Preparing for the Unknown

(Samuel's POV)

As the SYSTEM ALERT flashed before me, the gravity of the situation hit me hard.

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[SYSTEM ALERT!]

⚠ URGENT NOTICE ⚠

A High-Rank Dungeon Anomaly has been detected near your location.

Dungeon: The Forgotten Abyss

Rank: ???

Threat Level: UNSTABLE

Special Condition: Dungeon Core Missing

Recommended Action: Extreme Caution. Enter at Your Own Risk.

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I read the notification again, my mind racing. The dungeon was unpredictable, with a missing core, and that uncertainty made the threat level off the charts.

I looked at Henry, his face as serious as mine. We knew this wasn't just any dungeon—this was an unstable abyss that had the potential to tear us apart.

I clenched my fists. Most of my attacks would likely be useless in this kind of situation. Powers like my Breath of Destruction or Devourer of Titans could become unpredictable, especially without full control over the environment.

But then… I remembered something.

"At least my human heart and my black heart are still beating," I whispered to myself.

The essence of Samuel Gebb was still inside me, driving me forward. And along with that, my Martial Arts skills—sharpened over countless lifetimes—were still my greatest weapon.

That was what had kept me alive. What would keep me alive now.

I locked eyes with Henry, feeling the power of our merged existence.

"Whatever comes next, we fight with everything we've got."

He nodded.

"No more holding back."

We stepped further into the abyss, the air thick with malevolent energy. The dungeon wasn't just a place of monsters—it was a living, breathing entity, hungry for destruction.

My instincts were screaming at me to stay alert. The unknown presence I felt earlier was now palpable, like eyes on the back of my skull.

I took a deep breath and focused. Martial arts weren't just about physical strength—they were about control, timing, and awareness.

And right now, that would be enough.

I moved—silent, calculating—every step careful, every muscle coiled for the strike. The Forgotten Abyss was waiting for us, but we weren't walking into this blindly.

We were ready for it.

As we stepped deeper into the Forgotten Abyss, the atmosphere grew heavier.

The air was thick with an ancient, decaying power, and the distant sounds of growling and scraping claws echoed from the dark corners of the dungeon.

Ahead of us, I could see a pack of monsters, their eyes glowing an unnatural, malevolent red.

They were nothing like anything we'd encountered before—twisted, grotesque creatures that looked like they had been shaped by the dungeon itself.

I didn't hesitate.

My hand went to my Abyssal Gauntlets. I pulled them out from my inventory, the familiar weight settling in my palms.

These legendary gauntlets were capable of breaking the very fabric of reality.

I immediately fell into a fighting stance, my body fluid and poised for battle.

The monsters charged, their twisted bodies moving with unnatural speed, but I was already ahead of them—calculating, anticipating their movements.

Beside me, Henry was already in motion. He didn't bother with any hesitation either.

His Sword of the First Dawn gleamed in the dim light of the dungeon as he effortlessly unsheathed it.

Even though his divine powers were suppressed, his swordsmanship was still lethal.

I watched as Henry's blade whistled through the air, cutting down one of the monsters with precise, calculated strikes.

Each movement was flawless, as if he had perfected the art of the sword for lifetimes.

I grinned. Henry's sword skills were no joke, and despite the suppression of his divine abilities, he was still a monster with that blade.

The monsters closed in, but I didn't need to hold back.

I swung my Abyssal Gauntlets, sending shockwaves of destructive energy through the air. The first creature that tried to charge me was obliterated in an instant, its body torn apart by the sheer force of my punch.

I didn't stop.

The monsters were fast, but they were no match for our precision.

As I moved through the pack, I used my Martial Arts to redirect their attacks and counter with brutal force, breaking bones, shattering skulls.

Each strike was a perfect combination of raw power and refined technique, just like I had practiced through countless lifetimes.

Henry wasn't far behind. With every swing of his sword, monsters were cleaved in half. His strikes were perfectly timed, each one landing with devastating efficiency.

It was a brutal dance.

And we were in sync.

We tore through the pack like a storm, our movements fluid and unrelenting.

But then, the final monster emerged from the shadows, larger and more twisted than the others. It howled, a guttural, ear-splitting sound that rattled the very bones of the dungeon.

I looked at Henry.

"Get ready. This one's going to be a challenge."

Henry gave me a knowing smirk, his sword raised.

"Bring it on."

Together, we prepared to face whatever this boss had in store. The fight had only just begun.