Chapter 14: The Unseen Blade

Lahsiv moved silently through the dark corridors of the Abyssal Hall, his body thrumming with the newly acquired power from the dark crystal. The oppressive air of the place no longer felt as heavy, as if the Hall itself had acknowledged him, accepted him as one of its own. He could feel the energy of the Abyss pulsing beneath his skin, and with it, his control over Dark Karma had deepened in ways he hadn’t thought possible.

The new ability granted by the crystal, an advanced version of Shadow Blade, whispered in his mind. He could manipulate shadows, not just to strike but to cloak, entangle, and even invade. This wasn’t just an upgrade—it was a weapon unlike any other. Lahsiv knew that once he mastered this technique, even the strongest of his enemies wouldn’t stand a chance.

For now, though, he needed to be cautious. The dark crystal’s power was immense, but the system had warned of permanent corruption. He could feel a sliver of that threat in the back of his mind, an ever-present danger of the Abyss consuming him if he relied too heavily on its gifts. He would need to tread carefully, testing the limits of his new abilities without letting the darkness consume him entirely.

His steps carried him toward the exit of the Abyssal Hall, his mind still focused on the possibilities that lay ahead. The other students would be finishing their tests soon, each returning with their own marks of power. But Lahsiv had gained something far greater than a simple mark. He had gained a new understanding of the Abyss, of the dark forces that existed beneath the Academy’s surface.

And they had underestimated him.

As he emerged from the Hall, the cool air of the Academy grounds greeted him. It was still early morning, but the sun had begun its slow rise, casting a pale light over the stone walls of the fortress. A few students had already returned from their trials, gathering in small groups near the entrance to the Abyssal Hall, exchanging stories of their encounters.

Lahsiv watched them from a distance, his eyes narrowing as he studied their faces. Most were tired, their bodies marked with cuts and bruises from the battles they had faced. Their marks were glowing faintly in their hands, proof of their success, but none of them looked particularly victorious. They had survived, but survival was not the same as domination.

And Lahsiv was here to dominate.

He turned his attention to the main courtyard, where Instructor Kaelor stood waiting for the students to return. His expression was stern, as usual, his arms crossed over his chest as he watched the students trickle in. Lahsiv had come to respect Kaelor’s sharp mind and harsh methods, but he also knew that the instructor had his own agenda. Kaelor wanted to create warriors, but Lahsiv wanted more than that. He wanted to rise beyond anyone’s control.

The crowd around Kaelor parted as Lahsiv approached, their eyes flicking nervously in his direction. The rumors of his victory over Serik had already spread through the Academy, and now, with the power of the Abyss radiating from him, they were beginning to understand just how dangerous he had become.

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“Lahsiv,” Kaelor said, his voice cutting through the tense silence. “You’ve returned from the Abyssal Hall. I take it you were successful?”

Lahsiv nodded, holding up the glowing Mark of the Abyss in his hand. The mark’s dark energy pulsed faintly, a clear sign that he had passed the test. But Kaelor’s sharp eyes didn’t linger on the mark. Instead, he seemed to sense something deeper—something darker—within Lahsiv.

Kaelor stepped forward, lowering his voice so that only Lahsiv could hear. “There’s more, isn’t there? You’ve touched something deeper in the Abyss.”

Lahsiv met Kaelor’s gaze, his expression unreadable. “I found what I was looking for.”

The instructor’s eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of interest passing over his face. “Be careful with what you’ve found, Lahsiv. The Abyss doesn’t give without taking.”

Lahsiv smirked, his voice low. “I know how to handle power.”

Kaelor studied him for a moment longer before stepping back. “Good. Then show the others why you belong in the Apex class. Your next trial will come sooner than you think.”

Lahsiv left the gathering, his mind already working through his next move. The dark crystal had given him the power to manipulate shadows, but it would take practice to master it. And there was no better place to test his abilities than in the training arena, where he could face opponents who thought they knew his limits.

He headed toward the secluded part of the Academy’s grounds where the Apex class trained. The sun had fully risen now, casting long shadows over the stone paths. But as he walked, Lahsiv noticed something unusual—one of the shadows seemed to shift on its own, moving unnaturally across the ground.

He stopped, narrowing his eyes. Was this another effect of the dark crystal? Or was something else at play?

Without warning, the shadow shot forward, forming into a long, sharp spike aimed directly at his chest.

Lahsiv reacted instantly, drawing his sword and slashing through the shadow with Shadow Blade. The dark energy of his attack sliced through the shadow, dissipating it into nothingness. But the fact that it had attacked him at all was unsettling.

He scanned the area, his senses heightened. There was no one in sight, but he knew better than to assume he was alone. Someone had been watching him, perhaps even manipulating the shadows around him.

“Who’s there?” Lahsiv called out, his voice low but commanding.

For a moment, there was only silence. Then, from the darkness of the nearby trees, a figure stepped forward. It was a tall man, dressed in dark robes, his face obscured by a hood. His presence radiated an aura of power, one that was eerily similar to the energy of the Abyss.

“You’ve touched the Abyss,” the man said, his voice smooth and cold. “But you are not yet its master.”

Lahsiv raised his sword, ready for a fight. “Who are you?”

The man chuckled softly. “A shadow, like you. But unlike you, I have learned to control it.”

Lahsiv’s grip tightened on his sword. Whoever this man was, he clearly wasn’t a student. His aura was far too powerful, and his connection to the Abyss was even stronger than Lahsiv’s own.

“You sought the crystal,” the man continued, his voice almost teasing. “But there are other paths to power, child. The Abyss is deep, and it has many secrets. If you truly wish to ascend, you’ll need more than just brute strength.”

Lahsiv’s eyes narrowed. “What do you want?”

“I want nothing,” the man replied, his voice soft but dangerous. “But the Abyss wants you. It has chosen you. And it will test you, over and over, until you either break… or become something greater.”

Before Lahsiv could respond, the man dissolved into the shadows, his form vanishing as quickly as it had appeared. The oppressive energy faded, leaving Lahsiv standing alone in the courtyard, his heart still pounding from the sudden encounter.

He lowered his sword, his mind racing. The man’s words echoed in his head—the Abyss has chosen you.

It was clear now that the dark crystal had been only the beginning. There were deeper forces at work here, forces that Lahsiv didn’t fully understand yet. But one thing was certain: the Abyss wasn’t done with him. The path he had chosen was far more dangerous than he had realized, and it would require more than just strength and cunning to survive.

But that suited him just fine.

He had never been one to back down from a challenge.

Lahsiv turned and made his way to the training grounds, a dark determination settling over him. The shadows around him shifted and twisted as he walked, as if they were alive, waiting for his command. He would master this power, no matter what it took. The Abyss would not control him—he would control it.

And when the time came, he would make sure that everyone—Kaelor, the other students, and even the shadowy figures lurking in the dark—understood one thing:

Lahsiv Vale was not someone to be underestimated.