The Forsaken Awakening

Inside the Tower of the Forgotten – Floor 8

Jinhyuk stepped onto the next floor, his body still tingling with the remnants of Abyssal Grasp.

The Nameless Priest's warning echoed in his mind.

"The deeper you walk into the abyss, the harder it will be to return."

The power inside him felt different from anything he had gained before.

It wasn't just a skill.

It was a presence.

Like something watching. Waiting.

Jinhyuk clenched his fists.

"I don't have time to be afraid of my own strength."

He took a deep breath—

And stepped forward into the unknown.

---

A New Floor, A New Nightmare

Unlike the previous floors, where there had been ruins, arenas, or forests—

Floor 8 was a wasteland.

Cracked black earth stretched endlessly, the sky above a swirling vortex of gray.

The air was thick with something he couldn't describe.

Not mana.

Something older.

Something wrong.

Then—a system message appeared.

---

[ Trial of the Eighth Floor: The Hunger of the Abyss ]

Objective: Survive.

Failure Condition: Lose control of yourself.

Bonus Condition: Fully master Abyssal Grasp without corruption.

---

Jinhyuk's body tensed.

"Lose control?"

Before he could react—

The ground cracked beneath him.

And the world twisted.

---

Abyssal Manifestation – A Battle Against Himself

Jinhyuk's vision blurred.

For a split second, the wasteland around him warped—

And he was standing in a dark reflection of himself.

A shadowy version of him, covered in cracks of glowing red energy.

Its eyes flickered with abyssal light.

And when it spoke—

It was his own voice.

"You think you can control this power?"

Jinhyuk's breath caught.

This was no normal enemy.

This was his own corruption.

The price of the abyss.

---

The Battle Begins

Before Jinhyuk could respond, his shadow-self lunged.

It moved exactly like him.

Same speed. Same instincts.

Their daggers clashed, sending sparks of abyssal energy through the air.

CLANG! CLANG!

Jinhyuk dodged left, twisting his body—

But his shadow mirrored him perfectly.

"Tch—so I really am fighting myself."

His opponent grinned.

"No. You're fighting what you could become."

Then—it activated Abyssal Grasp.

A blackened hand shot out, grabbing Jinhyuk by the throat.

Pain flared through his body, his mana draining at an alarming rate.

A system warning flashed.

---

[ Corruption Level: 5% ]

The Abyss is pulling you in.

Resist or be consumed.

---

Jinhyuk's vision darkened.

His own power was turning against him.

If he didn't stop it—he wouldn't be Jinhyuk anymore.

"Like hell I'm letting that happen!"

---

Mastering Abyssal Grasp

Jinhyuk focused.

If his shadow-self could use Abyssal Grasp—

Then so could he.

He reached out, pushing his own abyssal energy forward.

The corrupting hand gripping his throat flickered—

Then shattered.

Jinhyuk teleported backward, gasping for air.

The shadow-clone laughed.

"That's more like it."

Jinhyuk wiped the blood from his lips.

"If you're me… then you should know how this ends."

His shadow-self grinned.

"I do. But do you?"

Then—it charged again.

Jinhyuk met it head-on.

This time—on his terms.

---

Final Strike – Overcoming the Abyss

Jinhyuk activated all his skills at once.

[ Phantom Steps – Speed Boost ]

[ Shadow Blink – Instant Teleportation ]

[ Abyssal Chains – Restraining the Target ]

His shadow-self tried to counter—

But Jinhyuk had already seen through its attacks.

He moved faster.

Stronger.

Because he wasn't just fighting himself.

He was fighting for control of his own destiny.

"I don't reject this power."

"I accept it."

Jinhyuk slammed his palm forward—

And activated Abyssal Grasp at full power.

The shadow-self trembled, cracks spreading across its body.

Its form flickered.

"Impossible—"

Jinhyuk tightened his grip.

"Not impossible. Just inevitable."

Then—

He crushed it.

The shadow shattered into pieces.

And the abyss screamed.

---

Level Up!

[ You Have Leveled Up! ]

[ Level 29 → Level 30 ]

[ Abyssal Grasp Has Fully Awakened! ]

Corruption Resistance Increased by 50%.

Can now absorb abyssal energy from external sources.

Abyssal attacks cost 30% less mana.

---

Jinhyuk gasped for air, his body shaking.

He was back in the wasteland.

The trial was over.

He had won.

But he had also changed.

The abyss was no longer pulling him under.

Now—

He was the one reaching into it.

He flexed his fingers, feeling the abyssal energy at his command.

"I don't fear this power anymore."

He looked toward the next portal.

"Let's see what else the Tower has for me."

Without hesitation, he stepped forward.

And the next trial awaited.