Chapter 67: Descent into the Abyss
The world around Eren pulsed, the echoes of his battle still rippling through the air. His heart pounded like a war drum, his breath ragged as he stood before the remnants of his shadowed adversary—the other version of himself. His past, his future, his potential descent into madness—all reflected in that soulless gaze that had stared back at him.
But he had won.
At least, that's what he told himself.
Yet, as the dust settled and the air grew still, an uneasy sensation slithered through his veins. His Grimoir of Infinite Malice remained open, its pages flipping on their own, whispering dark secrets he dared not listen to.
"You have surpassed a threshold… but the path ahead is treacherous."
Eren narrowed his eyes. "I never expected it to be easy."
The runes around the battlefield slowly dimmed, fading into the void. He clenched his fists, his power still simmering beneath his skin, but something felt… off. The Cursed Mana within him had swelled to an unnatural degree, almost as if it had fed on the battle itself.
His opponent had vanished, or perhaps dissolved into the abyss from whence it came. But his mind remained haunted by the image of his own face—empty, devoid of hesitation, a monster wearing his skin.
"Is that really what I could become?"
He shook his head. Now wasn't the time to dwell on such thoughts.
He needed to move.
---
A Looming Threat
Eren didn't know how long he had been inside this twisted trial. Minutes? Hours? Days? Time felt warped here, as if the very laws of reality bent to the will of something far beyond his comprehension.
Then he heard it.
A low, guttural growl.
Not just one. Dozens.
His senses sharpened as he turned, his eyes adjusting to the growing shadows at the edges of the battlefield.
Figures emerged.
Malformed creatures, their bodies stitched together by an unseen force, their eyes glowing with an eerie light. Some had elongated limbs, others had jagged, broken wings. Their movements were erratic, their presence drenched in pure, unfiltered malice.
And they were hungry.
"So the real trial begins now."
Eren exhaled, summoning his magic. The Grimoir of Infinite Malice flared to life beside him, its pages twisting, new runes forming along its ancient parchment.
His lips curled into a cold smirk.
"If you want a feast, I'll give you one."
The creatures lunged.
---
Unleashing the Abyss
The first wave came fast.
Eren twisted his body, dodging the first swipe of razor-sharp claws before countering with a blast of Abyssal Mana. The energy erupted from his palm, forming tendrils of black lightning that snared the nearest beast, ripping it apart at the seams.
But they didn't stop.
More came, climbing over each other in their desperation to reach him. Their screeches filled the air, a chorus of agony and madness.
Eren didn't hesitate.
"Dark Severance!"
A crescent of shadow energy arced through the battlefield, cleaving through a dozen creatures at once. Their bodies disintegrated, reduced to nothing but fading whispers.
Yet, for every monster he cut down, more took their place.
They didn't fear him.
They didn't know pain.
They only knew hunger.
Eren gritted his teeth. His mana reserves were vast, but not infinite. Prolonging this fight was a mistake.
He needed something stronger.
His Grimoir flipped pages on its own, responding to his unspoken desire.
And then… a name etched itself into his mind.
A spell he had never seen before.
One that whispered promises of overwhelming power.
"Abyssal Oblivion."
The air stilled.
Eren could feel it. The weight of the incantation, the forbidden energy curling around his fingertips like a living entity.
"Is this… safe?" he thought.
But safety was a luxury he could not afford.
The creatures were closing in.
He spoke the words.
A deep BOOM reverberated through the battlefield. The ground fractured beneath him, and an overwhelming void-like energy exploded outward.
The creatures froze—as if their very existence had been denied.
A wave of pure annihilation swept through the battlefield, consuming them whole, erasing them from reality itself.
And then… silence.
Not even ashes remained.
Eren's breath came heavy. He could feel it—his own power had shifted, twisted slightly, as if the Grimoir had sunk its claws deeper into his soul.
But he had survived.
And he had won.
For now.
---
Beyond the Trial
The battlefield melted away, dissolving into a sea of endless black. The world shifted again, and suddenly, Eren found himself standing in a vast hall, golden torches flickering along the towering obsidian pillars.
Before him stood a massive iron gate, runes glowing along its surface.
A deep voice echoed through the chamber.
"You have proven your worth. But the true path begins now."
Eren remained silent, his heart still pounding from the fight.
The voice continued.
"Beyond this gate lies the truth you seek. But beware, for knowledge comes with a price."
Eren took a deep breath.
He had come this far.
He wasn't about to stop now.
With a determined step, he pushed open the gate.
And stepped into the unknown.