The Heart of Darkness
Chapter 10: The Heart of Darkness
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The ground beneath Kai and Selene trembled as the labyrinth began to shift. The walls groaned under an unseen force, and Kai felt a growing sense of unease. Something was waking within the maze, something dark, something powerful.
"Master, we need to move quickly," Selene's voice rang out with urgency, her usual calm now replaced by a hint of concern. Even for a beast of her power, there was something dangerous in the air.
Kai nodded, feeling the weight of the situation. He knew they were nearing the heart of this place, the source of whatever twisted the labyrinth into its current form. But as always, he trusted in Selene's strength—and his own.
Selene's presence flared with power, her form glowing with an intensity that seemed to push back the shadows around them. The labyrinth felt alive with her energy, the air thick with her celestial aura.
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System Notification:
New Beast Encounter: Abyssal Warden (S-Rank)
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A low, guttural growl echoed from the depths of the labyrinth, sending a shiver down Kai's spine. The shadows parted as a towering figure stepped into view—a colossal creature with black, spiked armor-like skin, and eyes burning with an unnatural crimson glow. The Abyssal Warden, an S-Rank beast, moved toward them with terrifying speed, its presence radiating malevolence.
Kai's breath hitched. It was far larger than anything they had encountered before, its body seemingly made of pure darkness. Its arms were long, with claws sharp enough to tear through steel, and its wings were tattered remnants of once-proud appendages.
"Selene…" Kai began, but before he could finish his sentence, Selene's icy, calm voice interrupted him.
"Leave it to me, Master," she said, her voice laced with authority. She stepped forward, her dark, spindly legs clattering with an eerie elegance against the stone floor as her form emanated the full force of her maxed-out power. Every movement she made was deliberate, like the hunter preparing to strike. "I've faced beings of far greater strength. This one is no different."
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System Notification:
Abyssal Warden Abilities:
Abyssal Crushing Strike: A devastating physical attack capable of shattering barriers and armor.
Void Rift: Creates a rift in space, distorting time and space, causing damage to anything caught within it.
Abyssal Aura: Drains the life force from enemies within a certain radius, weakening their abilities.
Rage Unleashed: Temporarily increases power and speed when enraged.
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As the Abyssal Warden raised its arms, preparing for its first attack, Selene moved with blinding speed. She vanished from Kai's sight in an instant, reappearing directly in front of the Warden, her black, ethereal legs cutting through the air like blades.
With a single motion, Selene's celestial energy surged forward, her poison-coated fangs slashing through the darkness of the Abyssal Warden's form. The creature recoiled, its body cracking as if the attack had shattered the very essence of its existence.
The Abyssal Warden roared in fury, its claws swiping through the air in an attempt to strike Selene down. But Selene, in her maxed-out state, was untouchable. She moved effortlessly, dodging the Warden's strikes with fluid grace. Her venomous fangs and sharp legs struck again, rending the Warden's body like paper.
Selene's voice rang out, filled with authority. "You are weak, and I will show you just how much."
In an instant, she unleashed a barrage of strikes, each one piercing the Warden's defenses with surgical precision. The Abyssal Warden's form began to crumble under the onslaught, its body disintegrating into dark smoke with every strike from Selene.
The beast attempted to summon its Void Rift, tearing open the fabric of space in an attempt to catch Selene off guard. But Selene's form flared with even more power, her celestial aura illuminating the dark labyrinth.
With a single motion, Selene raised her hand, and a wave of pure energy surged out, closing the rift before it could even begin to form. The force of her energy slammed into the Warden, causing it to stagger back, its very essence crumbling under the power of her presence.
"Is that all you have?" Selene asked coldly, her voice unwavering.
The Abyssal Warden, now enraged beyond measure, let out a primal roar and charged at Selene. But it was too late. With a final, blinding strike, Selene cleaved through the creature's core, her fang-like appendages cutting through the Abyssal Warden like a blade of the purest light.
The beast's body disintegrated into nothingness, leaving only the echoes of its final roar.
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System Notification:
Beast Defeated: Abyssal Warden (S-Rank)
Reward: 500 Experience Points, Abyssal Core, Rare Artifact
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Kai stood there in stunned silence as the remnants of the Abyssal Warden faded into the air, its dark power evaporating like mist in the wind. Selene, standing victorious, turned toward him with a calm expression.
"Master, the threat has been neutralized," she said softly, her aura fading back to its usual gentle glow.
Kai's heart raced as he absorbed what had just happened. Selene had utterly dominated the Abyssal Warden. "You... you were amazing," he said, his voice filled with awe.
Selene smiled faintly. "This is nothing, Master. I am at my peak. Against such weak foes, there is no challenge."
Kai, still processing the battle, felt a mix of awe and admiration for his beast. She was truly beyond anything he had expected. If this was what she was capable of, there was no limit to what they could achieve together.
But just as the labyrinth began to settle and the dark energy around them seemed to dissipate, a new, far more ominous rumble shook the ground.
Kai's eyes widened. "What now?"
Selene's expression turned serious. "Something far more dangerous approaches. We've only just begun."
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To Be Continued…
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