Chapter 82: Abyssal Struggle

Jin sprinted through the cave, his heart pounding like a war drum. The air was thick with an eerie stillness, the kind that swallowed all sound. He summoned his Abyssal Powers, his form glowing with a deep, chaotic energy that pierced through the void.

There.

In the distance, a massive shadow loomed. Laplace. His grotesque form twisted and pulsed, his presence warping reality itself. Without hesitation, Jin exploded forward, his fist cloaked in destruction, and delivered a devastating punch straight into Laplace's chest. The force of the impact shattered the rocky walls around them, sending Laplace hurtling backward.

But Jin didn't stop.

He grabbed Laplace mid-air, gripping his twisted flesh, and dragged him out of the cave. The two crashed into the ocean, the force splitting the sea apart like a divine calamity. The waves roared as they descended into the abyss, their battle now raging beneath the surface.

Jin's aura crackled like a storm, illuminating the ocean depths. Laplace lurched forward with monstrous speed, his claws slicing through the water like razors. Jin dodged, twisted, and countered with a brutal knee to the monster's ribs.

Laplace chuckled, unfazed.

"You humans always search for weakness," Laplace said, his voice reverberating like an ancient curse. "It's your greatest flaw. I have no weakness."

"Everyone has a weakness. Even gods fall."

Laplace laughed. " Are comparing me with those guys that you fought ? What a nonsense. You humans have no sense."

Jin clenched his jaw. He used his telepathy power. He connected his thought to Kaelros.

" Hey Kaelros do you find anything ?" Jin was tensed and feared.

Kaelros sighed and he looked also tensed. " No.... We are finding a lot but found nothing. Even our Mana Detector didn't respond. Are you.."

Before he could say more Laplace's laughter grew louder. He raised his grotesque hand, and suddenly—

Pain.

A searing agony shot through Jin's skull. His vision blurred, his mind flooded with unbearable pressure. He realized—Laplace was severing his connection to his team.

"You stepped into my domain without permission," Laplace growled. "Let me properly… welcome your friends."

Jin's eyes widened.

Inside the cave, his friends were completely cut off.

Jin roared, forcing himself to move, but Laplace was already on him.

A slash.

Jin barely dodged, but the water around him boiled from the sheer force of Laplace's attack. He countered, driving his fist into Laplace's face, sending shockwaves rippling through the ocean. But Laplace regenerated instantly.

Their battle became a blur of devastation—each attack shook the seafloor, obliterating everything in their wake. Jin unleashed his Abyssal Fury, his Grow Ability attempting to adapt—but something was wrong.

Laplace was still overpowering him.

His ability wasn't working.

Arden, Lysander, Lia, Kaelros, and Rin stood around the womb-like structure, its grotesque form pulsating with an otherworldly glow.

"This thing… it's alive," Lysander muttered.

"Find its weakness," Arden ordered.

Lia pressed a hand against it, using her divine perception. But—nothing.

"There's no core," she whispered. "No weak spot."

Then—the liquid stirred.

Something moved.

Monsters began emerging from the dark pools, their forms twisted, eldritch, unnatural.

"We're under attack!" Kaelros yelled.

The battle inside the cave began.

Jin was slowing down. His breathing was ragged, his body covered in wounds.

Laplace grinned.

"You're breaking, Jin Shang."

Jin glared, blood dripping from his mouth.

"So what?" he spat. "You think I'll stop?"

Laplace's claw glowed with an ominous energy.

"No. But you will fall."

A final slash.

Jin felt his body being torn apart. The world spun, and the last thing he saw was the deep abyss swallowing him whole.

Laplace turned away, returning to the cave.

The battle wasn't over yet.