A cold wind howled through the ruins, carrying the scent of scorched stone and forgotten memories. Ryojin Kurohane sat atop the broken tower, his crimson eyes gazing at the remnants of a kingdom long lost to war. Malakar.
His fingers clenched into a fist as he overlooked the shattered land below. The very soil was tainted with the blood of the past, yet no signs of life remained. Nothing but silence.
"How was I able to fight like that?" The thought gnawed at his mind. He had just defeated Darius, but something about the battle unsettled him. He fought as if he had always wielded this power—an instinct, a muscle memory buried deep within him.
The Abyss had always been a source of power, one that he could channel into his katana. But now… now that same power surged through his body like a second heartbeat, as if it had always belonged to him.
"Is this what it feels like to stand among the Abyssal Clans' Elite Five?"
Ryojin exhaled, his breath visible in the frigid air. His gaze drifted to the ruins, the remnants of Malakar's fall. One of four kingdoms lost during the Great War between the Celestial Order and the Abyssal Clans. The battle here had been ruthless, drowning the land in blood and despair.
"Is this what you call saving humanity, Veydris?"
The name whispered through his mind like a curse, dragging him back to the past—back to the Abyssal Clans' training grounds.
The camp was alive with the sounds of steel clashing, sweat dripping onto hardened earth, and the labored breaths of recruits pushing their bodies past their limits.
Ryojin wiped the sweat from his brow, his katana resting in his grip. He had long grown tired of this routine—push-ups, combat drills, swordplay. Training endlessly with no real battle in sight.
"When are we going to see real combat?" he muttered, frustration bleeding into his voice.
A sharp laugh came from behind him.
"I was just about to ask the same thing," said Sheng, a fellow recruit with spiky black hair and a sharp-toothed grin. "I want to see blood—my enemies' blood."
Darius, standing beside them, frowned. "You two are insane," he muttered. "All you think about is killing."
Sheng grinned, flexing his fingers. "And what about you, Darius? You're always talking about battle strategy. Rumor has it the Abyssal Clans are planning to attack Colonia soon."
Darius hesitated. "Colonia is ranked sixth among the ten kingdoms. Their Pact Bearers are powerful."
Sheng scoffed. "Good. I want to see how Pact Bearers die."
Darius shook his head. "You talk big, but have you even formed a pact with a spirit?"
Sheng shrugged. "I don't need one."
Darius sighed and turned to Ryojin. "What about you? Have you tried summoning a spirit?"
Ryojin hesitated. He had tried before—countless times. But no spirit had answered him.
"I don't need one," he finally said. "And don't worry, Darius. I'll be your god. I'll protect you."
Sheng snickered. "That's cute. But don't forget, I'm here too. I won't let any comrade of mine die."
Darius smiled weakly. "I guess I'm lucky to have you two… even in this nightmare of a world."
The three of them shared a laugh. It was rare to find friendship in a place like this, but somehow, they had.
The moment was shattered by a booming voice.
"Silence!"
Duvis Grana, the man in charge of training new recruits, strode into the training grounds. His piercing gaze silenced the recruits instantly.
"You've trained hard, but many of you still don't understand why we brought you here," he said, his voice heavy with authority. "Today, you will learn the truth. Enter the tent."
Ryojin exchanged a glance with Darius and Sheng before following the others.
As soon as they stepped inside, the air shifted. It was heavier—oppressive. The weight of it crushed down on them, paralyzing even the strongest among them.
"Shit," Sheng cursed, trying to move his arms. "What… what is this?"
Ryojin could barely breathe. His gaze flickered to Darius, who was trembling, sweat dripping from his face.
Then, he looked up.
Above them, five figures hovered in the air, cloaked in the very essence of the Abyss.
The Abyssal Clans' Elite Five.
They were legends—whispered in fear, their names etched into history as beings who transcended humanity itself.
Veydris, the Hollow Reaper—cloaked in shadows, his cracked porcelain mask concealing his face. His silver abyssal eyes gleamed like twin voids.
Kael Zareth, the Abyssbound Tyrant—armor fused with abyssal spikes, veins glowing crimson beneath his darkened skin.
Oris Valther, the Plaguebearer—his form shifting between flesh and liquid, abyssal corruption dripping from his every movement.
Zekiel Ra'ven, the Phantom—his body half-consumed by the void, his silver eyes gleaming in the darkness.
Sylva Nyx, the Abyssal Witch—the only female among them, her swirling abyssal eyes containing the cosmos itself.
The recruits couldn't move. They couldn't speak. They could only witness.
A voice, calm yet absolute, broke the silence.
"Do not be afraid, my children."
It came from Veydris. His presence alone made their souls tremble.
"I am Veydris, founder of the Abyssal Clans. And these," he gestured to the others, "are my closest allies. Together, we are the Elite Five."
Sheng, ever reckless, was the first to break the silence. "Are you even human?"
Darius paled. "Sheng, shut up!"
But Ryojin spoke next, his voice steady. "He's right. What are you?"
A deep chuckle rumbled from Kael. "Feisty ones this year."
Veydris tilted his head slightly. "We are human… but we have surpassed human limits. The power we wield is not ours alone—it is the will of the Nexus Abyss."
"The Nexus Abyss?" Darius echoed.
Sylva Nyx chuckled. "I like these recruits."
Veydris continued, his silver eyes gleaming. "The Nexus Abyss is where all realms converge. It is an infinite wellspring of power. But to enter it sacrifices must be made."
A tense silence followed.
Darius swallowed. " sacrifices?"
Veydris' voice was low. "Yes, like the way we sacrificed those of you who were unworthy. Their lives were offered to Aulaff, the Great Spirit, so that he could open the Nexus Abyss. All this was done for the great of humanity."
Ryojin clenched his fists. "So we were kidnapped. Forced to kill each other, you sacrificed some of us. And you call it 'saving humanity'?"
Veydris nodded solemnly. "Sacrifice is necessary for a race to prosper my child. The gods and demons have dictated our fate for too long it's only a matter of time before they decide to be rid of us.If we want to stand a chance against them we must unite the ten kingdoms—peacefully if we can… by force if we must."
He looked down at them. "Together, we will bring eternal peace to this world."
The recruits roared in unison.
Back on the ruined tower, Ryojin's expression darkened.
"The Elite Five…" he muttered. "You abandoned this world after one defeat. How pathetic."