Chapter 28 – Awakening the Abyss
The corpse of the Nightmare Tyrant lay still, dark mist rising from its severed neck as the Nightmare Realm absorbed its fallen essence. Ash exhaled, rolling his shoulders as he adjusted to the new strength coursing through his body.
His system had updated, confirming the stats he had gained:
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[Stats Absorbed: +5 Strength, +4 Constitution, +3 Resilience]
---
He clenched his fist, feeling the difference. His muscles felt denser, his reflexes sharper. Every battle, every kill—he was steadily pushing past the limits of his former self.
But this wasn't enough.
Ash knew that the path to true power required more than just raw stats. He needed mastery—absolute control over his evolving abilities.
He opened his status window.
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[Ash - Rank: Awakened]
Strength: 58
Agility: 52
Constitution: 54
Resilience: 51
Perception: 60
Aspect: Abyssal Tyrant (Divine)
Sovereign of the Abyss: Absorbs stats from defeated enemies.
Abyssal Dominion: Suppressive force increases in conquered territory.
Predator's Conquest: Instantly learns and refines combat techniques.
Tyrant's Form: Temporarily enhances all stats at the cost of stamina.
Devourer's Rebirth: Uses stored energy to heal mortal wounds.
Abilities:
Phantom Rend (Enhanced)
Abyss Fang (Refined)
Observation Haki (Developing)
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He noted the changes immediately. His Observation Haki had been subtly improving, expanding its range and clarity. The battle against the Nightmare Tyrant had pushed his instincts to their limits, forcing his predictive abilities to sharpen further.
Still, it wasn't enough.
Ash took a deep breath, allowing his body to settle. He needed to push himself harder before the next trial.
And he had the perfect method in mind.
Training the Abyss
Finding a moment of peace in the shifting nightmare landscape, Ash focused inward. The strength he gained wasn't just about numbers—it was about control.
He activated Tyrant's Form for a brief second, feeling the power surge through his muscles. The transformation amplified his physicality to terrifying levels, but the stamina drain was still a weakness.
I need to make it more efficient.
Ash started by testing his movement. He pushed himself through rapid bursts of acceleration, weaving through the ruins. His speed was phenomenal, but he noticed a slight delay in his body's adaptation to sudden shifts.
Observation Haki fed him information faster than his body could always react—an issue that needed fixing.
He repeated the process, refining his footwork.
Minutes turned into hours as he pushed himself, focusing on precision, not just raw speed.
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[Tyrant's Form efficiency has increased. Stamina consumption reduced.]
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A smirk formed on Ash's lips. Progress.
But he wasn't done yet.
Now, it was time to refine his swordplay.
Drawing his blade, he executed Phantom Rend repeatedly, sharpening the technique until his draw-cut became even faster, even sharper. The speed enhancement from Abyssal Tyrant had improved its lethality, making it even harder to see.
Ash followed up with Abyss Fang, refining the delay effect so that the cut became nearly unpredictable.
Every improvement mattered. Every refinement brought him closer to mastery.
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[Phantom Rend has evolved.]
[Abyss Fang has refined its delay timing.]
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Ash exhaled, lowering his sword.
Good.
Now, there was one last thing to check.
He closed his eyes, activating Observation Haki.
The world slowed.
The shifting nightmare mist became more defined, each movement clearer. He could feel the distant presence of creatures lurking in the shadows—far beyond his normal vision.
He focused, trying to push his senses further.
Then, suddenly—
A vision.
It was brief, but he saw it. A flicker of movement, a danger that hadn't arrived yet.
His future sight was awakening.
Ash's eyes snapped open. A slow grin formed on his face.
It's starting.
He tightened his grip on his sword, his resolve solidifying.
He was ready for the next trial. Ash stood in the eerie silence of the Nightmare Realm, his breath steady, his body thrumming with power. His improvements weren't just noticeable—they were transformative.
But he wasn't done yet.
The battle with the Nightmare Tyrant had pushed him to his limits, but there was still more to refine, more to perfect. He clenched his fists, feeling the raw strength coursing through his veins.
His Observation Haki had evolved, granting him fleeting glimpses into the immediate future. Though brief, the visions gave him an edge—a split-second warning before an attack landed.
Not enough, Ash thought. I need to push it further.
He closed his eyes again, focusing inward, trying to force his senses beyond their current limits. The mist around him shifted unnaturally, and for a moment, he felt as though he was standing outside of time itself.
Then—
A sudden burst of movement.
A shadow leaped from the ruins, its razor-sharp claws slashing toward his neck.
Ash didn't react with panic.
He had already seen it coming.
In an instant, he twisted his body, avoiding the strike with absolute precision. His sword flashed as he countered, Phantom Rend cutting through the creature before it could react.
A delayed burst of blood filled the air as the beast collapsed, lifeless.
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[You have slain a Nightmare Spawn – Stats Absorbed: +2 Strength, +1 Agility]
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He barely paid attention to the notification. What mattered was that his future sight was working—not just in fleeting glimpses but in actual combat.
His body felt lighter, faster, sharper.
He needed more.
Time to hunt.
The Abyss Hunts
Ash moved through the ruined city, his perception stretching further than ever before. Every sound, every subtle shift in the environment—he felt it before he saw it.
The creatures lurking in the darkness didn't stand a chance.
A pack of wraith-like horrors emerged, their claws vibrating with cursed energy. Ash didn't hesitate.
He moved first.
With Phantom Rend, he cut through one before it could react, its body splitting apart in a single instant.
Another lunged at him from behind—he saw it coming.
Spinning on his heel, he delivered an Abyss Fang slash that severed its limbs before it even realized it had been attacked.
The rest of the creatures hesitated.
They could feel his dominance.
They could feel that he was above them.
But fear didn't stop them.
They charged, a storm of claws and fangs descending upon him from all directions.
Ash's grin widened.
Perfect.
He activated Tyrant's Form.
A surge of raw power exploded from his body as his speed and strength doubled.
The world blurred as he moved.
Every strike was precise. Every motion was flawless.
His sword sang through the air, cutting down enemies in an instant. He weaved through attacks, dodging with inhuman reflexes. His Observation Haki was synchronizing with his body, allowing him to react even before his enemies made their moves.
One by one, the creatures fell.
Until only Ash remained, standing amidst a pile of corpses.
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[You have slain multiple Nightmare Spawn – Stats Absorbed: +5 Agility, +3 Perception, +2 Constitution]
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He exhaled slowly, feeling the power settle within him.
His stats were increasing rapidly, his body evolving in real-time.
More than that—he was beginning to understand his own abilities in ways he never had before.
His Observation Haki wasn't just a tool for survival.
It was the key to absolute dominance.
He clenched his fists, feeling the raw potential coursing through him.
This was just the beginning.
The next trial awaited.
And he would not be caught unprepared.