Samuel's POV
The air was thick with the stench of decay as I approached the Abyss Gate, a colossal rift pulsating with malevolent energy in the heart of the Eastern Human Realm.
The ground beneath me was scorched, littered with the remnants of battles fought and lost. This was the epicenter of corruption, the threshold to the Abyssal Lord's domain.
As I stepped closer, the Gauntlets of Warden tightened around my fists, responding to the ominous presence ahead. The shadows cast by the gate seemed to writhe, forming grotesque shapes that whispered unintelligible curses.
The weight of impending confrontation pressed heavily upon me, but I welcomed it.
"Time to end this," I muttered, my voice cutting through the oppressive silence.
Crossing the threshold, I was engulfed by darkness. The world shifted, and I found myself in a desolate landscape, the sky a swirling vortex of crimson and black.
The ground was a mosaic of cracked stone and molten lava, rivers of fire snaking through the terrain.
At the center stood the Abyssal Lord—a towering behemoth with obsidian armor fused to its flesh, eyes glowing with an eerie violet light. Its presence was a maelstrom of chaos and destruction.
"So, the Harbinger of Destruction dares to challenge me," the Abyssal Lord's voice resonated, a guttural echo that seemed to vibrate the very air.
"I've come to seal the gate and end your reign," I declared, planting my feet firmly, the Gauntlets of Warden pulsating with energy.
Without warning, the Abyssal Lord lunged, its massive claw descending upon me like a falling mountain.
I activated Phantom Step, vanishing from its path and reappearing behind it. Channeling energy into my fists, I unleashed Dragon Fang Fist, striking its spine with a force that sent shockwaves through the ground.
The beast roared in pain, spinning around with surprising agility. Its tail, a spiked appendage, whipped toward me. I raised my arms, invoking Mana Fortress. The protective barrier absorbed the brunt of the attack but shattered upon impact, sending me skidding backward.
Regaining my footing, I summoned Void Spear, hurling the ethereal weapon toward the Abyssal Lord.
It pierced through its shoulder, eliciting another enraged bellow. The creature retaliated, summoning dark tendrils from the ground that lashed out, attempting to ensnare me.
Activating Shadow Dominion, I seized control of the tendrils, redirecting them to bind the Abyssal Lord.
For a moment, it struggled against its own shadows, giving me the opening I needed.
"Crimson Burst," I intoned, energy surging within me. I launched myself forward, delivering a devastating punch to the Abyssal Lord's chest.
The explosive force sent it crashing into the molten rivers, steam and fire erupting upon impact.
As the creature writhed, I knew I had to end it before it could recover. Activating Fury Overdrive, my muscles surged with power, veins coursing with raw energy.
I leapt into the air, descending upon the Abyssal Lord with Heaven's Execution, my gauntlet-clad fist glowing with blinding light.
The impact was cataclysmic. The ground quaked, fissures radiating outward as the Abyssal Lord let out a final, deafening roar before collapsing into the molten abyss. The oppressive darkness began to lift, the swirling sky calming.
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[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
Quest Completed: Legacy of the Abyss Gate
Rewards:
Title: Gatebreaker
Strength: +50
Legendary Artifact: Abyssal Core
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A surge of energy coursed through me as the system notification appeared.
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[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
Level Up!
Current Level: 175
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I clenched my fists, feeling the newfound power resonate within me. The Abyssal Core materialized before me—a pulsating gem of condensed abyssal energy. I grasped it, sensing its immense potential.
"It's over," I exhaled, the weight of the battle lifting. The Abyss Gate began to seal, the rift closing as the realm stabilized.
Turning away from the fading chaos, I knew that this victory was but a step in the relentless path of destruction and redemption that lay ahead.
________________________________________
Samuel's POV
"Tch…" I muttered under my breath, wiping blood off my gauntlets as I stood amidst the wreckage of what once was an ancient fortress deep in the heart of the Shadowed Peaks. The air still sizzled from the remnants of my Crimson Burst, and the faint glow of the Abyssal Flame flickered on what remained of the demonic beasts I'd slaughtered during Owen's ridiculous quest.
I exhaled heavily, opening my Status Window.
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[Level: 174 → 175]
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"That's it?" I snarled, glaring at the glowing digits like they were mocking me. "One level after annihilating an entire legion of cursed creatures and that overgrown Void Wyrm?"
I slammed my fist into a nearby boulder—it cracked in half with a thunderous boom. My Gauntlets of Warden pulsed faintly, still warm from battle. Their hunger for blood was far from sated.
"I need more. This won't be enough if I plan to stand toe-to-toe with Owen or Henry…"
Before the thought could finish forming, a System Notification echoed in my mind.
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[SYSTEM ALERT – WORLD QUEST UNLOCKED]
A High-Ranking Demon Lord has appeared in the Human Realm.
Name: Vael'Zeroth, the Abyssal Tyrant
Location: Forgotten Ruins, Eastern Wastes
Threat Level: SSS+
Quest: Eliminate the Demon Lord before he merges with the Mortal Core.
Reward: +3 Levels | Unique Item | Reputation Boost across All Realms
---
A grin curled on my lips.
"Well, well…" I whispered. "Looks like the universe heard my complaint."
I turned on my heel, the wind sweeping through the torn edges of my cloak. I could feel the faint pull of Heavenly Demon's Will, thrumming beneath my skin, eager, impatient. My instincts roared for battle—Predator's Instinct already locking onto the distant presence of this Vael'Zeroth.
I cracked my knuckles and muttered, "Eastern Wastes, huh?"
I tilted my head back, eyes closing for a brief moment as the surge of bloodlust steadied.
"Owen, Henry… just wait," I whispered. "Before I face either of you, I'll bring the head of a Demon Lord. And this world will remember why the name Heavenly Demon once made gods tremble."
Without wasting another second, I activated Phantom Step, vanishing from the spot—heading straight into the storm.