The next day came too quickly.
No recovery.
No preparation.
Jin Muyeon stood at the edge of the forbidden grounds.
Before him—
A massive stone gate.
Black.
Ancient.
Covered in strange carvings.
The air around it felt… wrong.
Heavy.
Cold.
Alive.
"This is the Abyss Gate," Instructor Han said.
Muyeon glanced at him.
"…You're coming with me?"
Han shook his head.
"…No one enters with you."
A pause.
"…And no one comes out to help."
Muyeon smirked faintly.
"…Good."
Hwa Ryun stood nearby.
Silent as always.
Watching.
"…Try not to die," she said.
Muyeon glanced at her.
"…Worried?"
A faint smile touched her lips.
"…Curious."
Elder Seo stepped forward.
"This is your final warning."
Muyeon didn't respond.
He stepped toward the gate.
The moment he got close—
The system flickered.
[Abyss Energy Detected]
[Unknown Interference]
[System Stability: 82% → 61%]
Muyeon's eyes narrowed.
"…So it affects the system too."
Elder Seo raised his hand.
The gate began to open.
GRRRR—
A deep, ancient sound echoed.
Darkness spilled out.
Not shadow.
Something thicker.
Something deeper.
The disciples watching from afar stepped back.
"…What is that…"
Muyeon stared into it.
For the first time—
Even he felt it.
Uncertainty.
Then—
He stepped forward.
And entered.
The moment he crossed the gate—
Everything disappeared.
No sound.
No light.
No ground.
Just—
Endless black.
Then—
CRASH!
Muyeon hit the ground hard.
Stone.
Cold.
Wet.
He coughed.
"…Tch…"
He stood up slowly.
The environment around him became clear.
A ruined world.
Broken pillars.
Cracked earth.
A red sky that flickered like it was dying.
"…So this is the Abyss…"
The system flickered violently.
[Signal Disrupted]
[Map Function: Disabled]
[Shop Access: Locked]
[Skill Sync: Reduced by 40%]
Muyeon frowned.
"…You're kidding."
For the first time since awakening—
The system wasn't reliable.
"…So I'm really on my own."
A low growl echoed.
Muyeon froze.
Not fear.
Instinct.
Something was watching him.
Slowly—
He turned.
Behind him—
Something moved in the darkness.
Tall.
Twisted.
Its body looked human—
But stretched.
Broken.
Its limbs dragged across the ground.
Its face—
Missing.
Just a hollow void.
Muyeon's eyes sharpened.
"…First enemy already?"
The creature tilted its head unnaturally.
Then—
It screamed.
AAAAAAAAA—!!
The sound tore through the air.
Muyeon's vision shook.
[Mental Interference Detected]
"…Tch—!"
The creature charged.
Fast.
Too fast.
Muyeon barely dodged.
CRASH!
The ground where he stood shattered.
"…Strong."
Stronger than normal disciples.
And he wasn't at full power.
Muyeon exhaled slowly.
"…Good."
His eyes sharpened.
Even without the system—
He still had himself.
The creature attacked again.
Muyeon stepped in this time.
Dodged—
Twisted—
Then struck.
CRACK!
His hit landed clean.
The creature staggered—
But didn't fall.
Instead—
It laughed.
A distorted, broken sound.
"…Heh…"
Muyeon frowned.
"…It's enjoying this?"
Then—
More sounds echoed.
Behind him.
To the side.
Above.
He froze.
"…No way…"
Out of the darkness—
More figures appeared.
One.
Two.
Five.
Ten.
All the same.
All twisted.
All watching him.
Muyeon slowly exhaled.
Then—
He smiled.
"…So this is survival."
His stance lowered.
Blood still dripping.
Body still damaged.
But his eyes—
Burning brighter than ever.
"…Come."
The creatures screamed—
And rushed him all at once.