The pond glowed faintly with an unnatural, sickly sheen, as though the very water bled with abyssal corruption. Its size was modest—no more than three meters across—but the aura radiating from it pressed against Kael's chest like a physical weight. The moment Aquara entered the water, a pulse of hostile energy rippled outward, echoing through the Abyss itself.
The system interface flickered into Kael's vision:
[Aquara – Evolution Trial Initiated]
Condition 2: Absorb and Purify a Corrupted Water Source. (0/1)
Threat Detected: Abyssal Aquatic Entities – 15 Identified.
External Interference Level: High.
Kael clenched his jaw. So it begins.
The pond churned violently as grotesque, fishlike creatures emerged—scaled bodies warped with jagged spines, translucent eyes glowing with abyssal light, and mouths that split far too wide with rows of needle-teeth. They circled Aquara like sharks, snapping and shrieking as she began to radiate a blue glow, threads of purification weaving outward into the tainted water.
And then, the ground trembled.
The Abyss reacted.
From the darkness beyond, guttural howls and scraping claws heralded the arrival of a horde—no fewer than forty abyssal creatures, crashing through the warped terrain in a frenzy. At their head, two towering Elites thundered forward: hulking beasts plated in blackened chitin, eyes burning with abyssal fire.
Kael's system pulsed an urgent warning:
[Warning: Hostile Horde Incoming – Estimated 42 Units Detected. Elite-Class Threats: 2.]
Kael's eyes narrowed. They're trying to stop the purification.
He raised his hand, energy thrumming through his veins as he barked his first command."Pyraflame, Umbra—Elites are yours! Hold them back no matter the cost! Luminara, stay close to me and cut down as many of the smaller ones as you can. Aquara—focus only on the purification. I'll make sure nothing reaches you."
Pyraflame roared, flames igniting into a spiraling inferno around its skeletal frame. Its crimson aura surged hotter than Kael had ever seen, bolstered by the Devour skill that had steadily expanded its mana reserves. Umbra burst forward alongside it, a mass of shifting blackness with glowing eyes, tendrils snapping hungrily. The two clashed with the first Elite in unison, fire and shadow combining in a violent dance.
The first Elite swung its massive claws, but Umbra wrapped its limb in tendrils, pulling it off-balance, while Pyraflame slammed into its chest with a jet of molten fire. The air cracked from the force.
Meanwhile, Kael stood with Luminara at his side, his command ringing sharp."Luminara—pierce them! Don't stop moving!"
Golden beams erupted from Luminara, each strike cutting through the corrupted horde like holy lances. Abyssal monsters screeched as their twisted bodies dissolved into ash under her light. For every one that fell, Luminara's glow intensified. Her progress bar flickered before Kael's eyes:
[Luminara: Condition 1 – Purify Abyssal Entities (20/30)]
Kael swung his blade, enhanced by the energy coursing in him. But mid-swing, something shifted inside his core. A surge of light erupted within him, and the system's voice chimed—
[Level Up: Kael – Level 12 Reached]New Skill Unlocked – Command Skill: Energy Burst.A condensed strike of pure command energy, capable of disrupting abyssal forms.
Kael's vision sharpened. His blade glowed faintly with his aura as he thrust forward, releasing a ripple of concentrated energy that blasted three abyssal beasts backward in an instant, tearing them apart at their core.
He smirked grimly. Perfect timing.
The battle against the Elites grew fiercer. The first Elite staggered under the combined onslaught of fire and shadow, its chitin cracking and flesh burning away. With Umbra binding it tighter and tighter, Pyraflame unleashed a concentrated inferno at point-blank range. The monster howled as its body collapsed, charred beyond recognition.
[Pyraflame – Elite Battle Endured: (2/3)]
The second Elite barreled in, slamming Umbra aside with brute force. But Umbra adapted instantly—tendrils hardened, wrapping tighter than steel as it coiled around the beast's limbs. Umbra's hunger surged as it tore chunks of corrupted flesh straight from the Elite, its progress bar climbing rapidly:
[Umbra: Condition 1 – Devour Abyssal Flesh (30/50)]
Pyraflame wasted no chance. Roaring, it launched itself into the fray, flames coating its skeletal form like an armor of fire. Together, fire and shadow overwhelmed the Elite. With one final explosive blast, Pyraflame crushed it, reducing the monster to cinders.
[Pyraflame – Elite Battle Endured: (3/3) Condition Complete.]Next Evolution Condition Unlocked.
Pyraflame's flames flared brighter, licking the air with renewed strength as though tasting its future evolution.
While Pyraflame and Umbra handled the Elites, Luminara carved a path through the horde. Each kill resonated within her core, light radiating stronger with every purification. Abyssal beasts fell one after another, consumed by brilliance.
[Luminara: Condition 1 – Purify Abyssal Entities (28/30)]
Kael felt his chest swell with pride. She's so close.
And then, with a sweep of her radiant wings, Luminara pierced three monsters in a single arc, light shredding their corrupted essence.
[Luminara: Condition 1 – Purify Abyssal Entities (30/30) Condition Complete.]Next Evolution Condition Unlocked.
Her glow intensified until the battlefield itself seemed illuminated, forcing shadows to recoil.
Meanwhile, Aquara was locked in her own battle beneath the surface. The corrupted fish-things lunged with snapping jaws, their bodies twisting unnaturally. Aquara's form shimmered as she struck, water lances slicing cleanly through their twisted scales. With every kill, the pond cleared fraction by fraction, abyssal taint unraveling under her control.
From above, Kael glimpsed the battle—dark water slowly shifting toward clarity, glowing faintly blue.
The system displayed her progress:
[Aquara: Purification Trial – Abyssal Aquatic Entities (12/15 Eliminated)]
"Almost there," Kael muttered, cutting down another abyssal beast trying to reach the pond's edge.
The battlefield quieted gradually. Umbra devoured the last of the horde stragglers, its tendrils writhing with satisfaction, while Pyraflame's flames dimmed slightly as it pulled back, steam hissing around its frame. Luminara hovered above, her light gradually softening, a serene contrast to the destruction below.
Kael stood panting, sweat dripping down his face as the system flickered all around him:
[Kael: Level 12 – Exp: 120/1400]
New Skill: Energy Burst Acquired.
[Pyraflame – Level 9]
Condition 2 Completed.
Next Condition Locked until further progress.
[Aquara – Level 5]
Purification Trial: (12/15 Creatures Purified) – Near Completion.
[Umbra – Level 8]
Condition 1: Devour Abyssal Flesh (30/50).
[Luminara – Level 6]
Condition 1 Completed.Next Condition Locked until further progress.
Kael tightened his grip on his weapon, eyes turning back to the pond where Aquara fought her final opponents."This trial is almost done," he whispered, determination hardening his voice. "And when it is… we'll take the Abyss head-on."
The waters glowed brighter. Aquara's purification neared completion.