Ash moved swiftly through the dimly lit ruins, leaving the group behind. His mind remained sharp, replaying the brief exchange with Sunny and the others. He knew too much about them—how their stories would unfold, the trials they would endure, and the legends they would become. But for now, they were still growing, still unshaped by the horrors of the Nightmare Realm.
He couldn't afford to be entangled with them. Not yet.
His steps were silent as he navigated through the desolate remains of what had once been a stronghold. The architecture was unfamiliar, warped by time and the twisted laws of this place. The Trial was far from over, and danger lurked in every corner.
Ash's fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword. He had already taken down several powerful foes, but his instincts told him something greater awaited ahead.
A faint whisper echoed in his mind—a sensation he had begun to associate with his growing perception. Observation Haki. It was sharpening, expanding. Even without turning, he could feel movements beyond his line of sight, sense the shifts in the air. It wasn't perfected yet, but it was evolving.
Then, he felt it.
A presence.
Not just any presence—something overwhelming, oppressive. A force that made the air thick with tension.
A Nightmare Creature… but stronger.
Ash's muscles tensed as he turned a corner, and there it stood—a towering beast, its form obscured by shadow, its glowing eyes locked onto him.
It wasn't just another enemy.
It was a predator.
And it was hunting him. The creature loomed before Ash, its grotesque form shifting as if it was made of liquid darkness. Its glowing red eyes burned with an unnatural hunger, and the pressure it exuded was immense. Unlike the other Nightmare Creatures he had faced, this one was different—it wasn't just strong.
It was intelligent.
Ash slowly drew his sword, his senses sharpening as Observation Haki whispered warnings into his mind. His stance lowered instinctively, feet positioning for an immediate counter. His vision, though still hindered by his flaw, was compensated by his growing perception.
The creature lunged.
Ash reacted instantly, Phantom Rend flashing to life as his blade carved through the air with inhuman speed. The strike landed—but instead of cutting clean through, his sword barely grazed the creature's flesh.
Too shallow.
Ash's instincts screamed at him. He twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the beast's retaliatory swipe. The ground beneath him cracked as the force of its attack sent a shockwave through the ruins.
Fast. Too fast.
This wasn't an ordinary monster. It was an Apex Predator—one that had survived countless battles in this realm.
Ash exhaled slowly.
If his blade wasn't enough…
Then he'd have to change tactics.
---
The creature circled him, its monstrous form shifting with every step. It was studying him, just as he was studying it.
Ash activated Tyrant's Form.
A surge of power coursed through his body. His muscles coiled, his reflexes heightened, his speed and strength momentarily surpassing his limits. It came at a cost—his stamina would drain rapidly—but he wasn't planning on dragging this fight out.
He dashed forward.
The creature swiped at him again, but this time, he anticipated it. Observation Haki flared, allowing him to read the attack before it fully formed. He twisted his body mid-air, dodging the monstrous claws by mere inches.
Then, he struck.
Abyss Fang.
A delayed cut severed through the creature's torso—only for Ash to feel resistance. It had partially resisted the attack.
But it wasn't unscathed.
Dark ichor leaked from the wound, sizzling against the air. The beast roared, its pain translating into pure rage. The ruins trembled as it unleashed its killing intent.
Ash landed smoothly, but he could already feel Tyrant's Form draining him.
I need to end this.
The creature charged.
Ash didn't retreat.
Instead, he stepped forward.
His blade blurred.
Phantom Rend—Second Slash.
A high-speed draw-cut cleaved through the monster's weakened torso. This time, the resistance was weaker. The cut went deeper.
The beast howled.
Ash pivoted, twisting his body as he unleashed one final, decisive strike.
Abyss Fang—Final Rend.
The delayed slash erupted, severing the monster's head clean from its body.
Silence followed.
Then, the massive form of the creature collapsed, its body dissolving into the abyss.
---
Ash exhaled. His stamina was nearly depleted, his breathing heavy. But as the remnants of the creature faded, he felt something shift inside him.
A surge of power.
The familiar sensation of Sovereign of the Abyss activating.
His body absorbed the fallen predator's strength. His stats increased.
[Stat Gain:]
Strength: +4
Agility: +3
Constitution: +3
Perception: +2
Ash clenched his fist. The battle had been risky, but the rewards were worth it.
Still, he knew this was only the beginning.
The deeper he ventured, the stronger his enemies would become.
And he would have to grow even faster. Ash remained still for a moment, feeling the lingering aftershock of battle settle in his bones. His blade dripped with the fading essence of the Nightmare Creature, its remains dissolving into nothingness. His breathing steadied, the thrill of combat fading into cold calculation.
The power surge from Sovereign of the Abyss was intoxicating—his body felt stronger, his movements sharper. But he had no time to dwell on the growth. He was still deep within the Nightmare, and danger lurked at every corner.
His vision flickered slightly. The flaw from his previous trial still burdened him, distorting his depth perception. However, Observation Haki had compensated well. He could sense movements before they happened, allowing him to react even before his enemies struck.
Ash exhaled.
Time to move.
---
The ruins stretched endlessly before him, jagged stone structures piercing the dark sky. The eerie silence was broken only by the occasional echo of distant creatures roaming the desolate land.
Ash advanced cautiously, his steps soundless. His instincts told him he wasn't alone. Something else was here. Watching.
A flicker of movement.
He turned sharply, blade half-drawn—only to see a shifting shadow retreat behind a ruined pillar.
Not an attack. A test.
His fingers tightened around his sword hilt. If this thing was intelligent enough to probe him instead of rushing in mindlessly, then it was dangerous.
Ash continued forward, deliberately exposing his back. A feint.
The creature took the bait.
The second it lunged, Ash twisted, his blade flashing. Phantom Rend.
A sharp screech. The shadowy form barely dodged the attack, slipping back into the darkness.
Fast.
Ash narrowed his eyes. This wasn't like the brute he had just slain. This one was built for speed and precision.
A predator, like him.
His lips curled into a smirk.
Fine. Let's see who hunts who.
---
Ash closed his eyes for a brief moment. He let his senses extend outward, the world around him becoming clearer through his honed perception. The rustling of distant rubble, the faint shift of air currents—his target was repositioning itself, waiting for an opening.
He wouldn't give it one.
In a burst of movement, Ash dashed forward, vanishing into the ruins. He maneuvered swiftly, taking an unpredictable path, forcing the creature to adapt. He could feel its presence flickering in and out of his range, trailing him, hesitating.
It wasn't sure.
Ash smirked.
Then he stopped.
For an instant, he became perfectly still. Vulnerable.
The creature took the chance.
It struck.
But Ash had already anticipated it.
Abyss Fang.
A delayed slash carved into the air, precisely targeting the beast's movement path. The moment it materialized to attack, the invisible cut cleaved straight through its form.
A chilling shriek echoed as the monster collapsed, its shadowy body writhing before disintegrating into nothingness.
Ash watched in silence, feeling another surge of power flow into him.
[Stat Gain:]
Strength: +2
Agility: +4
Perception: +3
He flexed his fingers, feeling the subtle increase in his reaction speed. Every battle was shaping him further.
But he knew this was only the beginning.
The deeper he went, the stronger the trials would become.
And he welcomed it.