The Abyss was alive. Every step Seo Joon took made the air tremble, the ground moan, and shadows twist into shapes that defied reason.
"This place…" Seol Ah whispered, her voice steady but her eyes scanning the darkness. "It feels like it's watching us."
Seo Joon didn't answer. He could feel it too. The Abyss wasn't just a place—it was an entity, a living test that demanded more than strength. It wanted resolve, courage, and bonds that could withstand the void itself.
A sudden roar echoed through the cavern. The shadows coalesced into a massive form, its body black as tar and dripping with energy that burned like frost and fire combined. Its glowing red eyes locked onto them.
"A Shadow Wraith," Seo Joon muttered.
"One of the Abyss' elite guardians. And it's hungry."
The creature lunged. Its claws tore through the darkness, faster than the eye could follow. Seol Ah reacted immediately, summoning a blade of frost energy that clashed with the beast's claws. Sparks of violet and blue exploded as energy collided.
Seo Joon stepped forward, his Abyssal Ki flaring. He could feel the pulse in his chest—the heartbeat of the Abyss itself. He extended his hand, sending a wave of violet-black energy at the Wraith. It screeched, recoiling slightly—but it was not defeated.
"It's faster than I expected," Seol Ah shouted, circling to attack from another angle.
Seo Joon nodded. "Then we combine. Hit it together. Trust me."
He reached out mentally, extending a thread of his Abyssal Ki toward Seol Ah. For a moment, her aura wavered, unsure—but she matched her rhythm to his, letting their energy flow together.
"Now!" Seo Joon yelled.
A shockwave of violet and frost erupted from the two, colliding with the Wraith. The creature screeched as it was flung backward, black liquid searing into the Abyss floor.
For a brief moment, they were victorious—but the Abyss had more trials in store. From the shadows, smaller wraiths appeared, their movements swift and coordinated, almost intelligent.
"This is the real test," Seo Joon muttered. "It's not about killing one—it's about surviving the swarm."
Seol Ah's eyes narrowed. "Then let's survive it… together."
The battle raged on. Seol Ah learned to flow with his Abyssal Ki, extending her frost attacks with precision. Seo Joon pushed further than before, letting his heart and emotions guide his power. Every strike, every defense, every breath strengthened their bond—and strengthened Seo Joon's control over the Abyssal Heart.
At one point, the largest wraith lunged at Seol Ah. Without hesitation, Seo Joon leaped in front of her, absorbing the strike with his body. Pain lanced through him, but the Abyssal Heart flared, healing and evolving him in an instant.
"You can't protect me like that forever," Seol Ah said, panic and concern in her voice.
Seo Joon smirked despite the pain. "I don't plan to. But right now… I can. And I will."
The last wraith disintegrated into nothingness, leaving the cavern eerily silent. The two stood among the shattered shadows, breathing heavily, battered but alive.
Seol Ah looked at Seo Joon, awe and something softer in her eyes. "You're… different. Strong, yes… but more than that. You're… alive in a way no one I've met is."
Seo Joon's chest tightened. He had survived the Abyss, gained new strength, and learned the first lesson of bonded cultivation: power without connection is hollow; connection creates strength beyond imagination.
"This is just the beginning," he said quietly, looking into the darkness. "The Abyss… is going to throw much worse at us. But as long as we're together… I know we can survive anything."
A faint pulse from the Abyssal Heart confirmed it—stronger, faster, evolving. Seo Joon was no longer just a survivor. He was beginning to become a sovereign of the Abyss.