Abyss :of its

Students gathered in an ancient, broken courtyard surrounded by crumbling walls and huge stone pillars.

Tai looked around, fidgeting with his sword's handle.

Tai: "Hey, where are we? This place is weird…"

Jujong, checking his dull silver blade, didn't even glance up.

Jujong: "This is where it really starts. The test. This 'game' is simple — survive and kill the monsters. Or get eaten."

Kon, standing a bit behind them, nodded calmly.

Kon: "I see… monsters. Perfect warm-up, buddy."

Jujong shot him a blank look.

Jujong: "Whatever. Let's go."

Before they could move, a huge, grotesque monster burst out of the cracked ground — claws swinging. It lunged at Kon first, slamming him into a stone pillar.

Kon hit hard — blood on his forehead.

Tai: "Kon! Konsoon! Are you okay?!"

Freya, beside him, clenched her staff.

Freya: "Is it safe? You're hurt!"

Kon wiped the blood, forcing a smile.

Kon: "Just an injury. Don't worry."

Tai turned, furious.

Tai: "You ugly piece of crap — you'll pay for that!"

The monster growled, voice echoing like gravel.

Monster: "Filthy human."

Tai jumped forward.

Tai: "Sword Style: Cutting Shield!"

His blade flashed — slicing off half the monster's hand.

Tai: "Hah! What now— huh?!"

The monster's severed hand squirmed, then regrew. With a roar, it struck back — Tai blocked, but the claws raked his shoulder.

Tai (gritting his teeth): "Damn it! I'm okay! I'm okay!"

Jujong stepped up behind him, eyes narrowed.

Jujong: "Tai — behind you."

A swarm of smaller monsters crawled over the ruined stones.

Jujong: "Sword Style: Blue Lesser Slash!"

His blade sent a wave of blue light, cutting through the front line — but another monster tackled him down.

Tai wiped the blood from his cheek.

Tai: "That's enough! Jujong, you got a plan?"

Jujong, pinned under the beast, spat blood.

Jujong: "Distract them!"

Kon stepped forward, ignoring his wound.

Kon: "I'll do it."

Tai spun around.

Tai: "No! You're hurt, buddy!"

Kon's smile was warm — too warm.

Kon: "It's fine. Trust me. Just promise me you'll finish this."

Tai: "Promise me you won't die!"

Kon gave that same harmless smile.

Kon: "…Yeah. Promise."

He dashed forward — dodging, taunting the monsters, drawing them into the open.

Kon: "Now, Tai!"

Tai: "Sword Style: Serpent Slash!

Jujong: "Lesser Blue Cutter!"

Steel and light tore the monsters apart — their bodies vanished into dust.

Kon fell to his knees, acting exhausted.

Tai: "Kon! You okay?!"

Kon: "Just… tired. Good job, guys."

---

An instructor — a tall girl in black robes — appeared from the shadows, clapping.

Instructor: "Well done. Here's your key. Pass it to your leader — Jujong."

Tai pouted.

Tai: "Why him? Should've been me!"

Jujong: "Because you're naive, idiot."

Tai: "What'd you say?!"

Kon laughed softly.

Kon: "Hey, hey. Don't fight. Look — there's a light over there."

They all turned — a faint, swirling light like a door between pillars.

Tai: "Let's go! It's our next round!"

Jujong's eyes narrowed.

Jujong: "Wait. That might be a—"

Tai: "Doesn't matter! Let's move!"

He stepped forward — the group followed.

---

Nothing happened… at first. Then the air behind them twisted — and a dark figure stepped out.

A rogue student — Jikanju, huge and grinning, his blade dripping black mist.

Jikanju: "Sword Style: Eating Maw."

He swung — the shadows swallowed a cluster of students in an instant.

Tai: "What the hell?!"

Jikanju: "Who's next? Weaklings."

Kon stepped forward calmly.

Kon: "You can't beat us."

Jikanju sneered.

Jikanju: "Weak prey."

Tai roared and charged — SLASH! — but Jikanju side-stepped and struck back, killing two other students instantly.

Jujong: "Tai! Be careful!"

Tai lunged again — but Jikanju's blade flew toward him —

*Kon grabbed Tai's arm — yanking him back — the blade missed Tai… but struck Kon instead.

Jikanju: "Oops. Wrong target."

Kon's eyes widened — then his body was dragged into the swirling shadows around Jikanju's blade.

Tai: "KON!!! NO!"

Jujong swung — "Sword Style: Blue Ray!" — slicing off part of Jikanju's arm.

Jikanju: "DAMN YOU!"

He punched Jujong and Freya aside.

Tai screamed — his mind snapped. Inside him, something growled.

A monstrous voice:

???: "Come on. Be who you are. Become the monster."

Tai's eyes glowed — his body shifted. Muscles twisted — fur, claws — a half-human, half-beast form, fangs bared.

Tai: "NOW YOU'RE DONE!!"

Jikanju laughed.

Jikanju: "Try me—"

Tai blurred forward — BAM! BAM! — fists shattering Jikanju's ribs, ripping his blade away.

Tai (snarling): "Die."

He tore Jikanju apart, piece by piece — then collapsed, the monster form fading.

---

When Tai woke up, Freya was tending to his wounds. Jujong sat by his side, battered but alive.

Tai: "…Where's Kon?"

Jujong's eyes lowered.

Jujong: "Gone. That sword style… it eats what it cuts. Body, soul. It drags them through a hundred dimensions. He's… he's probably lost forever."

Tai clenched his fists, eyes wet.

Tai: "…No. He can't be gone. He can't…