The System’s Revelation
(Samuel's POV)
Just as the final monster fell, a sudden System notification popped up, breaking the silence that followed our victory.
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[SYSTEM ALERT!]
⚠ CRITICAL WARNING ⚠
Dungeon Core Reconnection Failed.
Dungeon: The Forgotten Abyss
Status: Core Void Unstable.
[NEW CONDITION IDENTIFIED]
Dungeon Overload Detected.
Critical Level of Anomalies Present.
Warning: Entire Dungeon May Collapse in 10 Minutes.
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I blinked, my breath catching in my chest.
"What the hell?" I muttered, staring at the notification in disbelief.
Henry was already by my side, his expression hardening as he read the message over my shoulder.
"This is bad. The dungeon's core is still unstable. If it doesn't stabilize, it'll collapse."
I clenched my jaw. We had no time to waste. The dungeon was literally falling apart, and if we didn't act fast, everything we just fought for would be in vain.
"We need to get out of here," I said, my voice urgent. "If the core is void unstable, that means we can't just leave it to collapse on its own. Something could break loose—whatever the core was holding back."
Henry nodded, sheathing his sword.
"Let's move."
I was about to turn when I noticed something odd. The air around us was shifting—warping. The walls of the dungeon began to tremble, and the ground beneath us cracked open in jagged lines, like a beast waking from a long slumber.
It wasn't just the dungeon collapsing—it was fighting back.
"It's alive," I muttered.
Henry stepped forward, gripping my shoulder.
"We're not just leaving, Samuel. We need to find the core and either stabilize it or destroy it."
My eyes widened.
"Are you insane? Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?"
He met my gaze, his face deadly serious.
"If we leave now, this entire place could blow up. If we stabilize the core, we can control the dungeon. We can unlock its secrets—the real reason it was sealed in the first place."
I thought about it for a moment, the gears in my mind turning rapidly. If we left, the dungeon collapse would likely spread to the surrounding areas, causing catastrophic destruction. But if we stayed and attempted to stabilize the core—we might gain access to powers or knowledge beyond our understanding.
I made my decision.
"Alright, we do this together. But if this goes south, I'm blaming you."
Henry's lips curved into a grin.
"Fair enough."
We quickly started moving deeper into the abyss, the walls around us groaning and shifting with increasing speed. The very stone seemed to be alive, warping and twisting. We moved carefully, dodging falling debris, until we finally reached the heart of the dungeon—a large chamber, dark and ominous, where the core was located.
The core itself was a massive crystal, pulsing with dark energy. Its glow flickered erratically, as though it was barely holding itself together. The energy in the room was almost tangible, like it was pressing down on us, suffocating us.
I took a deep breath, reaching for my Abyssal Gauntlets, feeling the weight of the task ahead.
"How do we even stabilize it?" I asked, my voice low.
Henry stepped forward, his gaze unwavering.
"We need to release the excess energy. It's been building up for centuries—it's unstable. If we channel it correctly, we can either seal it or destroy it."
I nodded, a sense of resolve settling over me.
"And if we fail?"
Henry glanced back at me, his voice steady.
"Then we die, and this entire dungeon takes us with it."
I wasn't exactly thrilled by his optimistic view, but we didn't have much of a choice.
We both stepped forward. Henry raised his sword to channel his divine energy, while I prepared to use my Abyssal Gauntlets to absorb any excess power that might escape. The air crackled with tension as we approached the core.
For a moment, everything was still. The core pulsed, glowing brighter and brighter with each passing second. Then, suddenly, the entire chamber shook violently as the core released a massive shockwave of energy, knocking us both off our feet.
I barely managed to stay grounded, but Henry was already back on his feet, his celestial power flaring to life around him.
"Focus, Samuel!" he shouted, as I regained my balance.
I nodded, setting my jaw. I reached forward, channeling every ounce of destruction from my Abyssal Gauntlets, trying to stabilize the flow of energy. But the core fought back, its pulse erratic, threatening to tear everything apart.
I could feel it—the wild energy surging through me, pushing against my will. It was almost as if the core itself was alive, trying to take control. The room around us started to collapse, the very walls crumbling with the force of the unstable core's energy.
"Henry!" I shouted, barely managing to keep my footing.
He was right beside me, his sword glowing brighter than ever as he slashed at the core, trying to cleave through the built-up energy. His sword connected with the crystal, and for a brief moment, I saw the light of divinity meet the dark energy in a clash that shook the entire dungeon.
The core pulsed once—twice—before it began to crack. The light from the core dimmed, and I could feel the pressure release.
We had done it.
"Get back!" Henry yelled, as the core shattered, sending out one final explosive wave of energy.
I was thrown back, the force knocking the wind out of me. My vision blurred, and for a moment, I thought we had failed. But then, through the dust and debris, I saw Henry—standing tall, his sword raised in triumph.
The core had collapsed into nothingness. The dungeon's energy began to settle, the trembling walls finally ceasing their violent shaking. The Forgotten Abyss was no longer a threat.
We had survived.
"Is it over?" I asked, my voice hoarse.
Henry lowered his sword, nodding.
"It's over. The dungeon is sealed, and the core's energy has dissipated."
I exhaled a relieved breath.
"Well, that was… a hell of a fight."
Henry grinned.
"You bet. And we're still standing."
We stood there for a moment, the silence settling around us. The Forgotten Abyss had been conquered, and we had taken another step toward the New World.