When I teleported, I had no idea I could drag someone along with me. But of course—thanks to my "amazing luck"—Dirk, the treacherous butler, ended up inside this dark void with me.
And to make things worse, my mana was completely drained. For some unknown reason, this place didn't reject me despite that. I couldn't think much about it, because Dirk had already stood up, and his wounds were rapidly healing. After all, he was a "Lord"-rank, and his regeneration speed was anything but normal.
He rose after his body finished mending, and shouted with a bone-piercing rage:
"You bastard… You ruined everything! All those years… wasted!"
He advanced toward me and brutally severed my arms without hesitation. And he didn't stop there—he began breaking my bones one by one until my body was reduced to powder (figuratively). Then he tore apart my legs while I screamed in agony. With no mana left, everything hurt even more… even my Iron Will skill didn't activate.
I was forced to experience every cut and crush with no anesthetic… only raw, savage pain.
And the system… it sounded like it was crying.
[I…. am sorry… I am truly sorry, Arthur. I can't do anything anymore. I've been restricted.]
I didn't respond. I couldn't. I couldn't cry, couldn't scream—nothing. All I could do was accept the pain in silence.
When he finally finished, not a single part of my body remained intact. My organs were scattered, my limbs torn apart, even my eyes had been ripped out in a way no words could describe. And still… his anger didn't fade.
He restrained his strength just enough to keep me alive, then began stomping on my chest. My ribs shattered as he laughed with a twisted, hysterical madness:
"I'm dead anyway… I've failed. At least I'll enjoy every shred of pain you feel before I go!"
But in the middle of his manic laughter, a wave of corrupted mana surged—ancient and terrifying. It flooded the entire place. Even Dirk began trembling, sweat falling like rain.
Then a voice came… from the void… cheerful in a deeply unsettling way:
[Well, well. What do we have here? The strange boy… his dear friend… and a lunatic who somehow still moves.]
Dirk froze. His knees buckled. Every cell in his body screamed in fear.
As for me… my body was breathing once every few seconds, then stopping. I was dying slowly, blinded by agony… yet my lips trembled with a faint, broken smile as a whisper left me:
"Your death… has come…"
Of course, Dirk understood nothing. He was seeing something entirely different—
Gigantic golden eyes.
Ancient, terrifying—like a primordial dragon awakening from its slumber.
Dirk fell to his knees, smashing his forehead against the "ground"—though it wasn't real ground at all. It felt like hitting wool that refused to break his skull.
He shouted, trembling between fear and devotion:
"I greet the great Abyss Lord… one of the first kings of the Deep Abyss! I—I am your loyal servant!"
The entity laughed—a mocking laugh drenched in terror:
[Really? Then tell me… why is one of you people visiting my personal space?]
Dirk panicked:
"N-no, great lord! I swear I didn't know this was… your domain!"
He then began explaining, stuttering as he revealed heavy secrets:
**"We were ordered to collect anyone with special power or rare bloodlines…
Those who are useless… we eliminate them to prevent future problems.
We found only a few suitable vessels…
One died because of a subordinate's mistake…
And when we finally found the third one… I was tasked with retrieving him…"**
He pointed at me with hatred.
"But this boy ruined everything!"
The entity paused for a moment… then said calmly:
[Very well… it seems you have indeed suffered. So allow me to give you some good news.]
Dirk trembled… then his face lit up with hope.
[You have brought me an excellent vessel… even if it wasn't the one you wanted.]
Dirk's face exploded with joy. He pictured himself as the hero who restored one of the Abyssal Kings… imagined his status rising endlessly.
But the entity continued, voice cold as the void:
[Tell me… what do you do to those who fail their missions?]
Dirk stuttered, then answered:
"We… torture them to death… to make an example."
The entity clapped—without hands:
[Excellent. The Abyss is still the same… no mercy for failures.]
Dirk smiled a twisted smile and began flattering eagerly.
But the voice cut him off:
[Good. Now—what is the punishment for someone who destroys the vessel meant to revive his lord?]
Dirk answered instinctively, foolishly:
"Is that even a question? Of course we torture his soul a hundred times befo—"
He stopped. The color drained from his face.
And in that instant… he understood.
The entity laughed—a laugh that could only mean one thing:
Oblivion.
Dirk's body swelled, twisted, veins exploding.
[Yes, that is the perfect punishment… and don't worry. I'll be merciful.]
Purple chains shot out of nowhere and crushed him.
A portal opened beneath his feet—unnatural, filled with creatures whose numberless eyes stared into the soul.
A beast with three heads… entirely black… surrounded by hidden mouths within the darkness.
The entity spoke with icy calm:
[I won't torture your soul a hundred times… once is enough. A perfect punishment, isn't it?]
But what Dirk failed to realize was that this monster would make his very essence suffer worse than a hundred cycles of torment.
Before Dirk could speak a single word—
The monster's massive jaws snapped shut with a thunderous roar.
And every trace of Dirk vanished.
--