Journey to the Abyss

Chapter 9: Journey to the Abyss

The first term of the academy had officially come to an end, and students were allowed to return home. Many took this as an opportunity to rest, reconnect with family, or prepare for the next semester. However, Theodore had different plans.

He had spent the last few months sharpening his skills, refining his techniques, and acquiring knowledge from various realms—including Murim. But none of that would mean anything if he didn't test himself in real combat. Theory was useless without practice. And there was only one place brutal enough to forge him into something stronger.

The Abyss.

A cursed land overrun by demons.

It wasn't just a battlefield—it was the frontline of an eternal war. Countless warriors and adventurers ventured into its depths, ensuring that the demonic creatures within never escaped into human territory. However, despite centuries of exploration, no one had ever reached the Abyss's true bottom.

Because deep within its endless darkness lay the Demon Continent—the heart of all malevolence.

Return Home & Discussions with the Legends

Theodore arrived home, stepping into Creed's old room before throwing himself onto the bed. He let out an exhausted sigh.

"Man, I'm tired."

He stared at the ceiling, lost in thought.

"Just like that, the first term is over. It's funny—it's not like I possessed Creed's body at the start of it, but it already feels like an eternity."

Suddenly, a voice interrupted his musings.

"The next term is going to be even more exhausting," Bryan said with a smirk.

Theodore turned to look at him.

"Yeah… Leonard is finally going to return."

Leonard, the emperor's son. Creed's only friend.

Theodore knew that Leonard was in a dire situation—his mana core was being poisoned by his stepmother and sister, though he himself was unaware. His health had deteriorated so badly that he had to miss the entire first semester. But now, despite his worsening condition, he was returning.

Originally, in the novel, after Karnak possessed Creed's body, he left the academy altogether, aiming to manipulate Avilone's power structure from behind the scenes. That absence created various future events—events that would no longer happen since Theodore had stopped the ritual.

"So, what are you planning now?" Balboas asked curiously.

Theodore sat up and stretched.

"Me? I'm heading to the Abyss."

Silence.

Balboas blinked.

Angelica, who had been floating nearby, nearly dropped her book.

"Wait… WHAT?" she exclaimed. "You're seriously going to the Abyss? Do you even understand how dangerous that place is? After what happened during the ritual, the demons might still be looking for you!"

Theodore waved off her concern with a confident smirk.

"Relax. My class conceals my existence from detection, so they won't be able to track me."

Angelica crossed her arms, clearly unconvinced. "That doesn't mean it's safe! If you run into a high-ranking demon—"

"Then I'll just kick his ass," Theodore interrupted nonchalantly.

Angelica's eye twitched.

Bryan burst out laughing. "That's the spirit!"

Balboas, however, frowned in concern. "Why the Abyss, though?"

Theodore leaned back against the wall, his expression turning serious. "Two reasons."

"First, I need a regeneration ability. The Abyss is home to Arumuso—the demon that later escaped and wreaked havoc on the academy. Even the protagonist and the lead roles couldn't kill it. In the end, the Dean was the one who took it down, and even for him, it wasn't easy because of Arumuso's insane regeneration."

Balboas nodded, understanding. "So you want to kill Arumuso before it ever becomes a problem… and take its regeneration ability?"

"Exactly."

"And the second reason?"

Theodore's eyes gleamed. "I need a weapon."

Angelica tilted her head. "You didn't bring a weapon because…?"

"Because Creed's money isn't enough to buy one that can handle my Qi. I need to forge my own. The Abyss is full of rare materials, and I plan to use them to craft a blade that can withstand my energy."

Balboas nodded in approval. "I see… So you'll be using sword materialization until then?"

Theodore smirked. "Bingo."

Preparation & A New Identity

That night, Theodore sat cross-legged on the floor, deep in meditation.

A notification flashed before his eyes.

[System Notification]

Qi Stage Proficiency Increased by 5%.

He exhaled, satisfied.

"Not bad."

By morning, the sky was painted in hues of crimson and gold. A cool breeze swept through the open window, rustling the curtains.

Theodore stood before the mirror, observing his reflection.

Gone was his usual academy attire.

His long crimson hair cascaded over his shoulders, untied and free. A black mask covered his lower face, ensuring that no adventurers or demons could recognize him.

With a final glance at himself, he muttered:

"Red Twilight… that'll be my name from now on."

Bryan snickered. "A fancy name for a rude bastard."

Balboas grinned. "What about 'Red Swordsman'?"

Everyone turned to give Balboas a deadpan stare.

Balboas cleared his throat awkwardly. "…Forget I said anything."

With that, Theodore left for the Adventurer's Association.

Adventurer's Association

The Adventurer's Association stood tall like an ancient fortress, its towering spires wrapped in protective mana barriers. It was the heart of mercenary activity—where warriors, mages, and rogues of all kinds gathered to accept commissions, form parties, and rise through the ranks.

Theodore pushed open the massive double doors and stepped inside.

Immediately, all eyes turned to him.

Not because he was famous.

But because he wasn't.

In a room filled with seasoned warriors clad in enchanted armor and weapons forged from rare materials, a masked young man wearing simple dark robes was an anomaly.

Whispers broke out.

"Who's the kid?"

"Hah, another wannabe hero thinking he can take on the Abyss?"

"Dumbasses like him don't last a day."

Theodore ignored them and approached the evaluation desk, where a bored receptionist sat flipping through parchment. She didn't even look up.

"Name?"

"Red Twilight."

The receptionist sighed. "Rank?"

"New applicant."

That made her pause. She finally glanced up, raising an eyebrow at his mask. "You want to register now?"

Theodore nodded.

She exhaled and waved him toward a mana-measuring crystal.

"Place your hand here. It'll assess your aura and mana reserves. Standard procedure."

Theodore complied, but he made sure to suppress his power to avoid drawing unwanted attention.

The crystal flickered dimly.

The receptionist barely glanced at the result before stamping a D-rank classification on his adventurer card.

She slid it across the desk. "Welcome to the Adventurer's Association. Try not to die."

Theodore pocketed the card and turned to leave—

Only to have a large, burly man step in his path.

The guy was massive—built like a war beast, scars decorating his exposed arms. His smirk was anything but friendly.

"Oi, brat. You lost?" He cracked his knuckles. "This ain't a place for little kids playing dress-up."

Laughter erupted from the other adventurers.

Theodore tilted his head.

For a moment, he simply stared at the man—his golden eyes glowing faintly beneath the mask.

The laughter died down.

The burly adventurer's smirk wavered. His instincts screamed at him—RUN.

He broke into a cold sweat.

What… what is this pressure?

Theodore sighed, stepping past him without a word.

The man gulped, not daring to stop him.

Whispers filled the hall.

"Tch, what the hell was that?"

"That rookie's got some serious presence…"

"Heh, whatever. He'll be dead in a week."

Theodore didn't care.

His focus was on one thing—

Reaching the Abyss.

Arrival at the Abyss: First Encounter

The moment Theodore stepped into the Abyss, a suffocating pressure crashed down on him.

The air reeked of corruption and blood, thick with a miasma that clung to his skin. The ground pulsed like a beating heart, twisted veins of cursed mana spreading beneath his feet.

A low, guttural growl rumbled in the distance.

Then—

The creature emerged.

A Lesser Abyssal Beast.

It was monstrous—twice his height, with obsidian-black flesh covered in jagged bone spikes. Glowing green eyes locked onto him, radiating pure hunger.

Venom dripped from its claws, sizzling as it melted the very ground it touched.

It lunged.

BOOM!

A shockwave blasted out as it launched itself toward him, claws aiming to tear him apart.

But Theodore stood still.

Then—

FWOOSH!

He sidestepped at the last second.

The monster's claws slashed through empty air.

Its head snapped toward him in confusion—

BANG!

Theodore's fist struck forward, colliding with its ribs.

A dull thud echoed. The creature barely flinched.

Its body was too tough.

Theodore's eyes narrowed.

"Then let's see if this still works."

He took a deep breath, his Qi surging.

A deep crimson aura enveloped his right hand as he twisted his hips—

"Mountain Collapsing Fist."

BOOM!

His palm crashed into the exact same spot, shattering ribs with sheer force.

The beast staggered, its breath wheezing from its broken chest.

But it wasn't dead.

Not yet.

Theodore exhaled.

Then, his Qi shifted.

It coiled around his arm, crackling—not with electricity, but with something similar.

Something he hadn't tried in years.

"I can't use a lightning core anymore…"

"But Qi can be anything."

He raised his hand toward the beast—

And unleashed it.

"Call of Lightning."

A pillar of crimson Qi erupted from his palm, twisting like a lightning bolt and striking the monster head-on.

BOOOOOM!

The impact ripped through the beast's chest, Qi burning straight through its core.

A final, distorted screech—

Then silence.

The lifeless corpse collapsed, smoke rising from the charred wound.

Theodore clenched his fingers. His body trembled slightly—not from exhaustion, but from something else.

"I can still use it."

He had recreated Call of Lightning—not with mana, but with pure Qi control.

A notification flickered before his eyes.

[System Notification]

Lesser Abyssal Beast Defeated.

• Strength +3

• Agility +3

• Skill Gained: Body Enhancement (D)

He barely glanced at the message. His focus was elsewhere.

This wasn't enough.

He needed regeneration.

And he knew exactly where to find it.

Then—

A distant roar echoed through the Abyss.

Something was coming.

Something stronger.

Theodore's lips curled into a smirk.

"This is going to be fun ."

(TO BE CONTINUED...)

"Hey there! If there's anything you'd like me to improve or change, please feel free to leave a comment in the review section."