Chapter 34: Descent into the Unknown
Chapter 34: Descent into the Unknown
The air was heavy with the scent of scorched stone and lingering mana. The Abyssal Warden's massive form lay motionless, its once-glowing core now a shattered ruin. The battlefield was silent except for the exhausted breathing of Jin, Aerin, and Lee Hwan.
> [Boss Defeated: Abyssal Warden]
[Rewards Calculating…]
Jin steadied his breath as a glowing notification appeared before him.
> [You have obtained: Abyssal Warden's Core Fragment]
[You have obtained: Shadowsteel Gauntlets (Epic)]
[You have obtained: 15,000 Tower Points]
He scanned through the rewards, his brows raising slightly. The core fragment immediately stood out. If this was anything like the previous dungeon bosses, then this fragment might hold some kind of hidden power.
Aerin wiped sweat from her brow and glanced at her own notification window. "Not bad. The Warden dropped some useful loot."
Lee Hwan, still catching his breath, chuckled weakly. "Useful? I nearly got buried under that thing. I'd better get something insanely good for my troubles."
Jin smirked, tossing the Shadowsteel Gauntlets toward him. "These suit your fighting style. Consider it a bonus."
Lee Hwan's eyes widened as he caught them. "Oh, hell yeah." He immediately equipped them, flexing his fingers as the dark metal gauntlets adjusted to his hands. A faint glow of shadow energy pulsed from them.
> [Shadowsteel Gauntlets (Epic)]
- Increases unarmed attack power by 30%.
- Grants "Shadow Impact": A powerful strike that absorbs ambient darkness for a stronger blow.
Lee Hwan grinned. "I take back everything I said. This is awesome."
Jin turned toward the massive door at the end of the chamber. It was unlike anything they had seen before—etched with ancient symbols, its surface pulsed with an eerie dark energy. Unlike previous floors, this one gave off an unnatural pressure, like something was watching from the other side.
Aerin frowned. "This door… it's different."
Jin nodded. "And that means what's behind it isn't something we can take lightly."
Lee Hwan sighed, stretching his arms. "Well, we've come this far. No point in backing out now."
Jin stepped forward, placing a hand on the cold surface of the door. A system notification immediately flashed before him.
> [Proceed to the Next Floor?]
[Warning: Uncharted Territory Ahead.]
Uncharted Territory? Jin narrowed his eyes. That meant they were venturing into a floor that hadn't been recorded in previous Tower expeditions.
He exhaled. "Let's go."
With a single push, the door rumbled open, revealing a descending spiral staircase bathed in a dim, blue light. The air was eerily still, as if the space itself had been sealed away from time.
One by one, they stepped forward, their footsteps echoing down the endless stairway.
As they descended, a new notification appeared.
> [Entering: The Forgotten Abyss]
[Environmental Effect: Mana Suppression -50%]
Jin's breath hitched. Mana suppression? That meant spellcasting would be drastically weakened in this place.
Aerin immediately noticed the shift, her grip tightening on her sword. "Something's wrong… my mana feels sluggish."
Lee Hwan cursed under his breath. "Great. That means fights just got a lot harder."
Jin exhaled, keeping his composure. They had no choice but to push forward. The deeper they went, the more ominous the air became. The blue light flickered like dying flames, casting eerie shadows along the stone walls.
And then, they saw it.
A figure stood at the base of the stairs—a knight clad in obsidian armor, holding a sword that radiated a faint, crimson glow.
Jin's system immediately reacted.
> [??? – The Abyssal Guardian]
[Level ???]
A boss already?
Jin's instincts screamed at him. This opponent… was stronger than anything they had faced before.
Lee Hwan clenched his fists. "Guess we're fighting already."
Aerin's eyes sharpened. "Stay focused. This thing isn't normal."
The Abyssal Guardian slowly lifted its sword, its red eyes glowing. The moment it moved—
The real battle began.