Abyssal Awakening-Chapter 695: Crossing The Bridge

When asked about the difference between an Offensive Zone and Absolute Zone, the expected answer would be perception.

It was a technically accurate answer but missed the core difference.

Having high perception was simply the key to opening this realm. Mastering it on the other hand, required foresight and experience.

To fully master the Absolute Zone wasn't just about reacting faster either. That can only take you a portion of the journey.

Knowing the options, knowing the different branching paths that appeared before you, feeling the rhythm of battle naturally like breathing. That was the height of Absolute Zone.

Like a chess player, their minds seek out the countless possibilities, simulating the reactions towards their actions and planning ahead. That was the key to Absolute Zone. The mental calculations that happened at the snap of a finger, the formation of plans when a single variable appears outside of expectation.

For Jin, he had the reaction speed. But when it comes to experience and foresight, he was still lacking.

Therefore, this gauntlet of hell that Alice had prepared for him was the best for him to gather experience!

Only by walking side by side with death can he turn potential into reality. A balancing act on the knife's edge, fall and only darkness awaits. Succeed and glory will rain down from above.

*BANG!!!

Jin's foot slammed against the stone, cracking the ground beneath him. In that moment, dark energy wrapped around his limbs with dozens of eyes locking onto him, filled with malice that could rip the average man apart.

Monsters sensitive to the Eldritch Energy reacted like starving beasts lured by the scent of a fresh meal. Their claws lashed out but Jin was already gone!

As though a path was laid out before him, Jin shifted his centre of gravity to the side and turned his body, avoiding the claws and obstacles in the way. Glancing back momentarily, he could see the attacks ripping through the air where his head had been a moment ago.

He didn't counter, there was no need for him to. Attacking them right now would simply be a waste of his time. He wasn't here to slaughter, he was here to deliver a bomb to the barrier!

Weaving down, he avoided an attack from afar and slid to his right. He was never in the same spot for more than a split instant.

Those perceptive to the boundaries of the Zone would notice a 10 meter radius around Jin. Since he wasn't bothered about countering, he didn't need to find methods to attack. All he needed to focus on was all the attacks entering this domain.

His gaze sharpened, darting from one arrow to another, from one claw to another. He saw the precise path of an incoming fire strike, a twitch of the Eldritch beast's muscles as he prepared to lunge, the vibrations on the water surface as a colossal behemoth stomped towards his location.

Everything was visible for him.

But maintaining this state was the hard part. The waves upon waves of useless information that he had to filter out, the static before the clarity. It felt as though his brain was about to burst apart from the influx of information.

*RUMBLE!!!

On the far end of the first bridge, Jin's first big obstacle appeared.

A bloated abomination hunched over under its own weight. Its skin was stretched thin, revealing the pulsing organs that should be hidden beneath the surface. An entangled mess of blackened flesh.

Every time it breathed, Jin could see the bubbling blood lodged in its throat as its jaw split wide, revealing rows of misaligned teeth.

Yet despite its size, the abomination was not slow by any means. Each step shook the bridge, building up momentum and flinging its allies over the edge without care.

Its decisively slow movements masked its absolutely horrifying speed as by the time Jin realised it had breached his 10 meter boundary, the abomination was already in front of him.

"!!!"

Widening his eyes, Jin felt panic rising in his chest as the edge of his Zone flickered.

Gritting his teeth, he slammed his heel into the ground mid run, adjusting his rhythm and ducked to the left.

*BANG!!!

The abomination's arm slammed against the path, causing cracks to spread to the edge as its flesh wobbled from the impact.

Even though he dodged the main hit, the shockwave generated by its attack sent Jin sliding backwards as waves upon waves of attacks rushed towards him.

"F*ck off!" Jin cursed, pushing his arms out to the side and unleashing a dome of Eldritch Energy to ward off the attacks.

He didn't need to block everything, it wasn't a battle of his defences either.

He just needed to block those that would land on him and push them off to the side.

As his defensive dome pushed aside the lethal attacks, the Abomination was in front of him once more.

But this time, its speed and power didn't catch Jin off guard!

*BANG!!!

Blocking the beast's horizontal strike, Jin used the momentum to climb onto the beast's body.

Slapping its face with a backhand, he gave it a taunting smirk reminiscent of Alice.

He could practically see the blood boiling beneath the surface as the beast punched towards him.

Turning his energy into a shield once more, he used the Abomination's punch to propel himself towards the second bridge!

This was where they were firing the ranged attacks.

Flying above the arch was the second obstacle.

The stick like beast that looked as though it's been starved for countless years. Its skin bused against the bones and wings made of stretched membrane kept it afloat.

With an ear splitting screech, bones and dark arcs of energy rushed towards Jin who was still in the air.

Twisting his body, Jin narrowed his eyes.

He could see a path.

'Platforms' for him to step on and reach the enemy.

To truly master the Absolute Zone, vertical movement shouldn't be an issue for him!

*BANG!!!

Stepping on the first bone spear, Jin detonated an orb of Eldritch Energy beneath his feet, propelling him towards the target while dodging what he couldn't step on. Zigzagging through the barrage of ranged attacks, never staying in one spot.

The beast tried to fly backwards to avoid Jin but he was faster!

Compiling several motes of energy behind him, he dove towards the beast with speed far exceeding what he was doing earlier. This time, he had the help of gravity!

*KRK!!!!!

Plunging the bone spikes into the beast's back and securing himself, Jin forcefully pushed the beast to fly towards the final bridge.

The three headed beast that guarded the barrier.

There was no other defensive force here aside from the guardian. The air was thick with Eldritch energy that sent chills down his spine.

Each of the three heads were slightly different. One was draconic, one was bestial and the last was almost. . . human like. It had a body similar to that of a lion while corrupted armour plating fused against its skin. Seething veins of Eldritch Energy threaded through its flesh, hardening it beyond normal levels.

Before Jin could even formulate any plans, the draconic head cracked its jaws open and an overwhelming sense of death filled Jin's mind.

"!!!"

Making the split decision to abandon the second beast, Jin watched as a torrent of violet and red energy erase the second beast.

Cold sweat filled his back as he quickly adjusted his body.

Landing on the ground, he had half expected the beast to charge towards him, giving him the chance to run towards the barrier.

Btu that wasn't the case at all.

The beast was not mindlessly charging in. It stood, it watched, it waited.

It knew that Jin's goal was the barrier and nothing else. Not to fight, not to kill.

Therefore, there was no reason for it to step away from where he's at.

Behind Jin, the wave of beasts was slowly pouring in. The longer he waited, the worse it would be for him.

And soon, he'll be surrounded.

Taking a deep breath, Jin began to walk towards the monster.

Each step a calculation of the possibilities, each breath a countdown to the moment simulation becomes reality.

He saw the countless paths that were laid out before him, the options spawned from each twitch of the muscle, the way the draconic head stared at him. Even the way its body would shift ever so slightly.

*BANG!!!

Jin dashed.

Reacting to his movement, the humanoid head snapped its eyes open as crimson chains erupted from the beast's body, whipping forward towards Jin.

Sliding across the ground and narrowly avoiding the chains, Jin's eyes darted towards the beast, capturing all of its movements.

Behind the chains, the second head was already preparing the next attack. He could feel the slight hint of wind tracking him, slowly picking up and eventually, it'll form a cyclone and drag him into the air.

In that instant, Jin saw five paths that he could possibly take.

Four led to a dead end and one with an unknown potential.

He'll gamble with it!

Grabbing the chains with his bare hands, he wrapped it around his arm and pulled himself towards the beast.

With Jin now stuck in its chains, the draconic head snapped open, preparing to fire an attack towards Jin.

In response, Jin smiled.

The chains were part of the martial arts that he was taught when he was destined to become a vessel of Kazira!

Flicking his arm, the chain created a loop around the draconic head's neck, strangling it as he swung himself to the side.

The bestial head tried to target Jin with a cyclone but he was already beneath the beast!

Adjusting his footwork, he grabbed the chains with his spare hand, tangling it through the beast's legs before letting go.

At last, he saw it. The radiant barrier defending this cursed fortress. A pulsing wall of energy, humming with an obstructive energy that prevented anything from approaching.

Grabbing the package from his bag, he threw it without hesitation while the three headed beast lunged from behind him.

*BANG!!!

Alice's personal artifact spun to life, firing a Void Flux at the beast, erasing its upper half.

"Good job, I knew you had it in you. And now, it's my time to shine." Alice's voice rang out as the Artifact began to transform.

Fractured Form!

*CRACK!!!

In an instant, fissures spread across the surface of the barrier, shattering it into a rain of splinters!

Watching this in the distance, there was only one word that Suyin could shout.

"Charge!!!"