The city was breaking.
Entire buildings leaned at impossible angles, their foundations shattered by the clash of overwhelming forces. Fires spread across the lower districts, while the sky above had turned into a battlefield of colliding energies.
Crimson.
Void.
Abyssal.
At the center of it all—
Kael Varyn hovered mid-air.
His aura pulsed like a living storm.
Deep crimson energy swirled around him, laced with something ancient—something far more dangerous than before.
Across from him—
Abyss Herald Kaeron rose slowly from the ruins of a shattered tower.
Blood stained his lips.
But his expression—
Was calm.
"…So this is the power of the Primordial Berserker," Kaeron muttered.
Kael didn't respond.
His eyes glowed faintly.
Not just with rage—
But clarity.
"I understand now," Kael said quietly.
Kaeron tilted his head.
"…Do you?"
Kael raised his hand.
Crimson energy condensed.
But unlike before—
It didn't surge wildly.
It stabilized.
Controlled.
"…This power isn't just destruction."
His gaze sharpened.
"It's domination."
Kaeron smiled faintly.
"…Good."
"…Then show me."
The air exploded.
Kael vanished.
BOOM!
He appeared in front of Kaeron, fist already moving.
Kaeron reacted instantly—
Blocking—
But—
CRACK!
The impact shattered the air itself.
Kaeron's arm bent unnaturally as he was driven downward—
BOOOOOOM!
He slammed into the ground below, creating a massive crater that swallowed the remains of the street.
Kael descended slowly.
Each step he took in the air sent ripples across the battlefield.
Kaeron pushed himself up.
"…You've surpassed your previous state."
Kael landed.
"…And I'm still not done."
Behind them—
Zarek Voidborn stood facing the two remaining Umbraxis warriors.
His breathing was steady.
But his eyes—
Were different.
"…Guess I can't get left behind."
The two enemies charged him simultaneously.
Zarek exhaled.
"…Fine."
He raised his hand.
Void energy gathered.
But then—
It changed.
Darkness twisted—
Condensed—
And split into two opposing forces.
Black—
And something even darker.
System Alert
Unknown Evolution Detected
Zarek smiled faintly.
"…Void… wasn't my limit."
His aura erupted.
"Null Domain."
Everything around him—
Stopped.
Sound.
Movement.
Energy.
For a brief moment—
Reality itself froze.
Then—
CRACK.
Both Umbraxis warriors were erased.
Not destroyed.
Erased.
As if they had never existed.
The domain collapsed instantly.
Zarek dropped to one knee.
"…Yeah…"
"…That takes a lot out of me."
Back to Kael—
Kaeron had seen it.
For the first time—
His expression shifted.
"…Two anomalies."
Kael smirked.
"Yeah."
"…Bad day for you."
Kaeron exhaled slowly.
"…No."
His aura surged again.
"…A necessary one."
The ground beneath him cracked open.
Dark energy rose like a pillar into the sky.
"…You've confirmed it."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"…Confirmed what?"
Kaeron looked directly at him.
"…That the seal is weakening."
The sky above them tore open.
A massive rift formed—
And beyond it—
Darkness.
Endless.
Alive.
Kael felt it instantly.
That presence.
Far beyond Kaeron.
Far beyond anything he had faced.
"…That's…"
Kaeron spoke calmly.
"…An Abyssal Sovereign."
Silence fell across the battlefield.
Even Zarek froze.
"…You're joking."
Kaeron shook his head.
"…No."
The rift pulsed.
Something on the other side—
Moved.
Kael clenched his fists.
"…You're not opening that."
Kaeron smiled.
"…Not today."
Kael paused.
"…What?"
Kaeron's aura began to fade.
"…This was never about victory."
The realization hit instantly.
"…You were testing me."
Kaeron nodded.
"…And now we have our answer."
The rift began to close slowly.
But not completely.
A crack remained.
Small.
But stable.
"…The next time we meet," Kaeron continued,
"…it will not be me you face."
Kael stepped forward.
"…You're not leaving."
He moved instantly.
But—
Kaeron raised his hand.
Darkness enveloped him.
"…Prepare yourself, Primordial."
His body began to dissolve into shadow.
"…The war has already begun."
"WAIT—!"
Kael's punch tore through the space—
But hit nothing.
Kaeron was gone.
Silence fell.
The battlefield stilled.
The sky slowly began to clear.
But the damage—
Remained.
Zarek stood up slowly, looking at the fading rift.
"…That thing…"
"…It's real."
Kael didn't answer.
He stared at the crack in the sky.
That small—
Unclosed—
Fracture.
"…Yeah."
His aura slowly faded.
"…And it's coming."
The system pulsed one final time.
Main Quest Updated
Objective: Prevent the Awakening of the Abyssal Sovereigns
Time Limit: Unknown
Kael clenched his fist.
"…Then I'll get stronger."
He turned.
"…Before they do."
Far beyond their world—
Something stirred.
Watching.
Waiting.
Smiling.