Ahead, a massive obsidian gate slowly creaked open. From within came a low, rhythmic chant, layered with endless, venomous wails.
"This… might be the gate guarding the Abyssal Heart," Killua said, scanning the surroundings with sharp caution.
Ryker nodded. The Plunder System immediately began analyzing the ancient runes carved into the gate.
[ Trait Prompt: Abyssal Trial — Initiated ] [ Condition: Pass Three Dark Trials to Proceed ]
"So that's how it is," Ryker said. "We don't get through without proving ourselves."
The four exchanged a glance. Then stepped forward. No hesitation.
Beyond the gate was darkness. Endless. Only a single pillar of light stretched forward, guiding their path.
As they advanced, the light shifted and the trials began.
First Trial: The Labyrinth of Fear.
They were separated instantly. Ryker fell into a void of darkness. Around him, countless souls — the ones he had plundered — screamed through him. Memories surged like a flood. Pain. Regret. Echoing endlessly.
"Don't forget… You possess the Infinite Trait Plunder System."
The System's voice cut through the chaos. Ryker inhaled sharply. His will hardened.
"Trait—Will of Fortitude."
Lightning erupted. A barrier formed. The illusions shattered.
Elsewhere, Killua moved like a streak of light, cutting through phantoms with precision and speed. Gon endured, broke through, and pushed forward with sheer resolve. Biscuit stabilized herself, crushing her inner demons with veteran control.
One by one, they regrouped.
Second Trial: The Trial of Power.
A colossal dark beast emerged. Mountain-sized. Its body covered in shadow scales, radiating violent Nen fluctuations.
"Plunder it," Ryker ordered. "Now."
Trait Fusion ignited. Lightning and shadow condensed into lethal blades, tearing toward the beast's core. The battle was brutal. Relentless. But in the end, the creature fell.
[ Plunder Successful: Shadow Beast — Dark Armor ] [ New Trait: Shadow Defense ]
Ryker felt his core surge again. Stronger. Denser. More stable — and yet closer to the edge.
Third Trial: The Ultimate Trial of Will.
No battlefield. No enemy. Only invasion.
The will of the Dark Continent itself descended into Ryker's mind. It sought to consume him. Overwrite him. Turn him into part of its system.
Ryker's entire body trembled.
"Rule Reversal—Abyssal Seal!"
He forced the power outward, resisting the corruption. The System erupted. Trait count surged. Energy spiked to its absolute limit.
"I won't yield!"
The roar tore through his consciousness. From his chest, the Lightning Core detonated with blinding brilliance. Light surged. Darkness shattered.
Silence.
The trial ended. The space stabilized.
Ryker stood there, breathing heavily. Alive. In control.
The four regrouped. Wounded. Exhausted. But unbroken.
"The secret of the Dark Continent… It lies within the Abyssal Heart."
Ryker's voice was steady.
"Next—we end this."
In the distance, it awakened. The Abyssal Heart. A vast, star-like core suspended in warped space. Darkness and light intertwined within it. Pulsing. Breathing. Watching.
The pressure intensified. The air itself became suffocating. The System flared with urgent alerts.
[ Energy Fluctuation: Maximum ] [ Action Required: Immediate Engagement ]
"Gon. Killua. Biscuit." Ryker turned to them. "This will be the most dangerous fight yet."
They nodded. No fear. Only resolve.
Ahead, the space twisted further. Reality fractured into overlapping layers. An impossible dimension.
At the center, the Abyssal Heart awaited.
Read ahead with 30+ chapters now with daily updates!
@patreon.com/Authorizz