The cavern had grown silent again.
Fragments of shattered bone lay scattered across the stone floor where the Abyssal Bone Beast had once stood. The air was thick with the lingering scent of death and dark energy.
Azrael Veyron stood motionless.
Black energy slowly faded from around his body, though faint strands of darkness still curled around his fingers like obedient shadows.
His breathing had finally stabilized.
Moments ago he had been on the verge of death.
Now…
He had advanced two cultivation stages.
"Mortal Body Stage 5…"
Azrael whispered the words slowly.
Even now it felt unreal.
Three years.
Three long years inside the Blackstone Sect, struggling just to break past the first stage.
Yet within minutes of gaining the Void Devouring System, he had surpassed most outer disciples.
Azrael clenched his fist.
Power surged through his arm.
His muscles felt lighter.
Sharper.
Even his senses had improved dramatically.
The darkness of the cave no longer felt suffocating.
Instead, it felt… familiar.
Comforting.
Like the abyss itself recognized him.
A soft mechanical voice echoed inside his mind.
VOID DEVOURING SYSTEM
Host: Azrael VeyronCultivation Realm: Mortal Body Stage 5Skills:• Devour Soul• Void Absorption• Void Step• Abyss Aura
Special Discovery: Hidden Abyss Gate
Azrael turned his gaze toward the far end of the cavern.
The enormous stone gate stood partially revealed beneath layers of rock and ancient dust.
It looked ancient.
Ancient beyond imagination.
Massive black stone slabs formed the door, covered in strange glowing runes.
The energy leaking from it was overwhelming.
Even stronger than the Abyssal Bone Beast.
Azrael approached slowly.
Every step echoed through the cave.
The closer he got…
The stronger the pressure became.
It felt like standing before a sleeping monster.
The system suddenly displayed another message.
Abyss Gate Analysis
Origin: UnknownEstimated Age: Over 10,000 Years
Status: Dormant Dungeon Entrance
Recommendation: Enter to obtain forbidden rewards
Azrael stopped just a few meters away.
"Dungeon…"
He had heard rumors about such places before.
Ancient ruins where powerful cultivators left behind treasures, techniques, and deadly trials.
But they were extremely rare.
Most sects would fight wars just to control one.
Yet somehow…
One had been hidden inside this cursed cave.
Azrael chuckled quietly.
"The sect threw me here to die…"
His eyes glowed faintly red.
"But they might have just given me the greatest opportunity of my life."
He reached forward and touched the gate.
The moment his fingers made contact—
The runes exploded with light.
Dark purple energy surged across the stone surface.
The entire cavern trembled violently.
Then—
RUMBLE.
The massive gate slowly began to open.
Dust and small rocks fell from the ceiling as the ancient mechanism groaned.
A deep corridor appeared behind the door.
Darkness filled the passage.
But within that darkness…
Faint blue flames flickered along the walls.
Ancient torches.
Still burning after thousands of years.
Azrael stepped inside.
The moment he crossed the threshold—
The gate slammed shut behind him.
BOOM!
The sound echoed through the dungeon.
Azrael turned quickly.
The door had sealed completely.
There was no way back.
"…So it begins."
The dungeon corridor stretched far ahead.
The walls were made from black stone engraved with strange symbols.
Some depicted monsters.
Others showed cultivators wielding terrifying powers.
Azrael walked slowly.
His footsteps echoed in the empty hall.
Then suddenly—
The system screen flashed.
Dungeon Trial Activated
Floor 1: Abyss Guardians
Objective: Eliminate all enemies
Reward: Cultivation + Skill Fragment
Azrael stopped walking.
A low growl echoed through the corridor.
Then another.
And another.
From the shadows ahead…
Shapes began to move.
The creatures slowly stepped into the blue torchlight.
Azrael's eyes narrowed.
They looked similar to wolves.
But their bodies were made entirely from bone.
Their eye sockets burned with green fire.
There were six of them.
The system instantly identified them.
Abyss Bone Wolves
Level: Mortal Body Stage 4
Azrael smiled slightly.
Before obtaining the system, even one of these creatures would have been impossible for him to defeat.
But now…
Six of them didn't seem so terrifying.
The wolves lowered their bodies.
Their claws scraped against the stone floor.
One of them growled deeply.
Then suddenly—
All six charged at once.
Their speed was incredible.
Azrael activated his new skill instantly.
"Void Step."
His body blurred.
A shadow flickered across the corridor.
The first wolf's jaws snapped shut where he had been standing just a moment ago.
Azrael reappeared beside it.
His palm slammed against the creature's skull.
"Devour."
Dark energy erupted.
The wolf's bones shattered instantly.
Black mist flowed into Azrael's body.
Soul Devoured
Cultivation Progress +1%
The other wolves turned immediately.
One leapt toward his back.
Azrael spun around.
His hand grabbed the creature mid-air.
"Void Absorption!"
Cracks spread across the wolf's body.
Within seconds it dissolved into dark energy.
Soul Devoured
Another wolf lunged from the side.
Azrael stepped forward calmly.
His movements had become faster and more precise.
He ducked under the attack.
Then struck upward.
His palm shattered the wolf's ribcage.
Dark energy devoured it instantly.
Three wolves remained.
They circled him cautiously.
Azrael's lips curved slightly.
The hunger inside him was growing.
Each devoured soul strengthened him.
Each battle made him sharper.
"Come."
The wolves attacked again.
But this time…
Azrael charged toward them first.
The corridor filled with swirling darkness as the fight erupted.
And deep within the ancient dungeon…
Azrael Veyron's rise had truly begun.
The corridor filled with the sound of cracking bones and echoing growls.
Three Abyss Bone Wolves circled Azrael Veyron carefully now.
Moments ago they had attacked without hesitation.
But after watching three of their pack disappear into black mist…
Even these mindless dungeon creatures seemed cautious.
Azrael stood calmly in the center of the corridor.
Dark energy flowed around him like faint smoke.
His breathing remained steady.
But inside…
The hunger of the Void Devouring System was growing stronger.
Every soul he devoured sent waves of power through his body.
And that power felt intoxicating.
The wolves growled again.
One of them suddenly lunged.
Its skeletal claws slashed through the air.
Azrael moved instantly.
"Void Step."
His body flickered like a shadow.
The wolf's attack struck nothing but air.
Before the creature could react—
Azrael appeared beside it.
His palm slammed against its spine.
"Devour."
Black energy erupted.
CRACK.
The wolf's body shattered instantly.
Dark mist spiraled into Azrael's chest.
Soul Devoured
Cultivation Progress +2%
Two wolves remained.
They snarled angrily.
Then attacked together.
One leapt high.
The other rushed low.
Azrael crouched and grabbed the lower wolf's skull mid-charge.
His fingers dug into the bone.
"Void Absorption."
The creature dissolved instantly.
The final wolf was already descending from above.
Azrael raised his other hand.
Dark energy surged outward like a violent wave.
The wolf froze mid-air.
Its bones cracked.
Then its entire body collapsed into black particles.
Soul Devoured
Floor 1 Cleared
The system screen appeared again.
Dungeon Reward Obtained
+ Cultivation Energy
Skill Fragment Acquired
Azrael felt a surge of energy rush through his body.
His muscles tightened.
His senses sharpened even more.
A second message appeared.
Skill Unlocked
Void Claw
Azrael raised his hand slowly.
Dark energy gathered around his fingers.
For a moment it formed sharp black claws made entirely from condensed void power.
He swung his hand through the air.
SWISH.
The stone wall beside him split open with five deep cuts.
Azrael stared at the damage.
"That's… strong."
The ability felt natural.
Like his body had always possessed it.
But before he could test it further—
The dungeon suddenly trembled.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the corridor ahead.
THUD.
THUD.
THUD.
Azrael's eyes narrowed.
The blue flames along the walls flickered violently.
A new system message appeared.
Floor 1 Boss Approaching
Dungeon Guardian Detected
A massive shadow appeared at the far end of the hallway.
Slowly…
The creature stepped into the torchlight.
Azrael's expression hardened.
The monster looked similar to the wolves.
But far larger.
Its body was covered in thick bone armor.
Its skull was enormous, with two curved horns extending backward.
Green flames burned inside its eye sockets.
The beast was easily four meters tall.
A deep growl echoed through the dungeon.
The system identified it immediately.
Abyss Bone Alpha
Level: Mortal Body Stage 7
Threat Level: Very High
Azrael exhaled slowly.
Two stages higher than him.
And far stronger than the Bone Beast he had fought earlier.
The creature stomped forward.
The ground cracked beneath its weight.
Then suddenly—
It charged.
Its massive claws tore through the stone floor as it rushed forward with terrifying speed.
Azrael activated Void Step instantly.
His body flickered sideways just as the creature slammed into the wall.
BOOM!
Stone shattered.
The Alpha turned quickly.
Its glowing eyes locked onto him again.
Azrael raised his hand.
"Void Claw."
Dark claws formed around his fingers.
He dashed forward.
SLASH.
The attack struck the Alpha's chest.
But instead of slicing through…
The claws scraped against the thick bone armor.
Sparks flew.
The monster roared angrily and swung its arm.
Azrael jumped back barely in time.
"That armor…"
He frowned.
It was much tougher than the previous enemies.
The Alpha roared again and charged once more.
Azrael's mind raced quickly.
Devouring requires contact.
But the armor blocks my attacks.
The beast leapt.
Its massive body came crashing down like a falling mountain.
Azrael rolled away just as the impact shattered the floor.
Dust filled the air.
Then—
An idea appeared in his mind.
Azrael smiled slightly.
"You're strong."
He stepped forward again.
"But every creature has a weakness."
The Alpha roared and lunged again.
Azrael didn't dodge this time.
Instead he dashed directly toward the monster.
At the last moment—
He slid beneath its body.
The creature overshot him.
Azrael immediately spun around and jumped onto its back.
His hand slammed against the gap between the armor plates.
"DEVOUR."
Black energy exploded violently.
The Alpha roared in agony.
Cracks spread across its body.
The void energy began ripping its bones apart from the inside.
The monster thrashed wildly.
Trying to throw him off.
But Azrael held on.
The vortex of dark power grew stronger.
Stronger.
Then—
CRACK!
The Alpha's spine shattered.
The entire creature collapsed into black mist.
All of its energy rushed into Azrael's body.
The dungeon trembled violently.
System messages flooded his vision.
Dungeon Boss Devoured
Massive Energy Absorbed
Cultivation Breakthrough
Azrael's body trembled.
The energy inside him exploded outward.
Dark power surged through every vein.
Then—
Another message appeared.
Mortal Body Stage 6
Azrael dropped to one knee.
His breathing was heavy.
The dungeon slowly became quiet again.
The system screen appeared one more time.
Floor 1 Cleared
Boss Reward Obtained
• Abyss Storage Ring• Ancient Technique Fragment
Azrael slowly stood.
A small black ring materialized in his palm.
Ancient symbols covered its surface.
He slipped it onto his finger.
The moment he did—
A hidden storage space appeared within his mind.
Azrael smiled.
"Interesting."
Then the system displayed another message.
Dungeon Floor 2 Unlocked
The corridor ahead slowly opened.
A staircase leading deeper into darkness appeared.
Azrael looked toward the path below.
The abyss seemed endless.
But instead of fear…
Excitement filled his chest.
This dungeon wasn't a prison.
It was a ladder to power.
And Azrael intended to climb it.
All the way to the top.