Solo Leveling: Infinite Talent

The battlefield lay in ruins. The aftermath of the battle was marked by shattered earth, charred remains of monstrous entities, and the lingering energy of powerful forces that had clashed moments ago. Yet, amidst the carnage, Mai stood, his spear humming with newfound energy, radiating an aura of both abyssal darkness and divine brilliance.

A golden warrior, wreathed in holy fire, stood across from him. It was tall—easily twice Mai's height—with armor that shimmered like molten gold. Its face remained unseen, concealed behind a flawless, expressionless mask. To the warrior's side, the abyssal entity twisted and writhed, a shifting mass of black tendrils and violet embers that refused to take a stable form.

And then—

The Abyss moved.

A deep, guttural sound echoed through the battlefield, not from a mouth, but from the very fabric of reality itself. It was the sound of countless voices overlapping, whispering, screaming, laughing. The abyssal entity shuddered, and the wound Mai had inflicted upon it—crackling with golden and black energy—refused to heal.

And then—

It laughed.

A deep, bone-chilling laugh that reverberated through the ruined landscape. It was not the laughter of something amused, but of something interested.

"Anomaly detected. You… should not exist."

A chill ran down Mai's spine. His grip on his spear tightened as he prepared for whatever came next.

System Notification

[Warning! A higher being has taken interest in you.]

[Host's presence has disrupted the balance of this battle.]

[Abyssal Reckoning Protocol… Initializing.]

The world trembled.

A ripple spread across the battlefield as reality itself twisted. The air grew thick, heavy, suffocating, as if unseen hands were pressing down on him. Mai's instincts screamed at him to move, but even his muscles felt sluggish.

And then—

Eyes appeared.

Not just one. Not just two.

Dozens.

Hundreds.

They blinked open in the darkness, embedded in the cracks of the shattered ground, floating in the air like dying embers, forming a massive, watching presence.

They weren't attacking.

They were observing.

Studying.

The golden warrior shifted slightly, gripping its radiant spear with more force. It wasn't facing Mai—it was glaring at the abyssal presence surrounding them. This wasn't part of its plan. The battle between the golden and abyssal forces had been going as expected… until Mai had interfered.

Now, something new had begun.

Abyssal Reckoning: Phase One

[Abyssal Monitors have been deployed.]

[Observing Host: Mai Lee.]

Mai exhaled sharply. This wasn't the first time he had triggered unusual events by simply existing. His Infinite Talent Copy ability had already proven to disrupt the natural order. He could take talents, skills, and powers without effort, rewriting his own existence into something beyond normal comprehension.

But this…

This was something else.

The Abyss was reacting to him.

Why? Because he used both abyssal and divine power at once? Because his abilities weren't bound by the rules of this world?

His mind raced through possibilities, but he knew one thing for certain:

The Abyss was testing him.

And he wasn't about to back down.

Fusion Potential Detected

[Abyssal Radiance (EX) + ??? = Unique Evolution Path Unlocked.]

[Requirements: Greater exposure to Divine and Abyssal forces.]

Another notification, but one that made his pulse quicken. The system wasn't just reacting to the battle—it was adapting, offering him a new path. But what did it mean by "greater exposure"?

Would he need to fully immerse himself in both divinity and the abyss to unlock his next evolution?

His thoughts were cut short as the golden warrior finally moved.

With blinding speed, it lunged forward, its divine spear burning with golden flames as it aimed straight for the abyssal entity's core.

The air cracked from the sheer force.

And then—

The Abyss shifted.

Mai barely had time to react before he felt something cold wrap around his ankle.

A hand.

Not a normal hand—

A shadow-made-flesh, clawed and dripping with abyssal energy, reaching up from beneath the ground.

It yanked.

Mai's body lurched downward, his vision warping as the battlefield distorted. He barely managed to stab his spear into the ground to anchor himself, but the force was overwhelming.

The Abyss wasn't just observing anymore.

It was pulling him in.

System Update

[Abyssal Trial has been initiated.]

[Survive or be consumed.]

Mai growled. Like hell he was going down that easily.

Channeling his will, he summoned his abilities, focusing his energy into a counterattack. His Fusion Core ignited, the golden and abyssal energy within him clashing violently before stabilizing.

And then—

He let loose.

A pulse of fusion energy erupted from his body, tearing apart the abyssal grasp that held him. The Abyss screamed in response, retreating momentarily. Mai staggered back, but his eyes remained locked onto the swirling shadows.

If the Abyss wanted him…

Then it was going to have to fight for him.

The golden warrior halted its attack, watching Mai carefully. For the first time, it spoke:

"You are neither light nor dark. What are you?"

Mai smirked. "That's a good question."

The battlefield had changed. This was no longer just a fight between light and dark.

This was the birth of something new.

And Mai? He was at the center of it all.

The Abyss had stared into him.

But he had stared right back.