The grinding truly began in earnest. Kael knew that until Umbra reached the second stage of its evolution, they couldn't risk tackling the floor's hidden mini-boss.
The abyss did not disappoint. Soon enough, the forested corridor opened into a ravine, crawling with corrupted beasts. Their shapes were twisted mockeries of wolves, deer, and even scaled reptiles, all pulsing with the same black veins of Abyssal corruption.
Kael gritted his teeth and issued the command."Formation rotation. Pyraflame, first wave. Umbra, you're support. Aquara, provide cover. Luminara, keep the light pressure."
The monsters came in a pack of twelve. Pyraflame roared, flames coating its claws, while Umbra slid through the shadows, ripping into the weakest. Aquara's water bolts intercepted lunges, and Luminara's light seared into the most corrupted bodies.
The fight was intense but coordinated. Umbra consumed the fallen one by one, its hunger almost frantic. With each devouring, its body grew more refined, its shadow form more defined.
[Umbra – Condition 1: Devoured 41/50 Abyssal Creatures][Umbra – Level Up! → Level 9][New Skill Unlocked: Shadow Veil – Temporarily conceal allies in moving darkness, reducing detection and damage taken for 5 seconds.]
Kael's eyes widened. "Good… Umbra's growing faster than expected."
By the time the last corrupted wolf fell—burned alive in Pyraflame's claws—the message appeared.
[+720 EXP][Kael: Level 12 → Level 13][Aquara: +720 EXP → Level 9][Pyraflame: +720 EXP → Level 9][Luminara: +720 EXP → Level 8][Umbra: +720 EXP → Level 9 → Level 10]
Umbra's shadow pulsed, almost quivering with hunger.
Another horde rushed in—this one larger. Fifteen twisted reptilian beasts, their scales glowing faintly with abyssal light. Kael immediately swapped."Aquara, frontline. Purify as you strike. Umbra, go for their weak spots. Pyraflame, keep your flames steady—don't overextend. Luminara, break their formation."
Aquara surged forward, her water aura glowing faintly blue, each strike cleansing patches of corruption. Behind her, Luminara released bursts of concentrated light, disorienting the scaled beasts.
Umbra feasted again, shadows wrapping around the corpses and dragging them into its form. Each devour sent a surge of energy rippling through it.
[Umbra – Condition 1: Devoured 50/50 Abyssal Creatures – Condition Complete!][Umbra Evolution Path Unlocked – Second Condition Revealed.]Condition 2: Devour the heart of a Floor Guardian.
Kael's lips curled into a grim smile. "Just as I thought… tied to the mini-boss."
The battle ended with Pyraflame erupting into a spiraling inferno, consuming three beasts at once. When the last one collapsed, the system flared again.
[+1200 EXP][Kael: Level 13 → Level 14][Aquara: +1200 EXP → Level 10][Pyraflame: +1200 EXP → Level 10][Luminara: +1200 EXP → Level 9][Umbra: +1200 EXP → Level 11]
Pyraflame roared as the flames within its chest pulsed brighter, stabilizing further.
[Pyraflame's Abyssal Core stabilized by 30%.]
From the ashes of the reptilian creatures, a weapon gleamed. A jagged glaive, blackened by abyssal energy but shimmering faintly with cleansing light at its edge.
Kael reached out, gripping it. The weapon pulsed.
[Item Acquired: Abyss-Cleaver Glaive (Rare)]– Attack +25– Special Effect: Additional damage to Abyssal Creatures (+15%)– Bound to: Kael
Kael spun the glaive, testing its weight. It was heavier than his old blade, but perfectly suited for carving through abyssal flesh. A faint grin tugged at his lips. "This will do."
The abyss sent its next test—a mixed wave of twenty monsters, wolves and scaled beasts together.
Kael didn't hesitate. "All units—synchronize!"
The battle was brutal. Aquara unleashed a spinning torrent, cutting through the center of the horde. Pyraflame tanked three at once, his flames searing their claws to ash. Umbra darted through the fray like a living void, its new Shadow Veil covering Luminara as she burst forth with radiant beams.
Kael himself joined in, glaive flashing, cutting down two corrupted beasts in clean arcs. The satisfaction of the weapon's bite was undeniable—it resonated with him.
The ground trembled as the last scaled beast fell.
[+1800 EXP][Kael: Level 14 → Level 15][New Skill Unlocked: Abyssrend Slash – Infuse weapon with anti-corruption energy, dealing 200% weapon damage and disrupting Abyssal mana.][Aquara: +1800 EXP → Level 11][Pyraflame: +1800 EXP → Level 11][Luminara: +1800 EXP → Level 10][Umbra: +1800 EXP → Level 12]
Kael exhaled slowly. His summons surrounded him, glowing faintly from their progress.
[Level 15 Reached: Summon Limit Doubled → 8 Slots Available.]
A slow, dangerous smile spread across Kael's face. "Now… we're ready for the boss."