The battlefield was silent.
For three days, Ravihiro and Krishima had fought relentlessly. Their bodies bore countless wounds, their energy drained, but neither would stop. The abyss continued to pulse with a dark presence, something ancient, something waiting.
🔥 "This isn't normal," Krishima muttered, standing over the scattered corpses of countless beasts. "This abyss… it's alive."
Ravihiro remained silent. His Ryugan glowed faintly, sensing something deeper. Something was calling him.
Then—
💥 A deep rumbling shook the entire stadium. 💥
The abyss beneath them split wider, revealing a swirling vortex of black energy. It was no longer a mere portal. It was a gateway.
🔥 "It's opening!" Krishima shouted.
Ravihiro didn't hesitate. He took a step forward and let himself fall.
Krishima cursed under his breath. "Damn it—" Without thinking, he jumped in after him.
Abyssal Descent
The sensation was unlike anything they had felt before.
They were falling, but weightless. The abyss was endless, swallowing all light, all sound. Their bodies felt numb, yet their souls trembled as if an unseen force was watching them.
🔥 "Something's here," Ravihiro muttered.
And then—
🔥 They landed.
The air was heavy, thick with an energy that sent shivers through their bones. The sky above them was a swirling vortex of midnight blue and endless black, stars flickering like dying embers.
🔥 They were no longer in the same world.🔥
Before them stood an ancient temple, its structure cracked and weathered by time. Strange symbols lined the stone, pulsating with an ominous glow.
And at the heart of this realm, perched atop the temple's ruins, a being watched them.
The Black Crow's Gaze
🔥 A shadow loomed in the air.
A figure—tall, draped in celestial darkness—stood above them. His body was adorned with black metallic armor, his aura cold and unyielding.
But what stood out the most—
🔥 His head was that of a crow.🔥
Deep, dark eyes stared through them, piercing into their very souls.
Ravihiro felt his chest tighten. His instincts screamed at him—this was not a mere spirit or cultivator. This was something beyond comprehension.
🔥 "Who are you?" Krishima demanded, fists clenched.
The being did not answer.
🔥 Instead, the shadows around them trembled.🔥
🔥 A voice, deep and eternal, resonated within their minds.
"Fate has brought you here."
🔥 "But are you worthy to stand before me?"🔥
The sky darkened further. The ground cracked beneath their feet.
And then—
🔥 The trial began.🔥
The air grew heavier, suffocating like an iron grip around their throats. The being—the black-crowned entity—stood motionless, its piercing eyes locked onto Ravihiro and Krishima. But the moment they stepped forward, the ground exploded beneath them.
🔥 BOOM! 🔥
A massive force crashed down, sending waves of crushing pressure through the abyssal realm. The sheer weight of its presence alone made their bodies tremble. This was no ordinary opponent.
"I'll take the lead," Ravihiro muttered, stepping forward.