Chapter 2: A Soul That Defies Fate

Eliam stood in the abyss, his body still shrouded in the lingering energy of his transformation. The creatures that had once sought to devour him had either been obliterated or had retreated into the depths of the void, fearful of what he had become.

The once-consuming darkness now bent to his will, no longer a prison but a force he could shape. Power coursed through his very essence, and though his soul still bore the weight of its mortality, he knew he had taken the first step toward something far greater.

But his journey was far from over.

He closed his eyes and focused, reaching deep into his being. The sensation was strange, like grasping at something that had always been there but had never been acknowledged. He could feel the presence of his newfound abilities, their potential locked behind barriers that would require effort to break.

If he was to escape this abyss and challenge the gods themselves, he needed to understand the power he had awakened.

A thought crossed his mind.

Could he see his own strength?

The moment the question formed, a golden light shimmered before him. Words burned into existence, their radiance cutting through the shadows.

[Eliam - Abysswalker]

• Soul Rank: Mortal (Awakened)

• Current Path: Abysswalker (Stage 1)

• Abilities:

• Devour the Abyss (Locked - Requires More Souls Absorbed)

• Eternal Will (Partially Unlocked - Resists Absolute Death, but Revival is Limited)

• Voidstep (Unlocked - Allows Movement Through Shadows)

• Power Level: Low-Tier Ascendant

Eliam frowned. His abilities had awakened, but they were incomplete. He needed to push further, to refine his control and grow stronger. And to do that, he had to leave this place.

He took a step forward, and the abyss shifted beneath him. The darkness, which had once felt endless and consuming, now moved like liquid, parting at his will. He could feel the fabric of this place responding to him, offering paths that had not existed before.

But something was still holding him back.

A presence.

Ancient. Watching.

He turned, and there, emerging from the shadows, was the being who had spoken to him before.

Tall and cloaked in a flowing mass of void energy, its face remained hidden beneath a hood of pure darkness. Yet its golden eyes burned through the abyss, filled with wisdom and something else recognition.

"You adapt quickly," the figure mused, voice deep and resonant. "Most souls that awaken in this realm take centuries to grasp their existence. Yet you… you are different."

Eliam met its gaze without fear. "I don't have centuries to waste. I have someone to find."

The figure tilted its head slightly. "And you believe you can defy the gods to do so?"

Eliam clenched his fists. "I don't just believe it. I will do it."

The figure chuckled, the sound reverberating through the abyss like distant thunder. "Then perhaps you are worth testing."

A wave of energy surged forward, and before Eliam could react, the entire abyss shifted. The void beneath him solidified, transforming into what appeared to be an endless black stone battlefield. Towering structures of obsidian erupted from the ground, creating a vast arena with no discernible end.

Eliam barely had a moment to process the change before the first attack came.

A massive force slammed into him, sending him skidding across the battlefield. The air burned as he crashed against one of the obsidian pillars, the impact sending cracks through the stone.

Pain shot through his body, but he refused to fall.

He pushed himself up, shaking off the force of the blow. Then he saw them.

Three figures stood before him warriors clad in dark, spectral armor, their weapons glowing with an eerie crimson light. Their faces were obscured by shadow, but their intent was clear.

They were here to kill him.

The cloaked figure's voice echoed through the battlefield. "These are my executioners. If you truly seek to stand against the gods, prove that your soul is worthy of ascension."

Eliam's eyes burned with determination. He had no choice. He had to win.

The first executioner moved with inhuman speed, its greatsword cutting through the air in a deadly arc. Eliam barely dodged in time, the blade missing him by inches but sending a shockwave through the battlefield.

His instincts took over. He activated Voidstep, vanishing into the shadows just as the second executioner lunged at him. The moment he reappeared behind them, he retaliated.

With a roar, he drove his fist into the nearest executioner's chest. A surge of abyssal energy erupted from his hand, tearing through the armor and sending the figure crashing to the ground.

One down.

The remaining two warriors didn't hesitate. One conjured chains of crimson energy, hurling them toward Eliam, while the other launched a barrage of dark energy spears.

He had no time to think only react.

He twisted his body, using Voidstep again to avoid the chains, but one of the spears grazed his shoulder, leaving a searing wound. Gritting his teeth against the pain, he retaliated by hurling a blast of abyssal energy toward his attackers.

The explosion sent them both staggering back.

Eliam didn't let up. He surged forward, closing the distance before they could recover. He grabbed the second executioner by the throat, his abyssal energy surging into the figure's core. The warrior let out a silent scream before its body disintegrated into nothingness.

Two down.

The final executioner, now alone, hesitated. Eliam could sense its fear.

That was all he needed.

He moved faster than before, dodging the last desperate strike before delivering a finishing blow to its core. The executioner crumbled into darkness.

Silence fell over the battlefield.

Eliam stood there, his breathing heavy, his body aching but victorious. The cloaked figure watched in silence before finally speaking.

"Impressive. You learn quickly. You adapt even faster."

The battlefield dissolved back into the abyss, and the towering being stepped forward. "You are unlike any soul that has come before. Perhaps… you truly do have the potential to change the order of existence itself."

A surge of power washed over Eliam, and the golden light returned.

[Soul Ascension Complete]

New Rank: Abysswalker - Stage 2

New Ability Unlocked: Abyssal Dominion

Eliam clenched his fists, feeling the raw power flowing through him. He had taken another step forward. But he still had a long way to go.

The cloaked figure gave him one final look. "You are free from this place now. But be warned the gods have already taken notice of your defiance. The true battle has yet to begin."

The abyss trembled, and a bright portal opened before him.

Eliam didn't hesitate. Without looking back, he stepped forward, leaving the abyss behind.