Chapter 88

(1)

1.

Gate of the Abyss.

The source that exists beyond it.

The negative magic created here is called “pure Abyssal magic” by the mages.

This magic invokes an instinctive fear in those who handle mana. Of course, fanatics who worship the Abyss are an exception.

To sum up pure Abyssal magic in one word, it’s the essence of all negative emotions that humans can feel—despair, fear, anxiety, and so on.

Just sensing the magic sends these emotions spiraling to the extreme. This hits even harder for those who are loved by mana.

They can see the magic.

“Ugh, aah…”

A vassal’s pale face devoid of blood.

Legs trembling like a willow.

Just from seeing pure Abyssal magic, Noa and Delia stiffened up like withered trees.

Ulan felt the same.

He stared ahead with a stone-cold expression. Of course, where he looked was slightly different from where the two girls gazed.

“…”

He couldn’t see the magic.

Hence, what Ulan was staring at wasn’t the magic itself, but what lay beyond it. It was the gap in the air from which pure Abyssal magic was spilling out.

Ulan knew what that was.

‘…Abyssal Rift.’

Back when the Gate of the Abyss opened in his past life.

All sorts of monsters poured into the world.

But there was one strange point.

Monsters appeared even from places quite far from the Gate of the Abyss. Abyssal monsters even showed up in Ulan’s hometown, the northern prairie at the continent’s edge.

There was only one reason for this.

The ‘Abyssal Rift’ right in front of him had opened across the entire continent.

‘Delia from my past life told me about it.’

An Abyssal Rift is a kind of passage created when the boundary between this world and the Abyss weakens.

Its essential role is similar to that of the Gate of the Abyss.

In other words, its purpose and existence are to allow Abyssal monsters to come here without passing through the gate.

However, there’s one difference.

Unlike the eternally existing Gate of the Abyss, the rift will eventually close by itself over time if the gate isn’t actively shut.

‘I’m sure I heard the reason, but…’

It was too difficult to comprehend.

So he only remembered that it would eventually close with the passage of time. After finishing his recollections, Ulan fixed his gaze on the Abyssal Rift again.

‘But why did it open now?’

As he had recalled earlier.

The Abyssal Rift opens when the boundary between the Abyss and the world weakens. It also occurs after the Gate of the Abyss has opened.

‘Could it be that the Gate of the Abyss has opened…?’

He thought suddenly, but quickly dismissed it.

It was a guess with no possibility.

If the gate had truly opened, then the area around the Source of Magic would have been wiped out without a trace by now.

So why did the rift open?

Unresolved questions that kept piling up.

Just when he was frowning in frustration.

“…!”

Suddenly, Ulan’s expression changed drastically.

The Abyssal Rift began to writhe as if something inside it was bubbling like liquid.

It was a phenomenon he had often seen in his past life.

Realizing what it was, he quickly shouted.

“Everyone get behind me!”

A shout that shook the surroundings.

Perhaps thanks to his booming voice?

Noa and Delia hastily regained their wits.

Clutching their trembling legs, they barely managed to hide behind Ulan’s back.

And at that moment.

Kwooarrr!

Something spilled out from the gap.

A viscous liquid that looked as black as mud. It splattered everywhere, quickly staining the area before shooting upwards.

It began to take shape.

Some looked human, others took the form of beasts, and still others transformed into monsters or demonic beasts.

Creatures with all sorts of shapes.

The moment Delia faced them, she instinctively gripped Ulan’s arm tightly.

“Ulan, over there.”

Her lips trembled as they spoke.

Even her usually calm golden gaze shook with anxiety. Her gaze fell upon the monsters that had almost fully taken shape.

“…What is that?”

A voice laced with fear escaped her lips.

The monsters were composed of ashen magic, close to black. Pure Abyssal magic.

A creature made solely of magic.

She had never even read about something like that in books.

However, Delia wasn’t the only one voicing her questions.

Ulan and Noa didn’t waver. It was as if they already knew what that was.

[Grrr!]

Then, the monsters turned their gaze towards them all at once.

Pitch-black eyes, as dark as the abyss itself, sparkled, ready to draw them in.

The moment they faced that.

Delia flinched, and Noa stepped back silently. Their instinctive reactions in the face of fear.

Ulan, on the other hand, was different.

Thud!

He stepped forward resolutely.

His eyes shone with determination, showing no fear even against an unknown enemy. Naturally, for Ulan, they weren’t unknown enemies.

He was all too familiar with them.

Because those were the very beasts he had fought with time and again in his past life.

‘Abyssal Monsters.’

Among them, the most common types.

Beasts that could morph into countless forms, even lacking individual names. Hence, they were collectively referred to as ‘monsters.’

The moment he finished recalling that memory.

A fierce fighting spirit enveloped him.

Rage boiling through his veins. Ulan gripped his axe firmly. Along with that, the monsters surged forward, and the fierce axe cleaved through the air.

Announcing the start of battle.

2.

Meanwhile, around the same time.

The shocking news from Zone 2 sent Arsen Academy into chaos.

The news reached not only the Arsen Guard but also the deans of each department, including the Dean of the Magic Department, Diplyn Cernio.

“Are you saying Professor Dirck has turned into a monster?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Diplyn’s eyes widened in disbelief.

At her reaction, the high-ranking mage from the Special Operations Division, Rodeil, nodded. He then placed the prepared documents on the desk.

“Here’s the report summarizing the details.”

A report compiled based on the testimonies of students evacuated from Zone 2. Taking it, Diplyn skimmed through the contents of the report.

Today was a significant day for her.

The day of the experiment she had been preparing for so long, specifically the experiment to open the Abyssal Rift.

Just an hour ago.

Diplyn had activated the high-level magic stone she had previously set up at the far end of Zone 3.

Technically speaking, it was the spell inscribed on the magic stone that had activated automatically at the scheduled time.

‘But…’

An unexpected problem arose.

The Abyssal Rift hadn’t opened.

After a hurried check, it was revealed that the magic stone wasn’t in Zone 3, but rather in Zone 2.

‘In other words, someone moved the magic stone.’

So, while she was trying to find the culprit, she heard this news. And looking at the submitted report, she could easily pinpoint the suspect.

“At around 9 AM, Professor Dirck moved to Zone 3 for material collection for his research. He returned about an hour later.”

Since the installation of the magic stone up until now.

The only one who had visited Zone 3 was Professor Dirck. So he could be considered the culprit who took the magic stone.

‘Then it makes sense that he transformed into a monster.’

The high-level magic stone she had prepared as material.

It was saturated with Abyssal magic.

Unless one is a master or high mage capable of wielding their internal magic with ease, most would be consumed by the Abyssal magic.

‘So what happens next…?’

With the magic overload, their body twists and eventually transforms into a creature of the Abyss. This was the true reason why Professor Dirck became a monster.

‘It seems variables have emerged in the experiment.’

A result that was entirely different from what she had anticipated.

However, she didn’t show any unpleasant reactions.

Instead, her expression was somehow cheerful. Diplyn immediately recalled her memories of Professor Dirck.

‘He certainly had reached the level of a high-ranking mage, right?’

No matter how much he turned into a monster.

The magic stone he stole was still intact.

So when he collapsed, the spell would activate normally. This meant the outcome of opening the Abyssal Rift wouldn’t change.

‘Then Professor Dirck’s corpse and soul would…’

Would be used as offerings.

A delicious bait to lure in those existing beyond the Abyssal Rift.

In other words, they used a high-ranking mage as a sacrifice.

This excitement utterly overwhelmed Diplyn.

Something she had thought was practically impossible had indeed come to fruition.

Just when she was in a state of bright-eyed wonder.

A voice shattered her thoughts. It was Rodeil’s voice, who had handed her the report.

“To add some information not mentioned in the report, there are currently students trapped in Zone 2.”

“Trapped? Who are they?”

“Ulan Bator, Noa Darshen, and Delia Arpen, who attended the substitute exam.”

“…!”

Her violet eyes widened in astonishment.

All three were individuals she had been paying personal attention to.

“Consequently, rescue teams are being organized. A request has also come from the dean.”

“….”

No response came.

She merely shut her mouth tight, tapping the desk pensively. Observing her lost in thought, Rodeil sighed inwardly.

‘Looks like she doesn’t want to act.’

Diplyn rarely left her dean’s office or laboratory. Typically, she also wasn’t one to intervene in matters like these.

So he guessed it would be similar this time. Having made his assumption, Rodeil lowered his head.

“If you don’t want to, it’s okay to refuse…”

“I will go.”

“…Yes?”

Rodeil blinked in surprise.

It was an unexpected response. Diplyn responded with a bright smile.

“As the Dean of the Magic Department, I cannot just stand by while my students are in danger.”

Of course, it was a lie.

Truly, there was no reason for her to go save them.

Right now, Ulan was a powerhouse who had defeated two masters of the Empire. Additionally, there were two who are loved by mana.

‘Unless the Lord of the Abyss appears, their lives shouldn’t be at risk.’

So she didn’t feel worried at all.

In other words, the rescue team was merely a façade.

The true reason Diplyn wanted to head to Zone 2 was to verify the anomalous situation caused by Professor Dirck.

‘I want to see!’

The professor who had inadvertently been sacrificed.

If it were a high-ranking mage’s body and soul, not just the usual beast carcasses, how powerful a being would appear?

This fact filled her with insatiable curiosity.

‘And one more thing.’

Another variable existed.

That was Noa and Delia.

Both of them were loved by mana. And those loved by mana are precious sacrifices that the Lords of the Abyss hunt after relentlessly.

‘Having those two near the rift…’

There was a chance the Lords of the Abyss might catch a whiff and react. Having completed her train of thought, Diplyn’s eyes burned with fervent research desire.

With that dazed expression from moments ago.

Diplyn snapped back to reality. She needed to make that imagined scenario a reality.

“Please assemble the Special Operations Division right away.”

“Yes, understood!”

A resounding reply swiftly returned.

Rodeil promptly exited the dean’s office.

Left alone, Diplyn donned her crimson robe. She then grabbed the staff hanging on the wall and let out a sinister smile.

“Hehehe, I can’t wait to see.”

With a face filled with excitement, Diplyn also left the dean’s office.

But perhaps it was because her heart raced too much?

She never noticed.

That someone had been silently waiting in the corner of the dean’s office for her to leave.

Swish!

A mist as white as fog surged from the floor.

Gradually taking on the shape of a wolf, it was none other than the White Wolf.

[Grrr!]

The White Wolf began to walk without hesitation.

It arrived at another room connected to the dean’s office—Diplyn’s private laboratory.

There, the White Wolf found the high-level magic stones it had been keeping a close eye on for days.

Over twenty of them.

The White Wolf smirked with satisfaction.

Like a hunter who had found a delicious prey.

3.

Crack! Ploosh!

With every swing of the furious axe cutting through the air.

The monsters burst apart rapidly.

Truly intimidating power.

The relentless strikes shattered everything; the monsters couldn’t make a move nearby. While Ulan was dominating the battlefield alone.

“….”

Noa was still engulfed in confusion.

She had barely escaped the fear brought by pure Abyssal magic, but in regaining her composure, she noticed the Abyssal Rift.

‘Why now…’

Had the Abyssal Rift opened?

That was a phenomenon that would only appear way into the latter half of the original story. Noa’s gaze flickered like a candle before a strong wind.

‘The future has completely changed.’

Of course, the future had already twisted, starting with Professor Dirck turning into an 8-star demonic beast, yet even so, the Rift had never opened at this point in time.

At least, that was what Noa thought.

In that moment, a foreboding thought crossed her mind.

‘Could it be…?’

Had the Gate of the Abyss opened?

No, that didn’t make sense. For the gate to open, it would take at least twenty more years.

Yet even that couldn’t be confirmed.

Since the future had changed significantly.

‘If the gate really has opened…’

Hidden Pieces or whatever, it would all be over.

It would be like unexpected final battles starting at the point where the tutorial should end. In that scenario, no matter how she tried, survival was impossible.

As the thought of a hopeless situation crossed her mind, her composure naturally unraveled.

Anxiety, fear, terror.

All sorts of negative emotions surged like a torrent. Just then, a sound added fuel to Noa’s growing unease.

Thrum!

A vibration shook the ground.

Noa snapped out of her thoughts. Soon after, she realized what the source of the vibration was.

“That, that’s…!”

A huge shadow stained the battlefield.

A gigantic monster appeared, resembling a carnivorous dinosaur. Noa recognized what it was.

‘Corkus!’

In the original <Chronicles of Arsen Continent>.

Abyssal monsters were divided into three major categories.

They were classified by danger and strength: lower rank, mid rank, and upper rank.

The first monsters encountered were lower rank.

On the other hand, the Corkus that just appeared belonged to the upper rank category. A formidable Abyssal monster that only emerged in the very late stages of the original story.

Even more absurd was the fact that there were three Corkus.

“Hahaha, ahahaha…”

This has to be a dream, right? It must be a dream. It can’t be reality.

Noa shook her head vigorously.

But as the vibrations drew closer, it proved only that the scene before her was indeed real.

Before she knew it, Corkus was almost upon her.

Noa could only stare blankly at them.

With a half-dazed expression.

But just then, the world split in half.

“…Ah.”

A sound came out with her parted lips.

Simultaneously, Noa’s eyes widened.

She realized late.

It wasn’t the world that had split.

CRACK!

With the sound of flesh tearing, one of the Corkus was sliced in two.

“…!?”

Just when Noa squinted her eyes.

The Corkus cleanly split into two. Then it promptly crumbled, falling apart.

SPLASH! Kaboom!

Blood poured down like rain.

Her hair and clothes were soaked in blood.

But there was no time to care about that. A familiar voice echoed in her ears.

“It’s okay.”

Calm words cutting through despair.

A muscular figure covered in the monster’s flesh approached. He swept back his hair, drenched in blood.

The moment Noa locked eyes with him.

She found herself muttering in shock.

“U, Ulan…?”

It wasn’t just her regaining her composure.

Delia, who had been quaking with fear, also managed to gather herself upon hearing Ulan’s voice.

Facing the two girls like that.

Ulan spoke without any change in expression.

“Don’t be afraid.”

Even standing before that many monsters.

His expression didn’t flicker.

Not showing a hint of being intimidated, Ulan turned away.

And calmly stated.

“I’m here.”

That was all.

But strangely enough, from the moment they heard that, an overwhelming sense of relief washed over them.

A wave washing away fear and anxiety.

Their hearts felt reassured.

Just having Ulan there made them feel like they weren’t scared anymore.

“Hoo.”

Right after they let out the breath they had been holding.

Noa and Delia slapped their cheeks rigorously.

Moments later, with their cheeks now flushed, they both spoke at once.

“…Thank you, Ulan.”

“Yeah. It’s okay now.”

Despite their hot cheeks, their minds quickly cooled down. Then, soon, reason returned, and Noa’s gaze became sharp.

‘I don’t know what’s happening, but…’

They couldn’t just rely on Ulan for help.

So she made a resolution.

First, to assist Ulan in defeating the Abyssal monsters, and then return to the academy to investigate what had happened today.

The moment they found a purpose, the trembling ceased.

And at that moment.

[KAAAAAH!]

The remaining two Corkus howled.

And the battle resumed.

Chapter 23. Declaration of War