CHAPTER 567: THE ABYSS STARES BACK

Yannick’s void black armor absorbed even the tiniest vestiges of light reaching its surface. A dark mask covered his face, which increased his void sense’s precision.

Unlike previous fights, today Faith didn’t really have a job. She continued paying attention to Yannick’s surroundings, but she never needed to warn the blind man.

Like a man on a mission, he marched through the light foliage, searching for a foe. His steps made no sound, and his dark body had no contours, making him look like a walking, infinite void.

He carried a dark saber in one hand, but as his first enemy appeared, he didn’t even need to wet its blade.

Some minor god, a Transcended of no renown. Yannick walked up behind him, reached out with one finger and touched the primordial being’s head.

A twisted, pained expression appeared on the god’s face as his body folded onto itself. The primordial god couldn’t make a single sound before his body became the size of a dust particle.

Yannick didn’t even glance in his kill’s direction. He simply marched on, emotionless and strangely tranquil. As if his kill was nothing but a show of mercy towards his opponent.

The void-like being continued walking through the forest. His steps were full of confidence, and as another minute passed, he left two more tiny particles behind.

However, his easy way of killing ended soon, as someone found him. His real prey, the person he planned to Evolve with, had similar powers it seemed, but stronger.

As Yannick walked towards his next enemy, a sudden shiver ran down his spine. From the void between atoms, inside of a nearby tree, a weird, horrifying, beast-like creature walked out.

He was about three meters tall, with elongated humanoid limbs and long claw-like fingers. His body was like the void itself, with no color... Yes, it wasn’t simply black! It was the purest emptiness Yannick had ever witnessed...

The creature’s bodyparts were near indistinguishable, except for the creepy, wide grin spreading across its face. His maw-like mouth opened far too wide, with multiple rows of razor-sharp teeth and dripping saliva.

Yannick brandished his weapon, prepared to both attack and defend, yet his body stayed motionless. He didn’t make any rushed decisions, and instead awaited the horrifying being’s next action.

"Hmm... You’re like me... Tasty!" said the creature, his voice echoing all around Yannick, yet his maw didn’t move, except for a long, sticky tongue which licked his lips.

"You must be Nun, if I assume correctly?" said Yannick, his voice even and tranquil.

The lack of fear seemed to surprise and confuse the creature for a moment, before he made some creepy creaking coughs, which must’ve been the sound of his laughter.

"I’m indeed... Nun, the God of the Abyss... And you are?"

His question sounded sincere and curious, as if it was some sort of ritual. Like asking your opponent’s name before a duel.

"I’m Yannick. I’m not the god of anything, or a person with real renown. I don’t have a higher goal or ideal. My sole purpose here is simple... I’m here to kill you and Evolve with your corpse!"

Yannick decided to cut straight to the chase. These honorable fools, who ask questions before duels, always annoyed him. The easiest way the avoid these drawn out conversations was to answer all their questions before they asked them!

"How confident... I can already taste the adrenaline in your body... Hmm... Fine, I guess I’ll entertain you..." said Nun, his voice echoing from the surrounding void.

The creature brandished his claws and jumped towards Yannick without waiting. He tried slashing through Yannick, but the claws only met empty air, as he sidestepped, and attacked with his own saber.

The blade carved the air and cut through the creature’s midsection. However, the void barely separated, and a moment later, he was attacking once again.

The same strange laughter echoed through the air as the claws slashed and stabbed at Yannick. He parried and dodged every attack, while Nun didn’t even defend himself against any of his slashes and stabs.

No matter where Yannick pierced or cut the beast, his wounds healed a moment later. His weapon simply wasn’t enough to damage Nun... or maybe...

Suddenly, a curious thought appeared in Yannick’s mind. He jumped onto a nearby branch and summoned a tiny dark orb in his offhand.

He tossed the sphere at Nun’s hand, and just like before, the creature didn’t evade it. The orb should’ve attracted the creature’s body, destroying or at least damaging him, yet instead of avoiding it, Nun simply opened his maw wider and swallowed the sphere!

Yannick jumped away once again. His little test revealed enough information for him to realize something important...

"I can’t damage him," he whispered to the nearby shadows and branches, while keeping his distance from Nun. "Our powers are too similar, so my attacks are useless. Bea, empower my blade with your life energy, and Faith, keep the green glow hidden!"

As Yannick said that, he suddenly spun around and tossed his saber like a spear. It pierced and passed through Nun’s maw, but the creature sustained no damage.

The chase continued for a few seconds, which felt like hours. Along the way, they ran into a few other fighters, but Yannick killed them all without slowing down.

He moved in a strange pattern, sometimes jumping between branches, other times using the tree trunks to propel himself. His directions also changed constantly, sometimes moving straight, then taking a sudden left or right turn.

The pattern would’ve looked random to anyone, and it seemed like a coincidence when Yannick found his saber sticking out of the ground, exactly where he tossed it.

The void-like blade now looked a bit more corporeal, but still really dark. The changes remained completely hidden from everyone, including Nun...

Pride was the deadliest weapon a person could wield. It can cause the mightiest to fall and the weakest to rise. Any fight, no matter the participants, is decided by the individuals’ mental state.

By underestimating your opponent and expecting them to fight fair, you’ve already lost the battle. And so, the fight between Nun, a powerful Ethereal weakened by a Contract, and Yannick, a strong Transcended, ended anticlimactically.

Nun didn’t attempt to dodge or defend against Yannick’s slash. Why would he? The previous hundred failed, why would the hundred and first succeed?

However, the moment the blade touched his neck, realization hit the primordial god. The blade, which looked similar to his previous one, in fact wasn’t the same. He felt the enormous power held within, much more different from the void Yannick used.

Betrayal glinted on the creature’s nonexistent face as the blade passed through his neck. Upon seeing that expression, Yannick chuckled and beheaded Nun.

He then kneeled before the corpse and whispered, "Pride is the deadliest weapon indeed... Also, honor only exists to give murderers a sense of morality... In actual battles, you either live or die... There’s no third option!"

With that, Yannick stood up and walked away from the corpse. He learned from Kim’s earlier battle, and since Nun’s body won’t be leaving this arena, he might as well hunted down everyone else before Evolving.

It took him about ten minutes, and only because of the one Stellar who required a lot more effort to defeat. Eventually though, Yannick found himself back at Nun’s corpse.

The tall man didn’t hesitate. He dismissed his weapon, reached down and touched the void-like creature’s chest.

’Do you wish to evolve?’ asked the strange voice inside his head.

Yannick didn’t say anything. He simply took a deep breath and nodded to himself, a sufficient answer!

He immediately blacked out, only to awaken some time later. The sound of cheers reached his ear, as he suddenly began trembling.

The Aegis Shield disappeared from the arena, and as a Stellar, his void sense reached tens of kilometers with much greater perception.

Every strand of hair... Every drop of sweat... The rustle of every clothing... The fall of every leaf... The step of every insect... The heartbeat of all living creatures... The breath of every plant...

Yannick felt any and every slight movement. A true and powerful stimulation, which should’ve overwhelmed most minds, yet... he just laughed...

The burden he lived with every day... The constant stimulants encroaching on his mind... The ever present pressure building up inside his body... The unbearable void sense, which was both a curse and a blessing... It was gone!

He felt free, able to breathe once again. While his void sense’s area of effect increased drastically, his mental state was finally able to handle all the information passively.

His joyful laughter continued to echo through the cheers and inside the elevator. When its doors opened, Yvonne stood there, looking at her younger brother in confusion. However, before she could’ve made a ridiculing comment, Yannick jumped and hugged her.

Now this truly shocked Yvonne, since Yannick hated body contact. He rarely showed affection and never through hugs!

It’s a sensory issue he has had since a few years after his birth. He began hating getting hugged by his mother, father or elder sister. Yannick would always cry and run away from anyone trying to show affection through body contact.

This trait only increased after becoming a Transcended. However, now it seems something must’ve changed.

Yvonne had so many questions, yet in that moment, no word came to her mouth. Instead, her hands gently embraced her brother, seemingly afraid the moment might end if she moved too fast.

Instead, their hug continued for a few minutes, then when it ended, Yannick went around and hugged everybody. As if he were starved for human connection and wanted to give everyone his affection.

Nobody refused him of course, but afterward, Yvonne had to ask...

"Hey bro! Not to sound rude, but what the fuck is going on with you?"