The air twisted violently, rippling with unnatural energy as a crimson rift split the fabric of space before Ren.
From within, black tendrils of mana leaked out, crackling like living lightning. The buildings around the rift groaned, their glass windows shattering from the sheer pressure.
Ren's grip on his sword tightened.
This wasn't a simulation.
This was real.
[Warning: Unscheduled Dungeon Rift Detected]
[Analyzing…]
[Classification: A-Rank Dungeon]
[Threat Level: High]
Ren raised an eyebrow. A-Rank?
His last battle had been against a B-Rank Phantom of Astaroth, and that had nearly killed him.
A real A-Rank dungeon? Alone?
This might be a problem.
A single pulse of mana erupted from the rift.
And then—the first monster stepped through.
A twisted beast emerged from the darkness, its body hunched over like a rabid predator.
It was massive, nearly twice Ren's size, with thick, shadow-coated armor fused to its flesh.
Its face was elongated and featureless, save for its six glowing red eyes, locked onto Ren.
Its claws were razor-sharp, pulsating with dark energy.
[Identifying…]
[Name: Abyssal Hound]
[Rank: A]
[Strength: Extreme]
[Speed: High]
[Threat Level: Critical]
Ren exhaled slowly.
More growls echoed from the rift.
Three more Abyssal Hounds stepped forward, their bodies moving in perfect synchronization.
They were hunting him.
Ren smirked.
"Then let's play."
The Abyssal Hounds attacked simultaneously.
Ren vanished.
[Skill Activated: Blink Step]
In a flash of violet light, he teleported sideways, just as the first beast's claws raked through empty air.
He reappeared above it, mid-air, and brought down his sword—
[Skill Activated: Phantom Blade]
SHHHK!
The first strike carved through the beast's shoulder.
The afterimage slash followed an instant later, cutting even deeper.
[Direct Hit!]
[Abyssal Hound HP: 73%]
The beast howled in rage, twisting its body unnaturally to snap its fangs toward him.
Ren blinked again, reappearing behind another Hound.
Before it could react, he drove his sword downward.
[Skill Activated: Void Edge]
The blade sliced effortlessly through its armor, cutting through bone and sinew as if it weren't even there.
[Critical Hit!]
[Abyssal Hound HP: 40%]
The wounded Hound recoiled, but Ren wasn't done.
He pivoted, twisting mid-motion to follow up with another Void Slash.
SHHHK!
The black mist that composed the creature's form split apart, its armor useless against the spatial cut.
[Abyssal Hound Eliminated!]
One down.
Three to go.
The remaining Abyssal Hounds changed tactics.
They spread out, circling him, their movements more fluid, more intelligent.
Ren narrowed his eyes.
They're learning.
[Enemy AI Adapting: Combat Efficiency Increased]
One feinted left while another lunged forward.
Ren blinked straight up, narrowly dodging both attacks.
But the third Hound anticipated his move.
It leaped into the air after him, claws glowing with black flames.
Ren had nowhere to dodge.
But he didn't need to.
[Skill Activated: Phantom Blade]
SLASH-SLASH!
His first strike clashed against the Hound's claw—
The afterimage strike bypassed its defense, slicing into its throat.
[Critical Hit!]
[Abyssal Hound HP: 22%]
Ren landed lightly, adjusting his stance as the wounded Hound crashed to the ground, twitching.
It wouldn't be getting up.
The last two Abyssal Hounds remained.
Ren could see it in their eyes.
Fear.
They had started as hunters.
But now, they realized—they were prey.
Ren exhaled, gripping his sword.
His mana surged, his aura warping the space around him.
The Abyssal Hounds roared, charging forward for a final desperate assault.
Ren vanished.
[Blink Step Activated]
He reappeared behind the first, slashing its spine open with Phantom Blade.
Before the second could react, he blinked again, appearing right in front of it.
It was too late to dodge.
[Skill Activated: Void Edge – Full Power]
Ren's sword glowed with condensed void energy.
With a single clean stroke, he severed the beast in half.
The two halves fell to the ground, dissolving into black mist.
[Abyssal Hound Eliminated!]
[Abyssal Hound Eliminated!]
Silence.
The dungeon was cleared.
Ren exhaled.
He had won.
[System Alert: Dungeon Cleared!]
[New Reward Available]
A small floating orb of deep violet light appeared in front of Ren.
He narrowed his eyes.
"What the hell is this?"
[You Have Acquired: Abyssal Core]
[Effect: ???]
Ren reached out—
The moment his fingers touched it, his vision darkened.
A voice—deep, ancient, filled with power—whispered inside his mind.
"You are not bound by fate. You walk the path of the forgotten.
Take this power… and carve your own legend."
[System Notification: Unique Evolution Path Unlocked]
Ren's eyes widened.
Far Away… The Celestial Order Reacts
In the Celestial Spire, the Council watched the battle unfold.
They had expected him to die.
Instead, he had grown stronger.
And now… he had something more.
The cloaked figure at the center of the council clenched their fists.
"He is progressing too fast. This cannot be allowed."
Astaroth, watching from the side, smirked.
"Oh? So you are afraid."
The Celestial Council was silent.
Astaroth chuckled.
"Good. You should be."