Infinite System Inheritor Return From The Abyss
Chapter 448 - 446: Stage two Initiated

Alexa, with her twin swords, dashed forward with full force, while Vireya, bruised and bloodied, picked up a dagger from the floor, her sharp eyes never leaving her opponent.

They both let out a yell as they rushed toward each other, weapons ready.

Then, with a loud clash of metal and the sound of wind cutting around them, their weapons stopped—just inches away from each other's throats.

Alexa's twin blades crossed tightly against Vireya's neck, while Vireya's dagger hovered right at Alexa's collar.

Both women froze, breathing hard, eyes locked.

But then—BOOM!

An enormous explosion shook the entire battlefield, and a shockwave of wind burst through the sky.

Both Alexa and Vireya turned their heads at the same time, startled.

They saw Gideon and Lee Min Joon, the necromancer, flying at high speed above the ships—heading toward the smoke and flames in the distance.Vireya quickly leapt back, flipping midair and landing a few meters away. She gave Alexa a quick smirk.

"Don't lose your focus now," she said, spinning the dagger in her fingers casually.

Alexa remained still, blades still drawn, but her breath was steady.

The rumble faded but was quickly replaced by another surprise—

[GLOBAL SYSTEM NOTICE: 23 Guilds has been disqualified.]

Remaining guilds: 24

Advancement to Stage Two confirmed.

The screen flashed the words across the sky like a divine message, making both Alexa and Vireya pause. Then, without warning, Vireya flicked her hand—The dagger flew through the air with perfect aim, but not at Alexa. It landed in the wooden railing beside her, sticking deep into it.

"I'll see you in the next stage," Vireya called out, a confident smile on her lips.

And with that, she turned and ran toward the edge of the yacht, leaping off gracefully and disappearing as she returned to regroup with her guild.

Alexa slowly exhaled, lowering her swords and Alex arrived beside her and grab her shoulders. "You did great."

Alexa smiled and satd down, "Thanks, What is the explosion about?" She asked,

"It's Seojun, He came."

In the global broadcast center, the anchor was just starting to calm her nerves after the sudden explosion when the cameraman beside her gasped.

"Wait—what's happening to the signal?!" he said, adjusting his headset frantically. "Did the cameras break?"

Just as the audience around the world began murmuring in confusion, another shockwave rolled across the sea, one that everyone could see this time—not just through the screens, but with their own eyes.

A massive wall of water, as clear as glass and tall as mountains, began to rise from the ocean floor.

It shot upward in thick, glowing columns, and then stretched sideways in all directions—until it fully circled the island at the center of the quest field.

People watching on nearby ships, helicopters, and from distant coastlines stood frozen in awe as the sea itself became a towering wall, shimmering like crystal, surrounding the entire island like a barrier.

Some gasped. Others pointed. Some backed away, afraid it might collapse.

In the sky, just above the wall of water, The Global system appeared.

[GLOBAL SYSTEM NOTICE]

STAGE TWO INITIATED.

— Remaining Guilds: 24 —

OBJECTIVE: ENTER THE ISLAND.

- You have 15 minutes. -

The stunned silence was broken as helicopters zoomed in again, and guild members aboard ships began moving, scrambling, shouting.

"Ladies and gentlemen… it seems we have officially entered Stage Two of this unprecedented world event!" she said, "A wall of water—yes, an actual barrier made of water—has formed around the island. Only the remaining twenty-four guilds will be allowed to enter!"

She paused, turning to the camera. "There's no going back now."

The ocean breeze blew softly across the broken battlefield of ships and sails, and above the crashing of waves, all eyes were on the towering wall of water that now surrounded the island like a living barrier.

Alexa stepped forward to the very edge of her yacht. The wall of water shimmered in front of her, glowing faintly. She reached out slowly with her hand, and to her surprise, her fingers passed through it like mist—cool and soft, with a faint humming sound that tickled her skin.

Behind her, Alex also reached out, trying to touch the water wall, but the moment his fingers neared it, a sudden force pushed him back, like an invisible hand shoving him away.

He stumbled slightly, catching his balance, then gave Alexa a small, weak smile.

"Good luck, Alexa," he said softly. "Meet Seojun after you enter."

Alexa turned her head, nodding quietly. Her eyes scanned the deck around her, and that's when she noticed it—only their bodies and their clothes were passing through. Nothing else. Bags, gear boxes, even the ship itself stayed outside.

She looked over her remaining guild members, all of them standing tall despite the exhaustion and wounds. Then a loud thud echoed behind her as Seoha, the red-flamed madqueen of Korea, jumped onto their deck.

"Hoo!" Seoha grinned, resting her sword on her shoulder. "Let's go, folks! Alex—we'll tell you all the crazy stories when we come back."

She gave him a playful wink, then turned her head toward the sky where the news helicopters still hovered far above. "Let's hope the global system lets them enter," she muttered with a smirk.

Seoha stepped onto the railing, looking at the others already vanishing into the barrier.

"LET'S SEE WHAT STAGE TWO HAS WAITING FOR US!"

Then, without hesitation, she leapt into the glowing water wall, vanishing in an instant.

Alexa let out a slow breath and tied her hair tighter behind her head. She drew both of her twin swords and slid them into the sheaths on her back. Then she turned to her guild.

"Let's go," she said simply, and jumped in.

One by one, her guild members followed—no words needed.

— — —

On another ship not far away, Tanaka Hiroshi and Nakamura Yuki stood quietly, watching as Alexa and her guild disappeared into the barrier.

"Good luck," Alex said from his ship, raising a hand.

Yuki turned slightly toward him and gave a soft smile. "Don't worry," she said, "I'll take care of Alexa."

Alex's shoulders relaxed just a little, and he smiled back. "Thank you."

Without another word, Tanaka Hiroshi jumped, landing feet-first into the water wall like a stone falling into a silent pond. He vanished instantly.

Yuki looked up one more time at the changing sky, then stepped forward and followed him, her kimono fluttering like petals as she entered. The rest of their guild moved quickly behind them, disappearing one by one into the veil of Stage Two.