The Abyssal Spire's apex lay in ruins, its obsidian walls cracked and crumbling, the void energy that once pulsed through them now a faint hum in the aftermath of the Goddess of Fate's departure. Beelzebub stood amidst the wreckage, Voidreaver Scythe in hand—its A-tier blade still humming with the void energy that had clashed against divine starlight. His aura, a twenty-meter storm of cold dominance amplified by his Devourer profession, flickered with residual power, the air around him heavy with the scent of shattered mana and the weight of what he'd just done. At Level 26 with 8145 EXP, his stats were a testament to his ascent—Strength at 2189, Speed at 1768, Luck at 160, and Charisma at 160 after absorbing the Goddess's avatar. But the realization settled in as the spire's runes pulsed faintly, their ancient script whispering truths he couldn't ignore: he had only fought a weakened avatar of the Goddess of Fate, a mere fragment of her true power, sent to the mortal realm to avoid shattering it entirely. He was still far too weak to face a god in their full might.
The voices in his mind—Fate's starlight, Warden's darkness, Tyrant's rage—clawed louder, a cacophony that threatened to unravel his sense of self. Starwoven's shimmer and Fatebreaker's defiance now threaded into his being, adding to the patchwork of stolen wills. He staggered, aura flaring uncontrollably—obsidian dust swirling as a section of the spire crumbled further. "I'm Beelzebub," he growled, fists clenched, shoving the chaos down, but Gluttony's strain pulsed harder—his identity a fraying thread, bloodlines and talents weaving a tapestry that felt less like him with each passing moment. His smirk returned, colder, a mask cracking at the edges, but a flicker of frustration burned in his crimson eyes. A weakened avatar had pushed him to his limits—how far was he from the gods' true power?
Ryn stepped forward, her cloak tattered from the divine storm, her dagger steady despite the tremor in her hands. Her trust had risen to 42% after witnessing him defy a goddess, even if it was just an avatar. "You survived a goddess," she said, her voice soft but heavy with awe. "Even a fragment of one… that's more than anyone in the Realms has done." Her eyes, shadowed by her cursed past, held a glimmer of hope—hope that he might defy her own twisted fate as a player turned NPC.
He turned, Charisma at 160 weaving a flirty edge into his sharp tone. "A fragment's just the start, Blade. I'll devour the real thing soon enough. Stick with me—you'll see gods bleed." Her faint smile returned, her resolve hardening as she nodded, the bond between them deepening with each shared battle.
The spire's darkness pulsed, a deep rumble echoing from its depths—the Abyssborn's presence growing stronger, its broken chains a clarion call to the Realms. Beelzebub's defiance had shattered the last of the divine seals, and now the Abyssborn stirred, a cosmic force the gods had feared for eons. In Eldrin, the sky darkened further, storm clouds swirling with unnatural hues of violet and black, players whispering of omens, NPCs falling to their knees in prayer to gods who no longer answered. The Mage Guild's tomes, which Beelzebub had glimpsed in prior visits, spoke of the Abyssborn as a primordial entity, born before the gods themselves, sealed away when they rose to power. Its awakening promised chaos—a new order where the divine would fall, and a new ruler would rise. Beelzebub's actions had set this in motion, and the gods' fear was a palpable tremor felt across the divine planes, their whispers of his name a mix of dread and rage.
A new quest pinged in his HUD, its tone urgent: "Clear the S-Rank Dungeon: Ebon Abyss. Slay the Ebon Tyrant. Reward: 800 EXP, 320 Copper, Achievement." The Ebon Abyss lay deep beneath the spire, a chasm said to be the Abyssborn's cradle, its depths a labyrinth of shadow and despair where the strongest players feared to tread. Beelzebub's grin widened—he'd conquered A-rank, defied a goddess's avatar, and now an S-rank challenge awaited. But the memory of the Goddess's power, even weakened, lingered, a reminder of the gap he still had to close.
He descended into the spire's lower depths, Ryn at his side, the air growing colder as they approached the Ebon Abyss. The chasm yawned before them, a maw of pure darkness, its edges lined with runes that bled shadow, their script a lament for the gods' hubris in sealing the Abyssborn. Shadows surged: Ebon Shades, Level 40, spectral warriors with void-forged blades, thirty strong, their forms radiating a darkness that swallowed light. Beelzebub's aura erupted—obsidian cracking—as he swung Voidreaver, Strength at 1999 cleaving the first Shade's core. Void damage flared, 25% bonus igniting—darkness spraying as Abyssal Rend (Mastery to 3/10) slashed through another, void energy tearing through shadow.
They retaliated—blades slashing in a storm of darkness, their movements a blur of lethal precision. He weaved, Speed at 1768 dodging a flurry, then Phantom Step (10/10) flickered him mid-strike—Voidreaver arcing, Crimson Tide (Mastery to 5/10) carving three more, bloodlight clashing with void. A blade grazed his chest—HP dipping 20%, Paladin's Crest ticking it back. Storm Call (10/10) erupted—lightning chaining through ten, void sizzling, screams echoing. Horned Frenzy flared, Speed spiking to 2652—Voidreaver whirled, Inferno Burst (Mastery to 8/10) igniting eight in a fiery blast, Emberheart fueling the roar. The last charged—Void Grasp (10/10) pinned it, Strength snapping its core. Thirty fell, the abyss trembling.
"Ding! 30 Ebon Shades defeated. Absorbed: Strength +150, Speed +120, Defense +90, Mana +180, Luck +30, Charisma +30."
The Ebon Tyrant rose from the abyss's heart—a Level 50 colossus of shadow and void, its massive greatsword dripping with ebon essence, eyes glowing with infinite darkness. "The Abyssborn awakens," it intoned, voice a void that swallowed sound. Beelzebub grinned, aura surging—obsidian dust swirling—as he charged, Voidreaver Scythe raised.
The Tyrant swung—greatsword arcing in a wave of ebon energy, reality fraying at its edge. He leaped, Speed at 1888 weaving through, then countered with Radiant Strike (Mastery to 8/10)—holy light slashing its arm, void hissing. It retaliated—ebon wave rippling, slamming him into a wall—HP dropping 35%. He laughed, aura pulsing, Mana Surge spiking Mana to 3486. Abyssal Rend roared—void clashing with ebon, Void Whisper amplifying the darkness.
The greatsword spun—Dark Aegis (10/10) rose, splintering under the blow—HP dipping 25%. Beelzebub darted, Shadow Bind (Mastery to 10/10—maxed) locking its arm—greatsword faltered. He lunged, Crimson Tide slashing its side—bloodlight cutting deep, a bleed igniting. The Tyrant roared—ebon storm erupting, throwing him back—HP falling 30%. He rolled, Speed weaving through debris, then Horned Frenzy flared—Speed at 2832—Voidreaver a blur, Inferno Burst exploding across its chest, Crimson Rage igniting as HP dropped below 50%, damage surging.
It thrust—ebon piercing stone. Void Grasp countered, tendrils snapping its wrist—greatsword clattered. Beelzebub leaped, Wraith Slash (Mastery to 7/10) carving its neck—mana flared, void damage searing. The Tyrant roared—Storm Call crashed lightning down, obsidian shattering. He gripped Voidreaver, Strength at 2149 driving it through its core—ebon exploded, HP dropping 35%. The Tyrant collapsed, darkness pooling.
"Ding! Ebon Tyrant defeated. Absorbed: Strength +250, Speed +200, Defense +150, Mana +300, Luck +5, Charisma +5, Bloodline: Ebonkin (Dark Resistance +10%), Talent: Ebon Shroud (Boost dark-based skills), Ebon Slash (Skill). Loot: Ebonheart Greatsword (S-tier, Greatsword, +80 Strength, +30% Dark Damage), Copper x1500."
Skills: Ebon Slash (Unleash dark-charged slash, Mastery: 1/10)
"Ding! Quest Complete. Reward: 800 EXP, 320 Copper, Achievement: S-Rank Vanguard – First to clear an S-tier dungeon. Reward: 500 EXP, Title: Ebon Sovereign (+5% Defense)."
"Ding! Level Up! Reached Level 27. EXP: 9595/4750."
The voices screamed—Star… void… ebon… who?—Fate's light, Warden's darkness, Tyrant's ebon. His skull split—Ebonkin's chill, Ebon Shroud's shadow threading into him. He staggered, aura flaring—obsidian dust swirling. "I'm Beelzebub," he growled, but Gluttony's strain pulsed harder—identity fraying further.
Eldrin's square buzzed—leaderboard glowing: "1. Beelzebub (Lv. 27), 2. Kael (Lv. 24), 3. Mira (Lv. 22), 4. Lia (Lv. 21), 5–10 TBD." Beelzebub emerged, Ebonheart Greatsword in hand—S-tier, its dark hum a thrill. Lia and Mira approached—Level 21 and 22. "Level 27? S-rank first?" Lia gasped. "SS-rank—help us?"
Mira smirked. "We'll claim it."
He winked, flirty yet sharp. "Earn it." Their resolve burned.
Kael stormed up, Level 24, fury etched. "Abyss lord?" he spat. Beelzebub's aura splintered stone. "Trash chases. I'll bury you." Kael backed off, dread beneath rage.
The Mage Guild summoned—trust at 90%, tense. A tome glowed: "The Abyssborn walks—gods fall as its shadow grows." Ryn stepped closer, trust at 42%. "SS-rank?"
"SS-rank," he agreed, flirty and cold. "Stay close, Blade."