Into the Abyss
The air was thick with tension, and a sense of unease loomed in the air as Jihwan stood over the remains of the Light Eater. His body was battered, his energy almost depleted, but the victory was his.
Yet something felt wrong.
The dungeon had fallen silent, but the absence of noise created an even more oppressive atmosphere. His senses were heightened. His instincts screamed at him that there was something more to this place—something lurking just beneath the surface.
[HP: 60/100]
[Stamina: 40/100]
[Creator of Light]
A weapon that felt strangely familiar in his hands, pulsating with energy that was different from anything he had ever experienced before. It was as if the weapon itself had a will, a purpose. The blade was glowing softly with a silvery hue, almost as if it was calling to him.
Jihwan gripped it tighter. His newly gained power should have made him feel invincible, but the weight of what lay ahead pressed on him like an iron shackle.
He glanced around, the dungeon's walls closing in, as if the world itself was watching him.
Then he felt it—the unmistakable presence of more creatures nearby, waiting for their turn. But these were not like the others. This felt… different.
[Cursed Watcher activated]
Jihwan closed his eyes briefly, allowing his senses to expand. The ability had become second nature by now, filling his mind with the faintest outlines of the monsters that stalked the dungeon. But it wasn't just monsters this time. There was something deeper—a malevolent force waiting, watching.
[Skill Activated: Cursed Watcher]
[Remaining Duration: 24 Hours]
Suddenly, from the shadows ahead, he saw a silhouette. The figure was tall, its body cloaked in darkness, and as it emerged from the shadows, Jihwan's eyes widened. It was unlike anything he had faced before.
[Stage 3 Boss: The Abyssal Warden]
The monster's body was a mixture of shadow and mist, with glowing red eyes that pierced through the darkness. It had no clear form, shifting constantly, but Jihwan could feel its power. This wasn't a creature born of this world—it was something far older, something from a place beyond his understanding.
[HP: 2000/2000]
[Attack: 150]
[Defense: 120]
The Abyssal Warden's presence alone was overwhelming, and Jihwan could feel the very air around him grow heavier. He stepped back, realizing that this was no ordinary battle. He would need everything he had to survive.
He raised the Creator of Light, his newly acquired weapon pulsing with an energy he didn't fully understand. But one thing was certain: this weapon was powerful, and it was the key to surviving the abyss that awaited him.
The Abyssal Warden moved with unnatural speed, its tendrils reaching out like whips of darkness, and in the blink of an eye, it was upon him. Jihwan reacted instinctively, using his Silent Throw to launch a barrage of blades toward the creature's shadowy body.
But the attacks passed through the Warden like smoke, doing little to harm it.
[Skill Activated: Shadow Immunity – All Shadow Attacks Negated]
[Cursed Watcher: Sense of Danger Intensified]
Jihwan cursed under his breath, realizing the creature could not be attacked by traditional means. He needed to think faster, to adapt to this new enemy.
He took a deep breath and adjusted his stance, using Shadow Walk to reposition himself behind the Warden. The creature's red eyes flicked toward him, anticipating his move.
This was a battle of patience, of strategy. He couldn't afford to rush in blindly. With a grunt of effort, Jihwan activated his Shadow Walk again, this time focusing on the creature's vulnerabilities.
Suddenly, the Abyssal Warden roared, summoning a vortex of darkness around it. The ground trembled as an immense force pressed against him, pulling at his body like a tidal wave.
[Skill Activated: Abyssal Pull – All Targets within 10m are Pulled]
Jihwan felt his body resisting the pull, but it was too strong. He had no choice but to face it head-on.
[HP: 40/100]
His body was barely holding on, but he couldn't stop now. He had to strike. He leaped into the air, using his Silent Throw skill to launch a devastating barrage of energy-infused daggers straight at the Warden's glowing red eyes.
The Warden shrieked as the blades hit their mark, but it was far from finished.
[HP: 1200/2000]
The Abyssal Warden retaliated with a violent blast of dark energy, sending Jihwan crashing into the walls. His body slid to the ground, barely conscious.
[HP: 10/100]
[Stamina: 20/100]
Jihwan's vision blurred, his consciousness teetering on the edge of blackness. But then, something deep within him stirred—something primal. He couldn't let this be the end. Not now.
[Cursed Watcher: Amplification Activated]
The dark energy coursing through his veins suddenly surged, and he felt the power of the Creator of Light grow stronger. He gritted his teeth, pushing himself to his feet, ignoring the pain as he summoned every ounce of willpower he had left.
The Abyssal Warden was still charging up for another attack, but Jihwan's hand shot out, and he threw his weapon at the Warden's heart, using all his remaining strength to push through the final attack.
Time seemed to slow as the weapon flew through the air, glowing brighter with each passing second. The Warden's eyes widened as the blade pierced its core.
The darkness shrieked as it was consumed by the light, and the Warden's form disintegrated into nothingness, the shadows fading away with its defeat.
[Stage 3 Boss: The Abyssal Warden defeated!]
[EXP Gained: 1000]
[Level Up!]
Jihwan collapsed to his knees, his body battered and broken, but he had won.
[Skill Acquired: Abyssal Core – Dark Energy Amplification]
[New Weapon: Abyssal Blade]
The dungeon was silent again, but Jihwan knew better than to think it was over. This was only the beginning of a much darker path. The Abyssal Warden had been only a precursor to the true challenge waiting for him.
The true darkness had yet to reveal itself.
And Jihwan was ready.
End of Chapter