Chapter 87: The Abyss Crawler’s Remnant

I could feel the weight of the void pressing down harder with every step. The darkness seemed thicker here, almost tangible, and the blue orb overhead cast an eerie glow on the jagged terrain. My body ached from the endless battles, but the pull of the fourth Rotten Bone drove me forward.

Then, I saw it—the final pedestal.

The fourth Rotten Bone rested there, glowing with a faint crimson light. But it wasn't unguarded.

Before the pedestal crouched a creature unlike any I had faced. The Abyss Crawler's Remnant was smaller than I had expected, barely the size of a large wolf, but its presence was suffocating. Its body was sleek and sinewy, its razor-sharp claws gleaming like obsidian. Its eyes burned with malice, glowing like two molten embers in the darkness.

The creature hissed, a guttural, ear-piercing sound that made my void body shiver. The air around it seemed to warp, as though reality itself bent to its will.

"This is no ordinary foe," the Void Demon said, its voice echoing in my mind. "The Abyss Crawler's Remnant holds a piece of the void soul. You must be precise. Do not falter."

I clenched my fists, summoning Void Step into my legs. "I've come too far to back down now."

The Abyss Crawler's Remnant didn't wait. It lunged at me, its claws slicing through the air with terrifying speed. I barely dodged, using Void Step to vanish and reappear a few feet away.

Its claws struck the ground where I had stood, carving deep gashes into the terrain. The force of the attack sent a shockwave rippling outward, nearly throwing me off balance.

The creature turned, its ember eyes locking onto me. It moved faster than anything I had fought before, closing the distance in an instant. I raised my arms to block, but its claws slashed through my defenses, sending me sprawling to the ground.

Pain seared through my void body as I rolled to my feet, blood dripping from a deep gash across my side. I gritted my teeth, the Void Demon's voice cutting through the haze of pain.

"Channel Void Step into your hands. You must form the mark."

I focused, drawing the energy of Void Step away from my legs and into my palms. A strange warmth spread through my hands, and a black, clover-like mark began to form on my skin.

The Abyss Crawler's Remnant hissed again, charging at me with unrelenting ferocity. This time, I met its attack head-on.

The black clover mark flared to life as I dodged the creature's claws, countering with a punch that sent a shockwave rippling through the air. The force of the blow staggered the remnant, but it recovered quickly, lunging at me with renewed rage.

Its claws came dangerously close to my throat, but I activated Void Step at the last second, appearing behind it. With the clover mark glowing brightly, I drove my fist into its back, sending it crashing into the ground.

The creature snarled, its ember eyes blazing as it rose to its feet. It moved in a blur, darting around me and striking from every angle. I could barely keep up, using Void Step to dodge its attacks and counter when I could.

Each strike of its claws sent shockwaves through my body, but I refused to back down. I focused on the clover mark, channeling all of my void energy into a single point.

The Void Demon's voice echoed in my mind. "Now, Ash! Finish it!"

The Abyss Crawler's Remnant lunged at me one last time, its claws aiming for my heart. Time seemed to slow as I stepped forward, my hands glowing with void energy.

With a shout, I drove my palm into its chest, the black clover mark flaring with an intense light. The creature let out a guttural roar as the energy surged through its body, tearing it apart from the inside.

In a final burst of void energy, I delivered a decisive blow, splitting the creature in half. Its body crumbled into dark mist, the air filling with the sound of its fading roar.

I stood amidst the dissipating mist, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath. My void body was battered and bruised, but I had won.

Ahead of me, the pedestal glowed with an otherworldly light. I approached it cautiously, my senses still on high alert. As I picked up the fourth Rotten Bone, a surge of energy coursed through me, strengthening my void body and filling me with a sense of accomplishment.

The Void Demon's voice echoed in my mind once more. "You've done well, Ash Xyren. The first trial is complete, but your journey is far from over. Prepare yourself for what comes next."

I clenched the Rotten Bone in my hand, determination burning in my chest. "I'm ready," I whispered, the weight of my victory settling over me.

As the light from the pedestal faded, the landscape around me began to shift. The blue orb above seemed to pulse, casting strange patterns across the ground. I knew this was just the beginning.

With the four Rotten Bones in my possession, the next phase of the trial awaited. And I would face it head-on, no matter what lay ahead.