I am The Weakest Among Them, But I Don't Really Care.

The stillness in the air was suffocating. Carter couldn't explain it, but for a moment, the world around him seemed to hold its breath. The distant clashes of the Hunters and the monsters grew muffled, as though filtered through layers of fog. His chest felt heavy, and his vision wavered as he stared out from the tent. Something was coming.

Then, it struck. A shockwave rippled through the safe zone, knocking over makeshift barricades and sending civilians sprawling. Carter stumbled back, barely catching himself on the edge of a table. The few Hunters still inside the zone shouted commands, scrambling to assess the damage, but Carter couldn't move. His eyes were locked on the horizon, where the portal's crimson glow surged brighter than ever.

"What the hell is that?" someone muttered behind him.

From the portal's depths emerged a massive figure, easily twice the size of the serpent-like monster he had seen earlier. Its silhouette was jagged and uneven, with spikes of obsidian-like material jutting out of its back. Its glowing eyes radiated malice, and every step it took seemed to shake the ground beneath it.

"The boss," Lila said grimly as she reentered the tent, her armor scratched and streaked with blood. "It's here."

The Hunters around her cursed under their breath. Carter turned to Lila, panic rising in his chest. "What do we do?" he asked, his voice trembling.

Lila's jaw tightened. "We hold the line until reinforcements arrive," she said, though even she sounded unsure. "Stay here. You're safer in the tent."

Carter wanted to argue, but he bit his tongue. He was no Hunter. He had no weapons, no skills. What could he possibly do to help?

As Lila and the others rushed out to face the approaching monstrosity, Carter sat down heavily on the ground. His thoughts raced, a chaotic tangle of fear, guilt, and frustration. The screen that had appeared earlier still hovered in his peripheral vision, the words "Unranked" and "Unique System Override" glowing faintly. He stared at it, willing it to make sense.

"Come on," he muttered. "If I'm supposed to be 'outside the system,' what does that even mean? What am I supposed to do?"

As if in response, the screen flickered. New text appeared, overlaying the original message:

Skill Unlocked: Adaptive Resonance

Carter blinked. "What…?"

Before he could process it, a wave of heat washed over him, pulling his attention back to the battlefield. The boss monster had reached the barricade. Hunters swarmed around it, their weapons flashing as they launched coordinated attacks. Fireballs, energy blades, and bolts of lightning struck the creature's armor-like skin, but it barely flinched. With a swipe of its massive arm, it sent three Hunters flying, their bodies crumpling like ragdolls.

Carter's heart raced. He couldn't just sit here while people died. But what could he do? He was useless. No… not useless. He had a skill now. Whatever "Adaptive Resonance" was, it had to mean something.

He focused on the screen, willing more information to appear. To his surprise, it did:

Adaptive Resonance: A unique ability that allows the user to attune to the energy of their surroundings, amplifying or redirecting it based on necessity. Potential applications include absorbing residual energy, amplifying allies' abilities, or disrupting enemy attacks. Effects depend on user's focus and environmental conditions.

Carter's mind reeled. "Attune to the energy of my surroundings?" he whispered. He glanced at the battlefield, where the boss monster unleashed another devastating attack, its spiked arm tearing through a barricade like paper. Energy. There was plenty of that out there—fire, lightning, the raw chaotic force of the portal itself.

He didn't have time to second-guess himself. Carter stood, his legs shaky but resolute, and stepped out of the tent. The heat of the battle hit him immediately, making him sweat under the oppressive atmosphere. Lila spotted him and shouted, "What are you doing? Get back inside!"

"I can help!" he shouted back, surprising even himself.

"You'll get yourself killed!" Lila retorted, blocking an attack from a smaller monster that had slipped past the front line.

But Carter was already moving. He didn't fully understand how his skill worked, but the description had mentioned focus. He closed his eyes, trying to drown out the chaos around him. He felt the heat of the fires, the crackling hum of energy weapons, the pulse of the portal's chaotic glow. Slowly, he extended his senses, reaching for that energy.

At first, nothing happened. Then, a faint sensation—like a low vibration in his chest. It grew stronger as he concentrated, and soon he could feel the energy coursing around him, a chaotic storm of raw power. It was overwhelming, like trying to hold back a tidal wave, but Carter gritted his teeth and pushed through the sensation.

"Come on," he muttered. "Work with me here."

The energy shifted, responding to his will. It flowed toward him, a swirling vortex of heat and light that coalesced around his outstretched hands. Carter opened his eyes, and for the first time, he felt something other than fear. He felt control.

The boss monster roared, its glowing eyes locking onto him. Carter's pulse quickened, but he didn't back down. He raised his hands, directing the energy outward. A burst of light shot from his palms, striking the creature square in the chest. The impact wasn't enough to bring it down, but it staggered, its massive frame stumbling back a step.

The Hunters around him stared in shock. Lila's eyes widened. "Carter? What did you just do?"

"I… I think I found my skill," he said, his voice shaky but determined.

The boss let out another roar, recovering quickly. It charged toward Carter, its spiked arms raised for a devastating blow. Carter didn't move. He closed his eyes again, focusing on the energy around him. This time, he reached for the portal's chaotic glow, pulling its raw power into himself. It was wild, dangerous, but he didn't have a choice.

The energy surged through him, almost too much to bear. Carter raised his hands again, channeling the power into a concentrated beam. It struck the boss with blinding force, blasting a hole through its chest. The creature let out a final, echoing cry before collapsing, its massive body crumbling into ash.

The battlefield fell silent. The remaining monsters hesitated, then retreated, disappearing into the shadows. The Hunters stood frozen, staring at Carter in disbelief.

Lila approached him slowly, her expression a mix of awe and suspicion. "What the hell are you?" she asked.

Carter lowered his hands, the last remnants of energy fading from his fingertips. He was exhausted, his body trembling, but he managed a small, weary smile. "Unranked," he said. "But not useless."