Chapter 91: Abyss!

Leaving the darkness of the cave behind, the three of them finally returned beneath the gray sky of the ruined world. A light rain of translucent data streams drifted lazily through the air, each strand flickering with faint digital light before dissolving into the misty atmosphere.

After spending so long underground, the sight of the open sky should have brought them relief, yet none of them immediately spoke. The three simply stood there for a moment, silently absorbing the familiar sight of the ruined city around them. Somehow, it felt as though they had been away for far longer than a single day.

Their brief expedition into the cave had contained enough danger and unexpected events to fill several weeks. They had fought through life-and-death battles in its depths, discovered an astonishing alchemy laboratory, witnessed the first cry of an artifact, and awakened entirely new abilities. Each experience had left its mark on them, not only increasing their strength but also forcing them to confront situations they had never encountered before. In just over a day, their bodies, minds, and understanding of the apocalyptic world had undergone an entirely new baptism. Even now, the memories of everything that had happened remained vivid in their minds.

Aiden eventually found an abandoned signal tower that appeared relatively intact compared to the surrounding buildings. The uppermost floor provided a wide view of the ruined city while offering enough protection from wandering monsters and other survivors that it could serve as a temporary resting point. After confirming that there were no immediate threats nearby, the three climbed to the top and settled down to recover their strength.

The wind was considerably stronger at that height, sweeping across the exposed tower and tugging at their slightly disheveled hair and clothing. It carried the cold, damp scent of rain and the faint metallic smell that seemed to permeate the ruined city. After the oppressive darkness of the cave, the open air brought with it a rare sense of clarity. For the first time since entering the underground ruins, they had enough peace to stop and process everything they had gained.

Silas leaned his tower shield against the wall before lowering himself onto the concrete floor.

The large shield made a heavy sound when it touched the ground, its surface still bearing traces of the battles they had fought earlier. Without wasting time, Silas opened his storage space and retrieved a water skin along with several portions of dry rations. He immediately began eating, taking large mouthfuls as though he had not consumed anything in days. The usually energetic man was unusually quiet as he focused on replenishing his exhausted body.

Luna, meanwhile, sat quietly beside Aiden. She held a water skin with both hands and took small, careful sips while her purple eyes remained fixed on the broken city below. Her expression was difficult to read. She occasionally blinked as she watched the distant ruins, but otherwise remained completely still, as though she were lost in thoughts she had no intention of sharing.

Aiden stood near the edge of the tower with his hands resting loosely at his sides. From his elevated position, he could see the ruined streets stretching into the distance, the remnants of buildings standing like broken teeth against the gray sky.

The city was both familiar and strange. It was the same world he had known before his rebirth, yet everything about it now seemed different. Perhaps the world itself had not changed as much as he had.

His thoughts gradually drifted back to everything that had happened since his rebirth. He remembered the initial shock of returning to a time when the apocalypse had only just begun, followed by the determination that had quickly replaced that shock.

He remembered how decisively he had seized the initiative, refusing to repeat the helpless mistakes of his previous life. He remembered the exhilaration of absorbing Soul Essence for the first time and discovering that his unique class was far more terrifying than he had initially imagined. He remembered the murderous intent that had surfaced whenever he encountered enemies connected to the people who had betrayed him in his previous life.

Yet not all of his memories were associated with bloodshed and vengeance.

He had also gained companions.

That realization caused Aiden’s expression to change slightly.

At the beginning, Silas and Luna had merely been people traveling alongside him. Their cooperation had been based on circumstance, mutual benefit, and the simple necessity of surviving in a world where isolation could easily lead to death. None of them had known how long they would remain together, and there had been no guarantee that their paths would not eventually diverge.

But that had changed.

They had fought together. They had protected one another during battles where a single mistake could have resulted in death. They had entrusted their backs to one another without hesitation and shared secrets that they would never casually reveal to outsiders. They had watched each other grow stronger and witnessed the transformation brought about by their experiences.

Their relationship was no longer that of three strangers temporarily cooperating for survival.

They had become a team.

And Aiden felt that a team forged through life-and-death experiences deserved something more than an informal understanding. It deserved an identity.

Aiden slowly turned away from the ruined city and looked toward his companions. Silas was still eating while resting against the wall, his massive frame appearing almost relaxed despite the exhaustion evident in his movements. Luna sat nearby with her water skin in her hands, her attention immediately shifting toward Aiden when she noticed his gaze.

"We’ve been fighting together for some time now," Aiden said.

His calm voice immediately attracted their attention. Silas stopped chewing and looked toward him, while Luna lowered her water skin and listened carefully.

Aiden continued after a brief pause. "When we first met, we were simply testing one another and trying to determine whether we could trust each other. Since then, we’ve fought side by side, survived dangerous situations together, and entrusted our lives to one another. After everything we’ve experienced today, I don’t think it’s accurate to call us temporary partners anymore."

Silas swallowed the food in his mouth and straightened his back slightly. Luna also raised her head, her amethyst eyes focused attentively on Aiden.

"We need a name," Aiden said.

The statement was simple, but the atmosphere on the tower subtly changed.

Aiden’s gaze became deeper as he looked at the two of them. "Not just a name for convenience, but one that represents what we’ve become. Something that belongs to all three of us. If we’re going to continue walking this road together, then sooner or later, others will know us by that name. I want it to be something our enemies remember. Something that makes them understand exactly what they’re dealing with before the battle even begins."

He paused briefly before speaking the name that had already formed in his mind.

"From today onward, our squad will be called Abyss."

The word lingered in the air.

Neither Silas nor Luna immediately responded.

The name seemed to possess a strange weight of its own. The abyss represented darkness, the unknown, and an immeasurable depth from which there might be no return. It was the kind of place where light disappeared and everything that entered could be swallowed without a trace. It also represented devouring and endless descent, concepts that strangely suited Aiden and the path he had chosen for himself.

Aiden intended to devour every opportunity that could make him stronger. He intended to crush every obstacle standing between him and his goals. Those who chose to become his enemies would eventually discover that fighting him was like standing at the edge of an abyss and realizing too late that there was nowhere left to retreat.

The name also carried another meaning. Their squad would not simply survive the apocalypse. They would eventually become known for a mysterious and ruthless style that made people hesitate before provoking them. The abyss did not need to chase its prey. It merely waited for everything to fall into it.

"Abyss..." Silas repeated, rolling the word around in his mouth.

A fierce light gradually appeared in his eyes. After thinking about it for a few seconds, his expression split into a broad grin.

"That’s a good name," he declared. "Ruthless enough, simple enough, and memorable enough. Honestly, just hearing it gives me a strange feeling."

He slapped his broad chest with one hand and laughed.

"I like it! From now on, I’m Silas the Bulwark of the Abyss!"

Luna did not respond immediately. She quietly repeated the name in her mind while looking toward the ruined city.

At first, there was a faint trace of fear associated with the word. The abyss was something dark and unknowable, something that seemed to exist beyond the reach of ordinary people. Yet beneath that fear, Luna discovered another feeling she had not expected.

Comfort.

If she belonged to the abyss, then perhaps she no longer needed to face the terrifying outside world alone. The abyss might be frightening to outsiders, but to those who belonged within it, perhaps it could also become a place of shelter.

Luna gently nodded. "Mm... Abyss."

Her voice was soft, but there was no hesitation in it.

"I love it..."

Aiden watched her for a moment before a faint trace of satisfaction appeared in his eyes. The decision had been accepted by both of them. The name that had existed only in his mind moments ago had now become the identity of their newly formed squad.