Chapter 16: The Descent Deepens

Jian's breath steadied as the oppressive silence of the cavern weighed on him. His body still throbbed from the strain of the trial, his Corruption levels slowly creeping upward, but the Pendant of Resonance around his neck seemed to ease some of the mental pressure. As the cavern doors ahead creaked open, the faint glow of an ethereal light beckoned him forward.

"That was too close," Jian muttered to himself, adjusting his Abyssfang Blades as he turned toward his clones. "Prepare for anything. We don't know what's waiting next."

His clones nodded silently, their expressions stoic and unwavering. They were becoming more attuned to the Abyss' power, their own resistances growing as they adapted to the atmosphere.

The tunnel ahead was narrow, its walls coated with a slick, oily substance that made Jian's footing precarious. With each step, the Abyss seemed to whisper, its dark influence thickening. The deeper they descended, the more the air grew heavy, the pressure pushing against their minds and bodies. Jian could feel his Corruption level climbing steadily again, despite the pendant's effects.

[Nexus Warning: Corruption Threshold Reached – 50%] Effects: Significant mental interference. Stamina regeneration is halved. Offensive skills lose efficiency.

Jian gritted his teeth. "At this rate, I won't be able to rely on my full strength much longer."

He pushed forward, focusing on the task at hand. The walls began to pulse faintly, the Abyssal energy within them practically vibrating with malevolent intent. As they continued, the passage narrowed until they found themselves standing at the precipice of a deep chasm.

At the center of the chasm, floating serenely on an ethereal platform, was a single, large stone door. It was engraved with intricate runes and symbols, pulsing with a strange, ominous light.

Jian could sense that the door was more than just a barrier—it was a test. The kind of test the Abyss always loved to throw at him. But the question remained: what was beyond that door?

Before he could consider his next move, a voice reverberated through the chasm, chilling him to the bone.

"Intruder... you dare challenge the Abyss?"

A massive, serpentine form emerged from the shadows, its eyes glowing with an eerie red light. The creature, unlike anything Jian had faced before, seemed to be a fusion of shadow and pure Abyssal energy, its body shifting and twisting like liquid darkness. Its massive form slithered through the air, its movement almost hypnotic.

[Nexus Alert: Entity Detected] Name: Abyssal Serpent, Kaltharos Rank: Legendary HP: ??? (Indeterminate) Skills: Abyssal Surge, Vortex of Despair, Soul Devourer Threat Level: Extremely High Warning: Contains massive regenerative capabilities. Weaknesses unknown.

"So this is the next trial," Jian murmured, analyzing the creature through his Nexus System. "A Legendary-ranked beast, huh? Well, let's see if it lives up to the hype."

Kaltharos let out a hiss that echoed through the chasm, sending ripples of dread through Jian's body. He could feel the pressure mounting, the Abyss' influence intensifying around him.

The serpent opened its jaws, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth, and released a blast of dark energy in Jian's direction. The attack was too fast to dodge, so Jian activated his Abyssal Wrath, meeting the blast head-on. The collision created an explosion of energy, throwing Jian and his clones back, but he held his ground.

[Nexus Warning: Corruption Threshold Reached – 60%] Effects: Severe mental impairment. Abilities weakened.

Jian winced as another wave of nausea hit him. The Abyss was beginning to overwhelm him, and his combat efficiency was suffering for it. But he couldn't afford to stop.

"Clones, use Formation Beta. Hold it off as long as possible," Jian commanded, already moving to engage the serpent. His clones immediately began to spread out, forming a defensive line while Jian advanced alone.

Kaltharos hissed, its massive body twisting in mid-air, and unleashed a Vortex of Despair—a swirling maelstrom of darkness that sucked in everything in its path. Jian activated Phantom Strike just in time, phasing out of the vortex's radius, but his clones weren't as fortunate. They were pulled into the maelstrom and vanished in a wisp of smoke.

"Damn it," Jian cursed. His clones' sacrifices were not in vain, but their loss still stung. "I'll finish this myself."

Kaltharos roared in triumph, sensing its victory, but Jian's eyes burned with determination. He wasn't done yet.

"Shadow Leech," Jian muttered, his Abyssfang Blades glowing with dark energy. He lunged toward Kaltharos, aiming for its exposed underbelly, but the serpent swiftly coiled around itself, its massive form undulating like a storm. The serpent's tail struck out, crashing into Jian with tremendous force. He was sent flying back, crashing into the stone wall of the chasm.

As Jian struggled to rise, the serpent's voice boomed in his mind. "The Abyss is eternal. You cannot defeat it. You are merely a fleeting spark in its infinite dark."

Jian spat blood from his mouth. "We'll see about that."

He closed his eyes, focusing all his energy on the fight ahead. His mind was clouded by the Corruption, but the Abyss was nothing if not a test of perseverance. If he could resist the Abyss' influence long enough, he knew he could break through.

He activated the Nexus System's last-ditch ability: Purifying Requiem.

A burst of holy energy erupted from Jian's body, purging some of the Abyssal corruption from his mind and strengthening his body. For a moment, everything around him seemed to slow down, the Abyss' grip loosening just enough for him to gain clarity.

With newfound resolve, Jian charged once more, his Abyssfang Blades glowing brightly as he struck at the serpent's scales. Each hit felt like he was cleaving through solid stone, but Kaltharos was regenerating too quickly. Jian had to act fast.

He recalled the Abyssal Core in his inventory. "This... this might be my only chance."

The Core pulsed in his hand as Jian held it up, the energy swirling violently within. With a deep breath, he hurled the Core directly at Kaltharos. The Core exploded upon contact, releasing a massive burst of Abyssal energy that overwhelmed both the serpent and the chasm.

Kaltharos let out a deafening scream as the explosion engulfed it, its body disintegrating into pure shadows. The ground beneath Jian cracked and shattered as the aftershock rippled through the area, but Jian held onto his footing.

For a long moment, silence reigned.

[Nexus Update: Trial Complete] Rewards: Abyssal Core Shard (Legendary), Corruption reduced by 30%, EXP +500,000

The serpent was gone, its form dissolved into the Abyss, leaving nothing behind but the eerie calm. Jian's breathing slowed, his body bruised and battered, but he had triumphed.

As the chasm began to close, the stone door in the center began to shimmer and glow. The next trial awaited.

Jian wiped the sweat from his brow. "I can do this. Just a little further."

With his clones' essence reinvigorating his form, he stepped through the door.

End of Chapter 16