I Ascend Alone-Chapter 66: Abyss Monarch’s Return

A deep, shadowy ripple spread across the quiet alleyway as I emerged from the Abyssgate, my body reforming from the void. The transition was seamless—one moment, I was in the Forsaken Ruins, standing atop the remains of the Shadeborn Sovereign, and the next, I was back in the city.

The cold night air greeted me, carrying the distant hum of traffic and the faint scent of rain-soaked pavement. Neon lights flickered across the empty streets, a stark contrast to the abyssal darkness I had just walked through.

[ System Notification ]

[ Spatial recalibration complete. You have returned to your last known location before entering the Forsaken Ruins. ]

I clenched my fist, feeling the overwhelming strength coursing through me. Every fiber of my being had changed—the very foundation of my existence had ascended.

-

I took a slow breath, surveying my surroundings. Far from the suffocating presence of the Association's highest ranks, I was in one of the quieter districts of the city. Here, the towering skyline of the Hunter Association Headquarters was nothing more than a distant silhouette against the night.

The night stretched before me, vast and unending.

I walked through the dimly lit streets, my footsteps barely making a sound. The city's pulse was steady—neon lights flickering, distant chatter from bars and late-night diners, the occasional roar of an engine. It was peaceful, yet beneath that calm exterior, I could feel the weight of power shifts, of unseen forces lurking in the dark.

The Hunter Association's Headquarters, a towering monolith of authority, loomed in the distance. Other guild halls and corporate skyscrapers carved their presence into the city skyline, but my eyes were set on one place.

The Zenith Spire.

The tallest structure in City A, piercing into the night sky like a blade. It stood as a symbol of human ambition—a monument to wealth, power, and influence. From its peak, one could see everything.

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And tonight, I wanted to see the world from above.

-

With a single step, I activated Phantom Tyrant.

The world blurred around me as my body flickered through the air, short-range teleportations carrying me from one rooftop to another. The city passed by in a haze of motion—neon signs, towering billboards, the glint of streetlights against glass skyscrapers.

I landed on the side of the Zenith Spire, my fingers brushing against its cold steel surface.

Then, with effortless agility, I scaled the towering structure, moving like a shadow against the wind. Each step sent a faint ripple of abyssal energy through my body, my enhanced stats making the climb almost trivial.

The final leap sent me soaring through the air, and as gravity pulled me back down, I landed—silent as a ghost—at the very peak of the Zenith Spire.

-

A vast, breathtaking panorama stretched before me.

From up here, City A was a sprawling ocean of light, glowing skyscrapers piercing the darkness like beacons. Streets wove intricate patterns between buildings, their veins of golden illumination resembling a living, breathing entity. The rivers reflected the moon's soft glow, snaking through the city like celestial pathways.

I exhaled, letting the cold night air wash over me.

For a moment, there was silence.

No battles. No enemies. No system notifications.

Just me and the endless horizon.

-

The wind whispered against the steel spire, carrying with it the faintest trace of another presence.

I turned my head sharply.

There—a silhouette, barely noticeable, perched on the opposite side of the rooftop. A young woman, no older than her early twenties, sat with one leg dangling over the edge, her gaze fixed on the city below. The moonlight caught strands of her dark auburn hair, making them shimmer like embers in the night.

She wasn't startled by my presence—which meant she had sensed me, too.

"...What are you doing up here?" I asked, my voice even.

She didn't turn immediately. Instead, she exhaled softly, watching the lights below as if lost in thought. Then, after a moment, she finally spoke.

"I should be asking you that."

Her voice carried the weight of exhaustion—not physical, but mental. The kind of weariness that only hunters carried after too many battles, too many close calls.

She tilted her head slightly toward me, her amber eyes gleaming in the dark.

"I come here every night to unwind after leaving the dungeons," she continued. "Too much noise down there. Too much blood."

Her fingers traced the edge of the metal beam she sat on. "Up here, at least, it's quiet."

Her words lingered in the air between us.

I studied her closely now. She wasn't just some random civilian. The way she carried herself, the way she sensed me before I spoke...

Another hunter.

"...And you?" she asked, finally turning her full attention to me. "What's someone like you doing here?"

Her amber eyes locked onto mine. A flicker of curiosity, maybe even suspicion.

I exhaled lightly, crossing my arms as I gazed out over the city. "I just needed some air," I said. "And since this is the tallest building in Velmora, I figured I might as well check it out."

The girl studied me for a moment before turning her gaze back to the city. "Velmora Tower does have the best view," she admitted. "It's why I come here, too."

A quiet pause settled between us, broken only by the faint hum of the city below. From this height, Velmora stretched endlessly, its neon lights flickering like distant stars. Skyscrapers lined the horizon, and in the distance, the faint glow of the Hunter's District stood out—a section of the city dedicated solely to dungeons, guild headquarters, and the Association's operations.

"You're a hunter," I said, more as a statement than a question.

She chuckled. "Is it that obvious?"

"You carry yourself like one," I replied. "Your awareness, the way you sensed me before I even spoke... Not something a regular person would pick up on."

She gave a small smirk. "You're not wrong. I'm a hunter, alright. Been one for a few years now."