(Samuel's POV)
The fortress puld with a sickening aura, a blackened husk of stone and corruption. The deeper I ventured, the more suffocating the presence of the Abyss beca. The air was thick, heavy with whispers that scratched at my mind, promising power, tempting to succumb.
I smirked. "Nice try."
Unlike Baron, I didn't need to beg the Abyss for power. I was already stronger than anything it could offer.
I clenched my fists, feeling the weight of my Gauntlets of Abyss, dark tal infused with the very energy I sought to destroy. The irony wasn't lost on —using the Abyss's own tools against it.
Ahead, at the heart of the fortress, a massive pulsating core of swirling darkness lood. It was alive, tendrils of void energy stretching outward, feeding power to the entire stronghold.
This was Baron's anchor. His lifeline.
Destroying it would cripple him.
But, of course, it wouldn't be that easy.
The mont I stepped forward, a deep, guttural voice echoed from the shadows.
"You dare defile the Abyss?"
From the darkness, three monstrous figures erged, towering over . Their bodies were twisted abominations—fused with the Abyss itself. Blackened veins pulsed under their armor, their eyes void of light.
Abyssal Guardians.
One of them, a hulking brute with jagged claws, grinned. "We will feast on your soul."
I rolled my shoulders, exhaling slowly. "You're welco to try."
The Battle Begins
The first Abyssal Guardian lunged, claws shrieking through the air. I ducked, feeling the wind of the attack barely miss my head.
I countered imdiately, slamming my gauntlet-covered fist into its gut. The impact cracked its armor, sending it skidding backward.
But it didn't fall. It just grinned. "Pathetic."
Tendrils of Abyss energy snaked from its body, latching onto the broken ground. The wounds healed instantly.
Tch. Regeneration.
The second Guardian—leaner, faster—appeared behind in an instant. Before I could react, it drove a shadowed spear through my side.
Pain flared, but I gritted my teeth. No ti for weakness.
I grabbed the spear with my bare hands, crushing it into dust with the raw power of my Gauntlets of Abyss.
"Nice trick. My turn."
I took a deep breath, my chest burning with power, and unleashed Breath of Destruction.
A wave of pure annihilation erupted from my mouth, tearing through the second Guardian. It didn't even have ti to scream before its body was obliterated.
The remaining two hesitated.
"What's wrong?" I smirked, wiping blood from my lips. "Not so eager anymore?"
The third Guardian, taller than the rest, let out a monstrous roar. Its body expanded, pulsating with Abyssal power, the veins beneath its armor glowing violently.
It was evolving.
"Oh, for fuck's sake—"
Before I could finish, it was on .
The brute swung, and I barely managed to block with my gauntlets, the impact sending shockwaves through the chamber. I retaliated, slamming my knee into its chest, but it barely flinched.
I jumped back, dodging another swipe—only for the first Guardian to grab from behind.
Its claws dug into my shoulders, Abyssal energy burning into my flesh.
"You cannot fight us forever, Heavenly Demon."
I grinned through the pain. "I don't need forever. I just need a second."
My gauntlets pulsed, absorbing the Abyss energy.
Then I twisted violently, breaking free.
I drove my fist straight through the Guardian's chest, my gauntlet ripping out its heart in one brutal motion.
It gasped, black blood spewing from its mouth. "Im...possible..."
I yanked my fist free and crushed the heart in my palm. The Guardian collapsed instantly, lifeless.
The last one stared at in horror.
"Your kind should not have this power!" it roared.
I tilted my head. "That's the difference between and you. I take power—I don't beg for it."
I raised my fist, and with one last devastating punch, I caved in the final Guardian's skull.
Its body crumpled.
The Abyss was silent.
Destroying the Anchor
I turned to the pulsating Abyssal Core, still feeding power to Baron.
It whispered to , dark and seductive.
"You could be a god... take our power... rule this world..."
I smirked. "I already am a god. You? You're just a parasite."
I clenched my fists, the Gauntlets of Abyss burning with dark energy.
Then I punched the core.
Once. The chamber trembled.
Twice. The whispers turned to screams.
One final blow.
The entire core shattered, a wave of destruction ripping through the stronghold.
The Abyss wailed, its energy collapsing in on itself.
I staggered back, breathing heavily, watching as the once-mighty source of Baron's power crumbled into dust.
I let out a breath. "It's done."
Then, from the collapsing ruins, a voice bood.
"So. You destroyed my anchor."
The ground shook violently, and from the darkness, Baron's form erged.
His body was no longer human. No longer demon. He had fully rged with the Abyss.
Glowing red eyes. Charred black skin. Veins pulsing with unnatural power.
He smiled, his voice dripping with malice.
"A pity, Samuel. If only you had joined , you wouldn't have to die."
I cracked my knuckles, smirking. "That's funny."
I stepped forward, rolling my shoulders.
"Because the only one dying here... is you."
The ruins of the Abyssal Core smoldered behind , its destruction sending shockwaves through Baron's stronghold. The air crackled with dark energy, remnants of the power he had stolen.
And there he stood. Baron.
Or whatever he had beco.
His body was twisted beyond recognition—a fusion of flesh and Abyss, veins pulsating with a sickening glow. His red eyes burned with malice, his grin stretching unnaturally across his face.
"A pity, Samuel," he sneered. "If only you had joined , you wouldn't have to die."
I cracked my knuckles, smirking. "That's funny." I took a step forward, rolling my shoulders. "Because the only one dying here... is you."
Just then, a flash of golden light erupted beside .
Henry had arrived.
Henry landed gracefully on the cracked stone, his golden armor slightly bloodied from his earlier battles. His sword was still dripping with ichor, his eyes sharp and filled with fire.
He glanced at , smirking. "Took your ti, huh?"
I scoffed. "Had to clean up the trash first."
Henry then turned to Baron, his smirk fading. "Before we kill you, there's sothing I want to ask."
Baron chuckled, tilting his head. "Curious, are we? Fine. Indulge ."
Henry's expression darkened. "Why? Why betray the Demon King? Why rge with the Abyss, knowing it would consu you?"
Baron's grin widened, his voice dripping with madness.
"Betrayal?" He let out a slow laugh. "You think I betrayed him? No... the Demon King is a relic. A fool who clings to a broken throne. I did what he was too afraid to do—I embraced true power."
His body pulsed, dark energy rippling through his veins.
"The Abyss does not consu. It transforms. It elevates. And now, I stand beyond gods and demons alike!"
Henry exhaled, shaking his head. "You sound just like every other power-hungry fool we've crushed."
Baron snarled. "And you sound like a man who doesn't understand his place."
His aura flared violently, the ground beneath us cracking under the sheer weight of his presence.
"Enough talk. Co then, 'Heaven's Wing.' 'Heavenly Demon.' Show if you are truly worthy of facing ."
The final battle had begun.
And only one of us would walk away alive.
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