Sovereign’s Wrath

The moment Katsumi's blade descended, the air itself shattered like glass. A massive wave of abyssal energy tore through the sky, colliding with the Nightmare-Class Entity's chest. The impact sent a deafening shockwave across the city, reducing entire buildings to rubble. The hunters below could do nothing but watch in awe and terror. This wasn't a battle. This was destruction incarnate.

The creature howled in pain, its massive form struggling to regenerate as abyssal energy consumed its body. Yet, it did not fall. Instead, it lashed out with monstrous claws, aiming to crush Katsumi beneath its overwhelming might. But before the attack could land, Katsumi vanished, his form dissolving into pure shadow.

He reappeared above the creature's head, his violet eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. "You're tougher than you look," he muttered. Then, with a flick of his hand, the abyss responded. Shadowy tendrils erupted from beneath the monster, wrapping around its limbs, tightening like a vice. Resistance was futile.

The entity struggled, roaring in rage, but the more it fought, the tighter the abyss constricted. Katsumi raised a single hand, and the shadows lifted the monster off the ground. A Nightmare-Class Entity, struggling like an insect in his grasp. The sight alone sent chills through the hunters below.

"Pathetic," Katsumi sneered. Then, without warning, he clenched his fist. The abyss surged violently, crushing the monster's body inward. Bones snapped, muscles tore, and a final, gurgled roar echoed before the entity imploded into a storm of black mist. The sky darkened further as the abyss devoured what remained.

Silence followed. The city—what was left of it—stood in stunned disbelief. Hunters who had once thought themselves powerful realized how insignificant they truly were. This wasn't just strength. This was absolute domination.

Katsumi floated back to the ground, his expression unreadable. He had expected more. This… was disappointing. If this was the best the world could offer, then there was no challenge left. No worthy opponent to test him. Had he truly outgrown everything?

Then, a voice—cold and emotionless—echoed from the shadows. "You've become quite the monster, haven't you, Katsumi?" His eyes flickered toward the darkness beyond the ruins. A figure stepped forward, cloaked in abyssal energy similar to his own. But this power… it felt different. Ancient. Familiar.

"Who are you?" Katsumi asked, gripping his blade. The figure chuckled. "The one who created the abyss. The one who ruled before you stole its power." The air turned suffocating as a new presence filled the battlefield. "You call yourself the Shadow Sovereign… but you are merely its successor."

For the first time since his return, Katsumi felt something stir within him. Not fear, but something close. Excitement. His fingers tightened around his sword as his lips curled into a grin. "Finally," he muttered. "A real fight."