Chapter 131: The Absolute Dark
Chapter 131: Chapter 131: The Absolute Dark
Chapter 131: The Absolute Dark
Nyx stepped across the ancient threshold. The massive stone gateway ground shut behind her, sealing out the deafening roars of the Miasma beasts.
The interior of the Phantom-Weaver tomb was breathtaking. Eerie, glowing purple crystals jutted from the cavern walls, casting long shadows across the smooth stone floor.
Nyx looked at the walls. Glowing murals stretched as far as the eye could see across the circular cavern. They depicted a forgotten history of the world.
The murals showed towering Giants, elegant Elves, fierce Beastmen, master arcane Dwarves, and the shadow-dwelling Phantom-Weavers. They had come through cosmic rifts to save humanity from the invading King-Level Beasts.
But the final panels revealed a dark, sickening truth. Normal humans did not betray these saviors. The Cultists of the Eternal Eclipse poisoned the grand alliance.
The Church sealed the rifts out of pure greed to steal the otherworldly artifacts, forcing the benevolent species into the subterranean dark to slowly rot.
’Well, it is not surprising seeing the current state the Humanity has reached! The Cult ruined everything,’ Nyx thought, gripping her obsidian daggers tightly.
---
Outside the massive gateway, the Miasma Gorge was a chaotic warzone.
Hundreds of mutated, Level 90 beasts charged through the toxic gray fog. The ground trembled under the weight of the endless horde.
"Shield wall!" Bram roared loudly. He planted his boots into the dirt and raised his heavy shield. His skin hardened into thick titan-stone, channeling his giant legacy.
CLANG!
A massive Razor-Hound slammed into Bram. The giant boy gritted his teeth, holding the line perfectly against the immense physical weight.
"Cover him!" Aegon shouted, thrusting his Blood Fire Spear. Boiling flames erupted from the tip, melting the beast’s thick armor.
Reina followed up immediately, swinging her High-density Ice Core Axe to shatter the weakened plating with absolute zero temperatures.
Lucien darted through the gaps, his Thunder Rapier delivering thousands of volts into the monster’s exposed flesh.
"Ranged support, fire!" Estella commanded. She unleashed a concentrated beam of stardust magic while Natalie fired a volley of sensory-guided arrows. They fought with flawless Vanguard rotation tactics, systematically shifting aggro to stay alive.
On the opposite side of the valley, Draven stood completely still. He did not draw his sword. He didn’t use one.
Draven opened his coat. A tiny, obsidian-black head poked out from his collar.
Astraxion, the Baby Void Dragon, crawled onto Draven’s shoulder. The hatchling possessed glowing neon purple eyes and a bladed tail. It let out a tiny, high-pitched roar.
’You need work if you want to grow stronger! Time to feed,’ Draven thought.
Draven activated his SS-Rank [Vector Manipulation]. He isolated the kinetic force of a charging, four-ton Miasma bear. He brought his hand down sharply.
CRACK!
The bear’s spine violently snapped under the localized gravity well. The beast collapsed to the dirt, its health bar dropping to exactly one point.
"Feast," Draven ordered.
Astraxion leaped from Draven’s shoulder. The tiny dragon opened its jaws and unleashed [Void Flame].
A blast of dark red lightning and black fire completely incinerated the crippled bear. Astraxion landed on the ashes and immediately activated [Devour], absorbing the massive pool of energy.
[System Alert: Summoned Pet ’Astraxion’ has leveled up to Level 5.]
[System Alert: Summoned Pet ’Astraxion’ has leveled up to Level 12.]
Draven walked forward calmly. He casually crushed the knees and spines of every Level 90 monster that approached his flank. Astraxion swooped behind him, stealing every single kill.
The baby dragon was riding the ultimate experience bus. Within minutes, Astraxion’s aura spiked heavily as he hit Level 23.
---
Deep inside the glowing purple temple, Nyx reached the center of the cavern.
A swirling mass of black fog materialized in front of her. It slowly formed into the shape of a tall, imposing man cloaked entirely in shadows.
"Well, well, well," a raspy, maniacal voice echoed through the cavern.
"A human rat has found my domain. How utterly unpleasant! OH! It’s a woman as well! Cherry on top!"
The Guardian floated closer. He lacked a physical face, but his killing intent was suffocating. He was a psychopath who reveled in murder.
"I created a flawless art of death," the Guardian laughed, a twisted sound that grated on Nyx’s nerves.
"I kill for the sheer joy of watching the light fade. But I look into your soul, little girl, and I do not see the joy of murder. You do not have the madness that I have! I see a pathetic desire to protect your friends. What are you?! Some kid playing Hero, who wants to save the World!"
Nyx tightened her grip on her daggers.
"A woman playing soldier," the Guardian spat with absolute disgust.
"Women belong in the kitchens, tending the hearths. You do not belong in the dark. An assassin who wants to protect is a joke. Assassins are the tools used for killing! They do not need these useless emotions to operate! My Legacy can only be obtained by certain individuals and to my luck it is a Woman! Oh Lord! I cannot believe it!"
"I will show you exactly what I am," Nyx stated coldly.
"No," the Guardian sneered maliciously.
"I will show you the absolute dark reality that this world is enveloped in. Your vessel has the talent and power to contain my Legacy but your existence as a woman is just stain to my Legacy! But I have no choice because I cannot be freed from this place unless I pass it down to someone and I do not have the patience to wait for another century waiting for it to be a Man! So, I will bestow a chance upon you to obtain this legacy of mine! Let us see if your fragile female mind shatters."
The Guardian snapped his fingers.
The glowing purple crystals instantly died. Nyx was plunged into a darkness so absolute it felt like thick liquid. She could not even see her own hands in front of her face.
Then, the ambient noise of the cavern vanished entirely. Her hearing was erased. She could no longer hear the shifting of her leather boots or her own breathing. It was terrifying silence.
Finally, the cold air against her cheeks faded away. Her skin went completely numb.
Nyx was trapped in a sensory void. Panic immediately spiked in her chest. She swung her daggers blindly, desperate to find an anchor in the endless nothingness.
SLASH.
A sharp pain erupted across her ribs. She was bleeding. But she did not see the blade. She did not hear the footsteps. She did not even feel the steel cut her skin until the warm blood started flowing down her side.
"Did you really think eyes were necessary?" the Guardian’s sexist, mocking voice materialized directly inside her mind.
"Human eyes are easily blinded by lies and light. You must abandon your humanity to survive me. I shall make you the perfect vessel to contain my power, girl! Get ready!"
Nyx stumbled backward in the silent dark.
SMASH.
An invisible fist struck her jaw, throwing her violently to the stone floor.
"Stand up, kitchen maid!" the Guardian laughed in her head.
"Learn my art, or die like a blind rat in a trap! What?! Angry that a dead spirit is calling you all kinds of mean things?! Get used to it! Because you will hear them all your life! If you are not strong, then it doesn’t matter. Everyone dies when there’s a knife in the head!"
Nyx spat blood onto the unseen floor. She forced herself to stand up in the terrifying silence. The brutal training had just begun.