Abyssal.

[Shadow Eye Activate]

"Arghh! Help me, please!" one of the D-Rank hunters screamed, clutching his stomach as blood poured from a gaping hole. His desperate cries echoed through the chamber, but there was no mercy in sight.

Vanitas stood silently, watching the scene unfold. His dark gaze was fixed on the hunters who had mocked him earlier. 'That's what you get for looking down on me,' he thought, his lips curling into a faint, bitter smile. Beside him, Alexis and Kai trembled, their faces pale as they took in the carnage around them.

"Vanitas, w-what's happening?" Alexis stammered, her voice shaky with fear. She grabbed onto Kai's arm for support, her legs threatening to give out.

Moments later, the screams died down, leaving an eerie silence in the air. All the C and D-Rank hunters lay lifeless, their bodies scattered across the ground like broken dolls.

"Pathetic," Vanitas muttered under his breath. His tone was cold, detached. Without sparing the bodies a second glance, he reached into his inventory and retrieved his dagger. Its blade gleamed ominously under the faint light. He turned to Alexis and Kai. "You two, stay here. Don't move a muscle. I'll handle this."

"But—"

"No buts," Vanitas snapped, cutting Kai off. His tone left no room for argument. "Don't question me. Just stay back."

Without waiting for a response, Vanitas bolted toward the shadow-like demon with inhuman speed, his dagger ready to strike.

"Va- Vanitas, just what are you?" Kai muttered, his voice barely audible as he watched the fight unfold. The magical energy radiating from both combatants was overwhelming, making it hard to breathe.

"Is that all?" the monster sneered, its voice deep and guttural. It easily parried Vanitas' strike, its movements almost lazy, as though mocking him.

Vanitas narrowed his eyes and vanished into thin air, only to reappear behind the creature. 'Got you...' he thought, gripping his daggers tightly. He aimed for the creature's back, but the monster spun around and blocked the attack effortlessly.

'What?' Vanitas thought, stunned.

"Slow," the monster taunted.

With a single step, the creature retreated 20 meters, its eyes locked on Vanitas. For the first time, it spoke in a voice filled with curiosity. "You're different. Your presence... it's just like us."

"What the hell are you talking about? I'm nothing like you, monster!" Vanitas spat, his frustration boiling over. He dashed forward again, his daggers glinting as he aimed for the creature's throat.

As their fight intensified, the ground beneath them shattered as though bombs were going off. Dust and debris filled the air, obscuring the view.

"What... what did I just witness?" Alexis whispered, her voice trembling. She and Kai stood frozen, unable to tear their eyes away from the battle. The sheer force of the energy in the room made their knees weak.

"Is this Vanitas' true potential?" Kai wondered aloud, collapsing to the ground from the overwhelming pressure.

"Die, you bastard!" Vanitas roared, swinging his daggers with relentless fury. But no matter how fast or hard he struck, the monster was always one step ahead. It vanished again, reappearing behind him and delivering a brutal blow to his side. Vanitas was sent flying across the chamber, the impact cracking the stone floor beneath him. He coughed up blood as pain shot through his body.

'Damn it!' he thought, gritting his teeth. Quickly, he pulled a recovery potion from his inventory and downed it. The cool liquid worked instantly, mending his wounds and restoring his strength.

"I haven't even landed a single hit," he muttered, his frustration evident. "This isn't an ordinary monster... If that's the case, then I'll use this."

Vanitas reached into his inventory and pulled out a vial containing a dark, swirling liquid—Shadow Essence. Without hesitation, he consumed it. The moment the essence entered his body, a dark aura erupted around him, seeping into his skin like tendrils of shadow. A surge of power coursed through his veins.

[Successfully consumed Shadow Essence: Shadow-based skills or passives have increased.]

His daggers began to glow with an ominous light, the shadows around them almost alive.

Fueled by newfound strength, Vanitas charged at the monster again. He attacked relentlessly, his movements a blur, but the creature remained faster. It dodged his every strike with ease, its mocking laughter ringing in his ears.

But then, Vanitas saw an opening—a small, fleeting opportunity. 'His arm... the right arm!' he thought, seizing the moment. He swung his dagger with precision, slicing through the creature's arm.

The monster let out an ear-piercing roar, its voice filled with pain and fury. The sound echoed throughout the chamber, sending chills down Alexis and Kai's spines.

"Heh, look at you, growling because you've lost an arm," Vanitas sneered, his confidence growing. "Pathetic."

The creature glared at him, its remaining hand trembling with rage. "You dare... You dare to wound me!" it bellowed, its voice shaking the very ground.

Vanitas didn't respond. Instead, he focused on the Shadow marks he'd left on the creature. 'These marks will drain its energy. I just need to buy more time and land another hit.'

The monster took a step forward, and the ground beneath its feet cracked. "You think this is over, human? This is just the beginning," it growled, vanishing into thin air.

Vanitas remained calm, his enhanced Shadow Eye tracking the creature's movements. 'From the back,' he thought, spinning around just in time to block its attack.

"Not bad," the monster admitted, its tone laced with grudging respect.

"Slow," Vanitas replied coldly, driving his dagger into the creature's stomach. Another Shadow mark appeared, glowing faintly.

The creature staggered back, clutching its wound. "You... a mere weakling like you can't defeat me!" it roared, its voice filled with rage and desperation.

Vanitas smirked. 'We'll see about that,' he thought, readying himself for the monster's next move.

But the creature was faster this time. Before Vanitas could react, it delivered a powerful punch to his stomach, sending him flying once more.

"Vanitas, you can do this!"

"Don't die!"

Alexis and Kai's voices rang out, filled with desperation and hope.

The monster turned its attention to them, its eyes gleaming with malice. It began to approach, its heavy footsteps echoing ominously.

Vanitas, who had been thrown across the chamber, forced himself to his feet. His body ached, but he couldn't let the monster reach them. Summoning every ounce of strength he had left, he sprinted toward the creature.

"No, please!" Alexis cried, tears streaming down her face. She clung to Kai, shaking as the monstrous figure loomed over them.

The creature raised its clawed hand, ready to strike. But before it could land the blow, Vanitas appeared, parrying the attack with his dagger.

"Run," he said, his voice firm. "Both of you. Get as far away from here as you can."

"Vanitas, behind you!" Kai shouted, his voice filled with panic.

Vanitas smiled faintly. Then, in an instant, he vanished.

The monster froze, its eyes darting around the chamber. 'Where is he? I can't sense his presence,' it thought, growing increasingly agitated.

High above, a shadowy figure appeared. It was Vanitas, gripping his daggers tightly. He aimed for the creature's devilish horn, his body descending like a meteor.

"Die, you pathetic monster!" he roared, his voice echoing through the chamber. With one swift motion, he sliced through the horn, severing it completely.

The monster let out a deafening roar, its body convulsing before it collapsed to the ground. The fight was over.

"You're weak after all," Vanitas muttered, his voice hoarse. His legs gave out, and he fell to his knees, breathing heavily.

A notification appeared before him.

Notification:

(Successfully Killed Abyssal Monster.)

'Leveled Up!

'Leveled Up!

'Leveled Up!

Another Notification appeared.

[Target Defeated: Abyssal Monster.]

[Shadow Mimicry Activated.]

--

End of Chapter.