The world around them was like something out of a dream.
A sky so blue it looked painted, stretching endlessly above. The air smelled fresh, carrying the crispness of an early morning breeze. And the flowers—a sea of them—spread as far as the eye could see, covering the land in brilliant hues of red, purple, and gold. The petals danced gently in the wind, untouched by anything unnatural.
It was beautiful.
Too beautiful.
Bruno's instincts screamed at him.
Something was wrong.
For the first time since arriving in the Abyss, there was no sense of impending doom. No shadows lurking at the edge of his vision. No shifting walls threatening to swallow them whole.
It felt like a trap.
Kaito twirled his sword absently as he walked ahead, his sharp eyes scanning their surroundings. He frowned.
"I can't feel anything," he muttered. "This place is weird."
Dain snorted. "You mean nice? For once, we're not getting chased by something horrifying. I say we enjoy it."
Elyria shot him a glare. "That's exactly why it's dangerous."
Bruno remained silent. He agreed with Elyria. The Abyss never gave anything freely. If something seemed beautiful, it was only because something far worse was lurking beneath the surface.
Varen suddenly stopped in his tracks. His eyes darkened, his body tensing.
"…It's here."
Bruno's breath hitched.
Everyone turned to look ahead.
At first, there was nothing—just the endless field of golden flowers.
Then, amidst the sea of petals, Kaito spotted it.
A figure.
It stood roughly two hundred meters ahead, barely visible against the bright landscape.
Bruno narrowed his eyes. His gut told him to look closer.
Kaito took a step forward, his voice quieter now. "It's… human-shaped. But made of wood?"
Dain scoffed, cracking his knuckles. "So that's the Queen?"
The figure moved.
Not hesitantly. Not cautiously.
Deliberate, slow steps.
Bruno frowned. "Why is she so far ahead?"
Dain rolled his shoulders. "Does it matter? Let's rush her and end this quickly."
Elyria scoffed. "Do you ever think before you act? This is a boss chamber. If she's walking instead of attacking, there's a reason."
Silas, who had been quiet until now, let out a slow breath. His eyes, sharp and calculating, flicked toward the Queen.
"…She's testing us."
Everyone turned to him.
Silas continued, voice even. "She's walking because she's watching. Evaluating. Waiting for us to act first."
Kaito frowned. "Then what happens if we do nothing?"
Silas didn't answer.
Because at that moment—
Something shifted in the air.
A wave of pressure rolled over them—thick, suffocating, crushing.
Raine let out a strangled gasp, dropping to her knees. Her breaths came in ragged, uneven gasps, like the air itself had turned against her.
Bruno's pulse pounded.
Abyssal pressure—but different. It wasn't the usual twisting force that threatened to consume.
This was calculated.
This was territorial.
And then—
The Queen disappeared.
One moment she was 197 meters away.
The next—
She was standing right in front of them.
A seamless, impossible movement, as if reality itself had simply skipped forward.
Everyone scattered—except Raine, still on the ground, struggling to breathe.
Bruno's heart slammed against his ribs.
She didn't move.
"Raine!"
Bruno charged forward, Abyssal energy igniting around his fists—
But—
His strike hit nothing.
An invisible force stopped him cold, like slamming his fists against solid air.
The Queen slowly raised her hand, reaching for Raine.
Bruno's eyes widened.
MOVE.
Before she could touch Raine—
A blade flashed.
Varen grabbed Raine, yanking her away just as the ground split open beneath her.
A massive, jagged branch erupted from the soil—thick, sharp, and deadly—impaling the exact spot she had just been kneeling.
Bruno froze.
That would've killed her.
Raine clutched Varen's arm, still trembling. "…Thanks."
Varen nodded, refocusing on the Queen.
Silas suddenly moved, stepping toward the creature with slow, deliberate steps.
"You like testing people, huh?" he murmured, voice low.
The Queen tilted her head, her wooden frame creaking.
Silas flicked a knife between his fingers.
"Then let's test something."
Before anyone could react, he flung the knife—not at the Queen, but at her shadow.
A sharp, unnatural screech echoed as the knife embedded itself into nothing.
The Queen's body twitched violently.
Silas smirked. "So that's how it is."
But before he could react—
The Queen moved.
Her wooden leg shot out, her speed terrifying.
Silas barely had time to raise his hand—his own shadow surging to block the blow—
But it failed.
The impact sent him flying, his body crashing several meters away in a violent roll.
Bruno cursed. That wasn't normal. The Queen had broken through his ability.
Kaito took the opening.
He vanished, reappearing behind the Queen, sword aimed for her neck—
But before he could land a hit—
Her fist slammed into his cheek.
The impact sent Kaito flying—but he blinked away mid-air, landing several meters back, rubbing his jaw.
"…Fast," he muttered, spitting blood.
The once-pristine field of flowers was now ruined. Some had been crushed, others ripped from the earth by the sheer force of their battle.
Bruno's fists clenched.
The Abyss never gives beauty without a price.
Elyria took a deep breath, stepping back. She raised her bow, golden energy crackling around it.
She drew three arrows, aiming carefully.
Dain took this as his chance. With a roar, he lunged forward, greatsword raised high—
But the Queen vanished again.
She reappeared right in front of Elyria.
Bruno's stomach dropped.
Elyria still had the arrows nocked, but it was too late—
The Queen's arm lashed out—
But before she could land a hit—
Bruno moved.
His fist met her face, Abyssal energy erupting on impact.
CRACK.
Her jaw dislocated, and the impact sent her skidding backward—
She snapped her jaw back into place, her hollow eyes fixating on Bruno.
Then, she spoke.
Her voice was like groaning trees, dry and ancient.
"…Killed by children."
A low rumble followed.
The ground beneath them shook.
Dozens—hundreds—of creatures began rising from the soil.
Their bodies were twisted, malformed, covered in vibrant flowers—the same flowers that once filled the field.
Bruno's stomach twisted.
Now he understood.
The flowers weren't decorations.
They were grave markers.
Silas flicked his dagger, pushing himself up with a groan. "…Well. That's unfortunate."
Elyria's hands tightened around her bow. "Here we go."
Kaito wiped his mouth, wincing. "Not how I expected this to go, but alright."
Dain rolled his shoulders. "More things to break."
Varen's grip tightened on his sword. "We need a plan."
Bruno exhaled, forcing himself to focus.
This wasn't just a fight.
It was a massacre waiting to happen.