LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 15: The Abyss Awakens
The Minotaur roared as it activated its skill, **Axe Tornado**, spinning its massive weapon with terrifying speed. The force of the swirling wind tore through the forest, uprooting trees and sending debris flying in all directions. Raven, lying weakened on the ground, barely managed to materialize his special sword in time. The glowing blade appeared in his trembling hand, its presence giving him a faint glimmer of hope.
When the Minotaur charged at him, Raven braced himself, gripping the hilt tightly. The two clashed in a deafening impact, the force of the blow resonating through the area. To Raven's shock, his sword absorbed the brunt of the attack, its energy resonating with his own.
A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "You… won't take me down so easily."
But the Minotaur wasn't done. It snarled and stomped its massive hooves into the ground, activating **Groundquake Stomp**. The earth beneath Raven's feet shattered and shook violently, throwing him off balance. He collapsed, struggling to stand as the tremors intensified.
The monster leapt into the air, its hulking frame soaring over 100 feet high. With a guttural roar, it activated a deadly **combo skill: Roaring Intimidation + Earth Slam**. The sky seemed to darken as the Minotaur descended, its massive axe poised to crush everything beneath it.
Raven's eyes widened in terror. He tried to move, but his body refused to respond. Fear gripped him as the ground quaked beneath the force of the incoming attack. He felt utterly powerless.
"No… I can't…" he muttered weakly. His mind was a whirlwind of despair and regret.
Then, like a tide washing over him, memories of his family flooded his thoughts. Moments of laughter, joy, and warmth played in his mind—his mother's gentle smile, his father's encouraging words. But those happy memories were quickly overshadowed by the image of the accident: the twisted wreckage, the lifeless bodies of his parents, and the overwhelming guilt that had haunted him ever since.
Tears streamed down his face as he whispered weakly, "I'm sorry… I'm sorry…" The words became a mantra, repeated over and over as the Minotaur drew closer, its deadly attack imminent.
Through his tears, he smiled bitterly, his hand trembling as it reached for the bracelet on his wrist—a keepsake from his mother. He clutched it tightly, his voice breaking. "I tried, Mom. I'm sorry I let you down."
Raven closed his eyes, resigned to his fate. He waited for the end.
But then… a voice pierced through the darkness. Familiar, warm, and filled with love.
"Raven… don't give up."
His eyes shot open, his heart pounding. Another voice joined in, firm and resolute.
"The accident was not your fault. You survived for a reason."
Images of his parents appeared before him, their faces radiant with encouragement. His mother's gentle eyes met his own as she smiled. "Stay alive, Raven. Show the world who you are."
His father's voice rang clear, powerful. "You are strong. You are our son. Wake up, Raven Cross, and fight!"
Something inside Raven snapped, a surge of energy coursing through his body. A familiar *ding* echoed in his mind, followed by another.
Two glowing blue status screens appeared before him, their text shimmering with light. His eyes widened as he read the words:
**Ultimate Skill: Phoenix Ascension**
**Ultimate Form: Abyssal Rebirth**
Descriptions and details flooded his vision, the power they promised unlike anything he had ever imagined. His grip on his sword tightened as his crimson eyes blazed with renewed determination.
"Let's see what I'm truly capable of," he muttered, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Raven smiled as his crimson eyes glowed with renewed determination. He took a deep breath and shouted, "*Skill: Phoenix Ascension!*"
Suddenly, fiery energy exploded around him, engulfing the battlefield in a blinding blaze of light. The Minotaur, caught off guard, shifted its weight and turned in another direction, narrowly avoiding crashing into the ground. The intense heat and radiance made it hesitate for a moment before regaining its footing, its glowing eyes fixed on Raven.
Through the flames, Raven stood tall, the fiery aura swirling around him like a blazing inferno. He let out a powerful roar, his energy radiating strength and confidence. Smiling coldly, he declared, "*Ultimate Form: Abyssal Rebirth!*"
Raven's body began to transform, glowing with an otherworldly light. Dark energy intertwined with fiery brilliance as his form shifted, his power reaching unimaginable heights. After a few moments, the light and flames receded, revealing Raven's new form. His aura was both terrifying and majestic, a perfect balance of darkness and fire. His eyes burned with crimson intensity as he stood, radiating pure power.
He stretched out his hand and commanded, "*Come to me… Eclipsing Fang!*"
A sword unlike any other materialized in his grasp, its blade shimmering with dark and fiery energy. He held his other sword firmly in his opposite hand, the two weapons exuding raw strength. Raven's smile widened as he turned his gaze to the Minotaur.
"Bring it on, ugly!" he taunted.
The Minotaur, incensed by the challenge, roared and dashed toward Raven with incredible speed, its massive axe swinging with deadly precision. Raven didn't flinch. Instead, he raised his swords and activated a devastating combo.
"*Sword Combo Skill: Void Slash + Shadow Edge!*"
In a flash, Raven disappeared, his speed so great that he seemed to vanish entirely. The next instant, he reappeared on the other side of the Minotaur, his swords slicing through the air with deadly precision. The Minotaur froze, its momentum halted. As it turned to face Raven, its body suddenly erupted in deep slashes from head to toe, dark energy radiating from the wounds.
The towering beast staggered, attempting to take a step forward, but its strength gave out. It collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud, defeated.
Raven approached the fallen monster, his expression cold and resolute. He raised one of his swords and swiftly cut off the Minotaur's two massive horns, a trophy of his victory. Standing over the lifeless beast, he extended his hand.
"*Skill: Abyssal Devourer!*"
A swirling vortex of greyish-black energy emerged from Raven's palm, engulfing the Minotaur's massive body. Within moments, the beast was entirely consumed by the vortex, leaving nothing behind. The moment the skill concluded, a series of *dings* echoed in Raven's mind. His vision filled with a blue screen, displaying multiple notifications:
**You have leveled up!**
**New skills acquired!**
**Skills evolving!**
The surge of power was overwhelming, but as his ultimate form began to dissipate, Raven returned to his normal state. His breathing was heavy, and his body ached from the intensity of the battle. He placed a hand on his chest, where the cancer had once been, and murmured softly, "I'm still here."
Exhaustion finally overcame him. His eyes grew heavy, and before he could process everything that had happened, he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
---
### **Raven's Updated Status Screen**
**Name:** Raven Cross
**Age:** 17
**Species:** Human (Evolved: Abyssal Phoenix)
**Gender:** Male
**Level:** 55
**Occupation:** Adventurer
**Nicknames:** The Abyss Walker, Phoenix of Shadows
**Titles:** Monster Slayer, Survivor of Fire, Abyssal Rebirth
**Health Points (HP):** 30,000 / 30,000
**Magic Points (MP):** 20,000 / 20,000
**Strength:** 10,000
**Agility:** 11,000
**Attack:** 12,000
**Intelligence:** 9,000
---
### **Skills**
- **Phoenix Ascension** (Ultimate Skill): Engulfs the user in flames, restoring all health and increasing combat power by 5x for 10 minutes.
- **Abyssal Rebirth** (Ultimate Form): Grants overwhelming power and access to unique abilities for 15 minutes.
- **Void Slash:** A devastating attack that bypasses all defenses.
- **Shadow Edge:** Enhances weapon strikes with dark energy.
- **Root Dominion** (Evolved): Immobilizes enemies with massive roots and drains their energy.
- **Infernal Howl** (Evolved): A fiery roar that deals massive damage and instills fear in enemies.
- **Iron Guard:** Creates a protective barrier that absorbs damage.
- **Abyssal Convergence** (Evolved): Consumes defeated enemies to gain power and temporarily boost all stats.
- **Quill Tempest** (Evolved): A storm of razor-sharp projectiles with increased range and damage.
- **Abyssal Wings:** Grants flight and enhanced agility.
- **Void Tempest:** A wide-area attack that combines shadow and wind elements.
- **Eternal Resilience:** Rapidly regenerates health and stamina during battle.
---
**Weapons**
- **Eclipsing Fang:** A unique blade that evolves with the wielder, channeling both fiery and dark energies.
- **Shadowfang:** A secondary sword infused with the power of the abyss.
---
Raven's gaze softened briefly as the status screen faded from view. The power surging within him felt almost overwhelming, yet he couldn't ignore the weight of responsibility it carried. For now, though, he allowed his exhaustion to take over, slipping into unconsciousness beneath the quiet canopy of the forest.
Raven looked around, surrounded by an endless black void. His voice echoed as he muttered, "Did I die again? I guess I wasn't strong enough…"
Suddenly, the black void shattered, replaced by a radiant and colorful white void. Raven's eyes widened in shock as he struggled to comprehend the change.
"What's happening?" he whispered.
Then, he heard voices—familiar voices that stopped him in his tracks.
"Hello, son."
Raven froze, his body stiff as stone. Slowly, he turned his head, and there they were: two familiar figures. His heart clenched as he stuttered weakly, "Mom… Dad?"
His parents smiled warmly. His mother spoke softly, her voice filled with love. His father chuckled, his laughter resonating through the void.
Tears welled up in Raven's eyes as he shouted, "Mom! Dad!" He dashed toward them with all his might. His parents opened their arms, laughing as he leapt into their embrace. They hugged him tightly, their warmth washing over him like a tidal wave of comfort.
His mother teased gently, "What is this hug for?"
His father laughed, ruffling Raven's hair. "You've grown, son. You've become strong."
Raven didn't respond with words but clung to them, tears streaming down his cheeks as he smiled. His mother looked at him with concern.
"Why are you crying?" she asked softly.
Raven pulled back slightly, wiping his tears with trembling hands. "I missed you… I missed you both so much."
They smiled warmly, pulling him back into their embrace. "We missed you too, Raven," they said in unison.
After a moment, they gently let him go. Raven's tears dried, but his heart still ached. He asked quietly, "Am I dead? Am I in heaven with you now?"
His parents exchanged a glance before shaking their heads.
"No, son," his mother said. "This is a vision. You're still alive."
Raven's shoulders slumped slightly. "Oh… okay," he said, his voice tinged with sadness.
His father wrapped an arm around him, laughing heartily. "Don't be sad, my boy. You won a fight! Be proud of yourself. Hahaha, you're just like your old man!"
Raven chuckled despite himself. "Yeah… I guess I'm like you, Pops."
His mother stepped forward, her gaze soft but commanding. "Raven, look at me."
He turned to her, his crimson eyes meeting hers. "Yes, Mother?"
She placed her hands gently on his face. "You are kind, sweet, and loving. You're our son. I'm so sorry you've carried so much pain for so long."
His father nodded, his voice filled with regret. "We weren't there for you, and for that, we're sorry."
Raven stuttered, his voice breaking. "It's not your fault… I shouldn't have survived…"
Before he could finish, his father's voice boomed. "Shut up about that, you punk!" He knocked Raven lightly on the head.
"Ouch! What was that for, you brute?" Raven said, rubbing his head.
His mother held his face again, forcing him to look at her. "It's not your fault, Raven Cross. It was never your fault."
His father crossed his arms, his expression firm but loving. "That's right, son. It was fate that you survived. You were meant to live."
Raven's eyes filled with tears again as he whispered, "Mom… Dad…"
His mother smiled. "Let your heart grow, Raven. Open it to others. Let someone care for you. Let someone love you."
His father grinned. "Become the person you were meant to be. Open your heart. Be happy, silly, selfless, and caring—the way you always were before."
Raven's tears spilled over as he looked at them both. His parents began to step back, their forms glowing faintly.
"Take care of yourself," they said together. "Show the world who Raven Cross from the Cross family truly is."
Raven smiled through his tears, his determination shining in his crimson eyes. "Yes, Mother. Yes, Father. I promise."
With that, the vision faded, and Raven opened his eyes to the real world. He found himself lying in a bed, staring at the ceiling. Sitting up, he placed a hand on his chest and smiled softly.
"Thank you, Mother. Thank you, Father," he said.
*Let it be continued…*