes were spotless.
Behind him stood nearly forty armed Awakened.
Each wore matching black armbands.
The System immediately reacted.
Threat Detected
Name: Victor Kane
Level: 7
Danger Assessment:
High
Victor smiled politely.
"So..."
"The famous heroes finally arrived."
His gaze lingered on Azrael.
Then Seraphina.
Finally Elena.
"I’ve been looking for the three of you."
Elena frowned.
"You know us?"
Victor spread his arms.
"Of course."
"You defeated the Crimson Devourer."
"Word travels quickly."
Azrael stepped forward.
"What do you want?"
Victor smiled wider.
"A partnership."
"I’ve established the strongest survivor organization in Elysia."
"My people secure supplies."
"We eliminate threats."
"We maintain order."
Marcus snorted.
"You extort people."
Victor ignored him.
He looked only at Azrael.
"Join me."
"Become my vice commander."
"I’ll guarantee everyone’s safety."
Azrael asked calmly,
"And if I refuse?"
Victor’s smile disappeared.
"Then..."
"...you’re standing in my way."
Silence.
The tension became suffocating.
Seraphina whispered,
"I don’t trust him."
"I don’t either."
The timer continued counting down.
00:47
Victor sighed dramatically.
"Such a shame."
"I really hoped we could work together."
He snapped his fingers.
The forty Awakened behind him immediately drew their weapons.
Gasps spread through the crowd.
Marcus stepped backward.
"He’s really going to do it..."
Victor pointed toward the twins.
"Once the barrier falls..."
"Kill the boy."
"Capture the girl."
Azrael’s expression instantly turned cold.
"...What?"
Victor smiled.
"A healer like her is priceless."
"And as for you..."
He shrugged.
"You’re too dangerous to leave alive."
Dark energy slowly gathered around Azrael’s sword.
His black halo faintly flickered into existence.
Elena drew her katana.
Blue lightning crackled around the blade.
Seraphina’s golden halo appeared as flowers bloomed beneath her feet.
The surrounding Awakened quickly retreated.
No one wanted to be caught between two powerful factions.
The timer reached...
00:10
The barrier surrounding the supply drop began fading.
Victor raised his hand.
"Attack."
His followers charged.
At that exact moment—
The barrier disappeared completely.
Instead of opening peacefully...
The golden supply crate exploded open.
A blinding flash engulfed the entire plaza.
The System’s voice thundered across the battlefield.
Hidden Event Triggered
The Golden Supply Drop has recognized excessive hostility.
Emergency Guardian Released.
The ground shook violently.
Golden cracks spread across the plaza.
A gigantic armored hand burst from beneath the earth.
Then another.
Finally...
An enormous knight climbed out from beneath the city.
Standing nearly twenty meters tall, it wore radiant golden armor etched with celestial runes. A flowing white cape hung from its shoulders, and in its hands rested a colossal sword of pure light.
Its helmet slowly turned toward the gathered Awakened.
Then the System identified it.
Guardian of Judgment
Rank: Legendary Guardian
Level: 25
Mission:
Protect the Golden Supply Drop.
Eliminate all hostile participants.
Victor’s confident smile froze.
"...Level twenty-five?"
The Guardian raised its sword.
Golden light illuminated the entire plaza.
The System issued one final warning.
Emergency Survival Event
Objective:
Survive the Guardian of Judgment.
Time Limit:
30 Minutes.
Failure Condition:
Death.
Azrael exhaled slowly.
He looked at Victor.
Then at the towering Guardian.
A faint grin appeared on his face.
"It looks like..."
"...we’ve all got a much bigger problem now."
The Guardian’s sword descended.
And the plaza erupted into chaos.