Reincarnated With An SSS-Rank Talent In An Apocalyptic World
Chapter 54: Gatekeeper Lee Bai

Chapter 54: Gatekeeper Lee Bai

[WLN NEWS 7 SPECIAL REPORT – LIVE BROADCAST]

"THE FALL OF LOUISIANA"

[ON-SCREEN GRAPHIC: Breaking News | WLN 7]

[Voice of Anchor: Andrea Winters]

"Good evening. I’m Andrea Winters, and this is a WLN News 7 Special Report. The United States has suffered its most catastrophic loss from a rift break in over three decades."

[CUT TO AERIAL FOOTAGE — A red-tinged Louisiana skyline. The entire state is surrounded by a pulsing, blood-red dome. The edges shimmer like molten glass. Thick smoke rises from collapsed skyscrapers. Fires burn through suburbs. Drones hover cautiously at the perimeter.]

Andrea (voice-over):

"What you’re seeing right now is live footage from above the Louisiana state line. That strange dome you see stretching over the remains of the state wasn’t there yesterday. WLN experts and Rift Scholars believe it to be a magical construct—possibly an orc war barrier or ritual seal. But as of this hour, no one knows for sure."

"What is confirmed... is the body count."

[CUT TO MONTAGE — Flash images of missing Limitless IDs, destroyed military bases, charred flags, broken emblems.]

Andrea:

"Over 500 Ascendants confirmed dead. All six Professional Limitless stationed in Louisiana are presumed wiped out. The state governor, military high command, even the famed combat instructor Viktor—known as the Iron Marshal—have all fallen."

"Civilians? An estimated 11.4 million lived in Louisiana before the fall. We are still struggling to confirm how many made it out alive."

[CUT TO NEWSROOM. Andrea sits solemnly, wearing a navy blue blazer, paper notes before her. The WLN logo rotates subtly behind her.]

Andrea:

"But... in the darkness of despair, a flicker of hope remains."

[ROLL FOOTAGE – Helicopter landing last night. Floodlights sweep the area. A military-grade chopper touches down in the center of a massive open clearing, surrounded by WLN cameras and emergency responders.]

Andrea (voice-over):

"Last night, this helicopter landed at one of our refugee airfields outside Houston. Out stepped three Limitless survivors—including the mysterious young man now shaking the nation."

[CUT TO SCENE: Natasha, Pamela, and Adam walk toward the cameras. Natasha looks worn out. Pamela’s expression is unreadable. But all lenses focus on one man—Adam Black.]

[A second later, white light explodes behind him. A glowing, ancient-style gate forms midair. The crowd gasps.]

Andrea:

"From nowhere, Adam Black summoned a gate. Moments later... they began to step out."

[VIDEO CLIP: Thousands of civilians flood through the gate, coughing, crying, barefoot, some bloodied. As they exit, they rush toward Adam and fall to their knees—thanking him, kissing his hands, sobbing with gratitude.]

[Still Image – A vintage black-and-white capture: Adam standing in the middle of kneeling civilians, backlit by the glowing gate.]

Andrea:

"In total, over 3,000 lives were saved... thanks to one man. Adam Black."

"A rookie member of the Limitless Society who only joined the Lone Star Academy four months ago."

[FLASHBACK CLIP — Adam being escorted into an interrogation room, earlier news footage labeled: "TRAITOR OR TRUTHSEEKER?"]

Andrea:

"Just three months ago, he was branded a traitor and detained for interfering with a classified raid. He was later released due to lack of evidence. Many believed his career was over before it even began."

[CUT TO EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW FOOTAGE – Pamela calmly sitting, recounting the events. Her tone is oddly detached.]

Pamela (pre-recorded):

"...Too many lives were lost. All this could have been avoided if the Governor of Louisiana didn’t make that stupid move.."

[FADE TO BLACK. WLN Logo Returns.]

Andrea (voice-over):

"Adam Black—once doubted, now praised. Is he America’s newest hero... or something else entirely?"

---

--- Adam Black POV ---

I switched off the television from the comfort of my bed and dropped the remote beside me, a small smile playing on my lips.

Saving those people wasn’t out of love or pity for them, but for my image—and the benefits that come with it. The traitor image forced on me after the first expedition was replaced with that of a hero loved by everyone overnight.

That’s why I had to be the one to save them.

I had to be the one to release them in front of the cameras.

I had to be the one who gained the most recognition out of this.

However...

My eyebrows furrowed at the thought of the red dome that surrounded Louisiana, and the system notification I received when it happened.

[CONGRATULATIONS TO GATEKEEPER LEE BAI FOR BECOMING THE FIRST GATEKEEPER TO SECURE A TERRITORY IN A PEAK REALM!]

I still couldn’t get that message off my mind.

"Does this mean that even this world can be conquered and taken as a person’s territory?" I mumbled in thought, and honestly, I felt a mixture of fear and excitement.

The name looked human, Asian to be precise. Yet his or her army was made of orcs. There were so many questions in my head, like—is this Lee Bai from this Earth, or another Earth just like me?

How many territories does he have?

Now that he’s taken over Louisiana, does he plan to invade other states from there?

How long has he been a Gatekeeper, and how many territories are under his control?

"I want to use my free question," I said and waited for a response.

[Go ahead.]

The system’s response came a second later.

"Tell me everything about this Lee Bai," I said with knitted brows.

[IT IS PROHIBITED TO SHARE INFORMATION ON OTHER GATEKEEPERS. PLEASE ASK ANOTHER QUESTION.]

Honestly, this response was expected—and I appreciated it. If the system could share the personal information of other Gatekeepers with me, what stops it from sharing my personal information with other Gatekeepers?

With that out of the way, I decided to revert to the original question I had in mind.

"Tell me what I need to know about realms," I asked.

I needed to know what makes a place a Peak Realm—and why it was different from other places.

[Worlds, also called Realms, are ranked based on their resource complexity and structural integrity within the multiverse. Talents, cultivation systems, and power hierarchies can only manifest in Peak Realms.]

The first message that came from the system made me sit up.

[Dead Realms]

> These are worlds that have already fallen.

Nothing remains—no light, no people, no resources.

Only darkness.

They are often used as breeding grounds or nests by dark creatures.

Entering a Dead Realm is not recommended.

---

[Dying Realms]

> These worlds are on the brink of collapse.

Resources are nearly gone.

Dark beings invade regularly.

Civilizations still fight to survive, but their time is running out.

You’ll find desperation... and the last sparks of resistance.

Nightfall Dominion falls under this category.

---

[Living Realms]

> Peaceful, untouched, and forgotten.

No powers. No monsters. No war.

People here live normal lives, unaware of what exists beyond.

They are often ignored by invaders due to lack of energy or value.

This is the type of Earth you came from.

---

[Dynamic Realms]

> These are resource-rich worlds caught in the heart of chaos.

Multiple races. Constant war. Conflicting ideologies.

Magic, science, and nature all thrive here—but so do conflict and death.

Invaders and Gatekeepers are drawn to these realms like moths to flame.

---

[Peak Realms]

> These are the rarest of all.

Worlds that are... alive.

Aware of incoming threats.

In these realms, the world itself awakens Talents in its people as a defense.

Only the strong survive here—and the realm makes sure of it.

Your current Earth is one of these.

---

After going through the system descriptions, I was genuinely shocked to find out the only realm I possessed was just a step away from becoming a Dead Realm.

Thinking about it now, Lord Ravus’s diary had a lot to say about invading dark beings and how that empire was the last human empire. To survive, they desperately embraced a vampire lord as their god.

"Can a Dying Realm be saved?" I asked while getting off the bed.

The system seemed to hesitate for a few seconds before responding.

[You have used up your free question.]

The response was short and direct.

"Bitch ass..." I cursed as I rose to my feet.

My gaze shifted to the series of notifications I received after escaping Louisiana last night.

[Congratulations on escaping Lee Bai’s territory]

[+5000 EXP & 15 Universal Fragments]

[New Achievement: People’s Champion]

> Gaining the admiration, trust, and support of your country will help hasten your growth tremendously.

Make sure to use this newfound fame to your advantage.

[+1000 EXP]

"Status!" I ordered.

[Name:] Adam Black

[Level:] 2

[Race:] Human

[Talent:] Gatekeeper

[Talent Tier:] SSS-Tier

[Stats]

Strength: 8

Speed: 8

Vitality: 9

Intelligence: 10

Health Points: 90/90

Energy Points: 20/20

Experience Points: 10,550

Universal Fragments: 24

Blood Fragments: 0

Limitless Fragments: 0

[Skills]

Name: Door

Status: Upgradeable

Tier: C

Cost: 1

Proficiency: 20%

Technique: Door Post

Name: Blood Pact

Status: Upgradeable

Tier: A

Cost: 10 HP

Proficiency: 0%

Name: Might of Man

Status: Upgradeable

Tier: C

Cost: Nil

Proficiency: 100%

Name: Berserk Mode

Status: Fixed

Tier: C

Cost: Nil

Proficiency: 100%

[Territory]

Nightfall Dominion [Dying Realm]

Perks: +3 to all stats & +20 Health Points

---

I noticed the information on my territory had changed from "Lesser Realm" to "Dying Realm."

This made me wonder if the system was willing to feed me lies until I get the truth.

I pushed aside those doubtful thoughts and focused on what was important.

I’ve come across another Gatekeeper who has made far more progress than I have.

I couldn’t afford to relax anymore.

"It’s time I take this Gatekeeper job seriously," I said before snapping my fingers.

[GATEWAY TO NIGHTFALL DOMINION ACTIVATED!]

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