Reincarnated with the Country System-Chapter 256: The Meeting at the Abyss

"Such boldness," murmured Sister Elira, her staff pulsing faintly with blue runes. "They're either fearless… or ignorant."

"They know enough to bleed for it," Raihan replied.

Ahead, a group of soldiers broke from a central command post. Their armor was unlike anything Raihan's men had seen — sleek, plated, glimmering with shifting tactical holograms. The Bernard Empire's Exo Knights — the new breed of warriors born from steel, science, and brutal necessity.

At their head stood a tall figure.

Kain stood at the edge of the excavation zone, arms crossed, watching as workers and Exo-Knights hauled crates of Etherium Core and Void Amber toward the extraction point. His helmet was off, revealing a face carved —sharp eyes, a jagged scar running from temple to jaw, and the permanent scowl of a man who had seen too much.

Kain and the ISSD group saw Raihan's group. They were informed about Raihan's group. So Kain came forward after seeing them.

He stopped a few feet from Raihan and looked him. Even thought Raihan was tall, he had to lift his head to look at Kain, as Kain was taller than him.

Raihan inclined his head with a formal nod. "I am Raihan, commander of this unit. Holy Vanguard of the Eternal Flame, ordained protector of the Fifth Seal."

Kain's eyes narrowed slightly. He returned the nod. "Kain. Commander of the Exo Knights. We've held this floor for days. Cleared it with heavy casualties. We're ready to move to the fifth."

A moment passed in silence.

Raihan's expression was unreadable. "Then I respect your perseverance. You've come far. But now, you fall back. From here on, this operation falls under our jurisdiction."

Kain's jaw flexed. "With all due respect — that's not how this works."

He motioned behind him. "We're under standing orders from High Command. BLACK LEVEL OVERRIDE. Our presence here is not optional."

Raihan didn't flinch. "I'm aware. We received the same transmission. But you must understand — this isn't just a warzone. It's a sanctum. You have come this far, so I admit that you are strong. But what lies deep within is more terrible than you can imagine"

Kain folded his arms. "And we've been fighting to get there. We've lost twenty-two Exo Knights. Four ISSD operatives. Another three still in medical suspension tanks. And you're telling me to stand aside now?"

Raihan met his gaze, unwavering. "What waits below is not something you are equipped to handle. Not physically. Not mentally. Not spiritually. My order has trained for generations. We've studied the prophecies. The cycles. The fractures in the Veil. We know what we have to do, how to do it, and why. We are much more experienced in this work than you. One wrong move and this entire world could be on the verge of destruction. So we are saying this for the good of all."

A murmur went through the Bernard troops nearby.

Kain took a breath, forcing his voice calm. "I appreciate the warning. I really do. But here's the problem: this is Bernard territory. My men bled for every inch of this cursed hole. We own it. We protect it. And now that the Holy Empire's decided to get involved, you're not going to just take over. You want to lead? Fine. But we go with you."

Raihan looked at him for a long time. His hands stayed folded, his shoulders relaxed — but there was tension in the way he stood. Like a drawn bow.

"And if you hinder us?" Raihan asked.

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Kain didn't blink. "Then we'll get out of your way. But if you risk blowing a hole in reality and waking up the thing sealed down there — then I won't hesitate to act."

Both sides stiffened.

Swords glinted. Plasma coils hummed.

Then Raihan let out a breath.

"I accept. You will accompany us — but you will follow our protocols once we descend."

"Deal," Kain said.

A flicker of mutual understanding passed between them.

One of Kain's lieutenants, a grizzled veteran, sidled up to him. "You really trust these zealots?"

"No. But Command wants us to play nice. So we play nice—until we can't."

For all their differences, both men were leaders in the same crucible. One born from faith and prophecy. The other, from blood and fire.

Raihan gestured to his unit. "Prepare descent protocols. Formation Delta-Four. Activate Blessings."

Holy symbols ignited across the armor of the paladins, shining like starlight in the dim dungeon gloom. A low chant echoed through the floor as divine barriers flickered to life.

Kain turned and activated his neural link. "ISSD team, prep final checks. Exo Knights — form tactical shadow formation behind Vanguard group. Set weapons to adaptive-cycle."