Bram: "If this person truly exists, I hope they never turn against us."
Venti closed his eyes briefly.
Venti: "Me too."
He thought.
The group continued down the corridor, unaware that the mysterious adventurer they had been discussing was walking right behind them, hidden behind a carefree smile and carried by the wind.
The group pressed on until the long corridor finally opened onto the first room of the dungeon.
They stopped almost instinctively at the threshold.
Before them lay a vast room of imposing proportions, bathed in an otherworldly, bluish light.
The floor was made of perfectly aligned slabs, engraved with ancient geometric patterns that pulsed faintly, as if the dungeon were slowly breathing.
With each step, tiny particles of light rose into the air before vanishing, giving the impression that the space itself was reacting to their presence.
The walls rose high, adorned with slender pillars covered in unknown runes.
Some shone with a discreet gleam, while others remained dull, eroded by time or past battles.
The ceiling, almost invisible in the dim light, seemed to dissolve into the shadows, reinforcing the feeling of being watched by something greater than themselves.
Kael: "So this is the first room…"
Kael murmured, his eyes scanning every corner for a trap.
Bram firmly planted his two-handed sword on the floor, adopting a defensive stance.
Bram: "Classic."
He said in a deep voice.
Bram: "Too calm."
Eron adjusted the vials clipped to his belt, his gaze shifting from the walls to the floor, then to the massive doors on the other side of the room.
Eron: "Dungeons often start like this."
He explained.
Eron: "A trial or activation room."
"Something is bound to trigger."
Lyra sensed the elemental energy in the air and frowned slightly.
Lyra: "The elemental energy is dense here…"
She said in a low voice.
Lyra: "Much more than in the corridor."
"This room isn't just a passageway."
Venti: "........"
At the back, Venti observed the room with particular attention.
FFFFFFFFfffffffff
The wind whispered vague information to him, gliding along the pillars, rushing through invisible cracks.
He sensed a latent presence, as if the room were patiently waiting for the adventurers to make the first move.
Bram: "Formation maintained,"
He ordered.
Bram: "We're moving slowly."
Kael watched the floor.
Lyra stood ready to cast a spell.
Venti remained attentive to any changes.
Tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap
The five adventurers then entered the room, their footsteps echoing softly on the glowing tiles.
As they moved toward the center, the runes on the floor glowed slightly brighter, as if the dungeon recognized their presence.
A heavy silence fell.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Then, somewhere in the room, a low, muffled rumble could be heard, almost imperceptible, but enough to make everyone clench their fists.
Perhaps the first trial had just begun.
SSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHH
The moment they crossed the threshold of the room, the atmosphere changed abruptly.
Lyra: "What is this energy?"
The air, which had been cold and still until then, began to vibrate, as if the dungeon itself were holding its breath.
Bbbbbbbzzzzzz
The luminous patterns embedded in the pale blue floor darkened, gradually shifting toward deeper, almost suffocating hues.
An abnormal heat spread, a stark contrast to the icy aura of the previous corridors.
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Suddenly, a reddish-violet glow erupted in the center of the room.
It was neither an inert object nor an ancient mechanism:
- The energy concentrated, swirled, and warped, like a conscious flame.
- The abyssal runes lit up one by one in the air, tracing incomprehensible symbols that seemed to burn the retina simply by looking at them.
From this mass of abyssal fire, a humanoid figure slowly emerged.
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
A deep voice, echoing from a bottomless abyss, accompanied his appearance.
The flames condensed to form Abyss Lector: Fathomless Flames.
- His body was enveloped in a cloak of crimson and scarlet fire, floating above the ground as if unbound by the laws of the world.
- A glowing grimoire levitated before him, beating like a living heart, radiating an oppressive power.
Bram: "...................".
Bram instinctively gripped the hilt of his sword with both hands, his muscles tensing beneath the armor.
Kael: "..................".
Kael took a step to the side, already alert, his eyes scanning the room for a blind spot or an escape route.
Lyra: "....................".
Lyra felt a shiver run down her spine; even for an elemental mage, the energy emanating from the entity far surpassed that of an ordinary enemy.
Eron: "....................".
Eron swallowed hard, realizing that this "simple" dungeon had just revealed its true colors.
Venti: "......................".
As for Venti, he remained silent, intently observing the Abyss Lector.
Bbbbbbbbbbbzzzzzzzz
His adventurer's crystal vibrated slightly against his chest, as if to warn him.
He understood immediately:
This was no chance encounter.
The dungeon had welcomed them… but now it would put them to the test.
Abyss Lector: "..........................................................".
Author's Note: "I decided to keep 'Abyss Lector' because 'Abyss Lector: Fathomless Flames' is too long."
Kael: "..............."
Kael took a deep breath before taking action.
Without taking his eyes off the Abyss Lector, he slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out his adventurer's crystal.
Venti: "What's it doing?"
The gem, a light, translucent blue, immediately vibrated upon contact with the abyssal aura that saturated the room.
Filaments of light streaked across its surface, as if the crystal hesitated to respond.
The Abyss Lector remained motionless, as if judging them.
Venti: "Kael, what are you doing?"
Venti whispered.
Kael: "I'm going to check something...."
Kael muttered, more to Venti than to the others who knew what he was doing.
He activated the crystal.
A blue light burst forth, projecting itself in a thin, precise beam, slowly sweeping across the Abyss Lector's flaming body.
Upon contact with this light, the abyssal flames began to crackle violently, and the symbols floating around the entity distorted for a moment, as if irritated by the analysis.
The Lector let out a deep, dissonant laugh that echoed off the walls of the room.
Abyss Lector: "Curious insect…"
"You dare measure me?"
Venti: "Measure?"
What Venti didn't know was that adventurer crystals also had the ability to determine a monster's level, not just his own.
And despite the crushing pressure, Kael held firm.
Bbbbbbbbbzzzzzzzzzzzz
The crystal vibrated more intensely, then projected a luminous interface of runes and numbers before it.
For a fraction of a second, the data seemed unstable, as if the level refused to be revealed.
Then the information finally settled:
Abyss Lector: Fathomless Flames: Level: 50
A heavy silence fell over the group.
Kael: "...Level fifty."
Kael announced in a strained voice.
Bram: "Tch."
Bram instinctively gripped the hilt of his sword with both hands.
Bram: "That's way above us..."
He grunted.
Bram: "Even I, at 41, am no match for them in a one-on-one duel."
Lyra swallowed hard.
Lyra: "Such a difference..."
"It's not just a matter of raw power."
"Its resistances and elemental mastery must be monstrous."
Eron adjusted his glasses, his mind already racing with scenarios.
Eron: "An Abyss Lector of this level…"
"Normally, it would require an elite team, or even several coordinated groups."
"This dungeon is clearly not as easy as we were led to believe."
All eyes turned to Venti.
Unlike the others, he hadn't backed away.
He observed the Abyss Lector with an almost… curious attention.
Bbbbbbbbzzzzzzzzzz
His adventurer's crystal vibrated softly at his belt, reacting to the abyssal aura. Venti sensed something peculiar:
The Lector's power was immense, yes, but it seemed bound by specific rules, a temporary state.
Venti: "Level 50..."
Venti repeated calmly.
"That's almost five times my power."
"It's high ".
" But that doesn't mean he's invincible."
The Abyss Lector inclined his head slightly, as if amused by the remark.
Abyss Lector: "Your words are meaningless, mortal."
"The difference between you and me is a chasm."
Venti offered a faint smile.
Abyss Lector: "Dungeons prefer to test rather than punish."
"And the Abyss loves to toy with its prey."
Around them, the abyssal flames intensified further, and the ground began to pulse faintly beneath their feet, as if the chamber itself awaited their decision.
Flee, confront, or understand the hidden rules behind this apparition…
One thing was certain:
Facing a level 50 enemy, the slightest mistake could be fatal.
The Abyss Lector's blazing gaze fixed on Venti, and the flames around his body intensified.
Abyss Lector: "..................."
Venti: "..................."
For him, there was no doubt:
This frail adventurer had just crossed a line.
A mere supporter dared to question the Abyss's superiority.
Abyss Lector: "YOUR ARROGANCE SURPASSES THAT OF FALLEN HEROES…"
The Lector growled, his voice splitting into a multitude of dissonant echoes.
Abyss Lector: "I WILL ERASE YOU."
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
He slowly raised an arm encircled by incandescent symbols.
The air twisted with the heat, and a loop of abyssal flames formed, swirling around itself like a fire serpent.
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
In an instant, the spell was unleashed.
The loop shot at terrifying speed straight toward Venti.
Lyra: "Venti!"
Lyra cried, instinctively raising her staff, too late to react.
Bram: "Get out of my way!"
Bram yelled, taking a step forward before freezing, helpless.
BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
The impact was brutal.
A muffled explosion shook the room, sending a suffocating wave of heat in all directions.
The floor cracked, blackened, and then collapsed slightly under the force of the attack.
When the flames finally subsided, all that remained was a small, charred crater, still smoking, marked by glowing red streaks.
A small crater, about a meter in radius, slightly deep.
A shocked silence fell over the group.
Keal: "...He's dead?"
Keal murmured, his heart pounding.
Eron: "Impossible..."
Eron breathed, pale, clutching his vials as if they could offer a different answer.
Even Lyra averted her gaze slightly, her teeth clenched. No one had seen Venti move.
To everyone's eyes, he had taken the full force of the attack.
The Abyss Lector burst into a deep, cruel laugh.
Abyss Lector: "This is what happens to those who defy the Abyss."
Then, suddenly…
Tap tap tap
A light touch.
Almost innocuous.
Tap tap tap
Someone had just tapped their index finger against the Lector's shoulder.
The laughter stopped abruptly.
Abyss Lector: "…What?"
Slowly, the entity turned around.
Behind him, perfectly unharmed, stood Venti.
Venti: "Hey."
No sign of burning, not a trace of soot on his clothes.
His expression was calm, almost amused, as if he had just emerged from a simple stroll.
Venti: "You were talking about a chasm between us..."
He said quietly.
Venti: "But you were looking in the wrong direction."
A shiver ran through the room.
Bram's eyes widened.
Bram: "He... he disappeared before the impact..."
Kael: "No."
Kael corrected him in a low voice, his pupils trembling.
Kael: "I didn't see anything at all."
"He didn't even leave a trace of movement."
The smoking crater still bore witness to the attack, but Venti was now several meters away, as if space itself had bent to let him through.
Even the adventurer's crystal on his belt still seemed to vibrate faintly, proof that he had used his skill perfectly.
The Abyss Lector took a step back, for the first time since his appearance.
Abyss Lector: "Impossible..."
"No adventurer of your level can."
Venti: "Perhaps."
Venti replied, raising his hand slightly, an unusual breeze beginning to swirl around him.
Explanation:
10 seconds earlier:
Here's what happened before the fireball exploded:
Time seemed to slow down for Venti.
The loop of flame shot straight toward him, heating the air and sending incandescent waves around him. His heart was racing, but his mind instantly focused on what he knew best:
Teleportation. He felt every particle of The air around him, each breath of wind reminding him that he could bend space to his will, his legs buckled slightly as he inhaled deeply, visualizing the space between him and the Lector, the path he needed to take to disappear from the field of fire.
A fraction of a second later, he blinked, and in a single breath, the world seemed to dissolve around him.
When he opened his eyes again, he was standing behind the Lector, at a safe distance but close enough to surprise him. The heat of the explosion no longer reached him, the smoking crater behind him a testament to the power of the attack he had just dodged.
His eyes, calm and focused, now fixed on the Lector as he stood behind him, while a light breeze rose around him, a result of the Anemo energy still pulsing within him after the teleportation. Perfect.
Venti: "I'll tap him on the shoulder to surprise him."
Back to the present:
Venti: "Or perhaps the Abyss doesn't know everything."
The atmosphere changed. It was no longer a simple, one-sided confrontation.
For the first time, the Abyss Lector understood that he wasn't dealing with an ordinary adventurer… but with an anomaly capable of defying the very rules of the dungeon.
Abyss Lector: "Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha."
The Lector's laughter died away completely.
This time, he wasn't mocking.
In a fluid, almost wary movement, he slid backward, his steps barely touching the ground.
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
The abyssal flames gathered around him like a living cloak as he took up position at the far end of the room, away from the group.
The space between them suddenly felt heavier, charged with an invisible pressure. The Lector slowly raised his head, his blazing eyes resting directly on Venti.
Abyss Lector: "You are strange… miserable bard."
His voice vibrated differently this time.
Still distorted, still multifaceted, but tinged with a new caution.
No longer the voice of a predator confident of its prey, but that of an entity that had just noticed an anomaly in the established order.
Then he extended his arms, conjuring fiery glyphs around him that anchored themselves to the walls and the floor.
Abyss Lector: "Listen to me, all of you."
The flames subsided slightly, as if the dungeon itself were holding its breath.
Abyss Lector: "If one of you… even just one… manages to harm me, even to crack my abyssal flesh…"
He paused, letting his words sink into each of their minds.
Abyss Lector: "Then I will agree to spare your lives."
A heavy silence fell over the group.
Bram instinctively gripped the hilt of his sword with both hands.
Bram: "He... he's mocking us, isn't he?"
He murmured, never taking his eyes off the Lector.
Kael: "His level is fifty."
Kael reminded him in a low voice, through gritted teeth.
Kael: "Even together, we're not supposed to be able to touch him."
Lyra felt a shiver run down her spine.
Lyra: "This isn't just a gratuitous provocation..."
She said.
Lyra: "He's confident."
"Too confident."
Eron, meanwhile, was observing the glyphs around the Lector with concern.
Eron: "This kind of promise..."
He sighed.
Eron: "Creatures of the Abyss never attempt this without being certain of the outcome."
They all turned to look at Venti.
He remained calm, almost relaxed, his hands clasped behind his back.
His eyes analyzed the room, the symbols, the energy currents that snaked through the air.
Bbbbbbbbbzzzzzzzzzz
His adventurer's crystal vibrated faintly, as if reacting to the Lector's overwhelming presence.
Venti: "A wound…"
Venti murmured to himself.
Venti: "He didn't say he had to be defeated."
The Lector inclined his head slightly, as if he had heard this thought.
Abyss Lector: "Exactly."
A distorted smile flickered through the flames.
Abyss Lector: "Just one cut."
"Just one crack."
"Show me that you deserve to survive."
Chapter 31: Abyss Lector and Venti
The End