On the fifth layer of the Endless Abyss, the twisted world eternally shrouded in poisonous mist and covered with swamps, the soldiers of Magnus' 13th Legion were still fiercely fighting against the endless waves of abyssal creatures.
Above them, under the constantly shining Angel Illusion, the soldiers temporarily forgot their pain and the hellish environment surrounding them.
The blessing of faith strengthened their resolve. Ordinary abyssal creatures and primal demons could not break through their solid defenses for the time being.
With countless divine spells raining down, the casualties among the abyssal creatures were horrifying.
"Truly worthy soldiers of ours!"
Magnus looked at the warriors who had followed him for so long and showed a satisfied smile.
But at that moment…
"Roar!"
Dozens of thick, impossibly large tentacles suddenly erupted from a spatial gate, stretching violently as if to tear the gate apart.
Booming roars filled the air as titanic, many-armed giants squeezed through the forcibly opened gates.
These titans, covered in limbs of all sizes, exposed greedy and brutal expressions upon seeing the mid- and upper-dimensional creatures.
In an instant, the 13th Legion's defensive lines were shattered.
Simultaneously, deadly beams shot from another spatial gate.
Each beam contained twisted abyssal magic: petrification, curses, melting, and more. Every type could make Magnus' soldiers scream in pain and death.
Floating above like grotesque balloons, the Mother of Eyes appeared.
Behind her, countless equally hideous Eye Monsters surged forth.
Even the most experienced battlefield priests could not suppress her. Their treasured divine spells were neutralized before being cast.
The battlefield priests were in grave danger.
Magnus immediately led his heavy cavalry in a charge against the Eye Monsters.
His muscular arms wielded a flaming greatsword, ready to carve a path through the horror.
---
It had been 48 hours since Magnus led the 13th Legion into this layer of the Abyss.
During that time, he had lost count of how many times his heavy cavalry had crushed waves of abyssal creatures.
The heavy cavalry, the pride of the 13th Legion, was unmatched.
No matter the strength of the abyssal creatures—even multi-armed titans or Eye Monsters—they could not withstand a full cavalry charge.
Thanks to this power, Magnus secured the army's core: the battlefield priests and their powerful divine spells.
"Hold on… just a little longer!"
Magnus wiped the blood from his face, coughing violently.
Yet, to his shock, there was no response.
No heavy cavalry responded to his commands.
Turning around, Magnus saw empty ground.
Tentacles retracted rapidly into the swamp, leaving trails of destruction.
Further away, bloodied bubbles surfaced, writhing in the swamp.
Magnus spat blood and fell from his mount.
Even as a legendary peak warrior who had slain countless abyssal creatures and primal demons in these 48 hours, he finally felt powerless.
At that moment, a familiar voice emerged from the mist:
"Ma-Magnus Commander?"
"Gene?"
Magnus recognized the voice—his attendant, a kind and faithful soldier from the countryside.
Through the fog, he saw Gene's freckled face and red hair.
"You're alive, Gene!"
"Yes, Commander… I survived thanks to—"
Before he could finish, Magnus' eyes widened in horror and regret.
Before him stood a fallen version of Gene: six spider-like legs extending from his lower body, arms transformed into tentacles, and a massive mouth on his abdomen.
"Thanks to the mercy of the Great Will of the Abyss, I survived!"
"The angels knew nothing of the greatness of the Endless Abyss. They were false messengers, and the one I serve… is the true master!"
Tears filled Magnus' eyes. He stepped forward and embraced Gene.
Despite Gene's monstrous form, Magnus held him tightly—the boy who had followed him from the lowest ranks, the one who had laughed and asked why angels were so beautiful, the soldier who had never doubted his orders.
"Gene…"
"Commander, why are you crying? As long as you and I… serve the great—"
"Gene, I'm sorry! Rest in peace!"
With those words, Magnus drove his sword through Gene's three hearts, ending him and supposedly returning his soul to the angels.
But it was a lie.
A soul captured by the Endless Abyss could only fall eternally.
Magnus stood there, watching Gene's smiling face fade.
For reasons unknown, the surrounding poisonous mists disappeared.
In that instant, Magnus saw the final outcome of the war.
The entire 13th Legion had fallen. Only he remained alive.
Meanwhile, hundreds of twisted "new fallen" creatures emerged from the Abyss, grinning, longing for Magnus to command them.
Magnus lifted his head. Above him floated a black-red vortex.
Darkness surrounded Magnus from all sides, his mind included.
The eyes in the vortex watched his every move.
Magnus gripped his greatsword and closed his eyes.
The cracks in his soul widened.
The voices of his fallen comrades slowly dragged him into the "beautiful future" woven by the Endless Abyss.
His mind was about to be invaded by the Abyss' will.
But then…
"Every night, I look at the stars and ask myself…"
Magnus stared into the abyssal vortex, light igniting in his eyes.
"Am I the only soul in this war who remains awake?"
"Now, I have my answer!"
In the depths of Magnus' soul, a light began to shine.
"I never abandoned… the promises I made kneeling before the divine statues, for myself and my faith!"
At this moment, countless glowing divine flames began to burn through Magnus' soul, purging it entirely.
"The only voice I hear… are the admonitions spoken by the angels!"
"Faith is only precious when practiced!"
As Magnus' soul, body, and everything he was burned to ash, a pair of black pupils quietly departed from this world.
He felt neither disappointment nor anger.
Only the void that comes after gaining ultimate knowledge.
He had learned something more valuable than being a peak legendary warrior: how to completely destroy mortal faith.
As the legendary warrior used his faith to ignite his soul,
to the one who ruled over the Endless Abyss…
"Truly…"
"Boring!"
A devout soul vanished into the Endless Abyss.