Chapter 132

(3)

6.

Just before the Abyssal Rift closed.

Ulan, without a hint of hesitation, threw himself in and felt his body drop down like it was falling into a bottomless pit.

But that feeling was fleeting.

As his body halted in midair, soon he was greeted by pitch-black darkness—a place that felt unsettling just by existing.

‘Abyss.’

Ulan squinted his eyes.

In truth, this wasn’t his first time seeking the Abyss. He had traversed its rifts multiple times in his past life.

Once his thoughts settled, the first thing he did was hold his breath. Then, he slowly exhaled before inhaling again.

This was to adapt to the environment of the Abyss.

‘The darkness of the Abyss is like a deadly poison.’

People often called the darkness born from the Abyssal erosion a poison pool, but the Abyss’s darkness was far more sinister than that.

The drain on life force and magic power was severely intense, and losing composure could lead to hallucinations.

Thus, Ulan repeatedly focused on his breathing to adjust to the Abyss’s environment.

After a while,

having reached a certain level of adaptation, Ulan recalled why he had come to the Abyss.

‘……Laurea.’

To rescue her, who had been drawn into the Abyss.

No sooner had he remembered his objective than he activated all the spirits within him, extending his senses to the extreme.

This was a technique to detect presences even in the darkest shadows.

He aimed to use his color detection.

Saaaaa!

His senses spread rapidly.

Soon, he detected multiple presences. Many of them were approaching him. Yet among them, there was no sign of Laurea.

‘That means……’

They’re enemies.

The moment his eyes glinted ominously,

Wham! Crack!

A pitch-black axe danced through the air.

Activating his domain, he sent the heads of the closest enemies flying. As expected, they turned out to be Abyssal Monsters.

The battle didn’t last long.

Knowing they were all enemies, there was no need for hesitation—just swing the axe.

In mere moments, he finished monster hunting and once again used color detection to search for Laurea.

‘I need to find her as quickly as possible.’

His urgency stemmed from one reason.

It was a memory from his past life.

It was shortly after all seven heroes had gathered. It was during a night after a battle when he oddly found it hard to sleep.

Before going to bed back then, Ulan had exchanged various conversations with the other heroes—most of which were trivial chats.

Then, a topic had come up.

“What was the hardest and most painful moment before joining the hero party?”

Amidst confessing their pasts as colleagues who would fight against the Abyss together, Laurea had said:

“I once got trapped in the Abyss.”

Long before joining forces with Ulan.

Laurea had fallen into a trap while pursuing Abyss Worshippers with the knights of the Holy Nation. She revealed she was isolated in the Abyss for a full two days.

“It was truly horrific. The unpleasant magic was overwhelming, and there were monsters everywhere. But the worst part was that no matter how much I prayed, my divine power wouldn’t recover.”

Laurea, recalling that time, turned pale just from the memory.

It must have been a painful recollection.

So Laurea endured for two long days.

Just before her divine power was depleted and her sacred items were all broken, a rescue team, including Ian Marcus, re-entered the Abyss to save her.

Though that situation had resolved, Laurea couldn’t shake off her memories of the Abyss.

She often had nightmares of being trapped in the Abyss and would wake up screaming.

“If I had been there just one more day, I probably wouldn’t have been able to join you all. If it was before passing the Trial of the Hero…….”

She wouldn’t have lasted even an hour.

Laurea stated this with conviction. This was precisely why Ulan was in a rush.

Additionally, he had learned some information thanks to Laurea’s story back then.

First, in the Abyss, any kind of magic or action used to recover stamina or divine power is entirely unusable.

Second, the darkness of the Abyss can’t be illuminated by any means. Light-generating magic, spells, or tools are all useless.

Third, only voices can be heard clearly from afar. This was how the rescue team of the Holy Nation could locate Laurea.

‘So……’

Ulan told Laurea.

If one day she couldn’t use her divine power, she should call his name as soon as she notices any changes.

This was a precaution in case she would be trapped in the Abyss one day. Of course, Ulan never imagined it would be now.

‘I hope she remembers what I said.’

With those thoughts, Ulan busily traversed the Abyss. However, he struggled to find Laurea’s presence.

He had entered not long after she had been swallowed by the Abyss, but why couldn’t he find her? There was a reason for this.

‘In my past life, Delia said.’

The interior of the Abyss is extremely unstable.

So the space constantly twists and turns.

No matter how closely he followed Laurea, if the space twisted in between, it was entirely possible she had moved to a completely different area.

‘In other words, for now, Laurea’s voice is the only clue to her location.’

With that thought, Ulan heightened his hearing.

So he could hear sounds from afar. While he continued to search the area, hunting Abyssal Monsters,

“Laaaan!”

A sudden short cry rang out.

At that moment, he stopped in his tracks.

Though it was a voice from a considerable distance, it was definitely familiar.

‘That’s Laurea’s voice.’

Just then, her voice called out again.

“I’m right here!”

The second voice rang out.

Simultaneously, Ulan pinpointed the exact direction and approximate distance of the voice. After gathering all the information he needed for tracking,

Thud!

A large foot struck the ground.

Ulan set off running towards the source of the voice with an animalistic instinct.

No, it wasn’t just running.

He unfolded the Master’s Domain and continuously shortened the gap to his destination. He sprinted through the Abyss at an insane speed.

Crash! Bang!

With a terrifying momentum, Ulan surged forward.

Ignoring the approaching monsters, he maintained the shortest route when suddenly—

‘Found her!’

He sensed Laurea’s presence.

Looking at the situation, it appeared she was slowly sinking and getting buried in the swamp. And before her was a being exuding a special power.

A pressure that couldn’t be felt from regular monsters.

There was only one creature that could hold such an aura.

‘Lord of the Abyss.’

And it was obvious who it was.

The swamp’s minions he had fought outside earlier were a clue, but the most transparent hint was the squelching swamp covering the ground.

‘Swamp Ruler.’

As soon as he was certain of the creature’s identity, Ulan focused all his spirits into the axe.

Then, with all his might, he swung the axe towards the spot where the being’s body was located. Next, an intangible shockwave engulfed its body.

Whooooosh! BOOM!

The ground shook with a thunderous sound.

The creature’s body crumbled.

However, this alone wouldn’t eliminate it.

Just like the Frost Dragon, to completely eradicate the Lord of the Abyss, he would need to destroy its source.

‘Still……’

It wasn’t a pointless strike.

It bought him time to save Laurea.

While the Swamp Ruler was regenerating, he tracked Laurea’s presence and arrived at the center of the swamp.

Without hesitation, he plunged his arm deep into the mud.

‘Here you are.’

A distinct presence made him feel certain.

Ulan grasped the back of Laurea’s neck, who was sinking into the swamp. He then pulled her upward.

Moments later,

Laurea emerged from the mud.

She was sticky and drenched, like she was covered in grime but alive, that was for sure.

“Cough, cough!”

The cough was proof of that.

Ulan felt relieved by this. He realized it wasn’t too late. With a grin, he gazed at the direction of her presence.

“I came to rescue you, Laurea.”

“……!”

Just as she heard his voice,

and recognized the figure before her was Ulan, she felt her legs turn to jelly.

Her muddy body wobbled.

But she wouldn’t face-plant into the marsh.

Just before she could fall to the ground, Ulan supported her.

“Thank you for remembering my words.”

“Uuugh, uuuh……”

Ulan’s voice rang out again.

Following that, a wave of relief washed over her.

All the emotions she hadn’t expressed surged forth in the form of tears.

Simultaneously, a sudden question popped into her head.

“H-how did you get here?”

Laurea distinctly saw it.

Before slipping into the swamp, she witnessed the Rift of the Abyss closing up. So she was curious how he’d gotten here after that.

Ulan simply answered.

“I followed you.”

“So how did you……?”

“The moment I saw you being swallowed by the Abyss, I jumped right in.”

Laurea’s eyes widened a bit.

She realized that Ulan must’ve leaped through the rift right after she lost consciousness. Nodding silently, she pondered.

“You don’t think…?”

“What is it?”

“Has something like this happened in the future?”

It must have happened.

That was why she had warned him to call for her if he couldn’t use his divine power and why he was able to dive in without hesitation.

Laurea guessed so.

But her assumptions were off base.

“I’ve heard it happened.”

“Huh?”

An ambiguous answer.

She frowned.

“Heard? What do you mean by that?”

Ulan briefly explained the situation.

He elaborated that he made that request based on a story he’d heard from her in his past life.

By the time Ulan wrapped up his brief explanation,

Laurea’s complexion turned increasingly pale.

After a moment, she exclaimed with a look full of astonishment.

“Wait, so you jumped into the Abyss based on something my future self said, without having ever experienced it yourself?!”

“Exactly.”

Laurea was left speechless.

She thought he had acted based on his own experiences in the future, but he plunged in merely from hearing a tale. Talk about reckless!

She shouted in shock.

“Why did you do that?! If it hasn’t happened in the future, that means you don’t know what’s coming!”

“That’s true.”

“What if something unexpected happens in the future, and I get trapped in the Abyss forever?”

“Ah, that could’ve been a possibility.”

Ulan widened his eyes slightly.

As though he was just now realizing it.

Laurea found his sluggish response infuriatingly annoying.

“Knowing that, why in the world……!”

“Because you’re here.”

The moment Ulan’s response rang out,

she suddenly lost her words.

Meanwhile, Ulan stared silently, reminiscing about his memories of Laurea from his past life.

‘Laurea is a symbol of hope.’

In the future, she would become the hope of not just the soldiers of the Holy Nation, but all humanity standing against the Abyss.

She was also a precious colleague to Ulan and a hero they would need to eliminate the Phantom Knights, one of the future Lords of the Abyss.

He absolutely could not let her die here.

“And that’s why I saved you.”

That’s the only reason.

Ulan brushed off her question.

“……”

On the other hand, Laurea remained silent.

She wanted to say something but couldn’t find her voice. Instead, she felt an overwhelming wave of emotion, causing her vision to blur.

Tears formed in her eyes.

Moreover, her heart felt warm.

Not for any special reason, but simply because someone had come to save her just because she was trapped in the Abyss.

“So rest easy.”

As Ulan’s voice rang out again,

suddenly, he pulled her into his embrace.

The sound of his heart beating rhythmically through his solid muscles was comforting as she quietly listened, and then he smiled once more.

“This time, I won’t leave you alone.”

I’ll be right here.

With that reassuring answer, Laurea simply nodded silently.

Then, in that very moment,

Ulan, still holding Laurea in his arms, instantly exited the swamp.

Just as they did, a massive wave from the swamp crashed down into the spot they had just occupied.

Crash!

The Lord of the Abyss, who had lost form thanks to Ulan’s assault, was swiftly regenerating back into shape.

【You wretched creature―!】

【An ant is just an ant, even when they gather in a swarm.】

【Nothing changes.】

The Lord of the Abyss unleashed an enraged flurry of strikes in response to Ulan’s attack.

Meanwhile, Ulan had already created some distance, evading each attack with ease. It seemed this fueled the beast’s rage even more.

After escaping the swamp,

Ulan stopped dodging and placed Laurea down. Then, still clutching his axe, he faced the approaching Lord of the Abyss.

The moment he laid eyes on that scene,

it wore a scornful grin.

【A futile resistance.】

【Weapons made of minerals are useless against me.】

【I am the ruler of the swamp.】

【My body is as resilient as rock—.】

Just as it was about to boast, Ulan swung his axe.

Whoooosh! Crack!

Accompanied by a sound of something shattering, the torso of the creature preparing to attack was sliced cleanly apart.

“For something so tough, you’re surprisingly soft.”

With a sneer, the axe gleamed blue.

The talismans clinging to the axe glowed with light, stemming from Noa’s talisman.

7.

At a similar moment.

In Zone 3, outside the Abyss.

Space twisted strangely, and a pitch-black rift tore open in the air.

Ian and Ivella’s eyes widened.

“The Abyssal Rift!”

“Y-You mean we really did it?!”

It was a success. Noa smiled quietly.

Now, all that remained was to enter the Abyss and rescue Ulan and Laurea. But at that moment, the White Wolf suddenly stomped on the ground.

Thud!

With a flash, it slipped through the Abyssal Rift faster than anyone.

“Huh? W-Wait a second!”

A sudden spontaneous action.

Startled, Noa reached out, but the White Wolf had already vanished beyond the Abyss.

Wait, why would it rush off like that?

Noa wore a dumbfounded expression.

“We should hurry and go too.”

“Understood! Moving out now!”

With Delia’s words as a signal,

Ian took the lead with his shield raised. Soon after, Noa and Ivella joined the formation.

They were heading toward the Abyss.

However, just as they were about to follow the vanishing White Wolf beyond the Abyss,

Halt!

Everyone’s feet froze in place.

As if bound by invisible chains.

The reason was simple.

The Abyss called out to them once more, just as it had done before.

【Outsider.】

A voice that seemed unearthly.

Hearing it sent shivers down their spines.

It was, after all, the Voice of the Abyss. Shade darkness beyond the rift spoke incessantly to Noa.

【It is now your turn.】

【The time of conjunction approaches.】

【Soon, the Abyss will come for you.】

As soon as Noa heard ‘the Abyss will come for you,’ her heartbeat quickened. Her mind paled, and she began to feel short of breath.

Fear, terror, despair, and more.

A whirlwind of negative emotions spun through Noa’s mind. Biting her lips, she struggled to overcome her fear.

‘I have to ignore this. I must……’

But it wasn’t easy.

The moment she locked eyes with the Abyss, she felt as if everything hidden away was being laid bare.

If Laurea’s Reflective Eye only pierced through the essence, it now felt like the essence was being dissected and shredded apart.

So, she couldn’t do anything.

She merely trembled like a aspen under the oppressive fear of the Abyss. Still, there was no need to be ashamed of her powerless state.

‘The others are probably……’

They likely shared the same reaction.

Noa was certain of that.

However, less than a minute later, her certainty shattered.

Thud!

The sudden sound of footsteps echoed.

It was Delia. She stepped forward, meeting the Abyss’s gaze without flinching.

“Come, if you dare, I’m right here.”

Her eyes no longer trembled.

She shouted with a spirit that seemed to have conquered the fear of the Abyss.

“Just like last time, I’ll wipe you all out with a meteor shower.”

After her confident declaration,

Ivella unsheathed her sword.

She too, facing the Abyss, spoke bravely without avoiding its gaze.

“No need to come hunting for us. I will come seek you out anyway.”

The sword pointed towards the Abyss.

Ivella growled low, “To save Ulan, I’ll go anywhere.”

Even if it were the Abyss.

As soon as her resolute chant concluded, Ian also moved, shield held high.

Fear was absent from the faces of the trio.

It was as if they had completely shed their fear of the Abyss. As they pressed forward, Noa bit down on her lip.

‘I need to go too……’

Her legs felt weak and unresponsive.

Half-heartedly, Noa watched their retreating figures and stretched out a hand.

Yet the distance between them increased.

Just as resignation enveloped her face,

“……!”

“Everyone step back!”

Suddenly, Ian’s warning resonated.

The trio, who had approached the edge of the rift, immediately took a step back. They heard something pouring forth from the other side of the Abyss.

Moments later,

Rumble! Thud!

A tremendous amount of mud burst out from beyond. The sight of monsters taking shape quickly made their brows furrow.

“……Swamp Minions.”

Those were the exact same monsters they had fought earlier.

There were over a hundred of them.

The Swamp Minions formed a wall by sticking together, as if to obstruct the path to the Abyss.

“To enter the Abyss……”

“We have no choice but to fight.”

They had no time to waste in a place like this.

The group wore anxious expressions.

However, it wasn’t all hopeless. They had faith in one thing.

The White Wolf, who had dashed in the moment the Abyssal Rift opened. Remembering its presence, they all prayed in unison.

‘Please save the two of them……’

After their heartfelt prayer,

the Swamp Minions, not forming a wall, charged at the group. Thus, the battle outside the Abyss began.

Chapter 31. Let’s Trust Once.