Chapter 31: Descent into the Abyss

Chapter 31: Descent into the Abyss

The cold air within the Tower's 11th floor prickled against Jin Seol's skin as he took cautious steps forward. Unlike the previous floors, which had at least resembled familiar landscapes, this one felt utterly alien. The sky above was a swirling mass of violet and crimson clouds, as if the heavens themselves were wounded and bleeding. The land was a mixture of blackened stone and pulsating veins of glowing blue energy, spreading out like the roots of some enormous, unseen entity.

Jin exhaled, his breath visible in the strange, humid cold. He clenched his fists, feeling the residual energy from his last battle still thrumming through his body. He had grown stronger—but so had the Tower.

Aerin, standing a few steps behind him, shuddered as she glanced at their surroundings. "I don't like this place," she muttered. "It feels…wrong."

Jin nodded. The very air carried an oppressive weight, as if unseen eyes lurked in the shadows, watching their every move. He summoned his Glitched System, a faint blue interface flickering in his vision.

[Warning: Unknown anomalies detected on Floor 11. Adaptability required.]

Jin's brow furrowed. The system's usual cold, mechanical efficiency was present, but this message was different—it felt urgent.

"Aerin, stay close," he said. "We don't know what kind of monsters are waiting for us here."

She nodded, drawing her twin daggers. The blades shimmered faintly with an enchanted glow, ready to strike at a moment's notice.

They advanced cautiously, each step echoing against the eerie silence of the vast, desolate land. The veins of glowing energy beneath their feet pulsed faster with each passing second, as if reacting to their presence. And then the silence shattered.

A deep, guttural growl reverberated through the landscape. A shadow shifted in the distance—no, multiple shadows. Jin's eyes narrowed as monstrous figures emerged from the darkness. Towering creatures with elongated limbs, obsidian skin, and jagged, bone-like protrusions from their backs. Their eyes glowed a haunting, hollow white.

[Analyzing…]

[New Enemy Identified: Abyss Stalkers.]

[Threat Level: A-Rank.]

Jin tightened his grip on his sword, his mind racing. A-Rank? The enemies on the last floor barely reached B-Rank, yet here they were, facing a pack of creatures that could obliterate an entire squad of unprepared climbers.

One of the Abyss Stalkers let out a piercing screech and lunged forward, its claw-like fingers aiming straight for Jin's throat.

"Void Step."

In a blink, Jin disappeared from its trajectory, reappearing behind the creature. His sword, enhanced with Lightning Edge, slashed through the air—only to be met with an unnatural resistance.

The creature's body absorbed the attack like a sponge, its wounds knitting together almost instantly.

"Regeneration?" Aerin hissed, dodging a swipe from another Stalker. She twisted mid-air and drove her daggers into the beast's chest, only to watch in horror as the wounds sealed in seconds.

Jin cursed under his breath. A-Rank enemies were one thing, but self-regenerating A-Rank enemies? They needed a different strategy.

He flicked his hand, summoning a blue interface screen mid-battle.

[Skill Modification Activated.]

[Lightning Edge → Disruption Edge.]

His sword shimmered, its electric currents replaced by chaotic, pulsating energy. If raw strength wasn't enough, then he needed to cut off their regeneration.

"Buy me a few seconds!" he called out.

Aerin didn't hesitate. She vanished into the shadows, reappearing at different angles, slashing at the creatures to keep them distracted. They roared in frustration, their focus split between two moving targets.

Jin dashed forward, channeling all his power into his blade. "Disruption Slash!"

His sword carved through the nearest Abyss Stalker, and this time, something changed. The moment the blade touched its flesh, the regenerating tissue froze in place, unable to heal. The creature let out a horrifying shriek as its body began to unravel.

Jin smirked. "Got you."

With newfound confidence, he turned to the remaining enemies, his heart pounding in anticipation. The battle was far from over—but now, they had a chance.