The Sin-Eater's System

Chapter 3: Chapter 3: The Whispering Abyss



Arion awoke to a peculiar silence, one so profound it pressed against his ears like a physical weight. The echo of the trial still lingered in his mind, though the Judgment Chamber was now far behind. Instead, he found himself in a vast, endless chasm. The air was thick and heavy, charged with an oppressive energy that clung to his skin like oil. The darkness here was not merely an absence of light—it was alive, slithering and coiling, whispering in a thousand indecipherable voices.

"The Whispering Abyss," he muttered under his breath, recalling the name from the system notification.

His steps echoed as he moved forward, each sound swallowed almost immediately by the abyss. The jagged path beneath his feet twisted and turned like a snake's spine, bordered by sheer cliffs that fell into bottomless darkness.

A sudden notification blinked to life before him:

[System Notification]

Welcome to the First Circle: The Abyss of Pride.

Objective: Survive and advance. Beware the shadows—they are not what they seem.

Arion clenched his jaw. "Not what they seem? How wonderfully vague."

As he moved, the whispers grew louder, distinct words emerging from the cacophony.

"You don't belong here, mortal."

"You'll fail, just like before."

"All your strength means nothing here."

He halted, glaring into the shadows. "Nice try, but I've heard worse from people far more intimidating."

The voices laughed, a chorus of mocking tones that sent shivers down his spine. Despite his bravado, Arion tightened his grip on the rusted sword he'd taken from the Trial. Its weight felt oddly comforting in his hand.

Suddenly, a shape emerged from the darkness—a figure clad in tattered robes, its face obscured by a swirling void. It hovered a few feet off the ground, its skeletal fingers clutching a staff that seemed to hum with malevolence.

[System Notification]

Encounter: Abyssal Warden

Level: ???

Danger Level: Extreme

Arion cursed under his breath. The question marks were an immediate red flag. He took a cautious step back, keeping his eyes fixed on the creature.

The Warden's voice echoed, deep and hollow. "Arion Valerius. Your arrogance has led you here. Now, you shall face the consequences."

"Arrogance?" Arion scoffed, masking his unease. "I prefer to call it confidence."

The Warden raised its staff, and the air around Arion grew colder. Tendrils of shadow shot out from the ground, writhing like serpents as they closed in on him.

[System Notification]

Danger! Dodge the incoming attack.

Arion's reflexes kicked in, and he leapt to the side, narrowly avoiding the shadowy tendrils. They struck the ground where he'd been standing, leaving behind a smoldering crater.

"Alright, point taken," he muttered.

The Warden didn't give him a moment to recover, launching another wave of shadowy attacks. Arion dodged and rolled, each movement becoming more desperate as the creature pressed its assault.

[System Notification]

Skill Activated: Flicker Step (Basic)

Description: Temporarily increases movement speed, allowing rapid dodges.

A surge of energy coursed through Arion's body, and he moved with unnatural speed, slipping past the Warden's attacks.

"Not bad," he muttered, feeling a flicker of hope.

But the Warden was relentless, summoning a vortex of darkness that began to pull Arion toward it. The force was immense, and even with Flicker Step, he struggled to stay on his feet.

"Enough of this!" he growled, raising his sword. He charged at the Warden, aiming for its core.

The blade struck true—or so he thought. The Warden's form dissolved into shadows, reforming a few feet away.

"Your strength is meaningless here," it taunted.

Arion gritted his teeth. He needed a new strategy.

[System Notification]

Tip: Exploit the Warden's weakness.

Hint: Light dispels shadow.

Light. Of course. But where was he supposed to find light in this abyss? He glanced around, his mind racing. The only source of illumination was the faint, eerie glow emanating from his own body.

He focused on that glow, willing it to grow brighter. To his surprise, it obeyed, flaring up like a beacon. The shadows recoiled, and the Warden let out an unearthly screech.

"Gotcha," Arion said, a grim smile tugging at his lips.

He pressed his advantage, advancing on the Warden with his sword raised high. The light surrounding him grew stronger, burning away the shadows. The Warden writhed and shrieked, its form flickering and distorting.

With a final, desperate swing, Arion brought his sword down, cleaving the Warden in two. Its body dissolved into a cloud of darkness, which dissipated into the air.

[System Notification]

Victory!

Experience Gained: 500

Skill Unlocked: Radiant Slash (Basic)

Description: A sword technique imbued with light, effective against shadow-based enemies.

Arion exhaled, his shoulders slumping. His body ached, and his breath came in ragged gasps, but he was alive.

"First enemy down," he muttered. "Only a hundred more to go."

The path ahead stretched endlessly into the darkness, but Arion squared his shoulders and took a step forward. The Whispering Abyss would not break him—not yet.


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