A Near-Death Experience – The Breaking Point

The Hollow King lunged, its form shifting like liquid shadow, moving faster than anything I had faced before.

I barely had time to react—I twisted my body, dodging by an inch as its clawed hand tore through the space where my head had been.

A shockwave followed, ripping apart the buildings behind me as if they were made of paper.

"Tch—!" I gritted my teeth, already countering, my Abyssal Gauntlets burning white-hot.

I swung forward, aiming a punch at its torso—

But it caught my fist.

The moment its hand gripped mine, a sickening pulse of energy surged through my body, like my very soul was being pulled apart.

I roared in pain, my knees buckling for a brief second.

What the hell was this?!

Before I could react, it yanked me forward, slamming its forehead against mine.

CRACK!

I saw black. My skull rattled, my vision blurred—

Then another strike to my ribs.

Another to my jaw.

Each hit landed with the force of a meteor, sending me skidding backward across the battlefield.

I coughed blood, staggering to my feet, barely able to stay standing.

"What the hell—?" I wiped my mouth, golden lightning flickering across my skin as I forced myself to regenerate. "How the hell are you this strong?"

The Hollow King didn't answer right away.

It simply tilted its head, watching me, its golden eyes gleaming in the darkness.

Then—it spoke.

"Because I was made to be stronger than gods."

I stilled.

"What?"

The Hollow King extended its hand, and the shadows around us trembled—twisting, bending—until they formed a blade unlike anything I had ever seen.

A weapon that did not belong in this world.

"You call yourself powerful," it continued, its voice calm, patient, deadly. "You think because you defeated an Abyssal Monarch, you understand the limits of strength."

It lifted the blade.

"But I was never meant to have limits."

Then—it moved.

Faster than anything I had ever fought.

I barely raised my gauntlets in time before—

CLAAAAANG!

Its blade struck mine, and the force alone shattered the ground beneath us, creating a crater that swallowed the ruins of the city.

I was forced back, my arms screaming in protest, the sheer weight of its strike crushing down on me.

"What the fuck are you?" I growled, pushing back with all my strength.

Its golden gaze burned into mine.

"I am the final product of Project Hades."

My breath caught.

"You—"

Before I could finish, its free hand slammed into my chest, sending me flying.

I crashed into a collapsed building, rubble exploding around me.

Pain flared through my body, but I forced myself up, coughing blood.

I exhaled sharply, wiping my mouth.

"So, let me get this straight." I rolled my shoulders, ignoring the screaming pain in my ribs.

"You're not just some random monster."

The Hollow King didn't respond.

"You're what those bastards were trying to create from the beginning."

The Hollow King vanished.

In the same breath, its blade was at my throat.

I barely had time to react—instinct alone saved me. I twisted my head, feeling the cold metal graze my skin, a thin line of blood dripping down my neck.

"Shit—!"

I jumped back, summoning my Infernal Surge, a wave of black fire erupting from my gauntlets.

The flames should have burned through anything—but the Hollow King walked straight through it.

Not dodging. Not even blocking.

The fire flickered out around its body, as if reality itself refused to let it burn.

Impossible.

Before I could react, it moved again.

SLASH!

A deep gash tore across my side, pain searing through my ribs. I gritted my teeth, trying to push back, but the Hollow King was already on me again.

I barely blocked the next strike, the sheer force behind it sending shockwaves through my bones.

I stumbled—off balance.

It capitalized instantly.

A kick to my stomach.

A slash across my arm.

A punch straight to my jaw.

The world spun as I was launched backward, my body **smashing through stone, debris, ruins—**until I hit the ground hard, my back skidding against the pavement.

I coughed blood, my vision blurry.

Damn it… This thing is too fast… too strong.

I pushed myself up, my breathing ragged, my body screaming in protest.

The Hollow King stared down at me, its golden eyes unreadable.

"Disappointing."

It lifted its blade—

And drove it straight through my chest.

For a moment—everything stopped.

Pain exploded through my body, spreading like wildfire.

My mind struggled to process it.

The blade was cold, sinking deep, piercing straight through my heart.

I gasped, choking on my own blood, my vision darkening.

"This…" I coughed violently, my body convulsing. "Tch… not… yet."

But my limbs were already failing me.

My strength was fading.

And the Hollow King knew it.

It leaned in, voice calm. "You fought well."

Its blade twisted, pain flaring through my nerves—

----

[SYSTEM ALERT!]

⚠ VITALITY AT CRITICAL LEVELS.

⚠ HEART FUNCTION FAILING.

⚠ SURVIVAL RATE: 0.02%

----

My thoughts blurred.

I felt cold.

Was this it?

Was this how it ended?

No.

No, I wasn't done.

Not like this.

Not here.

Not against this bastard.

Then—something snapped.

A deep, primal power surged from deep within my core, a hidden force breaking free like chains shattering inside me.

----

[LIMIT BREAKER UNLOCKED]

⚠ RESTRICTIONS REMOVED.

⚠ MAXIMUM POWER OUTPUT EXCEEDED.

⚠ PHYSICAL & ABYSSAL RESTRICTIONS ERASED.

⚠ WARNING: TEMPORARY LOSS OF SELF-CONTROL.

----

A pulse erupted from my body.

The Hollow King froze.

For the first time, its eyes widened—in shock.

Because the power that surged from me now…

It was beyond anything this world had ever seen.

The wound in my chest sealed instantly.

The pain vanished.

And when I opened my eyes—they weren't golden anymore.

They were pure, endless black.

The power of Limit Breaker had awakened.

And now, the real fight began.