"Tch, I failed to finish it," the man muttered, his voice heavy with frustration. The weight of his exhaustion was dragging him down like a stone.
His faded black hair clung to his damp forehead, and his breathing was ragged, each inhale laced with the ache of his battered body.
Unknown had fought valiantly against the Hydra, his strikes precise, his movements calculated. Yet, for all his efforts, he knew victory was beyond his reach. The creature's regeneration was relentless—a monstrous defiance against all the damage he had dealt. Its wounds, no matter how grievous, knitted together as though mocking his every attack.
"No," he muttered under his breath, his fists clenching tightly around the hilt of his weapon. "I can't win like this."
The realization gnawed at him. Every strategy he had relied on, every ounce of strength he had summoned, had been rendered useless against the Hydra's healing ability. It was as though the very act of fighting it was a futile dance of destruction and rebirth.
He stood for a moment, swaying slightly, his mind racing. A change of plan was essential if he hoped to survive—if he hoped to see another battle.
Gritting his teeth, Unknown glanced over the edge of the battlefield. Below, the abyss stretched out like an unending void, swallowing light and sound. His heart pounded in his chest as he stepped to the edge, the faint shimmer of the charm below catching his eye.
"I guess there is no other way then."
Unknown clenched his fist, summoning Eclipse, his trusted weapon. It materialized in a flash of dark, silvery light, taking its hook spear form. The gleaming spearhead reflected the faint, eerie glow of the abyss below, as though it, too, anticipated the plunge.
With a swift, practiced motion, he hurled Eclipse upward toward the jagged ceiling. The weapon sailed through the air, its trajectory precise and sure. As it embedded itself into the rock with a metallic clang, a rope seamlessly extended from its shaft.
The rope stretched unnaturally, defying all logic. It lengthened and lengthened, extending to a comically exaggerated length that almost made the situation surreal. Yet, Unknown had no time to laugh. Gripping the rope tightly, he tested its strength—a solid, unyielding connection.
"Good," he muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing as he prepared for the descent.
The rope, as if guided by some unseen force, adjusted itself to support his weight. He wrapped it around his arm and stepped off the edge, beginning his controlled descent into the abyss charm.
The shadows swallowed him, the faint shimmer of the charm below growing closer with every moment. Despite the overwhelming darkness, the presence of Eclipse and the steady rope gave him a sense of stability in the chaos.
Unknown moved swiftly but cautiously, his mind already piecing together what lay ahead. This retreat was only temporary—a chance to regroup and rethink. But in his heart, he knew he would face the Hydra again—and next time, he wouldn't fail.
As Unknown descended into the abyss, Eclipse's voice echoed in his mind—a soft, melancholic tone tinged with disappointment.
"Master, forgive me... I wasn't strong enough to stop its regeneration. I failed you," she said, her words heavy with regret.
Unknown sighed, his grip tightening on the rope as he glanced down into the unending void.
"There's no need to feel sad," he replied, his voice calm and reassuring. "I'll think of another way to counter it. You've already done more than enough, Eclipse."
Her silence lingered for a moment, but he could feel her turmoil through their bond. Eclipse was a weapon imbued with a soul, her sentience a blessing and a burden. To him, she was more than a tool—she was a companion who carried her own doubts and insecurities, just as he did.
"Master, if only I were stronger..."
"You're fine as you are," he interrupted gently but firmly. "If you were any stronger, I might become too dependent on you. I need to face my own limits, too."
Unknown's eyes flickered with a mixture of resolve and gratitude as he continued his descent. In truth, he owed Eclipse more than he could ever repay. Without her, the journey to find the Hydra would have been impossible. She had guided him, fought by his side, and shared his burdens when the weight of his quest grew unbearable.
As he descended into the abyss, his mind drifted to the unique power Eclipse possessed, the very ability that had tipped the scales in his favor countless times.
In the world of monsters, there existed two types of cores. The first was the Life Core, the heart of the beast. Destroying it meant the monster would perish, and with it, the core would yield an immense surge of energy—experience that could be absorbed, fueling growth and power. The second type, however, was far more enigmatic. It was the Residual Core—a crystallized mass of magic that remained even after the monster was long dead. While it brimmed with energy, its purpose eluded many. To most, it was little more than an ornamental gem.
But to Unknown, and more importantly, to Eclipse, it was far more valuable.
Eclipse had an unparalleled ability: the power to absorb and assimilate the magical energy within these cores. Every core she consumed made her stronger, sharpening her edge, amplifying her durability, and enhancing her mana-sensing abilities. Her growth was unlike any weapon or artifact in existence, making her an indispensable partner in his battles.
Each one of the hard-earned cores, taken from fallen foes, now serves a new purpose. These cores were fuel—not for him, but for Eclipse. With every absorption, she became more attuned to the flow of magic around them, her senses expanding to detect even the faintest traces of mana.
And with it, he gradually reached the Hydra.
But failed to kill it. He still needed a bit of time to do so.
"Besides," he added with a faint smirk, "what would I do if I had nothing left to improve on? You keep me sharp, Eclipse."
The faint sadness in her voice softened, replaced by a note of warmth. "As you say, Master. I'll continue to serve you to the best of my abilities."
"Good," he said simply, letting his words hang in the still air.
Together, they descended further into the abyss, their shared resolve shining brighter than the darkness that surrounded them. This wasn't the end—it was merely another step toward victory, no matter how steep the climb.
***
After a sleep that felt like an age, Unknown awoke with clarity, a new plan formulating in his mind. The oppressive heat of the abyss pressed against him, but it only sharpened his focus. He sat cross-legged on the blackened ground, drawing a rough map into the ashen surface with Eclipse in her blade form. The faint glow of the Hydra's lair illuminated his work.
"You see, Eclipse," he began, his tone calm but deliberate. "The Hydra has its damned healing, right?"
"Yes, Master," Eclipse responded. Though she lacked a physical form, her voice carried a subtle curiosity. Unknown could almost picture her tilting her head in thought. "So, what do you plan to do? Cut it down all at once?"
Unknown smirked, shaking his head. "Yeah, that could work... if I had the strength of a demigod." His eyes narrowed at the sketch of the Hydra, eight heads snaking outward in all directions. "But that's not happening. No, cutting it down one by one and burning each stump... that's more realistic."
"Burn them one by one?" Eclipse repeated, her tone reflective. "Considering your power and resources, that does seem more feasible. But Master, how will you burn them fast enough before they regenerate?"
Unknown's smirk widened as he leaned back, gazing into the dim glow of the abyss ceiling.
"That's where you come in. I'll need you to absorb energy from the Residual Cores to strengthen up before the fight starts. With that boost, you'll act as the ignition for the flames."
"We'll use concentrated mana bursts to cauterize the wounds before they can heal."
Eclipse's voice brightened slightly. "Ah, I see. By severing one head at a time and burning the neck immediately, we can slow down its regeneration without overwhelming ourselves."
"Exactly," he said, tapping the map with the point of her blade.
"But what about the core?" Eclipse asked. "If we destroy it, we might be able to bypass its regeneration entirely."
Unknown nodded. "That's Plan B. If we can't keep up with the heads or it starts pulling out tricks we haven't seen yet, I'll focus on the core directly. But to do that, we'll need to weaken it first. This monster is smart—it'll protect its core as long as it has the strength to fight."
Eclipse remained silent for a moment, then spoke with quiet determination. "Understood, Master. I'll absorb as much energy as I can from the cores. Together, we'll bring that beast down."
Unknown stood, his gaze hard as steel. "Good. Let's prepare. We've got one shot at this, and I don't plan on losing."
Unknown glanced at the empty pouch where Residual Cores used to rest. It was a harsh reminder of how much he relied on Eclipse's unique ability. All the stored cores had been absorbed, leaving her stronger but leaving him with nothing to fuel the flames of his plan.
"To succeed in this plan," he muttered to himself, his fingers tightening around Eclipse's hilt, "I need more cores. But there are none left."
Eclipse's voice chimed in, her tone both practical and resolute. "Master, it shouldn't take long. My mana-sensing ability has grown since absorbing the last batch of cores. If there are elite monsters nearby, I can guide us straight to them."
He nodded, acknowledging her point. "Then we'll hunt, kill, and loot their cores. But we need to move fast." His eyes narrowed, his mind racing through the obstacles ahead.
Time wasn't on his side. The expedition team he'd seen earlier—they were capable, determined, and dangerously close to his target. If they defeated the Hydra before he could enact his plan, it would all be for nothing. Worse still, Unknown knew he couldn't allow that to happen.
"If they interfere..." His voice trailed off, but the thought lingered heavily. He clenched his fist, his jaw tightening. Confronting them would mean conflict. And if conflict arose, killing them might be the only option.
Eclipse seemed to sense the shift in his mood. "Master, you don't want to kill humans, do you?"
"No," he admitted, his voice strained. "I've killed enough. I don't want to add more to that number." His gaze drifted to the shadowed path ahead, his thoughts dark. "But if it comes to that... if they stand in my way, I'll have no choice."
Eclipse remained silent, letting him process his grim resolution. After a moment, Unknown exhaled sharply and straightened his posture.
"Then I won't let it come to that," he said firmly. "If I don't want to kill them, I'll need to be faster. I need to take down enough elite monsters to gather the cores before they even get close."
"Understood, Master," Eclipse said softly, her determination echoing his.
Without wasting another second, Unknown tightened his grip on the hilt of Eclipse and set off into the depths of the abyss. The hunt for elite monsters began a race against time and his own morality.
Unknown halted mid-step, his keen senses alerting him before the tremor even reached him. A deafening rumble echoed through the chasm, reverberating off the blackened walls and shaking loose dust and debris from above.
"What's happening?" Eclipse's voice was sharp, her tone mirroring the tension in the air.
Unknown's eyes darted upward. The ceiling of the abyss quivered with the intensity of the impacts. Faint, muffled roars carried down the chasm—the Hydra's unmistakable cries of pain and fury.
"Someone's fighting it," he muttered, his expression darkening. His heart sank at the realization. The expedition team had already engaged the monster.
The ground beneath him shifted slightly as another impact thundered from above. Rocks began to fall, small at first, then larger chunks. Unknown leaped to the side, narrowly dodging a jagged piece of stone that crashed into the ground where he'd stood moments earlier.
"Master, if they kill the Hydra…" Eclipse began, but he cut her off.
"I know," he said grimly. "If they kill it, everything I've worked for will be meaningless."
He looked down at the dark blade in his hand, his mind racing. He needed to act. If he wanted to stop them, he'd have to ascend the chasm—something that would burn precious time and resources. But letting them claim the Hydra wasn't an option.
"Eclipse," he said, his voice steady despite the storm of emotions inside. "Get ready. If we don't stop them now, there won't be anything left to fight for."
He turned, gripping her tightly as he began running toward the nearest rock face. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned Eclipse in her hook spear form once more, the rope seamlessly extending as it latched onto an outcropping above.
In one fluid motion, Unknown pulled himself upward, climbing swiftly toward the source of the commotion. Dust and debris rained down on him as the sounds of battle grew louder.
He kept pulling, throwing, and climbing, each movement a desperate struggle against gravity. Slowly, he ascended, muscles screaming with effort. But it wasn't fast enough.
Gritting his teeth, he activated his magic, [Accel], and transformed Eclipse into the shape of a dagger, the sleek weapon glinting ominously in the dim light. With a deep breath, he hurled himself upward, leaping from wall to wall with ninja-like precision, climbing as if his life depended on it.
No, his life is dependent on it, he must climb!
"Master, this is dangerous," Eclipse warned, her voice trembling with unease.
"I don't care," he snapped, the sharp edge of determination cutting through his words. "If they're fighting the Hydra, I'm not letting them take it. It's mine."
As he surged upward, the Hydra's roars grew louder, each one a thunderous explosion that reverberated through the chasm. The sound gnawed at his nerves, but Unknown didn't falter. His gaze hardened, his resolve unshaken. Whether he would stop the expedition team with words or blades didn't matter. One thing was certain—this wasn't over.
Then, the unexpected happened.
But just as he reached for another outcropping, something unexpected caught his eye—a figure plummeting through the darkness.
"What—?" His sharp instincts immediately kicked in, his gaze locking onto the falling form.
It was a woman. Her white-blonde hair streamed behind her like a silken banner, illuminated faintly by the dim glow of the abyss. Her armor was battered, her sword slipping from her hand as she tumbled helplessly.
It was Alice.
Time seemed to freeze. Unknown's pulse thundered in his ears as he watched her descent, a sharp pang of dread gripping his chest.
For a fleeting moment, her terrified eyes met his.
"Tch, so annoying."