The air broke.
Not from impact—
But from presence.
---
The three members of the Second Circle stood still.
But their bodies…
Were changing.
---
Dark veins spread across their skin.
Their eyes glowed deeper.
Brighter.
---
The ground beneath them cracked slowly.
As if something beneath reality itself was pushing through.
---
Ruun's voice was low.
"…They're not just being controlled."
---
Karn finished it.
"…They're becoming something else."
---
Lucian grinned anyway.
"Good."
---
"Stronger enemies."
---
Rai stepped forward.
Dark energy rising around him.
---
"…Gatekeepers."
---
The three figures spoke at once.
Their voices overlapping.
Distorted.
---
"…We are the path…"
"…We are the door…"
"…We are the Abyss…"
---
The battlefield trembled.
---
Suddenly—
All three vanished.
---
BOOOOM
---
The ground exploded beneath Rai.
---
He moved instantly.
Shadow Step.
---
FLASH.
---
He reappeared behind them—
But they were already gone.
---
Ruun's eyes widened.
"…They're faster."
---
Karn blocked an incoming strike.
CLANG!
---
Lucian jumped in—
Swinging wildly.
CRASH!
---
But this time—
The enemy didn't break.
---
They countered.
Perfectly.
---
Lucian was forced back.
Sliding across the ground.
---
"…Okay."
He grinned.
"That's new."
---
Rai's eyes narrowed.
---
They weren't just faster.
---
They were reacting before movement.
---
"…Prediction…"
---
One of them smiled.
"…We see everything…"
---
"…Through the Abyss."
---
The connection pulsed.
Dark energy linking all three of them.
---
Rai raised his hand.
Dark Dominion expanded.
---
BOOOOM
---
Pressure crashed down on the battlefield.
---
The ground sank.
The air grew heavy.
---
One of the gatekeepers dropped to one knee.
---
But the other two—
Stepped forward.
---
"…Resistance increased…"
---
Ruun muttered,
"…They're adapting to your domain."
---
Rai didn't react.
---
"…Then I increase it."
---
Dark energy surged.
Denser.
Heavier.
More oppressive.
---
Cracks spread across the ground.
---
This time—
All three staggered.
---
Lucian laughed loudly.
"HAHA!"
"Yeah! That's it!"
---
Karn moved.
Fast.
Precise.
---
He struck one of them directly in the chest.
---
CRACK
---
The body broke slightly—
But didn't fall.
---
Instead—
Black energy stitched it back together.
---
"…Regeneration…"
---
Ruun's voice sharpened.
"…Same as the Ancient-class…"
---
Rai stepped forward.
---
"…Then we destroy everything at once."
---
The gatekeepers raised their hands.
---
Dark energy gathered above them.
---
The sky twisted.
---
A massive black sphere began to form.
---
"…Abyssal Gate…"
---
Lucian's grin faded slightly.
"…That doesn't look good."
---
Karn spoke immediately.
"…If that completes…"
"…something will come through."
---
Ruun's eyes widened.
"…That's not an attack…"
"…That's a summoning."
---
Rai looked up at the forming sphere.
---
His eyes turned crimson again.
---
"…Then we end it before it opens."
---
The voice inside him whispered.
DESTROY.
---
This time—
Rai didn't resist.
---
"…Understood."
---
Dark energy exploded around him.
---
Not wild.
---
Controlled.
---
Compressed.
---
All into one point.
---
His right hand.
---
The air distorted around it.
---
Lucian stepped back slightly.
"…That feels dangerous."
---
Karn nodded.
"…Very."
---
Rai disappeared.
---
Not with speed.
---
With force.
---
Reality itself seemed to tear as he moved.
---
He appeared directly in front of the Abyssal Gate.
---
The gatekeepers reacted—
Too late.
---
"…NO—"
---
"Void Strike."
---
Rai's hand pierced forward.
---
BOOOOOOOOOOM
---
The black sphere shattered instantly.
---
The explosion consumed everything.
---
The gatekeepers screamed—
Their bodies breaking apart—
Disintegrating under the force.
---
The connection snapped.
---
The Abyssal energy vanished.
---
Silence.
---
The battlefield returned.
---
Broken.
Destroyed.
But stable.
---
Rai stood in the center.
---
Unmoving.
---
Unshaken.
---
Behind him—
Lucian dropped his sword onto his shoulder.
"…Yeah."
"That's insane."
---
Karn lowered his blade.
"…He destroyed the gate."
---
Ruun exhaled slowly.
"…Before it could fully form…"
---
The system appeared.
---
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION
Second Circle Eliminated
Abyssal Gate Destroyed
Massive Experience Gained
Skill Upgraded: Void Strike Lv.2
New Skill Unlocked: Abyss Resistance
Vessel Synchronization Increased
---
Rai looked at the fading remnants of the gate.
---
His eyes returned to normal.
---
"…Still not enough."
---
Because even now—
He could feel it.
---
Far away.
---
Watching.
---
Waiting.
---
The real Abyss…
Had not yet appeared.