“The Abyssal Trial: Will to Survive”

Chapter 11: "The Abyssal Trial: Will to Survive"

One Month in the Abyss

A deafening roar shook the ground as a monstrous, lion-like demon bared its fangs, its blood-red eyes locked onto its prey.

"Shit! Shit! This bastard is too strong!" an adventurer cursed, gripping his sword tightly. His voice trembled as he glanced at the others. "I thought you said only C-rank monsters would appear in this path of the Abyss! But this monster is clearly B-rank!"

"So what? Everyone knows unforeseen monsters appear in the Abyss. The Abyss is un—"

Before he could finish, the demon lunged at him, its claws ripping through his body in an instant. Blood splattered onto the cold ground.

"Oh no… Is this how we all die?" Another adventurer fell to his knees, eyes filled with despair. "If only I could see my daughter… just one more time…"

"Wish granted," a voice interrupted.

Theodore's figure blurred as he dashed forward, his Qi sword gleaming in the abyssal light.

"Hah! Look at him trying to act cool." Bryan scoffed, arms crossed.

"That aside," Balboas muttered, rubbing his chin, "stronger monsters have been appearing more frequently. It's really weird."

"Although we're in the Abyss, this type of monster should only appear if we go deeper," another adventurer added.

"I think we should leave and report this before it gets worse." Angelica spoke up, concern evident in her tone.

"Don't worry. I will deal with it." Theodore's bold gaze locked onto the beast.

"Hey! Watch out!" an adventurer shouted as the monster suddenly rose and pounced toward Theodore.

The Battle: Theodore vs. B-Rank Demon

The massive lion-like demon lunged, claws slashing downward. Theodore twisted his body at the last second, narrowly avoiding death. The impact of the attack sent cracks splintering across the ground.

Without hesitation, Theodore countered. His Qi Sword materialized, and he struck with precision. Sparks flew as the demon deflected his attack with its thick, armored hide.

"Tch." Theodore clicked his tongue. "That's some tough skin."

The monster roared, swinging its tail like a whip. Theodore dodged, but the sheer force sent him skidding backward.

"Damn it. This thing isn't going down easy."

The demon charged, its eyes gleaming with bloodlust. Theodore clenched his sword and activated Speed Enhancement. His body became a blur as he weaved through the beast's relentless attacks.

With a flash of light, Theodore leaped above the monster and brought down his sword with all his strength.

Lightning Sword!

A surge of electric energy crackled through the blade as it sliced through the demon's tough hide. The monster howled in agony, dark blood spraying onto the ground.

The beast staggered, its movements slowing.

"Now's my chance—"

Before Theodore could finish, the demon unleashed a desperate, last-ditch attack. It roared, releasing a shockwave that sent Theodore flying into a nearby wall.

"Ugh—!" Blood trickled from his lips as he struggled to stand.

The monster lunged one final time, but Theodore gritted his teeth and gripped his sword tighter.

Heavenly Demonic Sword Technique!

A crimson aura erupted around his blade. With one powerful swing, Theodore cleaved through the demon's head, splitting it in two.

The monstrous body convulsed before collapsing with a heavy thud.

System Notification

B-Rank Monster Defeated.

Skill: Provocation (C) has been devoured.

"Thank you! Thank you!" One of the surviving adventurers cried out, falling to his knees. "Because of you, I can see my daughter again!"

"Yeah, yeah." Theodore waved them off. "Take your things and leave before more dangerous monsters appear."

After the adventurers left, Theodore exhaled and wiped the sweat from his brow.

"Alright, let's see what we have here."

System, show my stats.

Status Window

Name: Creedison Van Twilight

Possessor Name: Theodore

Trait: Traitless (One Who Knows All)

Class: Guardian of Heroes

• Intelligence: MAX

• Strength: 134

• Stamina: 127

• Willpower: 78

• Mentality: 200

• Agility: 137

• Mana: 867

• Dark Mana: 2010

• Perception: 100

• Qi: 420

• Qi Stage: Foundation Realm (Proficiency: 34%)

"Hah… After days of hunting, I finally reached the Foundation Realm Stage."

Meanwhile, Theodore frowned as he noticed something.

"Even after all that hunting, my Dark Mana barely increased. Hm… I'll think about that later."

"System, show me my skills."

[System: Display Skills]

• Qi, Mana, Aura, Sword Mastery (B) - [Proficiency 56%]

• Qi Sword Materialization (S) [MAX]

• Magic Technology Mastery (A) - [Proficiency 87%]

• Provocation (C) - [Proficiency 46%]

• Speed Enhancement (B) - [Proficiency 13%]

• Body Enhancement (D) - [Proficiency 45%]

• Call of Lightning (A) - [Proficiency 78%]

• Lightning Strike (C) - [Proficiency 34%]

Created Sword Techniques:

• Lightning Sword (B) - [Proficiency 66%]

• Transcendent Sword Technique (S) - Current Rank (B) - [Proficiency 56%]

• Plum Blossom Sword Technique (S+) - Current Rank (B) - [Proficiency 56%]

• Heavenly Demonic Sword (SS) - Current Rank (B) - [Proficiency 76%]

• Moon Sword Techniques (S) - Current Rank (A) - [Proficiency 12%]

• Crescent Sword Techniques (A) - Current Rank (C) - [Proficiency –]

Combined Sword Techniques:

• Plum Blossom Sword + Moon Sword = Twilight Moon Sword (SS) - Current Rank (B) - [Proficiency 65%]

• Moon Sword + Heavenly Demonic Sword + Plum Blossom Sword = Twilight Midgard Sword (SR) - Current Rank (B) - [Proficiency 12%]

• Transcendent Sword + Heavenly Demonic Sword = Transcendent Heavenly Demon Sword (SSS) - Current Rank (B) - [Proficiency 23%]

"Even though I ranked up, I still haven't used my class—Guardian of Heroes." Theodore frowned. "What exactly… is it?"

"Don't rush it, kid. Your growth is already monstrous enough," Balboas said, shaking his head.

"H-How?! How can you have so many skills?!" Bryan stammered, frustrated.

Theodore smirked but turned to Angelica. "By the way, you said I'm supposed to protect the heroes, but I haven't even been with them. How will I know if something happens?"

"Don't worry. The system will alert you," Angelica reassured him.

"You—you're just asking about that now?!" Bryan shouted.

"Of course I am," Theodore said nonchalantly. "Like I said before, I'm only doing this till the end of the novel."

"…And when will that be?" Angelica asked, her tone moody.

"Hey… what did you just say?" Theodore narrowed his eyes.

"Can we just forget about it?" Angelica tried to change the subject.

Hmm… Just as I suspected. I can't really trust these people. Me protecting the heroes is just a means to get answers, but they're still hiding things from me.

And my growth has been absurd these days… this isn't normal. It's almost like someone wants me to get stronger. Fine—challenge accepted. And when I become stronger, I'll make sure I get all the answers I want.

Suddenly—a terrifying aura spread through the air.

Theodore's instincts screamed at him. "What… is this aura?"

Without hesitation, he rushed toward its source.

Upon arriving, he found dried-up bodies scattered everywhere. All of them looked as if their blood had been sucked dry.

"Hm… looks like we have a guest."

A figure stepped forward.

Gayer, the Demonic Vampire, had arrived.

• Lower Demonic Human

• Rank: S

"What?!" Theodore's eyes widened. I couldn't even sense him.

Theodore clenched his fists, Qi forming around his body.

Gayer smirked. "Well, can we skip to the introduction? I am Gayer, servant of the Fourth Demon Lord—Bahomet."

His crimson eyes gleamed with amusement.

Theodore gritted his teeth. The gap between their strength was immense, but retreating was not an option. His instincts screamed at him to run, but his pride and determination forced him to stand his ground.

Angelica's panicked voice cut through the tense atmosphere.

"Theodore, don't even try to fight him! He may not be of the highest rank, but the difference in stats is something we can't overlook!"

"That's right, kid." Balboas nodded grimly. "This is no ordinary fight. You need to—"

But Theodore had already moved.

Theodore's grip tightened on his Qi sword, Qi swirling around him. He needed to land the first strike—

BOOM!

Before he could react, Gayer vanished from sight.

A sudden impact slammed into Theodore's gut, sending him crashing through the blackened ground. Dust and debris scattered as he coughed up blood, struggling to rise.

"Feisty, aren't you?" Gayer mocked, flicking his fingers. "But you're too slow."

Theodore wiped the blood from his lips. Slow? His perception should have caught Gayer's movements, but he was already two steps ahead every time.

A cold realization set in—

He was completely outmatched.

But giving up wasn't an option.

Lightning surged across his Qi blade as he charged forward, slashing down with everything he had.

Gayer chuckled. "Predictable."

With unnatural grace, the vampire twisted his body, dodging the strike with ease. Theodore's sword whistled through the air, hitting nothing but emptiness.

And then—

A clawed hand smashed into his chest.

Theodore felt his ribs crack, the force sending him flying back. His vision blurred as he skidded across the ground, blood trailing behind him.

"Is that all?" Gayer's voice dripped with amusement. "For someone with so many skills, you're still… weak."

No—NO!

No… I can't die. Not here. Not now!

Guardian Willpower has skyrocketed to 100.

A sudden surge of power erupted from within him.

Ding!

First Skill of Guardian of Heroes Unlocked: Will to Survive (S-rank).

[This skill does not require mana or aura. As long as the Guardian desires to survive, he will grow stronger than the enemy for 2 minutes. However, once the battle ends, the pain suffered will be so severe that death may occur within 3 minutes if not treated.]

Do you wish to activate "Will to Survive"?

Theodore's mind screamed the answer.

YES!

A black and gold aura erupted from his body, distorting the air around him. His mana and strength skyrocketed, and for two minutes, he was stronger than Gayer.

"What?! How—?!" Gayer's eyes widened in disbelief.

Before he could react, Theodore vanished.

Then—

BAM!

A devastating punch smashed into Gayer's face, sending him flying into the distance.

BOOM!

The ground trembled from the impact.

Theodore didn't give him time to recover.

He rushed forward, swinging his Qi blade with newfound speed and precision. His swordplay was sharper, faster, more refined. Each strike forced Gayer on the defensive, his expression shifting from amusement to frustration.

"Impossible!" Gayer snarled, dodging another lethal slash. "How are you keeping up with me?!"

Theodore didn't answer.

Instead, he unleashed a flurry of attacks, his Qi and lightning-infused strikes tearing through the vampire's defenses.

Then, with a final crescent-shaped slash—

SCHLICK!

Theodore's blade cut through Gayer's chest, leaving a deep gash.

Blood splattered onto the ground.

Gayer staggered backward, his crimson eyes flickering with disbelief.

"No… this can't be happening."

Theodore didn't hesitate. He raised his sword for the final strike.

"No… I can't die like this!" Gayer howled. "I must contact my lord—"

"Die."

Theodore's sword pierced through Gayer's heart.

A second later, the vampire collapsed.

Victory.

Or so he thought.

A slow clap echoed through the abyss.

Theodore's breath hitched.

The air became heavier, denser than before.

A new presence—one that made Gayer seem like an insect—filled the wasteland.

And then, he saw him.

A tall figure stood where Gayer's body had fallen, his presence alone distorting reality. Golden eyes burned with amusement, his aura suffocating, his mere existence an unstoppable force.

A Demon Lord.

"So you're the one who devoured Karnak."

Theodore's throat went dry.

This pressure… it was impossible.

Just standing before this being—his entire body screamed in terror.

"But how?" The demon tilted his head. "To think my servant would struggle against someone like you… curious."

Theodore's breathing became erratic.

He couldn't move.

He couldn't breathe.

Even though this was only a possession of Gayer's corpse, the weight of Bahomet's presence alone was unbearable.

The Demon Lord smirked.

"Ah… but now I understand."

His grin widened.

"You're a growth type, aren't you?"

Theodore's eyes widened in shock.

Bahomet continued, "And not just any growth type… but one blessed with an unquenchable amount of dark mana."

He chuckled.

"Fascinating."

Theodore tried to speak, but his lungs refused to work.

The sheer difference in power was beyond comprehension.

"A rare gem like you doesn't come by often…" Bahomet mused. "What a shame to let you go to waste."

The demon's expression darkened.

"How about this?" He leaned forward. "I turn you into a demon myself—personally. You won't be some mere servant. You'll become my apprentice."

Theodore's mind reeled.

"Accept," Bahomet's voice was almost hypnotic, "and I'll order my beasts not to harm you until you reach the Demon Continent."

Theodore gritted his teeth.

"No. I'd rather die."

He spat blood onto Bahomet's face.

Silence.

The Demon Lord slowly wiped his cheek, his golden eyes narrowing.

A dark chuckle escaped his lips.

"Hah… you're really trying my patience, future apprentice."

His aura exploded, warping the space around them.

Theodore nearly collapsed, his vision blurring from the sheer weight of it.

But then—the pressure faded.

"Well… my time is up," Bahomet sighed dramatically. "I'll let you think about it, little human."

The abyss trembled as his presence began to fade.

"Until next time." His grin returned. "I'll be waiting, my dear future apprentice."

And just like that, he was gone.

Theodore collapsed, his entire body broken.

"No no I can't collapse now, I must devour Gayer"

[Demonic Vampire Gayer has been devoured.]

• Agility increased by 21.

• Strength increased by 17.

. Dark mana increased by 100 .

• Skill: Shadow Mastery (S-rank) acquired.

• Skill: Fog Mastery (A-rank) acquired.

But before unconsciousness took him, a shadowy figure stepped forward.

A woman.

Long black hair, crimson-red eyes, and an aura far too powerful for a normal human.

Her gaze lingered on Theodore's battered body.

"To think I'd see a human who can devour a demon."

She frowned.

"Was Bahomet trying to recruit him?"

Her fingers tightened into a fist.

"I should kill him now… If Bahomet sees something in him, it can't be good."

Her sword rose

But as she looked at Theodore's beaten, unconscious body, a flicker of hesitation crossed her face.

"Damn it…" she muttered under her breath.

(TO BE CONTINUED...)