SWALLOWING THE COSMOS.
Chapter 28: The Roar of the Abyss
Veer stood amidst the blood-soaked battlefield, his breath steady despite the exhaustion settling into his bones. The corpses of beasts littered the land, their lifeless eyes reflecting the devastation he had wrought. His body still thrummed with power, his veins coursing with renewed strength as the stolen lifespan fueled him like a raging inferno.
His mind, however, was far from the victory he had just claimed. He was still far from his goal—he needed more. More power, more years, more strength to ensure that when the next catastrophe struck, he would not just survive but dominate.
He took a deep breath, staring at the horizon. The scent of burning flesh, metallic blood, and scorched earth filled the air, but beneath it all, he could sense something—an approaching presence. His next challenge.
Just then, a sharp chime rang in his head.
[Accumulated lifespan: 900 years]
[Remaining to target goal: 600 years]
Veer clenched his fists. The next battle would bring him even closer.
The battlefield was eerily silent now, the echoes of battle replaced by the distant howls of beasts retreating into the wilderness. Veer stood amidst the ruins, his gaze unwavering as he surveyed the devastation around him. The war from the previous day had been brutal, but he had emerged victorious, and the world had watched.
Across TV screens, streaming platforms, and military surveillance networks, people had witnessed his terrifying power—the Guardian who single-handedly turned the tide of battle. Discussions ran rampant across social media, in government offices, and among military forces.
"Who is this young warrior?"
"He took down Awakening Stage beasts like they were nothing!"
"Is this the new protector of Dwarka?"
While the public hailed him as a guardian, Veer paid no heed to the growing discussions. He had a singular goal in mind: more power.
His attention snapped back to the present as the ground trembled beneath him. A low, guttural growl reverberated through the air, sending a chill down his spine. From the shadows of the ruined structures, a monstrous figure emerged.
A Level 4 Awakening Stage Beast.
The creature resembled a mutated panther, its obsidian-black fur gleaming under the faint light. Its massive frame pulsed with barely contained energy, its muscles rippling as it prowled forward. Its eyes, glowing like molten gold, locked onto Veer, assessing him as both predator and prey.
Veer exhaled slowly, loosening his stance. This was what he had been waiting for.
The beast struck first, vanishing in an instant. A blur of darkness.
Veer barely had time to react as razor-sharp claws slashed toward him, tearing through the air with devastating force. He twisted his body, dodging by a hair's breadth, but the sheer force of the attack sent shockwaves through the ruins, shattering stone and metal alike.
Fast. It's way faster than the last one.
Veer launched himself backward, flipping midair as the beast lunged again. This time, he didn't just dodge—he countered. Summoning his psychic energy, he hurled one of his flying knives straight at the creature's eye.
The beast twisted unnaturally, avoiding the attack, and before Veer could react, it was already upon him.
Boom!
The impact sent Veer skidding across the battlefield, his boots carving deep trenches into the ground. His arms throbbed from the sheer force, but he grinned.
"This one's tough."
He cracked his knuckles, his eyes blazing with determination.
Time to get serious.
Veer took a deep breath, steadying himself. His muscles tensed as he locked eyes with the beast.
The mutated panther didn't give him time to think—it lunged again, its monstrous frame blurring through the air. Veer barely had a second to react. He kicked off the ground, twisting his body mid-air to avoid the beast's deadly claws.
Shiiing!
A sharp gust of wind followed the swipe, slicing through a broken wall behind him as if it were made of paper. Veer landed, his heart pounding.
Its strength isn't just physical. Those claws cut through reinforced concrete like butter.
But he didn't have time to analyze. The beast pounced again, faster than before. This time, Veer didn't dodge.
Instead, he met it head-on.
BOOM!
The impact sent out a shockwave as Veer's fist collided with the panther's claw. The sheer force cracked the ground beneath them. Veer's arm burned from the impact, but he held his ground.
I need to weaken it before going for a kill.
With a flick of his fingers, his flying knives shot forward. Seven blades cut through the air, whistling toward the beast.
The panther twisted, its muscles rippling unnaturally as it dodged four of the knives. But the last three found their mark—one buried deep into its shoulder, another grazed its ribcage, and the last pierced its thigh.
ROOAARR!
The beast howled in fury, its golden eyes blazing with rage. It wasn't just strong—it was intelligent.
Before Veer could follow up, the panther retaliated. It slammed its paw onto the ground.
The earth cracked.
A sudden shockwave erupted outward, catching Veer off guard. The force sent him flying backward, his body slamming against a half-destroyed building.
CRASH!
Dust and debris filled the air.
Veer coughed, his vision blurred for a moment. He wiped blood from the corner of his mouth and grinned.
"This is getting fun."
The beast didn't give him time to recover. It charged forward, its movements even faster now despite its injuries.
Veer activated his psychic power. His flying knives, still embedded in the beast's flesh, trembled—then, with a sudden pull, they twisted inside the wounds.
SLASH!
The panther howled in agony as blood gushed from the fresh injuries. Its movements staggered for a moment—just the opening Veer needed.
Now!
With a burst of speed, he dashed forward. His fist glowed with immense strength as he unleashed his full power.
BANG!
His punch connected directly with the beast's skull.
The impact shattered bone.
The panther's body went stiff. A second later, it collapsed to the ground, twitching violently before finally going still.
Silence followed.
Veer exhaled, wiping the sweat from his forehead. Then, the familiar sensation washed over him—lifespan absorbed.
+200 Years
He clenched his fist, feeling the newfound energy coursing through his veins. His goal was getting closer.
But there was no time to celebrate.
As the dust settled, he could already sense another presence nearby.
Stronger.
Fiercer.
And it was coming for him.
The real battle was just beginning.
ENDOFTHECHAPTER.....
Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this chapter, check out my other novel, Restart: A Piece of Cake. Dive into an exciting time loop adventure. Available now!