The moment Kael's strike landed—
The world shattered.
Darkness erupted from his hand like a storm unleashed, crashing into the unknown entity with overwhelming force. The impact split the ground beneath them, sending cracks racing through the ruined street like lightning frozen in stone.
BOOOOM—!!
For a brief moment, everything disappeared into black.
Then—
The darkness cleared.
The entity… hadn't moved.
Kael hovered midair, his arm extended, shadows still writhing violently around him. His attack had landed perfectly—direct, concentrated, enhanced by Abyss Devour.
And yet—
"…No damage?"
His voice was low.
Careful.
For the first time since gaining his powers—
He felt resistance.
The creature slowly tilted its head.
Not in pain.
Not in anger.
But in… curiosity.
"You have grown."
The voice echoed again, pressing against Kael's mind like a weight.
Heavy.
Ancient.
Endless.
Kael clicked his tongue.
"…You talk too much."
He vanished.
Shadow Step.
Reappearing behind the entity, Kael struck again—this time faster, sharper, aiming for its core.
The shadows condensed into a blade.
A single, precise strike—
CLANG.
The sound rang out like metal striking something indestructible.
Kael's eyes widened slightly.
"…It blocked it?"
The entity hadn't even turned.
One arm had simply moved backward—
Catching his attack with effortless precision.
Then—
It grabbed him.
"—!"
Kael's body froze for a split second.
That was all it needed.
BOOM!!
He was slammed into the ground.
The street collapsed beneath him, forming a crater as debris exploded outward in every direction.
Dust rose.
Concrete shattered.
Rainwater surged into the broken earth.
From a distance, the Hunters watched in horror.
"…He's getting overpowered…"
"No… that's impossible…"
Daniel clenched his fists.
"…Kael…"
Inside the crater—
Kael coughed.
Blood filled his mouth.
"…Tch…"
That hurt.
A lot more than anything before.
The system reacted instantly.
[Critical Damage Detected][Regeneration Activated]
Warmth spread through his body.
Healing.
Repairing.
But slowly.
Too slowly.
Kael pushed himself up.
His body felt heavier.
Slower.
"…So this is the difference…"
The entity stepped forward.
Each movement deliberate.
Measured.
Like it had no reason to rush.
"Return."
The word echoed again.
Demanding.
Unyielding.
Kael wiped the blood from his mouth.
"…I already said no."
The shadows around him surged violently.
Responding to his will.
To his anger.
"No one takes what's mine."
The system flared.
[Emotion Amplification Detected][Abyss Echo Resonating]
The air changed.
The shadows thickened.
Darker.
Heavier.
More real.
The Hunters felt it immediately.
"…What is this…?"
"The mana density is increasing…"
"No—it's not mana—"
Kael stepped out of the crater.
Slowly.
Calmly.
But something about him had changed.
His eyes—
They weren't just glowing red anymore.
They were… deeper.
Like looking into something endless.
"…Let's try again."
He moved.
Faster than before.
This time—
The entity reacted.
Their clash shook the entire battlefield.
Blow after blow collided in rapid succession.
Each strike carried enough force to destroy buildings.
Each impact sent shockwaves rippling through the air.
Kael adapted.
Quickly.
Every movement sharper.
Every decision faster.
But the entity—
It wasn't just strong.
It was learning.
It matched him.
Adjusted.
Countered.
"…So you can adapt too."
Kael smirked faintly.
"…Good."
The fight intensified.
The ground beneath them collapsed further.
Streetlights fell.
Cars were crushed like paper.
Rain evaporated upon contact with the energy surrounding them.
From afar—
It no longer looked like a battle.
It looked like two forces of destruction colliding.
Then—
The entity raised its hand.
The air distorted.
Kael's instincts screamed.
He vanished instantly.
Shadow Step.
A fraction of a second later—
The space where he had been exploded.
BOOOOM—!!
A massive crater replaced it.
Deep.
Wide.
Utterly destroyed.
Kael reappeared several meters away.
His breathing heavier now.
"…That would've killed me."
The entity lowered its hand.
"You resist."
Kael laughed softly.
"…Of course I do."
But inside—
He knew.
This couldn't continue.
At this rate—
He would lose.
The difference wasn't just strength.
It was something more fundamental.
"…Then I just have to close the gap."
The system flickered.
As if reacting to his thoughts.
[Condition Met][Unique Evolution Path Available]
Kael's eyes widened slightly.
"…Now?"
Another message appeared.
[Abyss Core Synchronization Recommended]
The core.
The one he had stored.
The one this entity wanted.
Kael hesitated.
Just for a moment.
Then—
He smiled.
"…Guess I don't have a choice."
The shadows around his hand opened.
The Abyss Core reappeared.
Pulsing.
Alive.
The moment it appeared—
The entity reacted violently.
For the first time—
It moved without control.
"RETURN IT."
The pressure exploded.
The ground cracked further.
The air screamed.
But Kael didn't back down.
"…No."
He crushed the core into his chest.
BOOM—!!
Darkness exploded outward.
The system went wild.
[Synchronization Initiated][Warning: Unknown Consequences][Warning: Identity Instability]
Kael's body convulsed.
Pain surged through every nerve.
Every cell.
Every part of him.
"…AGH—!!"
He dropped to one knee.
His scream echoed across the battlefield.
The shadows around him lost control.
They lashed out violently, tearing through the ground, the air, everything nearby.
The Hunters retreated instantly.
"…What is happening?!"
"He's going insane!"
Daniel shook his head.
"…No…"
He stared at Kael.
At the darkness consuming him.
"…He's evolving."
Kael's vision blurred.
Darkness filled everything.
Voices whispered.
Countless.
Endless.
"Consume…""Devour…""Become…"
He gritted his teeth.
"…Shut up…"
The voices grew louder.
"You are us.""You belong to the Abyss."
Kael's hand trembled.
His mind fractured.
Then—
He remembered.
Rain.
Cold nights.
Hunger.
Survival.
His name.
"…I am…"
The darkness surged.
Trying to overwrite him.
Consume him.
"…Kim Kael."
The system flickered.
Violently.
"…No—"
His eyes snapped open.
Now fully red.
"…Kael Draven."
BOOM—!!
The explosion that followed—
Shook the entire city.
Darkness expanded outward in a perfect sphere.
Swallowing everything.
Then—
Collapsing back into him.
Silence.
Absolute.
The rain stopped.
Midair.
Frozen.
Time itself seemed to hesitate.
Kael stood.
Slowly.
His appearance had changed.
His hair—darker.
Almost black with faint crimson strands.
His eyes—
No longer just glowing.
They were… alive.
Burning.
The shadows around him weren't just following him anymore.
They obeyed him.
Completely.
The system stabilized.
[Synchronization Complete][New State Unlocked][Abyss-Touched Player]
Kael exhaled.
Slowly.
"…That feels… better."
The entity stood still.
Watching him.
For the first time—
It didn't move.
"You have crossed the boundary."
Kael looked at it.
Calm.
Unshaken.
"…And now?"
Silence.
Then—
The entity lowered its head.
Slightly.
"…Interesting."
Kael smiled faintly.
"…Let's finish this."
The next moment—
Both of them disappeared.
And the real battle began.
Far away—
Beyond the Gates.
Beyond the world.
Something watched.
And for the first time—
It reacted.
[The anomaly has evolved.]
Back in the ruined city—
The balance had already collapsed.
And this time—
There was no going back.