A chilling shiver ran through the room, so intense that even the magical wall torches flickered and became covered with a thin layer of frost.
The stone floor cracked under an invisible pressure, and at the center of this anomaly, an abyssal portal slowly formed.
Unlike the Lector's, this portal was not ablaze with violet flames.
GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
It was pale blue, crisscrossed with luminous fissures like shattered ice.
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Icy particles escaped from it, floating in the air like silent snow.
The five adventurers turned instantly.
Bram: "..............".
Bram tightened his grip on his two-handed sword.
Kael: "..............".
Kael adopted a defensive stance, already ready to pounce.
Lyra: "..............".
Lyra felt her elemental energy contract under the effect of the cold.
Eron: "..............".
Eron swallowed hard, knowing that his potions were likely to be ineffective against this type of enemy.
Venti: ".............".
As for Venti…
He simply observed the portal, Silence.
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A figure slowly emerged.
Tall.
Slender.
Imposing.
Blue and black armor with an icy gaze.
An Abyss Herald: Frost Fall
Archive: An abyss monster.
Just as there are saints who will spread and glorify the profound gospel, there are envoys who must correct any twisted strains and remove any dissonance.
People often say that steel feels like ice as it pierces the body, but this dark frost is said to freeze even the soul.
His abyssal armor seemed sculpted from ice itself, crisscrossed with luminous cyan lines.
Frozen crystals floated around him, swirling slowly, as if obeying his will.
A translucent cloak billowed behind him, made of a mixture of frost and condensed abyssal energy.
But what troubled the group most… was his demeanor.
Abyss Herald: ".................. "
He did not charge.
He did not raise his weapon.
He displayed no immediate hostility.
He stood there, calm, straight, almost solemn.
His icy eyes swept the room, pausing for a moment on the precise spot where the Lector had vanished.
A light silence fell, heavy, oppressive.
Then he spoke.
His voice was cold, measured, devoid of anger—but charged with overwhelming authority.
Abyss Herald: "Strange…"
Tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap
A footstep echoed on the frozen stone as he moved slightly forward.
Abyss Herald: "The abyssal link… has been severed."
His eyes slowly lifted to the group.
Abyss Herald: "Tell me, mortals…"
"Why have I lost contact with my comrade?"
He wasn't accusing them.
He wasn't threatening them.
He asked.
This simple fact made the situation infinitely more terrifying.
Bram gritted his teeth.
Bram: "He talks… as if he owes an explanation."
Lyra murmured, almost imperceptibly:
Lyra: "He's not a Lector… he's more dangerous."
Eron felt a shiver run down his spine.
Eron: "A Herald… they never come without a reason."
The Herald's gaze then slid slowly… to Venti.
An even heavier silence fell over the room.
The frost crystals floating around the entity stopped rotating for a fraction of a second.
Abyss Herald: "Interesting…"
He murmured.
Abyss Herald: "I sense… abyssal traces on you."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Abyss Herald: "You didn't launch the attack…"
"…but you drained his essence."
For the first time, genuine attention was focused on Venti.
No contempt.
No arrogance.
Curiosity.
The dungeon seemed to close in on itself, as if the Abyss held its breath, awaiting the bard's response.
The Abyss Herald inclined his head slightly, as if assessing each of them one last time.
Then, in a voice still calm, almost ceremonial, he spoke the names.
Abyss Herald: "Bram Orgo."
The warrior flinched almost imperceptibly.
His gaze hardened, and his fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword.
Abyss Herald: "Kael Valssa."
The scout frowned, taking a step aside purely out of reflex, as if the mere fact of being named had exposed him.
Abyss Herald: "Lyra Petra."
The mage felt a shiver run down her spine.
Her elemental energy vibrated slightly, unsteady, as if responding to something ancient.
Abyss Herald: "Eron Ferdinger."
The alchemist opened his mouth, then closed it immediately.
His rational mind desperately searched for a logical explanation… but found none.
Finally, the Herald's icy gaze settled on Venti.
Venti: "His gaze falls on me."
A heavy silence fell over the room.
Abyss Herald: "And… Venti."
No last name.
No title.
Just that first name.
Abyss Herald: "Just… Venti."
This simple detail chilled the atmosphere even further.
Bram: "How…"
Bram began, his voice low but thick with anger.
Abyss Herald: "How do you know our names?"
Kael added suspiciously:
Kael: "No one here gave you that information."
Lyra clenched her fists.
Lyra: "Even within the guild, our files aren't accessible to just anyone."
The Abyss Herald observed all five of them, without immediately responding.
Abyss Herald: "Heh heh heh heh."
A faint, almost imperceptible smile flickered across his face, hidden behind his mask.
Abyss Herald: "You overestimate the secrecy of your existence."
He slowly raised a hand, then…
Clap!
He clapped his hands.
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The sound resonated throughout the room, clear and sharp.
The instant the crack sounded, the abyssal energy around him began to ripple.
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
The frost crystals cracked in the air before dissolving into luminous particles.
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
His tall, abyssal silhouette contracted and contorted, as if drawn inward.
In a few seconds, the icy armor vanished.
The crushing pressure of the Abyss lessened.
And before them… stood a man.
A man they all knew.
Same stature.
Same posture.
Same armor.
The knight who had escorted them from the guild to the dungeon:
- The one who entered the guild asking for help
- The one who guided them to the dungeon
- The one who parted ways with them
- The one who
Bram's eyes widened.
Bram: "...You?"
Kael took a step back.
Kael: "Is this an illusion?"
Eron murmured, pale:
Eron: "No, he's really here."
Lyra felt her heart clench.
Lyra: "From the beginning..."
The man, or rather the thing, calmly placed his hands on her back, adopting the exact same posture as during the carriage ride.
Abyss Herald: "You recognize me."
"That's reassuring."
His voice was identical to the knight's… but something sounded off.
Too controlled.
Too empty.
His gaze fell back on Venti.
Abyss Herald: "I've been observing you since the guild days."
"Your levels."
"Your abilities."
"Your reactions."
"Originally, we just needed sacrifices, and I came across you, and you volunteered."
He slowly turned his head toward the others.
Abyss Herald: "Bram, your brute strength and your sense of sacrifice."
"Kael, your survival instinct."
"Lyra, your still poorly controlled elemental potential."
"Eron, your analytical mind… and your well-concealed fear."
Then, Venti again.
Abyss Herald: "And you…"
He took a step closer.
Abyss Herald: "You are an anomaly."
An oppressive silence fell over the room.
Abyss Herald: "No surname."
"No clear origins."
"No trace in the usual abyssal currents."
"And yet… you interfere with them."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Abyss Herald: "Tell me, Venti…"
"Who are you really?"
Venti: " .................."
Around them, the dungeon seemed to vibrate faintly, as if the Abyss itself awaited the answer.
After a few seconds of heavy silence, the Abyss Herald finally turned his gaze away from Venti.
The icy interest he had seemed to have in him vanished, as if he had grown weary of a game that had become too predictable.
Abyss Herald: "It doesn't matter."
His voice echoed calmly in the room, without anger or excitement, simply detached.
Abyss Herald: "Your identity is, ultimately, of no immediate importance."
He took a few slow steps back, his boots echoing against the dungeon's stone floor.
The abyssal energy began to stir around him again, forming small, icy eddies at his feet.
Abyss Herald: "You have already surpassed what was expected of you." ".
"Even though we predicted your deaths."
"Lector defeated, structure intact, interesting…"
He raised a hand, as if to emphasize his words.
Abyss Herald: "Since you're so keen to leave this place… I'll be generous."
"Anyway, I can't be bothered with you."
Bram: "Huh?"
Kael: "Huh?"
Eron: "Huh?"
Lyra: "Huh?"
Venti: "Huh?"
No one expected such behavior from an Apostle of the Abyss, and even though he seemed rather calm, they remained on their guard in case of a surprise attack.
The five adventurers tensed immediately, ready to react to the slightest attack.
Bram tightened his grip on his sword, Kael observed every movement, Lyra discreetly focused her energy, Eron prepared a potion… and Venti remained silent, attentive.
Abyss Herald: "The dungeon exit will only open after defeating the two entities that are its pillars."
"Two bosses. Nothing more, nothing less."
"Heh heh heh."
A slight smile appeared on the Herald's face, revealing his face.
Abyss Herald: "Consider this… a final test."
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He then turned toward the spot where the Lector had vanished.
Abyss Herald: "My comrade has failed."
"But remember this…"
His gaze swept over the group one last time.
Abyss Herald: "The Abyss never forgets those who defy it."
With these words, an abyssal portal opened behind him, tearing through the air in a whirlwind of frost and shadows.
Without another word, he took a step back and let himself be swallowed by the chasm.
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The portal closed instantly, leaving behind a heavy, oppressive silence.
WHIOP
The portal slammed shut, leaving the room chilled by its presence.
For several seconds, none of the adventurers spoke.
Then Bram breathed slowly.
Bram: "Two bosses."
Kael nodded seriously.
Kael: "At least we know what we have to do."
Lyra gritted her teeth.
Lyra: "And we also know that this dungeon was definitely not ordinary."
Eron adjusted his bag, looking thoughtful.
Eron: "We've already gone too far to turn back."
They all finally turned to Venti.
The bard calmly observed the corridor leading deeper into the dungeon, where the next trials awaited them.
Venti: "Hhmm."
A slight smile appeared on his face.
All he had to do was go to the next room and defeat the two bosses.
Venti: "So… let's finish what we started."
In the distance, the darkness of the dungeon seemed to be closing in around them, as if the two remaining bosses had sensed their presence.
Bbbbbbbbbbzzzzzzzzz
As silence fell over the room, a slight tremor ran through the floor.
The crystals of each of the adventurers began to vibrate almost simultaneously, emitting a faint glow that reflected the colors of the elemental energy flowing through each of them.
Thanks to their victory a few minutes ago, the five members of the group gained levels, and since their enemy was level 50, they all gained at least three levels.
Bram felt a new energy coursing through his veins; his The crystal shone a deep blue, and upon examining it, he saw that his level had jumped from 41 to 44.
Kael, meanwhile, felt a sudden surge of strength in his arms and legs: his level jumped from 36 to 39.
Lyra, for her part, felt her control over flames and lightning become more precise and powerful, seeing her level climb from 35 to 37.
Eron, adjusting his potions and elixirs, realized he had gained in stamina and technique, his level rising from 38 to 40.
BBBBbbbbbbbbzzzzzzzzz
But Venti's crystal almost shattered into a brilliant light, more intense than the others.
His eyes widened as he felt his own energy multiply.
His level had made a spectacular leap, jumping from 11 to 17.
His stats were radically Upgraded:
[Level Up!]
Venti — Level 17
HP: 3200 → 6300
ATK: 740 → 1100
DEF: 410 → 740
Elemental Mastery: 180 → 250
Observing his abilities, Venti noticed that three of them had improved:
Intangibility — Level 2 → Level 3
Stat Boosting — Level 2 → Level 3
Resistance Reduction — Level 2 → Level 4
Venti: "...........................".
He was speechless.
In his previous battles, he had never gained six levels at once.
A mixture of excitement and focus washed over Venti.
He instantly understood that the Herald's residual abyssal energy had vanished. had triggered this surge in power.
His body was more responsive, more agile, and his control over elemental energy more refined.
He looked up at his companions, who had also straightened, impressed by the extent of their own progress.
Each of them could sense that they were now stronger, more prepared, but that the trials to come in the dungeon would be even more merciless.
Venti took a deep breath, feeling the newfound power coursing through his veins.
He knew that this dungeon had not yet revealed all its dangers, but now, he felt ready to face the challenge.
Tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap
The group set off, more united and determined than ever, while the shadow of the two remaining bosses loomed in the distance.
The five adventurers advanced slowly down the dungeon's long corridor, their footsteps echoing against the stone slabs imbued with abyssal energy.
The tension from the previous battle hadn't entirely subsided, and even though none of them bore visible injuries, the mental fatigue and constant pressure of the dungeon were taking their toll.
Tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap
Finally, they arrived at a "resting place," an ancient structure covered in luminous roots and vines, forming an almost natural lozenge around a gently pulsing emerald-green core.
A soothing aura pervaded the air, a stark contrast to the oppressive atmosphere of the rest of the dungeon.
As they approached, each felt a sensation of lightness, as if the weight on their shoulders was gradually evaporating.
Bram: "Ah, finally."
Bram rested his two-handed sword against a pillar and sat down heavily, letting out a long-suppressed sigh.
Jael: "We can finally breathe after all this."
Kael stood for a moment, instinctively scanning his surroundings, before leaning against the wall, arms crossed, finally confident enough to let his guard down.
Lyra: "You can say that again. It's a good thing that guy let us go, because the same strategy wouldn't have worked twice."
Lyra sat down near the glowing heart, letting the energy flow through her.
Eron: "Don't worry, Lyra, after defeating the two bosses..."
Eron mechanically took out a few vials to check their contents, more out of habit than any real need.
Venti: "....................."
Venti, for his part, approached the resting place with curiosity, feeling the wind around him become gentler, almost protective.
FFFFFFFFFffffffffffffffffffff
He quickly understood that this place wasn't just for healing physical wounds, but also for stabilizing the adventurers' elemental and mental energy.
Even though they weren't injured, they all decided to stay for a few minutes.
In a dungeon where the slightest mistake could be fatal, ignoring a resting place would have been unwise.
Silence gradually settled in, broken only by the faint hum of green energy and their now calmer breathing.
They knew this moment of respite was temporary, but it would allow them to face what lay ahead with a clearer mind and renewed determination.
[Venti's Stats — Visible only to him]
Name: Venti
Level: 17/100
Max HP: 6300
ATK: 1100
DEF: 740
Elemental Mastery: 250
Identified Skills:
- Telekinesis — Level 2/10
- Stat Boosting — Level 3/10
- Intangibility — Level 3/10
- Flight — Level 2/10
- Soul Manipulation & Lie Detection — Level 2/10
- Elementary Anemo Mastery — Level 3/10
- Illusion Creation — Level 2/10
- Resistance Reduction — Level 4/10
- Stat Reduction — Level 2/10
- Mass Increase/Decrease — Level 2/10
- Teleportation — Level 4/10
- Wind Communication — Level 2/10
Stock exchange: 19000 Moras
Chapter 35: The Knight Monster
The End