The world held its breath.
The Abyssal Hunter stepped fully through the crack in space, his presence bending the air as though reality itself feared to touch him. His golden half-mask gleamed with cold authority, and abyssal silk robes fluttered without wind.
His voice was smooth, refined, dripping with the cruelty of someone accustomed to absolute obedience.
"Return to your rightful court, Empress."
The Empress trembled violently, clutching her robes, her knees collapsing beneath her.
"N-no… no… not again—"
Her breath fractured.Her moon-mark flared with involuntary agony.
She wasn't just afraid.She was remembering.
Behind Shan Wei, Xueya stepped forward, frost spiraling off her blade.
"Stay behind us," she whispered fiercely to the Empress.
Jin Wei shifted into full defensive stance, runes igniting across his body like golden constellations.
And Shan Wei—
He stepped forward.Calm.Unyielding.Resolute.
The Hunter tilted his head slightly.
"Ah. The Prismatic Successor."His voice carried a faint amusement."Your existence complicates things."
Shan Wei's eyes narrowed.
"Good."
The faint smile under the Hunter's mask vanished.
1. The Abyssal Court's Decree
The Hunter raised two fingers.
A thin scroll of living black silk materialized in the air, unfurling with a hiss.
Written upon it:
Abyssal Royal Decree —Capture the Empress.Eliminate the Prismatic Successor.Erase witnesses.
Yue Lian nearly fainted again.
Xueya's frost moon pulsed in rage."I'd like to see you try."
The Hunter ignored her, focusing solely on Shan Wei.
"You were not meant to awaken this early.Your existence threatens the balance of our Court."
Shan Wei's expression did not change.
"My existence threatens anyone who tries to harm those beside me."
A ripple of killing intent, sharp and clean as a sword.
The Hunter's mask glinted.
"Then you will die first."
He raised his hand.
2. The Abyssal Crescent — A Killing Blow
A crescent of black moonlight formed, emitting no energy signature, no aura, no trace of qi.
Xueya gasped.
"That technique— Shan Wei, you can't block that! It cuts concepts, not flesh!"
The crescent pulsed.
Then—
FWOOMIt vanished.
Reappearing directly in front of Shan Wei's throat.
The Empress screamed.
Xueya lunged.
But before either could reach him—
Shan Wei moved.
Wait.No.
He didn't move.
Something inside him pulsed—a spark unlike flame, qi, or lightning.
A spark of Nothingness.
VOOOOM—
The crescent of death struck his chest—
And disappeared.
Simply erased.
No explosion.No clash.
It just…ceased.
The Hunter froze.
Xueya froze.
The Empress stared, tears streaking down her face.
The Observer whispered in raw disbelief:
"…Nullification Spark."
3. Shan Wei's Forbidden Awakening Reacts
Shan Wei exhaled slowly.
His chest glowed faintly with a hollow sigil — seven lines circling emptiness.
The Forgotten Emperor's Core.
But this time, something new pulsed from within:
A faint prismatic shimmer weaving into the void-like spark.
The Hunter lowered his hand.
"…Impossible. Only the Emperor could—"
He stopped.
His mask tilted.
His voice grew cold.
"…So the Forgotten Core chose you fully."
Shan Wei said nothing, but the Core pulsed again, reacting to the presence of abyssal law.
The Hunter chuckled, soft and cruel.
"You wield a forbidden power, Successor. But you cannot control it.And soon… it will consume you."
Xueya stepped beside Shan Wei, sword trembling with fury.
"He doesn't need control to kill you."
The Hunter raised a hand lazily—
But then froze.
A massive golden shadow rose behind Shan Wei.
4. Jin Wei Activates: Royal Guardian Strike Mode
Jin Wei's body cracked open at every seam, golden light pouring out like a contained supernova.
WHOOOM—
A pillar of golden energy speared into the sky.
His voice— mechanical yet deep and resonant— roared:
"THREAT LEVEL: ROYAL."
Runes ignited across his body in cascading layers.
"ENGAGING: KINGSLAYER PROTOCOL."
The Hunter's mask twitched in irritation.
"You dare—"
Jin Wei vanished.
BANG—!!
The ground cratered as Jin Wei collided with the Hunter, sending him skidding across the valley.
Xueya's eyes widened.
"He… he moved faster than my sword senses could follow."
The Observer was trembling.
"That puppet… is a relic even the Abyss fears…"
5. The Empress's Bloodline Reacts
But the clash awakened something dangerous.
The Empress fell backward, clutching her chest, gasping in pain.
"No—no—no— not NOW—"
Her moon-mark flared, spreading across her skin like liquid silver.
A second heartbeat pulsed inside her chest— but this one was NOT hers.
Dark.Ancient.Royal.
Shan Wei rushed to her side instantly.
"Empress! Stay with me!"
She shook violently.
"I— I can't— the Hunter's presence is pulling at my blood— I can't stop the Crown—!"
Her pupils slit.Her voice deepened.A shadow crept over her aura.
Xueya panicked.
"She's transforming into her Abyssal state—!"
The Observer hissed:
"We need to stabilize her! If she succumbs— the Abyss will claim the entire region!"
Shan Wei pressed his forehead to hers, his hand gripping hers tightly.
"Look at me."
Her shaking slowed.
"Stay. With. Me."
The Core inside him pulsed.
Her moon-mark flickered.
For a moment—
Her eyes cleared.
"...Shan Wei…"
But then—
BOOOOM—
The Hunter reappeared, mask cracked, robe torn, Abyss roaring behind him.
"You will not interfere with her awakening!"
He raised a hand, gathering a new moon—
A royal moon—
Abyssal authority at full power.
The Observer's face drained of color.
"That's enough to kill all of you—!"
Shan Wei stood, stepping in front of the Empress and Xueya.
He extended his hand.
The Core pulsed.
Not with void—
But with Prismatic light.
The Forbidden Core wasn't activating alone this time.
It synchronized with Shan Wei's Prismatic Awakening.
The ground trembled.
The sky brightened.
Everyone stared as—
Shan Wei's body ignited in seven-colored radiance.
To be Continued
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