The cold, oppressive darkness of the Abyss wrapped itself around Kael Relan as he was yanked deeper into its suffocating void. His last glimpse of the world outside was the rift closing behind him, sealing him in with the monster that had dragged him in—an enormous Commander-rank Darkspawn whose grip crushed him like a vice. Kael's heart pounded in his chest, but there was no time for fear. His instincts flared into action, and he summoned the strength of his Voidblade class.
A sharp jolt of pain shot through his body, but he focused his mind, activating his Deathcaller skills. The air around him shimmered with ethereal energy, the pull between life and death bending to his will.
"Soul Summon!" Kael's voice echoed in the Abyss, a command laced with dark energy.
From the shadows, a spectral Lieutenant Darkspawn materialized, summoned from the depths of the Abyss. Its eyes glowed with unholy light, and alongside it, several Shadow-based Darkspawns rose from the void, their forms swirling like dark mist. These weren't the monsters he was fighting against—they were his to command, bound by his Deathcaller abilities. Kael directed them with a thought, sending the spectral creatures to swarm the Commander that held him captive.
The dark entities attacked with ferocity, tearing into the massive Darkspawn. Its grip loosened just enough for Kael to exploit the opening. He activated Void Step, slipping into the shadow realm for a moment, his body becoming intangible, nothing more than a whisper of darkness. The Commander's claws swiped through empty air as Kael reappeared behind it, his Void Daggers gleaming with shadow energy.
He lunged forward with Echoing Strike, his blades sinking into the creature's thick hide. The Commander roared, an inhuman, guttural sound that rattled Kael's bones, but he didn't relent. The first blow left a seeping wound that pulsed with shadowy energy, and Kael followed up with rapid, precise strikes. Each slash of his daggers was imbued with dark power, the void-infused metal carving through the beast's flesh like a hot knife through ice.
Kael's mind was a whirlwind of calculations, switching seamlessly between the Voidblade and Deathcaller class, balancing the aggressive combat of one with the strategic summoning of the other. His mastery of the Rebirth Core was sharpening with every heartbeat, his ability to blend these classes becoming more fluid and natural. This battle was more than survival—it was honing his edge, perfecting the art of multi-class warfare.
But the Commander was far from defeated. It lashed out, its claws imbued with dark energy, catching Kael across the side. Pain flared through him, but Kael gritted his teeth and blinked backward using Shadow Dash, dodging the brunt of the follow-up strike. He pressed his hand to the wound—blood slicked his fingers, but he had no time to stop. The Darkspawns he summoned were still attacking the Commander, but they wouldn't hold forever.
He needed to end this.
Summoning his strength, Kael activated Dark Infusion, the void energy around him flaring into his weapons. His Void Daggers glowed with an ominous light, their edges humming with power. With a growl of determination, he launched himself at the Commander once more, the speed of his attacks increased by the infusion of dark energy.
The Commander staggered under the relentless assault. One final strike—Kael plunged both daggers into the Darkspawn's chest, twisting as the void energy surged through the blades. The Commander howled in agony, its body disintegrating into a cloud of black mist as it was banished back into the Abyss.
The battlefield grew eerily quiet, save for the rasping of Kael's breath. His body ached, and his energy reserves were dangerously low. The victory was his, but it had come at a cost. He leaned against a crag of jagged rock, closing his eyes for a moment as he tried to steady his breathing. The void around him pulsed with an unnatural energy, a reminder that he was still trapped in this forsaken realm.
Just as he began to gather his thoughts, a familiar chime echoed in his mind—a system alert.
System Alert: Status Multiplier Progress
Dark Essence Collected: 6,400/10,000
Advanced Darkspawn Defeated: 4/5
Kael exhaled a slow breath, a mix of satisfaction and frustration. So close, yet not there. He had one more Advanced Darkspawn to kill and just over three thousand more units of Dark Essence to collect. Only then would he unlock his Status Multiplier, the key to increasing his power to an unprecedented level.
Before he could think further, a small furry form appeared before him, floating lazily in the air. Limo, his system guide, grinned at him with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.
"Congratulations, Kael! You leveled up again, didn't you? I could feel the surge from across the void!" Limo said, his tone both playful and approving.
Kael smirked, though exhaustion dulled the edges of his expression. "Yeah, twice. I'm Level 15 now. But that doesn't really matter when I'm stuck in this abyss."
Limo floated closer, his small paws hovering near Kael's face, inspecting him like a doctor would his patient. "Oh, being trapped here could actually be useful, you know," Limo said, matter-of-factly. "You need more Dark Essence, right? Well, where better to gather it than in the Abyss itself? You'll also find your last Advanced Darkspawn here, so look on the bright side!"
Kael let out a dry laugh, rubbing his temples. "Right, I'll just keep grinding away in this nightmare realm until I'm ready to unlock my Status Multiplier. Should be a piece of cake."
Limo patted his shoulder, his tiny paws somehow comforting. "Attaboy! Besides, you've got me, the best system guide in existence! I'll help you navigate this place. And hey, at least you won't get bored—there's always another Darkspawn around the corner."
Kael sighed but gave a small nod. "Fine. Let's get this over with."
Meanwhile, back in Erendath, Kael's mentor, Varin Vale, sat in meditation at the heart of a secluded temple, his senses deep in the flow of Erendath's energy. His eyes were closed, his body unmoving, but his mind was sharp as a blade. The peaceful silence was interrupted by the sudden appearance of his system guide, Sion, a spectral figure with the appearance of a wise old sage.
"Varin," Sion said, his voice steady but urgent, "I bring troubling news. Kael is trapped in the Abyss."
Varin's eyes snapped open, his expression immediately hardening. "Trapped? How?"
"He was pulled into the Rift by a Commander-rank Darkspawn," Sion explained. "It appears that Kael is still fighting his way through the Abyss, collecting Dark Essence. But time is running short. The Abyss will not let him go easily."
Varin stood, his hand instinctively reaching for the ancient blade at his side. His mind raced with a mixture of concern and determination. "Then I'll have to pull him out."
Sion nodded gravely. "It won't be simple. The rift is unstable, and few can navigate the Abyss without being consumed by it."
"I'm not few," Varin said, his voice cold with resolve.
With that, he walked toward a stone chest at the far end of the temple, its surface etched with glowing runes. He placed his hand on the lid, murmuring an ancient incantation. The chest opened with a soft creak, revealing a small, silver artifact resting on a bed of velvet. The artifact pulsed with a soft light, its energy humming in the air.
"This," Varin said, picking up the artifact, "will let me enter the Abyss without being swallowed by its darkness. I'll find Kael and bring him back."
As he gripped the artifact tightly, Sion's form shimmered with approval. "Good. Time is short, and Kael will need you more than ever. The Abyss will not yield easily."
Varin nodded, his face grim as he prepared to face the dangers of the rift. But there was no hesitation in his movements. Kael was not just his apprentice—he was like a son. And Varin Vale would not let the Abyss claim him.
Back in the Abyss, Kael continued his relentless hunt for the final Advanced Darkspawn, unaware that help was already on its way. But as the void twisted and warped around him, a sinking feeling settled in his chest. The darkness was stirring again, and this time, something far worse was coming.