The Phantom Reaver towered over Xuian, its jagged blades gleaming ominously in the faint light of the Abyss. Shadows danced around its body like living entities, constantly shifting and warping. The Void Wolf Pup growled, its fur bristling as it prepared to strike.
Xuian's grip tightened on his dagger. The molten veins of his Spectral Ember Cloak pulsed faintly, synchronized with his heartbeat. "A High-B rank, huh? This is going to be fun."
[System Notification]
Core Guardian Engaged: Phantom Reaver. Threat Level: Extreme. Strategy Suggestion: Exploit its reliance on illusions. Weakness Detected: Core of Stability (located at the chest).
The Reaver lunged without warning, its massive blades cleaving through the air with terrifying speed. Xuian rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding being bisected. The ground where the blade struck shattered, sending shards of dark stone flying.
"Fast for something so big," Xuian muttered, his eyes narrowing.
The Void Wolf Pup darted around the Reaver, snapping at its heels to distract it. The beast roared in frustration, swiping at the pup, but the agile creature dodged effortlessly.
Xuian activated Phantom Step, his body becoming intangible for a brief moment as he closed the distance between himself and the Reaver. He aimed for its chest, where the Core of Stability was faintly glowing, but the Reaver's shadowy tendrils lashed out, forcing him to retreat.
[System Notification]
Ability Activated: Phantom Step. Cooldown: 30 seconds.
The Reaver swung its blades again, this time generating a wave of dark energy that surged toward Xuian.
"Not today," Xuian said, summoning his specters.
A group of spectral warriors materialized before him, their ethereal shields absorbing the brunt of the attack. The remaining energy dissipated harmlessly against his cloak.
"Time to test your limits," Xuian said, dashing forward again.
Breaking the Illusions
As Xuian engaged the Reaver, the battlefield began to shift. The ground beneath his feet warped, twisting into an endless abyss, and the Reaver's form multiplied into dozens of identical copies.
[System Notification]
Illusion Field Detected: Abyssal Maze. Effect: Distorts perception and multiplies enemy forms. Countermeasure: Focus on the energy signature of the Core.
Xuian closed his eyes briefly, focusing his spectral senses. The Void Wolf Pup barked, snapping at one of the illusions, but its teeth passed harmlessly through.
"Calm down," Xuian said. "The real one is…"
He turned sharply, his dagger flashing as he targeted the faint energy signature he felt. His blade struck true, slicing into the Reaver's side. The beast howled in pain, its illusions shattering.
"So you can bleed after all," Xuian said with a smirk.
The Reaver staggered back, dark energy leaking from its wound. It slammed its blades into the ground, summoning a wave of shadow tendrils that surged toward Xuian.
Pushing the Limits
Xuian activated Devourer of Domains, his own tendrils erupting from the ground to clash with the Reaver's attack. The Void Wolf Pup leapt onto the Reaver's back, biting into its shoulder and tearing away chunks of shadowy flesh.
"Hold it there!" Xuian commanded, charging forward.
The Reaver roared, swiping at the pup, but Xuian was faster. He leapt into the air, his dagger glowing with amplified energy from his Spirit Amplification Ring.
With a powerful strike, he drove the blade into the Reaver's chest, directly into the Core of Stability.
The Reaver's body convulsed, its form destabilizing as the Core cracked. Xuian twisted the blade, pouring all his energy into the strike.
"Time to end this," he growled.
With a final surge of energy, the Core shattered, and the Reaver let out a deafening roar before collapsing into a mass of shadows that dissipated into the air.
[System Notification]
Enemy Defeated: Phantom Reaver. Rewards: +3000 Abyssal Coins. Special Drop: Core Fragment of the Abyssal Reaver.
Whispering Abyss Status:
Core Claimed: Heart of the Whispering Abyss. Dimension Status: Under Xuian's control.
Claiming the Heart
Xuian approached the massive crystal hovering above the chasm. The Void Wolf Pup trotted beside him, its tail wagging slightly despite its exhaustion.
Placing his hand on the crystal, Xuian felt a surge of energy as the Heart of the Whispering Abyss responded to his presence.
[System Notification]
Dimension Claimed: Whispering Abyss. Resources Generated: 200 Abyssal Coins/hour. Defensive Units Unlocked: Phantom Lurkers (x10).
Xuian smirked as the energy of the dimension flowed into him. "Another one under my belt. Let's see who dares to challenge me now."
A New Challenger
As Xuian exited the dimension, his system chimed with an unexpected notification.
[System Notification]
Incoming Message from Crimson Tribunal Faction.
A screen appeared, revealing a figure clad in crimson armor, their face hidden behind a blood-red helmet.
"Xuian," the figure said, their voice cold and commanding. "You've stepped into dangerous territory. The Whispering Abyss was ours. Surrender it, or face the wrath of the Crimson Tribunal."
Xuian's eyes gleamed with defiance. "Come and take it, if you dare."
The screen flickered off, and Xuian turned to his Void Wolf Pup, a wicked grin on his face.
"Looks like we've got more fun ahead."
End of Chapter 10