Into the Abyss of Strength

Zami stood at the edge of the chamber once more, facing the Wailing Dread. The air was heavy, vibrating faintly with the creature's ominous energy. Its multiple crystal eyes glinted, fixed upon him, and the distorted mouth stretched open as if grinning in mockery.

The echoes of his past failures pressed on his mind, but Zami's expression remained cold and emotionless. He tightened his grip on the katana, its blade faintly shimmering with the Bone Monarch shard's residual energy.

"Your persistence is amusing," the Wailing Dread rasped, its voice a jagged, echoing cacophony. "Do you truly believe this time will be any different?"

Zami didn't reply. Instead, he inhaled deeply, his body entering *Flow State*.

The chamber's atmosphere shifted instantly. The world around him slowed, the sound of dripping water fading into silence. His silver eyes focused solely on the Wailing Dread's movements—each twitch of its segmented arms, the faint flicker of light in its crystals, the subtle shifts in its stance.

The Wailing Dread lashed out, its twin scythes spinning in arcs of destruction. Zami moved like a shadow, sidestepping with precision and deflecting the scythes with calculated angles. Sparks flew as the katana met the crystalline edges, redirecting the deadly weapons back toward the creature.

The first scythe rebounded, grazing one of the Wailing Dread's crystalline arms. A crack formed, faint but present.

"Impressive," the creature hissed, its distorted mouth curling. "But you'll need more than tricks to defeat me."

Chains erupted from beneath its cape, snaking toward Zami with blistering speed. He leaped backward, narrowly avoiding their grasp, and retaliated with a *Pierce*—the katana's tip breaking the sound barrier as it shot forward. The blade struck one of the chains, severing it with a resounding crack.

Before he could recover, phantom snakes surged from the Wailing Dread's cape, their translucent forms coiling and snapping at him. Zami spun, activating *Arrow Flow*. His body became a blur as he executed a 360-degree kick, the force scattering the spectral creatures into wisps of energy.

Yet the Wailing Dread remained unfazed, summoning more snakes and raising its scythes for another assault. Zami deflected one scythe into the other, causing a jarring collision that momentarily staggered the creature.

Taking advantage of the opening, he launched into a combination of techniques: *Hawk Drop*, his foot slamming into the ground to destabilize the creature; *1-In Various Punch*, his fist delivering rapid, precise strikes to its torso; and *Blood Cell Explosion*, igniting his katana in a fiery burst.

The flames licked at the Wailing Dread, shattering some of the crystals embedded in its arms. But even as its form cracked and faltered, its energy surged.

"Foolish mortal," it intoned, spreading its cape wide. "You cannot hope to match the strength of a vessel."

The high-frequency sound it emitted this time was deafening, shattering the ground beneath Zami's feet. Blood trickled from his ears, but his focus never wavered. He used *Muscle Tension Break* to absorb the vibrations and lunged forward with *Stab Technique*.

The blade plunged into the creature's chest, the Bone Monarch shard amplifying its destructive force. The Wailing Dread recoiled, its distorted wail echoing through the chamber.

But it wasn't enough.

The creature retaliated with a surge of chains, binding Zami's limbs and dragging him toward its open maw. Its scythes spun wildly, poised to strike.

Despite the imminent danger, Zami's voice was calm, almost a whisper. "You're strong." His silver eyes sharpened. "But I'll die as many times as it takes to destroy you."

Summoning the last of his strength, he activated *Precision Strike*, directing all his power into a single blow. His katana cleaved through the chains, but the Wailing Dread's scythe struck him in return, carving deep into his torso.

Zami collapsed to the ground, his vision darkening. His blood pooled around him as the Wailing Dread loomed overhead, its distorted laughter echoing in his fading consciousness.

And then, he opened his eyes again.

The chamber reset once more, the Wailing Dread standing tall and unscathed. Zami's body was whole, but the memories of his defeat burned vividly in his mind.

Karesh's voice resounded in his head, calm but pointed. "You're improving, but it's still not enough. You must surpass yourself, Zami."

Zami's grip tightened around the katana. His cloak, still stained with blood, hung heavy on his shoulders. He exhaled slowly, his voice low and steady.

"This time," he murmured, his silver eyes narrowing. "You'll fall."