Chapter 3: Into the Depths
The second level of the Crimson Abyss was a labyrinth of twisting tunnels and jagged stone, the air thick with the stench of blood and decay. Every step Jaden took echoed through the dungeon, as if the very walls were alive and watching him. The oppressive energy of the place seemed to grow heavier with each passing moment, pressing down on his chest like a weight.
But Jaden moved forward with the same cold, unyielding determination that had carried him this far. The monsters were stronger here—faster, deadlier—but so was he. Every battle, every kill, added to his strength, feeding the system that had made him more powerful than he could have ever imagined.
His sword was already drawn, its blade gleaming in the crimson light that flickered along the walls. He could feel the presence of something nearby—something dangerous. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end as he advanced through the tunnel, his every sense on high alert.
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[New Monsters Detected: Abyssal Specters]
[Level: 38]
[Weakness: Holy]
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Abyssal Specters. Jaden remembered them from the novel—floating wraiths of darkness, capable of phasing through physical attacks. They were nearly impossible to defeat without holy magic, which was why Revan had struggled so much when he had encountered them.
But Jaden had no intention of struggling. He had prepared for this.
As he rounded a corner, the air in front of him shimmered, and three Specters materialized from the shadows. Their ethereal bodies were cloaked in dark mist, their hollow eyes glowing with malevolent light. They moved silently, hovering just above the ground, their forms flickering in and out of existence.
Jaden wasted no time. He activated one of his most powerful skills.
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[Mana Control: Abyssal Flame Activated]
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A surge of dark energy flowed through him, pooling in his outstretched hand. Black flames ignited around his fingers, flickering with an unnatural, ominous glow. The Abyssal Flame was a skill he had earned after defeating a particularly powerful dungeon boss weeks ago, and it was one of his most reliable tools against creatures like the Specters.
Without hesitation, Jaden unleashed the flames. The dark fire roared forward, swallowing the Specters in a wave of searing heat. Their hollow eyes widened in surprise as the flames tore through their ethereal bodies, burning away the dark mist that sustained them. One by one, the Specters disintegrated, their screeches of pain echoing through the tunnel.
---
[Abyssal Specters Defeated]
[Skill Points Acquired: 250]
---
The tunnel fell silent once more, save for the soft crackling of the remaining flames. Jaden lowered his hand, the black fire fading into nothingness. The Specters had been easy prey—far easier than he had expected.
The system chimed again, but this time it brought a new notification.
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[New Skill Unlocked: Abyssal Grasp]
---
Jaden's eyes narrowed in satisfaction. Abyssal Grasp—a skill that allowed him to manipulate the shadows themselves, binding enemies or crushing them from a distance. It was a fitting addition to his growing arsenal of dark magic, and he could already think of a dozen ways to use it against the stronger monsters lurking deeper in the dungeon.
He glanced at his status screen.
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Name: Jaden Velar
Level: 27
Skill Points: 1100
Strength: 85
Agility: 81
Endurance: 76
Mana: 70
Skills:
[Blade Mastery] (Level 4)
[Shadow Step] (Level 4)
[Mana Control] (Level 3)
[Abyssal Flame] (Level 2)
[Abyssal Grasp] (Level 1)
---
Satisfied with his progress, Jaden continued deeper into the dungeon, his eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of movement. The deeper he went, the more dangerous the monsters would become, but that only meant more opportunities to grow stronger.
After what felt like hours of walking, Jaden entered a vast chamber. The air here was thick with magic, pulsing with an unnatural energy that made his skin prickle. At the center of the room stood a massive stone altar, etched with runes that glowed faintly in the crimson light. And resting atop the altar was a black, pulsating crystal.
Jaden's eyes locked onto the crystal immediately. The Abyssal Core.
---
[Quest Updated: Claim the Abyssal Core]
[Warning: Boss Monster Approaching]
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The ground trembled beneath his feet, and from the far end of the chamber, a massive form began to emerge. It was a creature unlike any Jaden had seen before—an enormous, hulking beast, its body covered in jagged black armor. Its eyes glowed with the same crimson light that filled the dungeon, and its maw dripped with molten lava.
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[Boss Monster: Abyssal Juggernaut]
[Level: 40]
[Weakness: None]
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Jaden smirked. "Finally, a challenge."
The Juggernaut let out a deafening roar, shaking the very walls of the chamber as it charged toward him with terrifying speed. Jaden didn't flinch. His heart raced, but not with fear—with anticipation.
This was what he had been waiting for.
The beast closed the distance in an instant, its massive claws slashing toward him with enough force to shatter stone. But Jaden was already moving. He activated [Shadow Step], disappearing from sight just before the claws could reach him. The Juggernaut's attack hit nothing but air, and Jaden reappeared behind it, his sword already in motion.
His blade struck the beast's armored hide, but instead of cutting through, it glanced off with a shower of sparks. The Juggernaut roared again, its tail swinging toward him like a wrecking ball. Jaden leaped back, narrowly avoiding the attack, his mind racing.
The beast's armor was too thick for conventional strikes. He would need to find another way to bring it down.
Without hesitation, he summoned the Abyssal Flame, the black fire swirling around his hands as he prepared to strike again. This time, he aimed for the joints in the Juggernaut's armor—the weak points between its plates. He unleashed the flames, sending them crashing into the creature's legs.
The Juggernaut roared in pain as the flames seared through its exposed flesh, but it wasn't enough. The beast staggered, but it didn't fall.
Jaden gritted his teeth. He would need more power—more strength to bring down a monster like this.
And then, an idea struck him. He had just unlocked a new skill.
---
[Abyssal Grasp Activated]
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The shadows around Jaden came to life, surging forward like tendrils of darkness. They wrapped around the Juggernaut's legs, binding it in place as Jaden poured every ounce of his mana into the attack. The beast struggled, roaring and thrashing, but the shadows held it tight, crushing its limbs with relentless force.
With the Juggernaut immobilized, Jaden leaped into the air, his sword raised high. He brought the blade down with all his strength, driving it into the creature's exposed neck.
The Juggernaut let out one final, earth-shaking roar before it collapsed to the ground, its body falling still.
---
[Boss Monster Defeated]
[Skill Points Acquired: 500]
---
Jaden landed softly on the ground, breathing hard but victorious. The system's notification was a welcome sound in his ears. He had won.
And now, the Abyssal Core was his.