Abyssborn Journey

Astrea's movements were precise and deliberate, a far cry from the chaotic frenzy of his earlier battles. The golden aura of Reinhard's Divine Blessing enhanced his every action, and the newly bestowed Swordplay Blessing seemed to guide his strikes as if the blade itself had a mind of its own.

The Mid Boss roared in frustration, swiping with its massive claws, but Astrea danced around the attacks with fluid grace. He dodged a swipe, sidestepped a lunge, and countered with quick, calculated strikes, each one chipping away at the creature's grotesque form.

"Patience," Astrea muttered, his sharp gaze locked onto the creature's movements. "Wait for the opening."

When the Mid Boss lunged again, exposing its core, Astrea seized the moment. Channeling every ounce of power into his blade, he unleashed Fire Trailblazer, a massive wave of flame engulfing the creature.

The Mid Boss let out a deafening roar as the fire consumed it, its form crumbling into ash.

The system chimed, its tone uncharacteristically celebratory.

[Second Phase Complete]

Astrea exhaled heavily, lowering his sword as the flames around it dissipated. The golden aura faded, leaving him feeling both relieved and exhausted.

____

Status Update and Rewards

The system interface appeared before him, displaying his updated status:

[Status Update]

HP: 150

MP: 250

Agility: 160

Strength: 165

Luck: 350

New Skill Acquired: Poison Resistance (Level 1)

____

Astrea arched a brow. "Poison resistance? I guess it's useful, but it feels underwhelming compared to what I just went through."

The system interrupted his thoughts.

[Choose your next step:]

1. Proceed to the Final Boss.

2. Return to the real world to prepare

Astrea stared at the options. He was tempted to finish the dungeon now, but fatigue weighed heavily on his body.

"For now, I want to go back to the real world and rest," he said.

•

Astrea found himself back in Trifas, the cool night air refreshing after the oppressive atmosphere of the dungeon. He made his way into town, blending into the shadows to avoid unnecessary attention.

After securing a modest room at a local inn, he collapsed onto the bed, letting out a long sigh. "This world doesn't pull its punches," he muttered, staring at the ceiling.

Just as he was beginning to drift off, a faint, unsettling sensation jolted him awake. It was like a ripple of energy, emanating from somewhere nearby.

"What now?" he groaned, sitting up. The feeling grew stronger, pulling him toward its source.

Guided by the strange energy, Astrea made his way to an overgrown graveyard on the outskirts of town. The air was thick with the stench of decay, and the faint glow of magical energy illuminated the area.

Near the center of the graveyard stood a man clad in dark clothing, his sharp features illuminated by the faint glow of a magical circle. He appeared to be performing some sort of ritual, his hands moving deftly as he chanted incantations.

Astrea's system chimed.

[New Mission: Kill the Necromancer Kairi Sisigou and retrieve the Piece of the Round Table]

[Failure will result in punishment]

"What?" Astrea hissed under his breath. "You've got to be kidding me. That's Mordred's Master, isn't it?"

The system offered no further explanation.

Astrea crouched in the shadows, observing Kairi's movements. He seemed deeply focused on his ritual, unaware of Astrea's presence.

"This is crazy," Astrea muttered, gripping his sword. "But if the system wants that relic, there must be a reason."

Astrea weighed his options carefully. He could strike now, taking advantage of the necromancer's distraction, or he could retreat and gather more information before making a move.

"Either way, this isn't going to be easy," he muttered, his grip tightening on his sword.

The graveyard grew silent, the tension thick in the air as Astrea prepared to make his decision.

"Why should I care?" Astrea whispered to himself, his voice cold and detached. "He's just a sacrificial pawn, nothing more. This is for my sake—to grow stronger."

Using his shadow ability, Astrea blended seamlessly into the darkness, watching Kairi like a predator ready to strike. The necromancer continued his ritual, seemingly oblivious to the danger lurking nearby.

Astrea's grip on his sword tightened. He prepared to leap forward and end the fight in a single strike. But just as he moved, the sharp crack of a gunshot rang out.

Astrea barely had time to react, his body moving instinctively as the bullet grazed past his shoulder. Divine Protection flared, its subtle glow guiding his movements.

He clicked his tongue in frustration. "This bastard... Without Divine Protection, I'd be dead already."

A voice echoed through the graveyard, calm but laced with menace.

"Show yourself!" Kairi's voice boomed. "Did you really think I wouldn't sense your presence? The moment you entered this graveyard, you were already in my domain."

Astrea cursed silently. The necromancer was no amateur.

Emerging from the shadows, Astrea stepped into the dim light, his Artorias armor gleaming ominously. His fiery blade flickered as if hungry for blood.

Kairi's eyes narrowed. "Are you a Servant?"

Astrea smirked, tilting his head. "Who knows?" He raised his sword, taking a ready stance. "But one thing is certain—you must die, for my purpose."

"Purpose?" Kairi barked a laugh. "I don't recall crossing paths with you or earning your grudge. But if you think I'll go down without a fight, you're mistaken."

With a flick of his wrist, Kairi tossed a grenade at Astrea's feet. The device exploded with a hiss, releasing a thick, green cloud of poison gas.

Astrea strode through the toxic mist, unbothered. Thanks to his Poison Resistance (Level 1), the gas was no more dangerous than stale air.

"What the—?" Kairi's eyes widened in shock. "How are you still standing?"

Astrea's glowing eyes pierced through the cloud, his voice calm yet chilling. "Pray to your god, necromancer. This is your end. No hard feelings, but this has to be done."

Kairi gritted his teeth, drawing a blade coated in dark energy. "You think you're unstoppable? Let's see how well you handle a real fight!"

Astrea responded with a calm, calculated step forward, his fiery blade casting long shadows across the graveyard. He swung the sword in a wide arc, flames bursting forth and scattering the mist.

The two clashed in a furious exchange, Kairi's blade crackling with necrotic energy as it parried Astrea's fiery strikes. Sparks flew, the graveyard ringing with the sounds of steel on steel.

Kairi's movements were erratic but precise, relying on years of experience to keep up with Astrea's supernatural grace. But Astrea's blessings and skills gave him the upper hand. With each clash, he pushed Kairi closer to the edge of defeat.

"You're skilled," Kairi admitted, breathing heavily as he staggered back. "But skill alone won't save you from me."

Astrea remained silent, his cold gaze locked onto his opponent. He feinted a strike, baiting Kairi into an opening. The necromancer fell for the trap, raising his blade to block—too late to stop Astrea's fiery sword from driving into his chest.

Kairi gasped, blood spilling from his lips. "Damn... you..."

Astrea twisted the blade, the flames consuming Kairi's body in an instant. The necromancer fell to the ground, lifeless.

The system chimed in its usual monotone.

[Mission Complete: Retrieve the Piece of the Round Table]

Astrea crouched over Kairi's charred remains, retrieving the artifact with a calm, calculated motion.

"Another step forward," he muttered, his voice devoid of emotion.

As the graveyard fell silent, Astrea stood amidst the destruction, his glowing eyes scanning the horizon. The system's interface blinked in front of him, awaiting his next command.

Astrea sheathed his sword, walking away from the graveyard without a second glance.

"This world doesn't care about feelings," he murmured. "And neither do I."

With the artifact in hand and another victory to his name, Astrea prepared for whatever challenges lay ahead.

The system's chime cut through the silence, startling Astrea from his thoughts.

[Reward: Command Spell Granted]

The faint glow of the Command Spell appeared on the back of Astrea's hand, its intricate design pulsating with power.

"Huh," Astrea smirked, flexing his hand. "A Servant, is it? This should be interesting."

Astrea turned his attention to Kairi's lifeless body. He rifled through the necromancer's belongings, taking anything of value—a handful of enchanted trinkets, gold coins, and an old, worn notebook filled with spells and rituals.

Among the items was a photograph, slightly crumpled but still intact. It depicted Kairi and a young girl, smiling at the camera.

Astrea studied the picture for a moment, his expression unreadable. "A daughter, huh?" he muttered, before tossing the photo carelessly onto Kairi's corpse.

"Is this what you were trying to protect? Or what you failed to protect? Either way... you should blame yourself. This world is where the strong devour the weak."

He stood, stepping away from the corpse without a hint of remorse.

Astrea raised his hand, staring at the Command Spell. He knew what it was for—the system had explained it during the mission. With the piece of the Round Table and his newfound power, he could summon a Servant to fight by his side.

The words of the summoning chant came to him as if they had been etched into his mind.

"Let silver and steel be the essence.

Let stone and the archduke of contracts be the foundation.

Let red be the color I pay tribute to.

Let rise a wall against the wind that shall fall.

Let the four cardinal gates close.

Let the three-forked road from the crown reaching unto the Kingdom rotate."

Astrea could feel the magical energy gathering around him, a torrent of power pulling from the artifact and into the air. His voice grew louder as he continued:

"Let it be filled. Again. Again. Again. Again.

Let it be filled fivefold for every turn, simply breaking asunder with every filling."

The ground beneath him cracked, a brilliant circle of light forming at his feet. The air buzzed with electricity, and a deafening hum filled the graveyard.

To be continued...