Kael's blade tore through another abyssal creature.
It didn't even slow him down.
But that was the problem.
There was always another one.
"…How many has it been?" someone muttered behind him.
No one answered.
Because no one knew.
Because it didn't stop.
They weren't fighting waves anymore.
They were fighting a current.
Constant.
Unending.
Relentless.
Cyrus crushed the skull of one that got too close, breathing heavier now.
"…This isn't normal."
Kael didn't respond immediately.
He stepped forward, cutting down another that rushed him without any regard for its own life.
"…I know."
Another came.
Then another.
Even as their bodies piled up—
More replaced them.
No hesitation.
No fear.
Just attack.
"…They're not even reacting to losses anymore," Cyrus said.
"They never were," Kael replied.
A pause.
"…But now it's worse."
Because now—
They weren't just attacking.
They were throwing themselves at them.
Like tools.
Like they didn't matter.
Kael's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Something's driving them."
And whatever it was—
Was getting closer.
—
Aurelia stopped again.
This time—
Everyone felt it instantly.
"…No," she said quietly.
Auralis frowned. "…What?"
Aurelia's gaze was fixed ahead.
"…It's spreading."
The dagger girl tensed. "What is?"
Aurelia didn't look at her.
"…The pressure."
And right on cue—
The ground ruptured.
Not one.
Not a few.
Dozens.
They came out all at once.
Clawing.
Screeching.
Rushing.
No hesitation.
Auralis grinned—
But it didn't reach her eyes this time.
"…Finally got serious, huh."
She stepped forward.
Hammer slammed down—
Crushing one completely.
But it didn't matter.
More filled the gap instantly.
"They're faster!" the spear user shouted.
"They're not faster," Aurelia said.
A pause.
"…There's just more of them."
That was worse.
Much worse.
Because that meant—
This wasn't random anymore.
This was scaling.
Auralis spun, smashing another aside.
"…Then we move."
Aurelia nodded.
"…We don't stop."
Because stopping now—
Meant getting buried.
—
Somewhere else—
A group didn't make it.
They tried.
They fought.
They ran.
But it didn't matter.
The creatures didn't stop.
Didn't slow.
Didn't retreat.
And eventually—
They were gone.
Just like that.
—
Zael stood still.
For once.
Not because he was tired.
Because he felt it.
Everything.
Through Predator's Domain.
Every creature nearby.
Every movement.
Every direction.
And it was wrong.
"…Too many."
They weren't just coming anymore.
They were converging.
From different directions.
Closing in.
On him.
Zael exhaled slowly.
"…Good."
His grip tightened.
Then—
They came.
From all sides.
Not a pack.
Not a wave.
A flood.
Zael moved.
Void Step.
Phantom Split.
Blade Domain.
Everything flowed together.
No wasted movement.
No hesitation.
Kill.
Move.
Kill.
Move.
Abyss Rend tore through one—
Crimson Feast activated—
Energy surged back into him mid-fight.
He didn't stop.
Didn't slow.
Even as they clawed him.
Even as blood spilled.
He kept moving.
Kept cutting.
Kept killing.
Time blurred.
Minutes—
Or longer.
He didn't know.
Didn't care.
Until—
The last one fell.
Silence.
Real silence.
Zael stood there.
Breathing heavier now.
Body marked.
But still standing.
Then—
The system exploded.
---
[You have defeated multiple Abyssal Creatures]
[EXP Gained]
+4,200
+3,900
+5,100
+6,300
+8,000
+12,500
---
[Level Up!]
---
Zael's eyes sharpened.
"…30."
It happened.
Just like that.
---
[Level 30 Reached]
[Awakening Task Initiated]
---
A pause.
Then—
---
[Due to Trait: Balance]
[Awakening Difficulty: Maximum Tier]
---
Zael let out a short breath.
"…Of course."
Then—
Another notification.
Different.
Heavier.
---
[New Talent Unlocked]
---
Zael's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Now?"
He didn't even open it yet—
Because something else reacted first.
---
[Talent Bank Detected New Talent]
[Analyzing…]
[Upgrading…]
---
Zael froze.
That—
"…Wait—"
---
[Upgrade in Progress…]
---
The air around him shifted slightly.
Not violently.
But enough.
Like something deeper was moving.
Changing.
Evolving.
Zael's gaze hardened.
Because whatever this was—
It wasn't small.
It wasn't normal.
And it definitely—
Wasn't something he could ignore.
The notification flickered again.
---
[Upgrade Complete]
---
Zael stared at it.
Didn't move.
Didn't blink.
Then slowly—
He opened the talent description.
And his expression—
Changed.
"…What…?"
---
[END OF CHAPTER]