Chapter 1: The Burden of the Weakest The afternoon sun hung low over the city, casting long, jagged shadows across the deserted industrial district. Near the edge of the main road, tucked away behind a crumbling warehouse, the air hummed with a violent, rhythmic vibration. A swirling vortex of neon blue energy stood tall—a Rank 4 Portal. Eight knights stood near the entrance, their armor clinking as they made final preparations. Among them, near a small makeshift canteen, stood a girl with sharp, kind eyes and a boy leaning casually against a metal pillar. Xyron approached them, his worn-out bag slung over one shoulder. His footsteps were heavy, and his face was pale, almost ghostly. "Hi, Xyron!" Jin called out, waving his hand. Yuhima turned as well, her expression shifting from a smile to one of concern as she looked at Xyron’s disheveled appearance. "Hi," Xyron replied simply, his voice low. "Xyron... are you okay? You look like you just walked out of a hospital," Yuhima asked, stepping closer. "Are those injuries from the last raid still bothering you?" "No," Xyron shook his head, forced a small smile. "I just came from home." Jin chuckled, crossing his arms. "Let me guess—your big sister Maki gave you another lecture about going on raids, didn't she? I bet she scolded you until you looked like a ghost." Xyron sighed. "Yeah... she’s not exactly a fan of me risking my life. But let's just drop it." "If you kids are done with your little chat, get moving!" a booming voice interrupted. It was the Team Captain, a tall man with a scarred face and a heavy broadsword strapped to his back. "Check your gear. This is a Rank 4 Portal. One mistake and we’re all monster food." The Captain’s eyes landed on Xyron, his lip curling in a sneer. "And you, Xyron... pick up a sword. Any sword. Since you’re a Rank 6, your only job is to stay behind us. Don't go getting yourself killed by a stray monster; I don't need the paperwork." "Captain, you’re being too harsh on him," Jin muttered, frowning. "Shut up, Jin," another knight snapped from the side. "The kid is a Rank 6. He’s basically a bag of luggage we have to carry. He’s useless to this team." Xyron didn't argue. He had heard it all before. He simply reached into the weapon rack, pulled out a standard-issue iron sword, and tightened his grip. "That's enough," the Captain barked. "Enter the portal!" One by one, the team stepped into the blue vortex. The world blurred for a second, the sound of the city replaced by a damp, echoing silence. When Xyron opened his eyes, they were standing inside a massive, dark cavern. The walls glowed with a faint, eerie purple light, and the air smelled of wet stone and decay. As they began walking deeper into the cave, Jin leaned in toward Xyron. "Don't take their words seriously, man. They’re just jerks." "Yeah, Xyron," Yuhima added softly, walking on his other side. "You don't need to think about what they said. Just focus on staying safe." Xyron looked ahead at the darkness of the cave. "It’s fine. I’m used to it by now. Let’s just move." Suddenly, the ground began to tremble. From the shadows ahead, hundreds of glowing red eyes appeared. A massive army of monsters emerged—creatures that looked like distorted, muscular humans with grey skin and elongated claws. The Captain drew his sword, the metal humming with soul energy. "Everyone, get ready! They're coming! ATTACK!" Editor’s Comment: The journey of the weakest begins! Xyron enters a Rank 4 portal amidst insults and mockery. But in a world where the Gozzaki name has fallen, is Xyron truly just a 'burden', or is there a hidden power waiting to be awakened within the Last Gozzaki? Stay tuned for the next chapter!

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