"Gotta run! Gotta run! Gotta ruunnn!!" Speedy sang as she zoomed toward the horde, her voice bright but underscored with determination. This wasn't their first time fighting a horde—far from it. But this was different. This time, the target was Key.
Key wasn't just anyone. There was something about him… something special.
"I won't let you hurt him!" Speedy's tone shifted to a steely resolve, her playful nature hardening as she broke the sound barrier with ease, leaving a streak of white light in her wake. She had only met Key today, but there was something about him that clicked. He matched her energy like no one else had.
Ahead of her, a throng of Abyssal shitheads writhed in chaos, creatures of nightmare that needed a harsh reminder of their place.
"And I'll gladly deliver it!" she snarled, a dark grin spreading across her face as she charged, her voice rising in a powerful crescendo. "Sonic… BOOM!!"
The impact was deafening. Speedy's full-force attack tore through the horde, sending Abyssal beasts flying in all directions like ragdolls in a storm.
"Damn Speedy! Good shit!" Key shouted from behind, even though he couldn't see her in action. He didn't need to—her speed was legendary, almost like watching the Flash in real life.
As he stood, his eyes narrowing on the encroaching horde, Key's thoughts raced. 'If this is the power of just a B-rank… what kind of speeds do the upper ranks reach?' He couldn't help but wonder if he'd ever catch up to that kind of power.
But now wasn't the time to dwell on that. Key was close now, only a foot away from the seething mass of enemies.
[Abyssal Werewolves LV.4] (x50)
[Abyssal Reapers LV.6] (x20)
[Void Runners LV.5] (x30)
[Blackheads LV.3] (x15)
The reapers hovered like grim, shadowy cloaks of death, their scythes gleaming menacingly. The Void Runners screeched as they rushed toward him, humanoid black and purple masses that looked ready to tear him apart. And then, there were the Blackheads, their tendril-like heads twitching violently, glowing purple orbs of energy pulsing in their hands.
Key's lips curled into a smirk, his mind clear. There was only one skill fit for this situation.
"Increase Aura and activate Blackhole." He said calmly as he held a defiant hand out towards the oncoming swarm.
[Overwhelming Aura LV.1 has increased!]
[Blackhole LV.1 has been activated!]
Immediately, his body emitted a chilling, dark purple aura that radiated like the void itself. The Abyssal beasts faltered—some slowed, some shook in fear, and some turned tail, their courage failing as they fled in terror.
But they wouldn't escape.
The vortex began to form—a swirling, malevolent force that consumed everything in its path. The sky above seemed to darken as it expanded, sucking the very life out of the battlefield.
"Crush them Blackh-"
"Key, stop.."
A voice, eerie and chilling, whispered into Key's ear, freezing him mid-sentence. His eyes widened, scanning the battlefield for the source.
There it was.
[Abyssal Wraith LV. ??]
Its form flickered in and out of sight like a mirage.
"As..unconvincing as it may seem, we are not here to harm you or those you are with. We merely want to meet our cr-"
"And how the fuck do I know you're telling the truth? This could easily be a trap for all I can tell." Key interrupted with disbelief, his grip on his power unwavering.
The wraith seemed unfazed by his defiance.
"Let us show you then Key..who you truly are."
Suddenly, pain exploded in Key's head. His vision blurred, and an overwhelming drowsiness pulled him under. His Blackhole flickered, then collapsed in on itself as his consciousness slipped away.
"Rest now. We'll see you soon..Master."
the voice echoed before everything went dark.
Key's body slumped, falling toward the ground. Just before he hit, a Void Runner caught him.
"Let's leave. We're done here."
"Platinum Prison!" a sharp voice called out. Sketch.
The Void Runner holding Key was crushed, and a shimmering dark-silver prison materialized around him, shielding him from everything.
"Now Gamble!" Sketch shouted.
Gamble cracked his neck, his face contorting with barely suppressed rage as he glared at the remaining Abyssal beasts. "Expand." he growled.
Dark, swirling Abyssal energy erupted around him, his body swelling in size as muscles rippled and grew, his entire form now towering at 10 feet tall. Without hesitation, Gamble leaped into the air, a roar tearing from his throat as he slammed his massive hand down in front of the prison that held Key. The ground shook violently, cracking open as a gaping fissure swallowed dozens of Abyssal creatures in one devastating blow.
"Spam!" Sketch called out again, urgency clear in his voice.
"On it!" A serious but maliciously grinning Spam yelled as a dark scarlet orb appeared in her hand.
She didn't know what happened because it looked like Key was defeating a lot of them at first, but that didn't matter now, she wouldn't let them take dear Key.
"Erasure Ball, go!!" She yelled, flinging the orb with deadly precision.
Now her Abyssal Energy may have been low..
But her Mana? Whew about as large as the horde that would be extinct in a few minutes..
Times thousands
"go! Go! GO!!" She continuously yelled as she launched more and more.
Once the attacks hit the Abyssal Beasts, they were erased completely.
"Upgrade Erasure Balls." A cold voice said beside her, it was a narrowed eyed Nythra who looked about ready to end all of the beasts herself and she could in fact.
'But I don't want to hurt them..I can't-' she thought but she quickly got out of her mind and focused.
"This will do."
The Erasure Balls grew as big as meteors as Spam shot them forcefully at the beasts. Sonic booms were heard as they released.
"Is Key okay?!" Speedy asked as she appeared in a blur beside Sketch and Gamble as they watched the mass extinction going on.
"He should be." Sketch replied, his tone a mix of hope and doubt. "Sketch door." Silver Abyssal Power appeared around his pointer finger.
With FTL speed, he drew a door on the Platinum Prison and immediately opened it up, only to be met with an empty cell.
"He's..gone." Sketch whispered, the weight of the words sinking deep into him.
"..what?" Speedy's voice broke, her face twisted in horror as the realization hit her.
Gamble's face grew dark, a shadow of grief and sadness falling over him. He had seen too much in the Abyss to not understand what this meant. If someone was taken into the Abyss… they might as well be dead.
Key… was gone.
From behind, Spam approached, her face lit with excitement. "Guys! We're done killing the beasts! How's dear Key? Why are you all looking so…" She trailed off as she caught their expressions.
"He's dead." Sketch said quietly, his head bowed, eyes downcast. The sorrow in his voice was palpable, a wave of grief washing over the group.
"…" Spam was speechless as she heard the terrible news.
"…No…" A voice, small but trembling, broke the quiet. It was Nythra. Her eyes widened in disbelief. "No… NO!!" Her voice escalated into a scream, emotions flooding her tone—anger, sorrow, helplessness. Power erupted from her in uncontrollable waves, her Abyssal energy spiraling around her in a frenzy, cracking the ground beneath her.