Kael’s eyes scanned the broken arena.

“How many weapons do we have?” he asked.

“Not enough,” Lena said. “Most of us are still using fists.”

He counted heads. Less than a dozen players. One had no legs—just a ghostly tail. She floated like a specter.

Kael stepped onto a stone pedestal.

All eyes turned to him.

“Alright,” he said. “If we’re going to live through this, listen up.”

He activated Backend Sight.

Threads of light bloomed around the courtyard.

Weak spots. Breakpoints. Unstable nodes.

The system was not stable. He could feel it.

He grinned.

And for the first time, it wasn’t out of fear.

“Let’s break the system.”

WAVE 1 – INITIATING.
Enemies Incoming: 12 [SCRAPBORN GHOULS]

Kael counted the pings.

Figures emerged from the red mist—emaciated, twitching, dripping molten ash. Their limbs glitched with every step.

No health bars. No names. Just red outlines and a low, guttering growl.

“Positions!” Kael shouted. “Ranged back! Float girl, hover high—spot targets! Big weapons on the flanks!”

“Name’s Elle!” the floating girl called out.

“Noted! Now move!”

Backend Sight surged to life.

And Kael ran straight into the flames.