The Abyss Sentinel roared.
The sound thundered through the ruined street, shaking the broken buildings around them. Even the smaller monsters stopped moving, retreating several steps away from their towering leader.
Kael stood alone before the boss monster.
Rain dripped from his hair as dark energy swirled faintly around his hand.
Behind him, Daniel shouted nervously.
"Kael, that thing is a boss monster! You can't fight it alone!"
Kael didn't turn around.
"I know."
The Abyss Sentinel stepped forward.
Each movement of its massive body made the ground tremble. Its red eyes locked onto Kael like a predator studying its prey.
Another system message appeared.
[Boss Engagement Detected]
Abyss Sentinel
Level: 12
Kael let out a slow breath.
"I guess there's no turning back now."
The monster suddenly attacked.
Its enormous claw swung downward with terrifying force.
Kael reacted instantly.
"Shadow Step."
Darkness swallowed him.
He vanished just before the claw struck the ground.
BOOM!
The pavement shattered where he had been standing.
Kael reappeared several meters away.
Even so, the shockwave nearly knocked him off his feet.
"Yeah… that would have killed me."
The Abyss Sentinel turned toward him immediately.
It was faster than its massive size suggested.
Kael clenched his fist.
Black energy gathered around his hand again.
The system window flashed.
[Abyss Echo Active]
Kael raised his arm and released the energy.
A wave of dark power shot forward like a blast of compressed shadows.
BOOM!
The attack struck the monster's chest. The Abyss Sentinel staggered slightly.
But it did not fall.
Daniel stared in shock from the side of the street.
"He actually pushed it back…" The boss monster roared again.
This time, it rushed forward.
The ground shook violently beneath its steps.
Kael narrowed his eyes.
Too fast.
The creature's massive claw swept toward him again.
Kael dodged to the side, but the wind pressure alone sent him sliding across the wet pavement.
His metal pipe slipped from his hand.
It clattered loudly on the ground.
Kael clicked his tongue.
"Great."
The Abyss Sentinel raised its claw again.
This time— Kael had no weapon.
The monster's shadow covered him completely.
Daniel shouted desperately.
"Kael!"
The claw began to fall.
Then—
The crimson system window flashed violently.
[Critical Condition Detected]
Another message appeared instantly.
[Emergency Evolution Available]
Kael's eyes widened.
"…Evolution?"
The system continued.
Condition: User is facing a boss-level threat.
Option: Temporarily evolve the skill Devour.
Kael didn't hesitate.
"Do it."
The moment he accepted—
Black energy exploded around his body.
The shadows on the street began twisting violently.
Daniel stepped backward in shock.
"What the—?!"
Another message appeared.
[Skill Evolution Activated]
Devour → Abyss Devour
Kael felt a terrifying hunger surge through his chest.
It was not physical hunger.
It was something deeper.
A desire to consume power itself.
The Abyss Sentinel's claw crashed downward.
But this time— Kael did not move.
Instead, he raised his hand.
Dark energy gathered in his palm.
Then it exploded outward.
BOOM!
The monster's claw was forced backward.
For a brief moment, the boss monster actually stopped moving.
Daniel's eyes widened.
"He blocked it…"
Kael slowly stood up.
The shadows around him moved like living creatures.
His eyes glowed faintly in the darkness.
"…Now that's more like it." The Abyss Sentinel roared in anger.
But Kael smiled.
For the first time since the battle began—
The boss monster was no longer the only terrifying thing on the battlefield.
The Abyss was answering him.