Abyssal Ascent

The Jinhyeok barely had time to catch his breath before the world itself began to distort around him.

A deep, mechanical voice echoed in his head, louder than ever before.

> [Congratulations. You have survived the tutorial.]

[The real trial begins now.]

The ground beneath him shattered into fragments of light, his vision flooded with a blinding glow.

Jinhyeok felt his body lifted, his very existence being pulled toward something far beyond the ruined city he had fought so desperately to survive in.

Then, all at once—

The world changed.

---

[A New Reality]

Jinhyeok's feet landed on solid ground, but it wasn't the cracked pavement of his old world.

He stood on a massive floating platform made of dark, metallic material, stretching endlessly in all directions. The sky above was a swirling mass of stars and void, as if the very universe itself was watching.

And he wasn't alone.

Hundreds—no, millions—of people were materializing across countless platforms. Some looked battle-hardened, their armor stained with blood. Others looked like they had barely survived their tutorials, their faces filled with shock and exhaustion.

A notification appeared before him.

> [Welcome to the Abyssal Trials.]

[You are one of the 100,000,000 participants who have completed the tutorial.]

100 million?!

Jinhyeok's eyes widened. He had known the tutorial wasn't the end, but this—this was on a completely different scale.

The system's voice echoed again.

> [Distributing rewards based on tutorial performance…]

---

[Tutorial Completion Rewards]

A screen appeared in front of him, displaying his rankings and achievements.

[Final Tutorial Performance:]

Survival Rank: S-

Combat Efficiency: A+

Boss Defeat Bonus: S

Time Efficiency: B+

Overall Rating: A+

> [Congratulations. You have performed in the top 0.01% of all participants.]

[Rewards are being calculated…]

Jinhyeok clenched his fists. Top 0.01%? Out of 100 million?!

He had barely scraped by in the tutorial, but somehow, he had ranked this high?

Then, his rewards appeared.

> [You have received the following rewards:]

1. Abyssal Core (Unique) – A mysterious power source that enhances abilities beyond normal limits.

2. Shadow Step (A-Rank) – A skill that allows instant movement within a limited range.

3. Abyss Hunter's Emblem – A special insignia marking you as a hunter of the Abyss. Grants increased rewards for hunting Abyssal beings.

4. 500,000 System Credits – Usable for purchases within the Abyssal Marketplace.

Jinhyeok felt his heart pound.

These rewards were… insane.

Especially the Abyssal Core.

---

[Abyssal Core: The Key to Power]

> [Do you wish to absorb the Abyssal Core now?]

Jinhyeok hesitated for only a moment before choosing [Yes.]

The moment he did, a surge of overwhelming energy rushed through his body.

His veins burned as raw power flooded his system. His muscles tightened, his senses sharpened, and his very soul felt like it was expanding.

> [Abyssal Core has merged with your being.]

[Your potential has increased significantly.]

[Your body has adapted to Abyssal energy.]

Jinhyeok clenched his fists. He felt stronger. Faster. Sharper.

This wasn't just an increase in stats. This was evolution.

---

[The Next Stage Begins]

Before Jinhyeok could fully grasp his newfound power, the system spoke again.

> [The First Trial is about to begin.]

[Participants will now be assigned to one of the 10,000 Abyssal Realms.]

[Survival is not guaranteed.]

Jinhyeok's breath slowed.

This was it.

The real fight was only just starting.

And he was ready.

---

[To Be Continued…]