Chapter 1760 - 1038: This Is the True Abyss

Tami was startled by Manus, who suddenly appeared before him, and even though he used Hound Step, he still felt it was unsafe and resorted to Flash.

The result was Manus seemed to have an auto-lock feature, precisely targeting the spot where Tami flashed to, and then immediately throwing a punch.

He flashes, Manus pursues, making escape impossible!

From a third-person perspective, it looked like Tami was constantly flickering like Kirby, appearing in different places each time, while Manus chased after him, even when he seemed invincible—clearly, Manus held the higher value!

Though the battle held some spectacle, from Tami’s perspective, it was extremely terrifying, especially seeing his flash scroll about to deplete, he could only shout loudly: "Help!"

"I’ll save you, I’ll save you, but... how do I save you?"

Maru summoned all the magic she learned in her life but couldn’t divert Manus’ attention to herself. She couldn’t close in since her dual blades couldn’t penetrate his defense, and without a flash scroll, she couldn’t even become Kirby; she’d be pummeled to death by a single punch.

Thus, there was only one answer.

"I’ll remember your sacrifice!"

That was to cherish Tami’s sacrifice while dealing damage.

"So I’ve become someone to be sacrificed!"

Seeing the last flash scroll in his hand, Tami took a deep breath, abruptly stepped and turned as the flash ended.

Swirling Slash!

The sword edge collided with the pounding fist, the sparks briefly illuminated the abyss, followed by a "boom!" as the abyss was blasted apart by the immense force.

Among the black mud splattering from the abyss, Tami suddenly realized he wasn’t dead, though unsure how many bones were broken, he wasn’t dead. Could it be the Master of the Abyss saw potential in him and held back, intending to recruit?

Before his vivid inner drama could unfold any further, his abdomen was struck fiercely, sending him flying skyward.

Rising Dragon Fist! Manus delivered a splendid Rising Dragon Fist!

Tami soared through the air, and despite having little concern, he noticed he was quite high, perhaps the height of two floors, maybe more when Manus’ fist landed on his abdomen, he heard a dull "crack," a sound both of bone breaking and armor denting, the extreme pain almost causing him to forget everything.

Then he began to fall.

Manus didn’t wait for him to land; the Master of the Abyss vanished from the ground, leaving only the abyss black mud shattered by his foot.

Tami couldn’t adjust his form in mid-air, not because he didn’t want to, but because the recent punch left him utterly incapacitated! He could sense Manus above him, resembling a rapidly expanding dark cloud.

Instinctively, he raised his arm to shield his face, Manus’ fist struck his crossed arms, driving him like a pile-driver from mid-air into the ground, the impact splattering the surrounding abyss black mud!

By this time, Tami was in too much pain to make any sound, and worse yet, even the sensation of pain seemed to be fading—an ominous sign.

With no ability to resist, he could only watch helplessly as Manus descended upon him from above, delivering a soaring boxing move.

It was only at this moment that Tami realized why he hadn’t died despite taking several punches.

Because it was a grappling attack!

"Boom!"

This punch landed solidly.

The ground of the abyss nest exploded outward from the center around Tami, earth upheaved by the immense force turned into spikes, spreading everywhere, almost as if enhanced by Gravity Magic.

"...."

While dodging the tremors, Maru’s lip twitched, especially as she saw Manus’ blood-red eyes fixed on her, her facial muscles almost petrified.

I’ve nearly exhausted all my magic power, the spells cast couldn’t even divert Manus’ glance. Now with Tami dead, am I going to challenge the Master of the Abyss head-on, who could maim Artorias in a single combo, my life’s creed as an assassin is in the shadows... it’s doomed, doomed, doomed....

Manus approached her, his steps in the abyss black mud leaving deep footprints, with each step causing ripples in the surrounding mud and further agitating the abyss.

This was the stance of a predator just before attacking.

"I, this, alas..."

Maru stomped the ground firmly, rushing towards Manus in a reckless abandon, accepting the challenge as he raised his fist.

With a punch, she vanished into shadow, attacking Manus from behind the next moment, she had been waiting for this chance, flipping her mercenary dual blades in hand, stabbing Manus in the rear waist, only to be deflected, the abyss coating on him served as the first line of defense, the blade felt like stabbing into layered thick leather; refusing defeat, she stabbed again, and a third time. The knife tip left faint white marks on the dark membrane, unable to pierce even the outermost surface.

Manus rotated his upper body one hundred eighty degrees, his movement appearing as if an invisible hand twisted the clay sculpture, he opened his large hand, swatting toward Maru, but not to her directly, instead he struck the shadows on the ground, disrupting nearby shadows completely, eliminating Maru’s notion of retreating into shadow.

Then, he revealed his gaping maw towards the small adventurer, spraying black humanity from within.

A series of explosive sounds erupted before him.

With her trademark skill banned, the outcome of Maru’s battle didn’t warrant further detail.

Manus threw several more punches downward, as if fearing the adventurers might not be completely dead despite his overwhelming strength.

As the reverberations of the multiple punches subsided, the abruptly begun battle against the Master of the Abyss also came to a close.

No, there was still someone alive.

"Heh, hehe, hehehehehe——"

At the nest’s edge, a place luckily untouched by the successive fierce battles.

Chaos was emitting sporadic laughter, seemingly from damaged throat, making it sound unpleasant, yet one could discern the smugness beneath.

His condition was indeed dire, countless bones broken, much flesh torn, now supporting the Image Stone with a half-crippled arm to record, but due to the abyss being pitch-black, the recording was almost just black shadows.

But does the poor recording of the Image Stone concern what my eyes see?

He had just witnessed quite the spectacle, now savoring the memory, watching Manus approach, he felt an urge to embrace him.

With no living being left around, now even he could speak freely.

"Did you see it, Lord Priest!"

Chaos shouted with fervor in his voice:

"This is the Abyss, I’ve seen it before you!"

His pupils flickered between normal amber and red, mental state becoming increasingly unstable.

Manus had reached before him by now, his massive figure cast shadows completely enveloping him, only those blood-red eyes still visible.

A roar emitted from his throat, devoid of any emotion, he raised his Scepter high, intending to smash down on the last remaining survivor.

At the moment the Scepter was about to crash down on his head, Chaos’ eyes fixed in red.

His tone shifted from earlier excitement to calm, though the calmness couldn’t hide underlying excitement, he spoke:

"I saw it."

"Boom!"