Nihil, the Herald of the Abyss, just stood there, his huge form exuding a heavy dark aura. His voice rumbled like the growling of distant thunder as it reverberated across the Abyssal Vault.
"You have built a bastion of light here," Nihil said, gesturing in Ethan's direction. "But light cannot last in the presence of the abyss.
Ethan, still in his Core Avatar Ascension form, gripped his shimmering blade tightly. Behind him, Mira and Lysander were regrouping, their weapons drawn and expressions grim.
"Is that supposed to scare me?" Ethan asked, his voice steady despite the heavy air pressing down on him. "You're nothing but shadows and noise."
Nihil chuckled, a sound both guttural and ethereal. "Bravado. I've seen it countless times. It always ends the same."
The Fight Begins
The room erupted into chaos as Nihil raised an arm, summoning torrents of shadow that coalesced into grotesque creatures. Each one was unique—some towering with jagged claws, others slithering with glowing eyes and rows of fangs.
"Hold the line!" Ethan commanded, his voice amplified by the dungeon's influence.
Mira sprang forward, her sword shining with fire energies. She met the first wave of creatures head-on, cutting through them with precision and fury. Lysander climbed to higher ground and let loose arrows that would burst into flames upon hitting their targets.
Ethan clashed with Nihil in the most direct fashion possible. The Herald's hits were colossal, every blow beating Ethan back despite his Aointed form. But Ethan wasn't fighting for survival now, he was testing Nihil-probing for vulnerabilities.
A Revelation
As he was battling, his system sounded, which was an unexpected insight of an analysis.
System Alert:
"Nihil recognized as Abyssal Anchor. He is destined for destruction to be able to cut off one link in the abyss. 200 Core Energy required.
Ethan frowned. "An anchor? So this thing is tying the abyss to my world."
Mira dodged a swipe from a shadow beast and shouted, "Care to share with the class?"
"Nihil is more than a Herald—it's a connection point for the abyss," Ethan explained. "If we destroy it, we can weaken whatever's trying to come through."
"Then let's make that happen!" Mira shouted, her blade igniting with renewed determination.
Pushing the Limits
Ethan's Core Energy reserves were deep but not bottomless. He knew he would need more to fuel the attack that might break Nihil.
"Mira, Lysander, hold the line!" Ethan yelled as he reached into the essence of the dungeon, pulling energy from every available source.
The city above shimmered faintly as the power of the dungeon shifted. Rooms activated of their own accord; their traps and monsters guarded the surface as Ethan rerouted energy to the fight below.
Nihil took this and burst out laughing. "You drain yourself for nothing. The abyss is eternal."
"Eternal's about to get cut short," Ethan countered with, as he became brighter, his body bursting with energy.
The Final Strike
As the Core Energy surged to its maximum capacity, Ethan cast Abyssal Severance-an ability that bundled all his gathered power into one, single, devastating strike. His blade expanded with radiating energy and cut through the shadows like the sun cutting through the night.
Nihil roared in defiance as the energy cleaved through its form. The shadow beasts disintegrated, and the oppressive darkness began to waver.
"You think this is victory?" Nihil growled, its form dissolving. "The abyss is patient. We will return."
As the last of Nihil's form faded, the room fell silent. The oppressive atmosphere lifted, replaced by a calm that felt almost unnatural.
System Alert:
"Abyssal Anchor Destroyed. Core Energy Regeneration Boosted by 50%. Dungeon Influence Expanded by 2km."
Ethan dropped to one knee, his Core Avatar Ascension form disappearing. Mira ran up to him, the look of relief mixed with worry on her face.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
Ethan nodded, but his exhaustion was palpable. "We did it. For now."
The Aftermath
The Abyssal Vault steadied, its black crystal walls now faintly glowing with residual energy. Ethan ordered the area sealed off, marking it as a high-security zone for future analysis.
They were greeted as heroes as they resurfaced into Core City, word of Nihil's defeat spreading like wildfire and raising morale.
Mira and Lysander celebrated alongside the rest, but Ethan went back to his room in silence.
A New Menace Emerges
That night, while Ethan was going over the system reports, a new warning came up.
System Warning:
"Abyssal Activity Detected. Probability of Greater Incursion: 92%."
Ethan stared at the alert, his jaw tightening. The battle with Nihil was just the beginning. The abyss wasn't done with him—or his city.
But Core City was stronger now, and so was he.
Ethan stood, his resolve firm. "Let them come. We'll be ready."
To Be Continued...