Abyss Draconis

An eternity seemed to pass within that singular moment—a moment they never tried to part from—until he slowly withdrew from her.

"Look, Morgaine. I..." he tried to say, but was cut off when she leaned in closer, her lips locking with his.

He was silenced once more, sinking into the softness, as she recoiled her wings, and again they were sent free-falling from the sky, naturally floating toward the balcony where they had first departed.

Ryuk took his seat this time, as she sat on his lap, legs around his waist, her form wrapping tightly around him like a snake.

A mix of golden and snow white fluttered in the wind.

Morgaine finally paused her kiss, resting her forehead against his, feeling the coldness and the slight shiver that ran through her skin.

Then she muttered with a faint smile.

"You lured me to fall with you..." she said, and Ryuk smiled in return.

"What was our goal?" she pressed gently, and he sighed.

"To see if you... would fall with me," he replied softly, a faint glow crisscrossing his eyes as she embraced him tightly.

"I had doubts, Morgaine..." Ryuk confessed, and Morgaine's eyelids fluttered open.

"Too many doubts."

"The first was when my location got traced through my number, and I discovered only you had my number in your hands."

"I had that doubt since then, but it wasn't so deep... until I received the news of the death bounty."

"And..." he was saying when she drew her neck back and kissed him on the lips once more, halting his words.

Then she pulled away

"It was okay to doubt. I know it all now," she said, looking into his eyes as her hand reached up to brush the strands of hair over his face.

"But... It's not all true, and I feel like you know it now."

"I..." she tried to speak, but then paused as she looked to the side.

"It just... hurts so much to feel that coldness in your eyes."

"It was like... You never loved me at all," she whispered, her fingers twisting into each other tightly.

But then her chin was gently turned to face him, meeting his intense blue-red gaze.

"I lost hope."

"Hope of ever being with you again. I believed it was over, and I let that pain hurt me—and then I healed from it too..."

"Or at least... I tried."

"While I wandered through the world, enduring pain after pain to drown the sorrow of your absence..."

"You looked into the sky, waiting for my return," he whispered, and there was something in his voice.

Something that always shattered her heart so deeply that tears spilled forth.

"I lost hope, Morgaine. But you never did."

"I'm sorry for saying I didn't know you anymore."

"For denying you. For thinking you were no longer the one I once knew."

"I'm truly sorry..." he whispered as she hugged him tighter, clinging to him so hard—as if afraid to lose him again.

"I love you, Ryuk. I always will..."

____

The moonlight shone through the cozy bedroom, casting its silver glow that brought illumination to the scene within.

There lay two on a bed, one curled up in the other's arms, her gentle breath rising and falling softly in the quiet room.

And the other—none other than Ryuk—smiled as he felt her fingers tighten around his hand, even after she had fallen into a deep, peaceful slumber.

He leaned forward, pressing his lips to her forehead, watching as her grip loosened slightly and her breathing grew even calmer.

"I'm lucky to have you..." Ryuk whispered beneath his breath, his gaze drifting to the ceiling where moonlight faintly grazed the side of his face.

Then, in his mind, he ordered:

Activate System Interface...

[Congratulations, Host, on obtaining an important part of your body: Your full and complete Skeletal System!]

[The new body part has been successfully and perfectly fused with your Nanotech Model!]

[Congratulations on completing the following Quest:

[Secret Quest: Obtain Revenge for Uncle Bob's Death!

Status: Completed

Rewards:

1. 20 Level Up Cards

2. 5,000,000 EXP

3. 1 Special Skill obtained from Morne, the Companion of the 7th Calamity]

[Main Quest: Defeat a Knull Calamity!]

[Rewards:

1. 30 Level Up Cards

2. 10,000,000 EXP

3. Obtain one of your lost body parts

4. 500,000 Purchase Points]

[Secret Quest Completed: Save Endearth from its Eventual Destruction!]

[Rewards:

1. 100 Ability Upgrade Cards

2. 2 Special Skill Evolution Cards]

[Due to your fusion with your Original Skeletal System, you have also obtained the following:

1. +5,000 stat points to each of your physical stats.

2. Life expectancy increased to a minimum of 500 years.

3. Bloodline concentration has tripled, resulting in:

i. Breakthrough in Aether Energy level to the Astra-Crowned Realm, from the Psymancer Stage

ii. Both your Void and Frost cultivation advanced from the Peak Cataclysm Stage and Perfection Cataclysm Stage, respectively, to the Initial Stage of Eternity.

iii. New skills awakened from both your Draconic and Knull bloodlines]

The system notification flashed as Ryuk felt a faint grin curl upon his lips.

"Seems like you never forget anything, system..." he muttered to himself. Then, his gaze darkened slightly.

It's been four months since my battle with Zar'kul, right?

[Yes, Host. Approximately four months and seven days.]

Ryuk's expression tensed.

'Then... I wonder what happened to the group. I remember the entirety of Grade E collapsing from the battle between Zar'kul and me.'

'The explosion... I wonder if they managed to retreat fast enough, or if they were caught in it.'

"Four months have passed now. Where are they all?" he murmured thoughtfully, and just as he was about to enter the pet space to see if Isha or Void was in there.

The system blinked once more.

[You've awakened a special skill that's perfect for checking up on them.]

[Sort out your rewards first, and you'll find it,] the system chirped, as Ryuk hummed quietly before turning back to his notifications and giving the command:

'Activate System Interface.'

[System Interface]