A Warrior’s Trial in the Forgotten Abyss

"You should rest."

Zhao Yue's voice was firm, but I could hear the exhaustion beneath it. Her injured arm was wrapped tightly in Mei's bandages, yet she stood beside me, her hand resting on her sword hilt, her sharp eyes never still.

We were in the remains of the governor's hall—no, the grave of a traitor. The blood had yet to dry. The stench of burnt flesh still clung to the air, mixing with the scent of spilled wine and decay. The battle had ended, but the war had just begun.

I looked at the others.

Chen Rui, our newest companion, sat by the broken window, sharpening a stolen dagger. His face was unreadable, but I caught the way his fingers trembled slightly before he steadied them. A thief, a survivor—he was still adjusting to the insanity we lived in.

Jiang Chen leaned against the wall, his sword resting across his lap, eyes closed, but I knew he wasn't asleep. Yusheng sat beside him, chewing on a piece of dried meat like he was trying to remind himself that he was still alive.

And then there was Mei.

She sat in the center of the room, her hands trembling over a wounded survivor. A faint, golden light flickered from her fingertips, and slowly, the gaping wound on the man's side closed.

It was her third healing tonight.

The air around her crackled with raw, untrained power.

[ Mei's Healing Skill has Increased: Beginner → Intermediate! ]

[ Healing Efficiency Increased! MP Cost Reduced! ]

I saw the way her breathing grew steadier with each spell. The way her fingers shook less. She was getting stronger. Fast.

But she was still a healer. A protector. And I was the one who had to wield the blade.

I exhaled. The weight of my sword felt heavier than usual.

"We don't have time to rest," I muttered.

Zhao Yue sighed, rubbing her temple. "You're impossible."

I smirked. "That's why I'm still alive."

System Notification: A Delayed Reward

Just as I was about to push myself up, a sudden pulse ran through my body. The air around me crackled, and a blue screen flickered in my vision.

[ Due to Unclaimed System Growth Rewards, Processing Now… ]

[ Analyzing Combat Achievements… ]

[ System Dungeon Unlocked: Intermediate Trial of the Forgotten Abyss! ]

[ Time in Reality Will Be Halted Until Completion. Enter? (Y/N) ]

I blinked.

A dungeon?

No. This wasn't just a dungeon. This was a training ground.

And I wasn't about to refuse a chance to grow stronger.

I turned to Zhao Yue. "Take care of everyone until I return."

She frowned. "What—"

But before she could finish, the world around me shattered into black mist.

Abyssal Dungeon – Floor 1: The Forsaken Dead

When I opened my eyes, I wasn't in the fort anymore.

I stood on a cracked battlefield, the sky above me a swirling void of endless black. The ground beneath my feet was stone, rough and uneven, stretching into the horizon.

And then I heard it.

The sound of shuffling.

I turned.

The first wave had already arrived.

A horde of the undead, their flesh rotting, their hollow eyes glowing with unnatural light. They moved in unison, their bones cracking with each step.

And they were coming for me.

I smirked.

"Let's begin."

I raised Shusui, my grip firm.

The first zombie lunged, its jaw unhinging unnaturally wide—

I twisted my body, dodging the swipe of its claws, and brought my sword down in a sharp arc. The blade cleaved through rotting flesh like paper, severing the creature in one smooth strike.

[ You have slain a Forsaken Dead! ]

[ +150 EXP ]

Another came at me from the side. I pivoted, thrusting my sword straight through its skull, piercing the glowing core inside.

[ Critical Hit! You have slain a Forsaken Dead! ]

[ +200 EXP ]

The third tried to grab me from behind. I shifted my weight, stepping into its attack instead of away, and slammed my elbow into its jaw before bringing my blade down in a reverse grip—

The zombie's head rolled across the ground.

[ Triple Kill Bonus! +300 EXP ]

The horde kept coming.

And I kept cutting them down.

By the time I stood alone again, surrounded by nothing but corpses, my breathing was steady, my muscles burning—but I felt alive.

[ Level Up! You have reached Level 12! ]

Floor 2: Goblins and Orcs

The ground rumbled beneath my feet.

The next wave had arrived.

And this time, they weren't mindless corpses.

Goblins. Small, twisted creatures with jagged blades and glowing yellow eyes. They moved fast, their cackles echoing in the air as they darted between the rocks.

Behind them, orcs. Towering, muscle-bound monsters wielding massive clubs and crude axes. Their skin was dark green, their tusks stained with dried blood.

I rolled my shoulders.

"This should be interesting."

The first goblin lunged, its dagger flashing—

I sidestepped, grabbing its wrist and twisting—there was a sickening snap, and before it could scream, I drove Shusui through its throat.

[ You have slain a Goblin Scout! +400 EXP ]

Two more rushed me. I weaved between them, slashing one across the chest before kicking the other into the path of an orc's swinging club.

The impact was brutal.

The goblin's body crumpled like a ragdoll.

I didn't wait. I lunged at the orc while its weapon was still mid-swing, slicing a deep gash across its exposed gut—

It roared, staggering back—

I spun, using the momentum to drive my blade through its heart.

[ You have slain an Orc Berserker! +1,200 EXP ]

System Reward: Special Drop Acquired!

A glow caught my eye. Among the bodies, something shimmered—a rare drop.

I picked it up.

[ Item Acquired: Bloodfang Dagger (Rare) ]

[ A blade forged from the fangs of an ancient beast. Increases critical hit rate. ]

A grin spread across my face.

This was just the beginning.

Floor 3: Hobgoblins and Mages

The next wave hit hard.

Hobgoblins—taller, stronger, and smarter than the lesser goblins. They fought in formation, their weapons sharper, their armor thicker.

And behind them, cloaked figures—their fingers crackling with magic.

For the first time, I felt the burn of mana in the air.

I clenched my sword.

Time to see how much pain I could take.

The first fireball streaked toward me. I dodged—barely. The heat seared across my shoulder.

Another spell shot toward me—this time, ice.

I moved fast, cutting down a hobgoblin as I rushed the mages. If I let them cast too much—

Too late.

A bolt of lightning slammed into my chest.

Pain.

Raw, burning pain.

But I didn't stop.

I clenched my teeth, pushing through, and slashed the mage's throat open.

As his body crumpled, something changed.

[ You have absorbed mana! ]

[ Basic Magic Mastery Acquired! ]

I blinked.

Then grinned.

This dungeon wasn't just training me.

It was making me something more.