Chapter 6: Into the Abyss

**Chapter 6: Into the Abyss**

The air was thick with tension as Darren stood before the swirling Abyssal Rift, his heart pounding in his chest. Dark tendrils of energy writhed within the tear, pulsing with a malevolent force that threatened to pull him in. He could feel the oppressive weight of the Abyss bearing down on him, whispering promises of power and freedom from weakness.

Behind him, the other hunters watched in stunned silence, their faces pale with fear and uncertainty. Darren had barely survived his last encounter with the Abyss, and now, here he was again, standing on the edge of the unknown, about to take a step further into its depths.

"You don't have to do this," Captain Hwang said, his voice tight with concern. "We can find another way."

Darren shook his head, his gaze never leaving the rift. "There is no other way. If we don't close it, more monsters will come through. We won't make it out alive."

He could feel the pull of the Abyss inside him, stronger than ever. His body ached to embrace it, to let the power flow through him once more. But the system's warnings echoed in his mind, reminding him of the corruption that came with it.

*Corruption Level: 3%*

It was rising, slowly but surely, with every use of the Abyssal power. Darren had no idea what would happen if it got too high, but he wasn't eager to find out.

"I can control it," he muttered, more to himself than to the others. "I have to."

Joon stepped forward, his face twisted in a mix of fear and anger. "You're insane! That thing will eat you alive, and then we'll all be dead. You've already let that dark power in once—you're a liability!"

Darren flinched at the accusation, but he knew Joon wasn't entirely wrong. The Abyss was dangerous. Every time he used its power, he felt the darkness creeping further into his mind, twisting his thoughts. But this wasn't about choice anymore. It was about survival.

Captain Hwang stepped in between them, his voice firm. "Enough. Darren's right. We need to close this rift, and he's the only one who has a chance of doing it."

Joon opened his mouth to protest, but the captain silenced him with a look. "We'll stay back and support him from here. If it looks like things are getting out of control, we'll pull him out. But right now, this is our only option."

Darren nodded, grateful for the captain's trust. He wasn't sure he deserved it, but there was no time to second-guess himself.

Taking a deep breath, Darren stepped closer to the Abyssal Rift. The tendrils of dark energy seemed to reach out for him, as if sensing his presence, as if recognizing him. The voices in his head grew louder, their whispers becoming a cacophony of demands.

*Embrace us…*

*Accept the Abyss…*

*You are one of us…*

Darren clenched his fists, trying to block out the voices. He focused on the rift, letting his Abyssal power stir within him. The dark energy responded immediately, surging through his body like a tidal wave. It was both exhilarating and terrifying, the raw force of it threatening to consume him entirely.

But this time, Darren didn't resist it. He couldn't. If he wanted to close the rift, he had to embrace the darkness, even if only for a moment.

As the power coursed through him, the rift began to react. The tendrils of energy flared, twisting and writhing violently as if sensing Darren's intent. The whispers in his head grew louder, more insistent.

*You cannot resist…*

*You are ours…*

Darren gritted his teeth, focusing all his willpower on controlling the energy. He reached out, his hands glowing with Abyssal light as he directed the power toward the rift. The tendrils lashed out at him, trying to pull him in, but Darren held firm.

The rift began to pulse, its edges flickering as if struggling to stay open. Darren pushed harder, channeling more of the Abyssal energy into the tear. The darkness inside him surged, threatening to overwhelm his mind, but he fought it back.

*Corruption Level: 5%*

The system's warning flashed in his vision, but Darren ignored it. He didn't have time to worry about the corruption now. He was so close—he could feel the rift starting to close.

Suddenly, the voices in his head changed. They weren't just whispering anymore—they were screaming.

*No!*

*You are ours!*

The rift flared violently, and a wave of dark energy exploded outward, knocking Darren off his feet. He hit the ground hard, the breath knocked from his lungs. For a moment, everything went black.

When Darren opened his eyes, the rift was still there, pulsing with dark energy. But something had changed. The tendrils of Abyssal power were now coiling toward him, moving with purpose, as if they had finally decided to claim him.

Captain Hwang's voice rang out from behind him. "Darren! Get back!"

Darren tried to stand, but his body felt heavy, weighed down by the Abyssal energy coursing through him. The darkness in his mind was stronger now, more insistent.

*Submit to us…*

*You cannot fight…*

The tendrils reached for him, wrapping around his arms and legs, pulling him toward the rift. Panic surged through Darren as he struggled against the pull, but the Abyss was too strong.

"No!" Darren shouted, his voice trembling with fear. He couldn't let the Abyss take him—not now, not after everything.

But just as the darkness seemed ready to swallow him whole, a surge of raw power erupted from deep within him. It wasn't the Abyssal energy—it was something else, something *brighter*. The tendrils recoiled, hissing as if in pain, and Darren felt the weight on his mind begin to lift.

[New Skill Acquired: Abyssal Resistance (Level 1)]

The system's notification appeared in front of him, and Darren felt a surge of hope. He didn't know how, but he had unlocked a new ability—one that gave him a fighting chance.

Summoning every ounce of strength he had left, Darren pushed back against the rift. The Abyssal energy within him responded, but this time, it was under his control. He focused on the tear in reality, forcing it to close.

The rift flickered, its edges trembling, and then, with one final pulse of dark energy, it snapped shut.

The dungeon fell silent.

Darren collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath. The weight of the Abyss was still there, lingering in the back of his mind, but for now, it was quiet.

He had done it. He had closed the rift.

Captain Hwang and the other hunters rushed to his side, pulling him to his feet. "Are you alright?" the captain asked, his voice filled with concern.

Darren nodded weakly, though his body felt like it was made of lead. "Yeah… I think so."

Joon, still looking wary, glanced at the now-sealed rift. "What the hell just happened?"

"I don't know," Darren admitted. "But whatever it was… it's not over."

He looked down at his hands, the faint traces of Abyssal energy still flickering around his fingers. The darkness was still inside him, and it wasn't going away.

*Corruption Level: 7%*

The system warned him again, but Darren pushed it aside. He had gained control for now, but he knew the Abyss would be back. And next time, it wouldn't be so easy to resist.