The Abyssal Hunt

As the purple-haired boy plunged into the abyss, the world around him darkened. The thick black fog churned like a living entity, wrapping around him, restricting visibility. The air was dense with a strange energy, a mix of poison and something even more sinister. But he remained unfazed. His sharp eyes scanned the surroundings as he descended, his body cutting through the darkness like a falling star.

Then—movement.

A low, clicking sound reverberated through the abyss, the same sound he had heard from above. But this time, it was closer. Much closer.

The moment his feet touched the rocky ground, a massive shadow shot toward him.

There it is!

With a swift movement, he propelled himself backward, narrowly avoiding a long, jagged tail that slammed into the ground where he had stood a moment before. The impact sent cracks spreading across the stone surface. A powerful force. A deadly strike.

He lifted his gaze.

Emerging from the darkness, the Black Poison Scorpion came into view. It was enormous—at least fifteen feet long, its exoskeleton gleaming with a dark, metallic sheen. Its body was segmented, each part covered in thick armor-like plating. Six legs, sharp like blades, clattered against the ground as it moved. Two massive pincers, capable of crushing boulders, snapped open and shut. But the most

dangerous part of the beast was its tail—long, flexible, and ending in a curved, black stinger that dripped with venom.

The boy exhaled slowly.

Middle Void Tribulation level… This thing is strong.

The Black Poison Scorpion let out a screech, its tail arching high before striking again.

But this time, the boy didn't evade. He moved forward.

As the stinger came down, his right hand clenched into a fist, and in that instant, golden energy surged around him. The very air trembled under his power. With precise timing, he twisted his body and struck out.

Celestial Fist—Breaking Sky!"

A shockwave erupted from his punch, colliding with the scorpion's stinger mid-air. The impact sent a deep, resounding crack through the abyss, and the massive beast recoiled, its tail snapping backward. The boy landed gracefully, eyes locked onto his opponent.

As expected… my normal attacks won't break through its exoskeleton. I need to aim for the weak spots.

The scorpion screeched, now angrier. It lunged forward, its pincers slamming down like falling meteors. The boy's figure blurred—he was already gone before the attack landed. He reappeared at the creature's side, his fingers forming a strange seal.

Void Step—Phantom Mirage!"

His body flickered, multiplying. Five identical figures surrounded the beast from all sides. The Black Poison Scorpion hesitated for a moment before slashing its pincers wildly. But every strike missed.

The real boy reappeared above the scorpion's head, his hands forming another seal.

"Heavenly Spear—Piercing Star!"

Golden light gathered at his fingertips, condensing into a brilliant spear of energy. He hurled it downward with immense force. The spear streaked through the darkness, aiming directly for the gap between the scorpion's armor plates.

BOOM!

A powerful explosion erupted as the spear struck its target. The scorpion let out a deafening shriek, staggering backward. Black liquid oozed from the wound, but it was far from defeated.

That hurt it… but not enough to kill it.

The boy's breathing remained steady, but his mind was calculating. He needed a way to finish this fight. He couldn't waste too much energy here—he had come for the core, not an extended battle.

The Black Poison Scorpion, now furious, unleashed a different attack. Its tail snapped forward, but this time, instead of striking, it released a dense cloud of black mist.

Poison!

The moment the mist spread, the ground sizzled. Even the surrounding rocks corroded instantly. A single breath of that mist could melt through flesh and bones.

But the boy had already moved.

He kicked off the ground, soaring high into the abyss, completely avoiding the poison cloud. Then, he flipped in mid-air and stretched his arms outward.

"Heaven and Earth Suppression—Final Descent!"

A powerful aura erupted around him. Golden energy formed into massive, glowing hands in the air—hands as large as mountains.

He slammed both hands downward.

The golden hands descended like divine judgment, smashing into the Black Poison Scorpion with unstoppable force. The entire abyss shook violently, debris falling from above.

The scorpion let out a final, agonized shriek as its exoskeleton shattered under the overwhelming force.

Then—silence.

The massive beast collapsed.

The purple-haired boy landed smoothly on the ground, stepping forward. His eyes remained focused on the motionless scorpion. He reached out, pressing his hand against its body.

A faint glow emerged as he extracted the beast's core—a dark, spherical object pulsating with energy.

He held it up, watching the way the black mist swirled inside the core.

Finally. The Black Poison Scorpion's core is mine.

But just as he was about to put it away, a sudden noise made him stop.

From deep within the abyss… something else was moving.

Something bigger.

A deep, guttural growl rumbled through the abyss. The Scorpion Queen lowered its massive body, its glossy black exoskeleton reflecting the faint glow of the cavern's eerie crystals. Its eight monstrous legs tensed, digging into the rocky ground. The purple-haired boy could feel the sheer weight of its killing intent pressing down on him like a crushing wave.

He exhaled sharply, shifting into a combat stance.

Purple-haired boy: "I guess running isn't an option anymore."

The Scorpion Queen shrieked, and in the blink of an eye, it lunged forward, its razor-sharp pincers slashing through the air with terrifying speed. The purple-haired boy barely had time to react. His body flickered, twisting to the side just as one of the scorpion's massive claws smashed into the ground, sending a shockwave of force rippling through the abyss.

BOOM!

Rocks shattered beneath its strength, and the entire cavern quaked from the impact. The force of the attack was enough to send debris flying in every direction. But the purple-haired boy had already counterattacked.

Purple-haired boy: "Sky Piercing Palm!"

A golden energy burst erupted from his hand, forming a shockwave of concentrated power that slammed into the scorpion's armored side. The impact sent ripples through its massive body, causing it to screech in pain.

But the attack barely left a scratch.

The Scorpion Queen's exoskeleton was too strong. Even a direct hit from one of his advanced techniques had only pushed it back slightly.

The purple-haired boy's eyes narrowed.

Purple-haired boy (thinking): "Its defenses are stronger than I thought. I need to aim for the weak points."

He dashed forward, closing the distance in an instant. His movements were swift, weaving through the beast's wild attacks as he targeted the joints between its armored plating.

Purple-haired boy: "Heavenly Spear Strike!"

His palm struck forward, releasing a concentrated lance of energy aimed at the softer areas between the scorpion's plates. This time, the attack pierced through, drawing dark green blood from the beast.

The Scorpion Queen shrieked in fury.

Its massive tail, tipped with a deadly black stinger, lashed out at blinding speed.

The purple-haired boy's eyes widened.

He barely managed to twist his body, avoiding a fatal blow, but—

SPLURT!

Pain exploded through his shoulder as the stinger grazed him, leaving behind a deep, bleeding wound.

A burning sensation spread through his veins.

Poison.

The Scorpion Queen's tail was venomous. Even a slight cut was enough to send waves of searing pain through his body.

The purple-haired boy staggered back, his vision blurring slightly. His golden eyes

flickered, struggling to focus. His breathing became ragged.

Purple-haired boy (thinking): "Damn it... I can't let this poison slow me down..."

But the Scorpion Queen wasn't done.

Sensing his weakness, the beast lunged again, faster than before.

A shadow loomed over him as its massive pincers swung down like a collapsing mountain.

CRASH!

The purple-haired boy barely managed to escape, his body rolling to the side, but the sheer force of the impact sent him flying backward, smashing into a jagged rock wall.

Purple-haired boy: "Agh!"

Blood dripped from his lips. His body screamed in pain. His bones felt like they had cracked under the sheer force of that attack. He struggled to push himself up, his fingers digging into the rough ground.

But the Scorpion Queen wasn't going to give him time to recover.

Its massive tail rose high, preparing to strike down with full force.

The purple-haired boy's breathing was ragged. His body was at its limit. His strength was fading.

He had no choice.

He clenched his fists, summoning every last bit of energy in his body.

Then—he turned and ran.

Purple-haired boy (thinking): "I can't win this fight. Not in this condition."

The Scorpion Queen roared in fury, chasing after him. Its massive form crashed through the abyss, tearing through stone and rock as it pursued him relentlessly. But the purple-haired boy was faster.

He zigzagged through the uneven terrain, pushing his body beyond its limits. His wounds burned. His vision blurred. The poison in his veins was spreading.

But he refused to stop.

The entrance to the abyss was just ahead. If he could reach it—

A deafening shriek rang out.

The Scorpion Queen's tail lashed out one final time—

SPLASH!

The purple-haired boy threw himself into a rushing underground river, just as the stinger smashed into the rocks behind him.

The freezing water enveloped him, pulling him into its depths. The Scorpion Queen's enraged screeches echoed above, but it couldn't follow him into the currents.

The purple-haired boy's vision darkened as the river carried him away. His body was broken, his consciousness fading. But he had survived.

A faint breeze rustled through the treetops, carrying the crisp scent of damp earth and flowing water. The rhythmic sound of a river's gentle current filled the air, blending with the occasional chirping of distant birds. Sunlight filtered through the thick canopy, casting golden patches of light on the forest floor.

Lying near the riverbank, the purple-haired boy stirred. His fingers twitched against the cool grass, his body aching from head to toe. Slowly, his eyelashes fluttered, and with a quiet groan, he opened his eyes.

For a moment, he simply stared at the sky above. The deep blue stretched endlessly, speckled with a few drifting clouds. The last thing he remembered was the Scorpion Queen's attack and the icy rush of the underground river pulling him away.

He had survived.

Pain surged through his body as he tried to move. His arms trembled, his wounds burning as if set aflame. Blood had dried over his torn robes, and bruises covered his skin. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself into a sitting position.

The scenery around him was unlike the dark, suffocating abyss he had fallen into. Towering ancient trees surrounded him, their emerald leaves swaying gently. The river beside him glistened under the sunlight, its waters clear and calm. Birds flitted between branches, their soft chirps breaking the silence. It was... peaceful.

But he didn't have time to admire the beauty of the place.

But he didn't have time to admire the beauty of the place.

Purple-haired boy (thinking): "I need to recover… I can't stay like this for long."

He reached into his storage ring, his fingers searching through the many items stored within. His movements were sluggish, his body still weak. Finally, he pulled out a small porcelain bottle. The pills inside glowed faintly, filled with potent medicinal energy.

He uncorked the bottle, tilting it slightly. A single golden pill rolled onto his palm. Without hesitation, he popped it into his mouth, swallowing it dry. A warm sensation spread through his body as the pill's healing energy coursed through his veins, slowly mending his internal injuries.

But one pill wasn't enough. He took out another. Then another.

After consuming three pills, his breathing steadied. The pain in his chest lessened slightly, and his body felt a little stronger. He leaned against the base of a large tree, closing his eyes as the medicine worked through him.

Days passed.

The purple-haired boy spent his time meditating, absorbing the healing effects of his pills, and resting beneath the tree. His wounds slowly began to close, and his internal energy started to recover.

But full recovery was not easy.

A week later, he still felt weak. Though his wounds had healed on the surface, his body had yet to regain its full strength.

Purple-haired boy (thinking): "My injuries from that scorpion were worse than I thought… That poison nearly killed me."

He clenched his fists, feeling the lack of power in his grip. His body had suffered too much damage. Even with his strong constitution, it would take time to return to his peak.

So he remained in the forest.

Weeks passed. He trained lightly every day, stretching his muscles, regaining control over his energy, and ensuring his body didn't weaken further. He also took time to study his surroundings.

This forest was unlike anything he had seen before. The trees were massive, their roots stretching deep underground. The air felt rich with spiritual energy, making it a perfect place to cultivate.

During his recovery, he made an interesting discovery—

A few miles from where he had woken up, there was an ancient stone altar, covered in moss and vines. Strange runes were carved into the surface, glowing faintly under the moonlight. The purple-haired boy studied it for hours, trying to decipher its meaning.

But no matter how much he examined it, he couldn't unlock its secrets.

Purple-haired boy (thinking): "This place… feels strange. Like it holds something important."

But he wasn't strong enough to explore it yet.

So he focused on healing and regaining his strength.

One month later.

The purple-haired boy stood near the river, his upper robe removed, revealing his toned physique. His injuries were fully healed. His body had grown even stronger after the long recovery. He clenched his fists, feeling the energy coursing through him once more.

A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

Purple-haired boy (thinking): "Finally… I'm back."

He turned toward the ancient altar in the distance, his golden eyes flickering with determination. It was time to unravel the mysteries of this place.

And to find out where he had ended up.