The journey to the Shattered Expanse was eerily quiet. The Tower's usual cacophony of challengers, creatures, and traps seemed to fade into the background, as if the Abyss itself had cast a veil over Jian's path. The landscape began to change—trees gave way to jagged cliffs, and the ground beneath their feet cracked and splintered like a broken mirror.
Jian's clones moved with precision, their senses heightened. Each step forward felt like treading on the edge of a blade. The air grew heavier, laced with a faint metallic tang that Jian recognized as the scent of blood—though no corpses or signs of battle were in sight.
"Reports from the Nexus describe the Shattered Expanse as a place where reality bends," one of his clones said, its voice carrying a mechanical detachment. "Expect anomalies."
"Understood," Jian replied. He gripped his dagger tightly, his mind racing through the Envoy's words. The Abyss had set the stage, but it was up to him to survive the play.
As they approached the Expanse's boundary, Jian's Nexus System flared to life.
[Entering: Shattered Expanse] [Warning: Anomalies detected. Probability of survival: 12%.] [Mission Activated: Trial of Despair]
Objective: Defeat the Beast of Despair and claim the Second Key. Rewards: +500,000 EXP, Abyssal Title: Keeper of Two Keys, Unknown Abyssal Boon.
Jian narrowed his eyes. A 12% survival rate? The Tower had a habit of underestimating him.
The Broken Reality
The Shattered Expanse stretched out before them, a desolate wasteland of fractured earth and twisted structures. Floating boulders drifted aimlessly in the air, while shards of glass-like material shimmered ominously in the dim light. The horizon seemed to fold in on itself, creating an endless loop of jagged peaks and abyssal voids.
Jian felt the weight of the environment pressing down on him. The air was thick with despair—a palpable force that gnawed at his resolve. He glanced at his clones, but they remained unaffected, their expressions blank.
"The Abyss feeds on emotions," Jian muttered. "Stay focused. Don't let it get into your head."
Suddenly, the ground beneath them shuddered. Cracks spread like veins, and a deep, guttural roar echoed through the Expanse. Jian's clones immediately fanned out, weapons at the ready.
From the fractured earth emerged the Beast of Despair.
It was a monstrosity of shadow and flesh, its form constantly shifting between a massive quadruped and an amorphous mass of writhing tendrils. Its eyes burned with an intense, crimson glow, and its presence radiated an overwhelming aura of dread.
The Nexus System chimed.
[Beast of Despair - Abyssal Guardian]
Rank: Mythical HP: 2,000,000 Skills: Abyssal Howl, Despair Infusion, Shadow Rend, Reality Collapse
Jian took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm. The odds were stacked against him, but this was what he had prepared for.
The Battle Begins
The Beast moved with terrifying speed, its tendrils lashing out in all directions. Jian dodged to the side, his clones intercepting the initial attack. They struck back with coordinated precision, their daggers finding weak points in the creature's shifting form.
The Beast let out an ear-piercing howl, and a wave of despair washed over the battlefield. Jian staggered, his mind assaulted by memories of his past failures and regrets. For a moment, he faltered, but then a sharp voice cut through the fog.
"Focus," one of his clones said, its tone commanding. "We've faced worse."
Jian shook off the effects, his resolve hardening. He activated [Infinite Creation], summoning three additional clones. They materialized instantly, each armed with a unique weapon—one with a massive broadsword, another with a spear, and the last with a pair of chakrams.
"Formations!" Jian ordered.
The clones moved like a well-oiled machine, each playing their part. The spearman kept the Beast at bay, the swordsman dealt heavy blows, and the chakram wielder provided ranged support. Jian himself darted in and out of the fray, exploiting openings with surgical precision.
The Beast roared in frustration, its attacks growing more erratic. It unleashed [Reality Collapse], and the battlefield warped. The ground shifted beneath their feet, and gravity itself became unstable. Jian and his clones were forced to adapt, their movements becoming more fluid and unpredictable.
Despite the chaos, they pressed on. Jian's daggers tore through the Beast's tendrils, his clones striking with unrelenting ferocity. Slowly but surely, the creature's HP began to dwindle.
The Turning Point
At 20% HP, the Beast let out a final, deafening roar. Its body convulsed, and it began to transform. The shadows around it coalesced into a humanoid form, towering and menacing. Its crimson eyes locked onto Jian, and it spoke for the first time.
"You cannot escape despair," it growled. "It is a part of you."
Jian smirked, his daggers gleaming in the dim light. "Maybe. But despair doesn't control me."
The Beast charged, its movements faster and more calculated than before. Jian met it head-on, his clones flanking from all sides. The battle became a blur of motion, each strike and counterstrike testing the limits of their endurance.
Finally, with a decisive blow, Jian plunged his dagger into the Beast's chest. The creature let out a final, mournful cry before dissolving into shadows.
The Nexus System chimed.
[Trial Complete: Beast of Despair Defeated]
Rewards: +500,000 EXP, Abyssal Title: Keeper of Two Keys, Abyssal Boon: Shadow Mastery
A glowing fragment appeared where the Beast had fallen—the Second Key. Jian picked it up, its power surging through him.
The Abyss Deepens
As Jian secured the Second Key, the Envoy reappeared, its form more defined than before.
"Well done, Jian Valen," it said, its voice filled with approval. "You continue to defy expectations. But remember—the Abyss is watching, and it does not forgive failure."
Jian's gaze hardened. "Tell the Abyss to keep watching. I'm just getting started."
The Envoy chuckled, its form dissolving into mist. Jian turned to his clones, a determined glint in his eyes.
"We're moving," he said. "The next key won't wait for us."
With the Second Key in hand and the path ahead uncertain, Jian prepared for the challenges to come. The Abyss was vast and merciless, but so was his resolve.
End of Chapter 10