Chương 7: The Inner Region

"Oh, now I see what the fight was all about." Kael bends slightly, reaching out to an object embedded to the ground.

"What's this," he thought, twirling it across his fingers. It was a pitch dark gem, and he could sense the large amount of abyssal energy in it.

[I would keep that safe if I were you. That's an abyssal crystal. It contains a highly concentrated form of abyssal energy]

"I'll keep it with me," he muttered, keeping it in his pocket. "Alright, back to the major issue at hand. System, are you sure I'm going the right way? I've been travelling for days now and still no sign of the layer boss."

[Yes]

"Alright, I'll continue just for two more days, and if still no luck, then maybe I can try something else."

[Tsk. Whatever you say]

"This…" Kael muttered, walking forward. He suddenly stopped in his tracks with his brows creasing.

"Can you sense it? The energy around here is heavy all of a sudden."

[You've successfully reached the inner region. I'll advise you to thread carefully]

"Huh?"

"The Inner region, huh? I hope the beasts here are more fun to play with." Calmly walking forward with his hands tucked in his pockets, he whistled softly, not the least bothered about his surroundings.

"Let's see where you are hiding," closing his eyes. He opened them minutes later. With his void senses, he tried searching for the layer boss but found it difficult to search the whole area. Also, the abyss was somehow suppressing his skills, making it possible for him to make full use of it.

"I guess I'll have to do it the old-fashioned way." His form disappeared, appearing metres away. The spot which he once stood exploded with a beast slowly coming out from the hole formed.

"Oh, you again? I thought I defeated some of your comrades before? I guess you're so eager to join them." Charging forward, he clenched his fist tightly, throwing out an overhead punch.

SHRIIIIEK

A large ball of dark energy began to gather within the opened mouth of the beast and, with a large shriek, hurled it right at the charging kael.

"Damn!" Kael barely evaded the attack, sliding just underneath the ball of energy.

BOOOM!

The ground trembled from the explosion with a cloud of dust covering the area.

"Ugh," a soft groan escaped Kael's mouth, staggering backwards. "I didn't expect this," he thought, looking at his badly torn hands down to his waist.

[Forgot to remind you. The beasts within the inner region aren't to be messed with. They aren't your regular beast you fought previously. They are able to make use of the abyssal energy]

"Well, thanks for telling me now," he said sarcastically, wiping the blood off the corner of his mouth. His hands, now fully healed, were ready to be used once again. Bending his knees slightly, he leapt up hovering mid-air while staring at the beast with hateful eyes.

"Hey! I'll kill you! I'll fucking kill you!!" His voice echoed across the area catching the attention of the beast which instantly charged at him releasing the same dark energy from its mouth.

"Don't think that would work again. I was caught off guard the first time!" He exclaimed, evading the balls of energy that exploded mid-air. Kael clenched his fist tightly, his muscle bulging as he punched down.

His fist covered in his gravity aura sped madly towards the beast wide opened mouth.

SPLAAAT! SHRIIIIEK!

The beast cried out in pain with blood dripping from its ripped out tongue.

"I'm not done yet!" Kael circled around the beast, digging his claw shaped fist into the sides, drawing blood. "Arghhh," with a yell, he ripped through the soft flesh of the beast, grasping for an organ within its chest area.

The beast moaned softly as it collapsed to the ground, its blood dying the ground. Kael stood before the beast, holding onto the beating heart of the deceased beast.

Tsk.

"Is this feeling again? Why? Why do I feel like this? You know what's going on, right?" Kael muttered, throwing the heart away in disgust.

[I don't know what you're talking about]

Tsk. "Damn system. I'll show you who's boss here," he muttered, staring at the distance beyond.

'The way the beast gathered the abyssal energy, it didn't explode,' he thought as he continued forward.

[You've defeated an abyssal beast: +400 exp]

[EXP: 2200/4000]

"System status," he commanded. He never once stopped in his tracks as he dashed forward his senses always on alert.

[System status]

[Name: Kael Arkon]

[Race: Fallen]

[Talent: SS]

[Luck: SSS]

[Rank F]

[HP: 100/150]

[Exp: 2200/4000]

[STATS]

[Strength: E]

[Agility: D+]

[Stamina: E]

[Intelligence: D+]

[Abilities & Skills]

[Space Manipulation (SS)]

- Blink: Enables host to teleport within short distances.

- Void eyes (low): The void eyes enable the host to sense and see the energy within the surroundings and in one's body.

[Warning! Each use brings the host closer to the abyss]

- Void Sense (low): Host can literally sense all things within his surrounding (limited to a certain region due to host low level)

[Gravity Manipulation (S)]

- Gravity Aura: Host can surround himself in gravity

-Gravity Attraction: Enables the host to attract/pull objects towards himself.

-Gravity Repulsion: Enables the host to repel/push objects away from himself.

[Abyssal Energy Manipulation (???)]

- Abyssal Heart (Passive skill): Host has developed a cold and ruthless heart/personality due to his past experiences and time spent in the Abyss. The abyssal heart is where host abyssal energy and powers are stored.

[More about the abyssal heart has been locked. Host needs to increase his strength to learn more]

- Abyssal Regeneration: Host is able to make use of the abyssal energy to heal wounds.

[To unlock more skills under the abyssal energy manipulation, the host must first learn the basics about abyssal energy and gain control over it]

Nothing much had changed except from the rise in his health points and also the addition of the rank tab. His eyes glanced through the quest, which blinked at the corner of his eyes.

"Huh?!! You've got to be kidding!" He couldn't help but exclaim reading through it. "The penalty... What did you do, system?!!"

[Active Quest: Defeat the layer boss to gain freedom out of the Abyss]

[Rewards: Unknown]

[Penalty: Host luck and talent would drop down to an extremely low level. Host will forever be trapped in the abyss]