Adam’s Abyssal Step carried him through the shadow beneath his feet just as another massive tentacle slammed into the ground where he’d been standing. Stone shattered, debris flying in all directions.

He emerged behind a jagged rock, Ouroboros’s Fang already in his grip, golden veins pulsing along its surface. Another tentacle lashed toward him, and he swung. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

[Abyssal Claw]!

The blade carved through the void-touched flesh like it was paper. The tentacle severed cleanly, the severed end dissolving into shadow as it hit the ground. Adam didn’t pause—he spun, slicing through another tentacle that had been reaching for him from the side.

But the archer was still there.

An arrow streaked toward his chest. Adam’s Apex Instinct screamed, and he threw himself sideways, the projectile grazing his arm instead of piercing his heart. He rolled, came up in a crouch, and raised his hand.

"[Tempest Sovereign]!"

A vortex of cutting wind and crackling lightning erupted from his palm, tearing through the cluster of tentacles that had been reaching for him. The storm staggered them, their forms flickering as the elemental assault overwhelmed their regeneration.

Adam didn’t wait. He shot forward, Abyssal Step carrying him through the storm, emerging directly in front of the archer Titan. Ouroboros’s Fang blazed in his grip.

"[Ouroboros’s Legacy]!"

The blade swept toward the archer’s throat. But before it could strike, a massive tentacle slammed into Adam’s side, hurling him across the chamber. He crashed into a stone pillar, the impact cracking the ancient rock.

He pushed himself up, shaking off the debris, and his eyes widened as he saw the true source of the tentacles.

A massive creature was emerging from the darkness behind the archer. Its body was enormous—a writhing mass of shadow and void energy, with dozens of tentacles extending from its central form. Its head, if it could be called that, was a gaping maw filled with swirling darkness, and its eyes were countless pinpricks of red light scattered across its body.

[Void Abomination – Lv. 99]

[A creature born from the deepest layers of the Void prison. It is a conglomerate of corrupted souls and ancient malice, fused together by centuries of suffering. Its regeneration is nearly absolute, and its attacks are devastating. Extremely dangerous. Recommend retreat unless absolutely necessary.]

Adam stared at the notification, then at the massive creature. His expression shifted to one of tired disbelief.

"Oii..oii.. you’ve got to be kidding me. Level 99?!"

The Void Abomination let out a low, guttural sound that shook the cavern. Its tentacles writhed, and the archer Titan, still standing beside it, drew another arrow.

Adam’s jaw tightened. His gaze flicked between the archer and the massive beast.

"Alright. New plan."

He didn’t wait for the next attack. He activated Abyssal Step, his body dissolving into the shadow beneath his feet. He emerged behind a fallen pillar, already moving toward the edge of the chamber.

"I’m not sticking around to find out what else that thing can do!"

Tentacles slammed into the ground around him, but Adam was faster. He weaved between them, Ouroboros’s Fang slashing through any that got too close, but he didn’t stop to fight. He kept moving, heading for the passage he had come from.

The archer fired another arrow. Adam’s Apex Instinct flared, and he twisted, the projectile passing close enough to ruffle his hair.

The Void Abomination roared, its tentacles surging after him, but Adam’s Abyssal Step carried him through the shadow of a nearby rock, emerging at the edge of the passage. He dove through the opening, the darkness swallowing him as he fled.

Behind him, the Abomination’s roar echoed through the chamber, shaking the walls, but Adam didn’t slow down.

"I’ll come back for the Bloom," he said, his voice tight. "But I’m not fighting that thing without backup."

Adam burst out of the passage, wings snapping open as he shot into the vast cavern beyond. The archer Titan was right behind him—its burning red eyes locked onto his back, another arrow already nocked and drawn.

TWANG.

Adam’s Apex Instinct screamed. He twisted mid-air, the arrow passing close enough to slice through a few strands of his hair. He didn’t slow down. He banked hard, wings catching the air as he wove between jagged rock formations, putting distance between himself and the pursuing Titan.

"Persistent bastard," he muttered, glancing back.

The Titan was faster than the others, its movements fluid and precise. It nocked another arrow, its burning eyes tracking Adam’s erratic flight path.

TWANG.

Adam’s Abyssal Step carried him through a patch of shadow, emerging twenty meters to the left. The arrow struck the rock where he’d been, shattering it into fragments.

Adam’s eyes narrowed. ’This is getting annoying.’

His gaze dropped to the Compass of Desire in his hand. The needle was still pointing forward, unwavering. The Abyssal Bloom was somewhere ahead.

’If I can just reach it, grab it, and get out... I don’t need to fight that thing.’

The darkness ahead thickened, pressing against him like a physical weight.

Adam pushed forward, wings beating hard, weaving between stalactites and jagged rock formations. The archer Titan was still behind him, but he had gained some distance. The arrow fire had slowed—its aim was still deadly, but it had to account for his unpredictable movements.

’Just a little further.’

[System Notification – Skill Level-Up Detected!]

[Abyssal Step (Lv.1) has gained experience from intense usage!]

[Abyssal Step (Lv.1) → Abyssal Step (Lv.2)]

[Pack Tactics (Lv 7) has gained experience from intense usage!]

[Pack Tactics (Lv 7) → Pack Tactics (Lv 8)]

[Abyssal Glide (Lv 7) has gained experience from intense usage!]

[Abyssal Glide (Lv 7) → Abyssal Glide (Lv 8)]

[Titan (Spear-Wielder) defeated!] [+200 EXP | +200 EP]

[Titan (Berserker) defeated!] [+150 EXP | +150 EP]

[Ding! Level Up!]

[Level: 87 -> 88]

[EXP: 745/880 -> 1095/900]

[Level: 88 | EXP: 195/920]

[Evolution Points: 10897 -> 11247/20000]

[Skill Points: 14]

Adam stared at the notifications, a slow smile spreading across his face. "Huh. I didn’t even realize the first one was a Berserker. But two kills... not bad for a retreat."