Chapter 88: Ascension

I stood in the eerie silence of the void, the Abyss Crawler's Remnant lying in two halves before me. Its dark, ethereal essence began to rise, coiling through the air like a serpent drawn to prey. My body trembled, barely holding together after the battle. The glow of the blue orb above reflected off the sweat dripping from my forehead, bathing the grotesque battlefield in a cold, otherworldly light.

The Void Demon's voice echoed in my mind. "Consume it, Ash Xyren. This is the essence of a remnant, the last fragment of a creature that once ruled the abyss. Absorb it, and your void body shall rise."

I hesitated for only a moment, then opened myself to the swirling darkness. The essence surged toward me, crashing into my chest like a wave. Pain shot through my entire body, every nerve screaming as if set aflame. My vision blurred, the ground spinning beneath me.

"Endure," the Void Demon commanded, its tone almost taunting.

I clenched my fists, my legs buckling but refusing to fall. The pain gave way to a sudden, intense rush of power. My void body surged, the strength coursing through me unlike anything I'd ever felt. I gasped, my breath ragged, as I felt my essence stabilize.

"Your void body has reached 0.001%," the Void Demon said, its tone carrying an edge of satisfaction. "Do not waste this gift."

As the pain ebbed, the man reappeared. The same ethereal figure who had cast me into this trial stood before me, his form even more imposing under the blue orb's light. His expression was unreadable, his piercing black eyes filled with an authority that demanded obedience.

"Well done," he said, his voice carrying a weight that seemed to resonate in the void itself. "Few have reached this point. You are worthy of my inheritance."

He raised his hand, and a radiant blue orb materialized in the air between us. It pulsed with a soft hum, its surface shimmering like liquid glass.

"Place the Rotten Bones inside," he instructed, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I reached into my satchel, pulling out the four grotesque, pulsating bones I had fought so hard to obtain. They felt heavier now, as though infused with the weight of every battle I'd endured. One by one, I placed them into the orb.

As the final bone disappeared into its depths, the orb began to vibrate, its glow intensifying. A beam of blue light shot out, piercing through my chest like a blade.

I screamed, my knees hitting the ground as the energy coursed through me. My void body quaked, every fiber of my being stretching, tearing, and reforming as the orb's power fused with me.

The man's voice cut through the chaos. "You are now bound to my will, the inheritor of the void's might. Bear it well, for it will either elevate you to greatness or destroy you entirely."

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### **Scene 3: The Spear's Bond**

The spear, still embedded in my chest, began to glow. Black lightning crackled along its length, the air around it warping with raw power.

"This is your weapon," the man said. "A fragment of my soul, my legacy. You are not its master yet, but it has chosen you. Prove yourself worthy."

The spear pulsed, sending shockwaves of energy through my body. I gritted my teeth, every muscle straining as I grasped its hilt. Slowly, I pulled it free, the weapon humming with a life of its own.

The moment it left my chest, the wounds closed instantly, leaving behind only a faint mark. But the spear wasn't done with me. Its energy surged into my hand, burning a black insignia into my palm—a mark of its ownership.

I collapsed to the ground, my vision swimming. Blood spilled from my mouth, but even as I coughed and retched, my body began to heal. The void energy within me stabilized, filling every corner of my being with a dark, potent strength.

As I lay there, the Void Demon's voice returned, softer this time but no less commanding.

"You are marked now, Ash Xyren. This spear is both your greatest weapon and your greatest curse. Wield it wisely, or it will consume you."

The man looked down at me, a faint smile curling his lips. "Rise, inheritor. Your journey has only just begun."

I pushed myself to my feet, the spear heavy in my hand but feeling like an extension of my arm. The blue orb above began to fade, its light dimming as the void around me grew darker.

"What lies ahead?" I asked, my voice hoarse but steady.

The man's smile widened, his eyes glinting with a dangerous light. "Ahead lies the truth of the void, the trials that will test the very core of your existence. Prepare yourself, for the void does not forgive weakness."

The man vanished, leaving me alone in the silence of the void. The spear pulsed in my hand, its energy a constant reminder of the power I now held—and the price I had paid for it.

I looked ahead, the path before me shrouded in darkness. The journey was far from over, but for the first time, I felt ready.

Clutching the spear tightly, I stepped forward, the void shifting around me as I prepared to face whatever came next.