The dungeon was collapsing.
Massive cracks spread across the cavern walls as ancient stones began falling from the ceiling one after another.
The Abyss Dungeon Core had been destroyed.
Without its energy holding the structure together, the entire underground ruin was slowly turning into rubble.
At the center of the collapsing chamber stood Azrael Veyron.
Dark energy swirled quietly around his body.
His breathing was calm.
But the aura surrounding him had completely changed.
The weak outer disciple who had been thrown into the abyss hours ago…
No longer existed.
Now there was only a predator.
Azrael slowly looked at his hands.
Black void energy flowed across his fingers like smoke.
Inside his body, the Void Devouring System pulsed like a second heart.
He could feel it clearly now.
The dungeon had not only given him power…
It had changed him.
A system screen appeared before his eyes.
VOID DEVOURING SYSTEM
Host: Azrael VeyronCultivation Realm: Spirit Awakening Stage 3
Abilities:
• Void Step• Void Claw• Void Fang• Abyss Domain• Void Predator Instinct
Cultivation Technique:
• Void Sovereign Scripture
Azrael stared at the final line.
"Void Sovereign…"
He whispered the words slowly.
The cultivation technique had already begun merging with his body.
Every breath he took pulled faint strands of energy from the surrounding darkness.
The deeper the abyss…
The stronger he would become.
Azrael smiled faintly.
"This system…"
"…is terrifying."
But suddenly—
The dungeon trembled violently again.
A deep rumble echoed through the collapsing cavern.
Azrael looked up.
Large pieces of stone began crashing down.
The dungeon was about to completely collapse.
The system reacted instantly.
Hidden Exit Activated
Escape Route Detected
A faint blue light appeared at the far end of the cavern.
Azrael turned toward it.
The light formed a circular portal embedded in the stone wall.
The final exit.
Azrael didn't hesitate.
He activated Void Step.
His body flickered like a shadow across the crumbling floor.
Falling rocks barely missed him.
Another explosion shook the dungeon.
A massive pillar collapsed behind him.
Azrael jumped forward.
In a single motion he passed through the glowing portal.
The moment he crossed—
Everything went silent.
Cold wind brushed against his face.
Azrael slowly opened his eyes.
He was standing at the base of the mountain.
The entrance of the Abyssal Ruin stood behind him.
But something was different.
The once terrifying cave now looked… empty.
The darkness inside had completely vanished.
Without the dungeon core, the abyss had become nothing more than an ordinary cave.
Azrael turned around slowly.
The mountain forest stretched out before him.
It was night now.
Silver moonlight covered the landscape.
For the first time since being thrown into the cave…
Azrael breathed fresh air.
He looked up at the sky.
The stars shone quietly above.
"…I survived."
Then a cold smile appeared on his face.
"But some people are about to regret that."
Azrael's mind drifted to the faces of the disciples who had thrown him into the abyss.
Darius Kane.
And the others.
They had laughed.
They had believed he would die.
Azrael flexed his fingers slowly.
Dark energy curled around his hand.
"Let's go back."
He began walking toward the path leading to Blackstone Sect.
But before he had gone far—
His Void Sense suddenly activated.
Three life signatures were approaching.
Fast.
Azrael stopped walking.
Moments later…
Voices echoed through the forest.
"Search carefully!"
"The elders said the seal might be weakening!"
Three figures appeared between the trees.
They wore the gray robes of Blackstone Sect outer disciples.
One of them carried a lantern.
Another held a sword.
The third yawned lazily.
"Why are we even here?" one of them complained.
"That cave is cursed."
"No one survives inside it anyway."
The lantern light suddenly fell on Azrael's face.
All three disciples froze.
For several seconds…
No one spoke.
Then the one holding the lantern gasped.
"…Azrael?"
The others stared at him in disbelief.
"That's impossible."
"You were thrown into the abyss!"
Azrael tilted his head slightly.
"Yes."
His voice was calm.
"I was."
The disciples stepped back nervously.
One of them quickly drew his sword.
"…How did you get out?"
Azrael smiled faintly.
"Simple."
He raised his hand slowly.
"I walked out."
The disciples looked at each other uneasily.
Something about Azrael felt wrong.
His presence alone made the air feel heavier.
The lantern holder swallowed nervously.
"…We should report this to the elders."
Another disciple nodded quickly.
"Yes."
"We'll take you back."
But Azrael's eyes turned cold.
"Take me back?"
He stepped forward slowly.
"I was already planning to return."
Dark energy began gathering around his fingers.
"But before that…"
His gaze locked onto them.
"…I need to test something."
The three disciples froze.
A chill ran down their spines.
One of them whispered nervously.
"…Test what?"
Azrael's smile widened slightly.
"How strong I've become."
The forest fell silent.
Then—
Azrael disappeared.
Void Step.
The disciples' eyes widened.
They couldn't even see him move.
A moment later—
CRACK.
One of them collapsed instantly.
Azrael stood behind him.
His hand still pressed against the disciple's chest.
Dark energy flowed from the body into Azrael.
Soul Devoured
The remaining two disciples screamed.
"WHAT—"
But Azrael had already moved again.
His shadow flickered through the moonlight.
The second disciple fell.
Then the third.
Within seconds…
Silence returned to the forest.
Three bodies lay motionless on the ground.
Azrael stood among them calmly.
Dark energy slowly faded from his hands.
The system displayed another message.
Energy Absorbed
Cultivation Progress +4%
Azrael looked down at the corpses.
Then sighed slightly.
"…Too weak."
He turned his gaze toward the distant lights of Blackstone Sect shining on the mountain above.
Hundreds of disciples lived there.
Many stronger than these three.
Azrael smiled.
"That's better."
His eyes glowed faintly in the darkness.
"Let's see how strong I can really become."
Then he began walking toward the sect.
And the night of blood had only just begun.
The forest slowly returned to silence.
Moonlight filtered through the tall trees, illuminating the three lifeless bodies lying on the ground.
Azrael Veyron stood calmly among them.
The faint smell of blood mixed with the cool night air.
For a moment, he simply stared at his hands.
Moments ago, three cultivators had been standing before him.
Now their souls had been devoured.
And yet…
Azrael felt nothing.
No guilt.
No hesitation.
Only the quiet pulse of power growing inside his body.
The Void Devouring System flickered again.
Souls Devoured: +3
Energy Absorbed
Cultivation Progress: +7%
Azrael exhaled slowly.
Even weak cultivators provided more energy than the dungeon skeletons.
But still…
It wasn't enough.
He looked toward the distant mountain path leading to Blackstone Sect.
The place where everything had started.
The place where he had been treated like garbage for three years.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Let's go home."
Azrael walked forward.
The forest path slowly climbed up the mountain.
It was a route every outer disciple knew well.
The same road they walked every day for training and missions.
Tonight…
It felt completely different.
Azrael's footsteps were silent.
The deeper he walked, the more familiar the surroundings became.
Old training grounds.
Stone statues of past elders.
The narrow bridge crossing the mountain stream.
Every memory returned.
Three years of humiliation.
Three years of being ignored.
Three years of being called trash.
Azrael stopped walking.
His eyes slowly turned cold.
"…Those days are over."
He resumed walking.
Soon, the massive stone walls of Blackstone Sect appeared through the trees.
Torches burned along the walls.
Two large iron gates stood at the entrance.
Several disciples were guarding the gate.
Azrael could already sense them.
Four guards.
All outer disciples.
Cultivation between Mortal Body Stage 4 and Stage 5.
Azrael stepped out of the forest shadows.
The guards noticed him instantly.
"Hey!"
One of them raised his lantern.
"Who's there?"
The light fell on Azrael's face.
The guard squinted.
"…Azrael?"
Another guard stepped closer.
"Wait… isn't that the guy who got thrown into the abyss?"
Azrael stopped a few meters away.
"Yes."
The guards exchanged confused looks.
"But… that's impossible."
"You were supposed to be dead."
Azrael shrugged slightly.
"Things didn't go as planned."
The guards looked uneasy now.
One of them stepped forward.
"You need to come with us."
"The elders will want to question you."
Azrael tilted his head.
"And if I refuse?"
The guard frowned.
"Then we'll make you."
Azrael smiled faintly.
"Try."
The four guards instantly drew their weapons.
Swords gleamed in the torchlight.
"You think you can fight all of us?" one of them sneered.
"You were the weakest disciple in the sect."
Azrael's eyes darkened slightly.
"That was before."
The first guard charged.
His sword swung straight toward Azrael's neck.
Azrael didn't move.
At the last second—
His hand shot forward.
CRACK.
He caught the blade with his bare fingers.
The guard froze.
"…What?"
Azrael slowly tightened his grip.
The sword snapped in half.
CLANG.
The broken pieces fell to the ground.
The guard's face turned pale.
"That's… impossible…"
Azrael stepped forward.
His palm pressed against the guard's chest.
"Devour."
Black energy erupted.
The guard's body instantly collapsed into dark mist.
Soul Devoured
The other three guards froze in horror.
"Monster!"
They attacked together.
Three swords slashed toward Azrael at once.
Azrael activated Void Step.
His body blurred.
The swords struck empty air.
Azrael appeared behind them.
"Too slow."
His hands moved like shadows.
One strike.
Another.
A third.
Each guard fell instantly.
Dark mist spiraled into Azrael's body.
The system messages appeared again.
Souls Devoured
Cultivation Progress: +12%
The torchlight flickered quietly.
Four corpses lay on the ground.
Azrael stood in the center of the gate entrance.
He looked up at the towering walls of Blackstone Sect.
Then he slowly pushed the iron gate open.
CREAK.
The sound echoed across the courtyard.
Inside the sect, several buildings were still lit.
Night patrol disciples moved along the stone paths.
None of them had noticed the bodies yet.
Azrael stepped inside.
His footsteps echoed softly.
Three years ago, he had entered this sect with hope.
Dreams of becoming a powerful cultivator.
Dreams of earning respect.
Now…
He had returned for something else.
Azrael walked deeper into the courtyard.
His eyes scanned the buildings calmly.
Dormitories.
Training halls.
Weapon storage.
And at the far end of the courtyard—
The Outer Disciple Residence.
Azrael's gaze stopped there.
That was where Darius Kane lived.
The man who had personally thrown him into the abyss.
Azrael's smile slowly widened.
"Let's start there."
But before he could move—
Several voices suddenly echoed across the courtyard.
"Who's there?!"
Azrael turned.
Six disciples were running toward him.
Night patrol.
They had finally noticed the open gate.
One of them raised a torch.
The light fell on Azrael's face.
The group froze instantly.
"…Azrael?"
Another whispered.
"No way."
"You're alive?"
Azrael sighed quietly.
"This is getting repetitive."
The patrol leader stepped forward cautiously.
"How did you survive the Abyssal Ruin?"
Azrael looked at them calmly.
Then shrugged.
"I got lucky."
The leader frowned.
"Something's wrong."
He raised his sword slowly.
"…Capture him."
The six disciples attacked.
Azrael didn't even move at first.
Then suddenly—
Dark energy exploded around him.
Abyss Domain.
The shadows on the ground stretched outward like living creatures.
The six disciples froze.
Their bodies felt heavier.
Their movements slowed dramatically.
Azrael walked forward calmly.
"Now…"
His eyes glowed crimson.
"…let's continue the experiment."
The massacre inside Blackstone Sect had begun.
The courtyard of Blackstone Sect had never felt so silent.
The six night-patrol disciples stood frozen in place as the darkness of Abyss Domain spread across the stone ground beneath them.
It was as if the shadows themselves had come alive.
Their bodies suddenly felt heavy.
Their breathing slowed.
Even their swords felt difficult to lift.
One of the disciples gasped.
"…What is this?"
Another tried to step forward but nearly stumbled.
"My body… it's like something is pulling me down!"
Azrael Veyron walked slowly toward them.
His footsteps echoed calmly across the courtyard.
The moonlight above cast long shadows behind him.
To the six disciples, Azrael no longer looked like the weak outer disciple they remembered.
He looked like something else.
Something darker.
The patrol leader clenched his sword tightly.
"Don't panic!"
His voice trembled slightly.
"He's just one person!"
But even he could feel it.
The pressure surrounding Azrael was terrifying.
The leader raised his sword and pointed it forward.
"Attack!"
The six disciples forced their bodies to move.
They charged together.
But their movements were slow.
Clumsy.
Azrael watched them calmly.
Then he activated Void Step.
His body vanished.
The disciples' attacks struck empty air.
"Where—?!"
CRACK.
The sound echoed behind them.
One disciple suddenly collapsed.
Azrael stood behind him.
His hand pressed against the disciple's back.
Black energy flowed into his palm.
The body dissolved into dark mist.
Soul Devoured
The remaining five turned around in horror.
"He's behind us!"
But Azrael had already moved again.
Shadow flicker.
Another disciple fell.
Then another.
Within seconds, three of them had disappeared.
The courtyard became quiet again.
Only three disciples remained.
Their faces had turned pale.
"This… this isn't possible…"
The patrol leader stared at Azrael with fear.
"You were weaker than everyone!"
Azrael tilted his head slightly.
"That was before."
He stepped forward again.
Dark energy curled around his fingers.
The leader suddenly roared.
"RUN!"
The remaining disciples turned and sprinted across the courtyard.
One of them ran toward the alarm bell near the training hall.
If they rang it…
The entire sect would awaken.
Azrael watched them calmly.
Then sighed.
"…Too slow."
He disappeared again.
Void Step.
A shadow flashed across the courtyard.
Azrael appeared beside the disciple reaching for the alarm bell.
The disciple barely had time to scream.
CRACK.
Azrael's palm struck his chest.
Dark energy consumed him instantly.
Soul Devoured
The final two disciples stopped running.
They turned slowly.
Both were trembling now.
The patrol leader dropped his sword.
"…Please."
Azrael raised an eyebrow.
"Please?"
The man fell to his knees.
"We didn't do anything to you!"
"You were thrown into the abyss by the elders!"
Azrael stared at him quietly.
Then he nodded slightly.
"You're right."
The leader's face filled with relief.
But Azrael continued.
"You personally didn't throw me in."
Dark energy slowly gathered in his hand.
"But you still watched."
The leader's relief vanished instantly.
"…Wait—"
CRACK.
Azrael devoured him.
The final disciple screamed and tried to run again.
But Azrael appeared in front of him instantly.
The man froze.
Azrael looked at him calmly.
"…Last one."
The disciple fell to the ground.
"Please don't kill me!"
"I'll tell you anything!"
Azrael considered for a moment.
Then asked quietly.
"Where is Darius Kane?"
The disciple swallowed nervously.
"H-he's in the outer disciple dormitory!"
"Second building!"
"Room seventeen!"
Azrael nodded.
"Good."
The disciple quickly bowed his head.
"I told you!"
"Please let me go!"
Azrael smiled faintly.
"I will."
The disciple looked up hopefully.
But Azrael's hand had already reached his chest.
"Go join the others."
Dark energy erupted.
The final body collapsed into mist.
Soul Devoured
Cultivation Progress: +28%
Azrael stood alone in the courtyard again.
Seven disciples had died within minutes.
Yet the sect remained quiet.
No alarm had been raised.
Azrael looked toward the outer disciple residence.
Two long buildings stood side by side.
Dim lantern light glowed from several windows.
Most disciples were sleeping.
Completely unaware of what was happening.
Azrael began walking toward the dormitory.
The night wind moved gently through the courtyard.
Somewhere in the distance…
A bell rang softly.
Azrael stopped.
His eyes narrowed.
Footsteps approached from the training hall.
Several disciples stepped into the courtyard.
Four of them.
And leading them…
A familiar face.
Darius Kane.
The tall disciple stood confidently with his sword resting across his shoulder.
His sharp eyes scanned the courtyard.
Then he noticed the bodies lying near the gate.
His expression darkened.
"…What happened here?"
One of the disciples beside him whispered nervously.
"Someone attacked the guards."
Darius walked forward slowly.
Then his gaze landed on Azrael.
For a moment…
His eyes widened.
"…Azrael?"
The other disciples stared in shock.
"That's impossible."
"You threw him into the abyss!"
Darius's face slowly twisted into a smile.
"Well…"
He laughed quietly.
"Looks like the rat crawled back out."
Azrael stared at him silently.
Three years of humiliation flashed through his mind.
Darius stepped forward.
"You should have stayed in that cave."
He raised his sword.
"Because now…"
His aura exploded outward.
Mortal Body Stage 9.
"…I'm going to send you back there."
Azrael smiled.
Dark energy began swirling around his body.
"Good."
His crimson eyes locked onto Darius.
"I've been waiting for you."
The first revenge battle had finally begun.
The night air inside Blackstone Sect grew tense.
Broken weapons and lifeless bodies lay scattered across the courtyard near the entrance gate.
Lantern light flickered against the stone walls.
Standing in the middle of the courtyard was Azrael Veyron.
And directly in front of him stood the man responsible for everything.
Darius Kane.
For three years, Darius had been the strongest outer disciple in the sect.
Cruel.
Arrogant.
Untouchable.
The kind of person who enjoyed crushing weaker disciples just to prove his strength.
Now his sharp eyes stared directly at Azrael.
For a moment, silence filled the courtyard.
Then Darius laughed.
A loud, mocking laugh.
"Hahaha…!"
"I have to admit, Azrael."
His grip tightened around the sword resting on his shoulder.
"You surviving the abyss is impressive."
The disciples behind him shifted nervously.
One of them whispered.
"…Darius, something feels wrong."
"Look at the bodies."
"Azrael did that alone."
Darius ignored them.
His gaze remained locked on Azrael.
"But let's be honest."
He pointed the tip of his sword forward.
"You were always weak."
Azrael didn't respond.
Darius continued.
"You think surviving a cave makes you strong?"
His aura flared.
The pressure of Mortal Body Stage 9 spread across the courtyard.
Several nearby lantern flames flickered violently.
"I'll show you what real strength looks like."
Azrael tilted his head slightly.
"…Are you done talking?"
Darius's smile faded.
"You still have that attitude."
Azrael slowly raised his hand.
Dark energy curled around his fingers like smoke.
"I was thinking the same thing."
Darius narrowed his eyes.
Then suddenly—
He moved.
His body shot forward like an arrow.
His sword flashed through the air.
The attack was fast.
Extremely fast.
Most outer disciples would have been unable to even react.
But Azrael didn't move.
Not until the very last moment.
Then—
Void Step.
His body blurred like a shadow.
Darius's sword sliced through empty air.
The strike missed.
Darius's eyes widened.
"…What?"
Before he could turn—
CRACK.
Azrael's fist slammed into his ribs.
Darius was thrown backward several meters.
His boots scraped across the stone floor.
The disciples behind him gasped.
"Darius got hit?!"
"That's impossible!"
Darius steadied himself.
His face twisted with anger.
"…You bastard."
He rushed forward again.
This time his sword attacks became faster.
One slash.
Two slashes.
Three.
The blade flashed repeatedly under the moonlight.
But Azrael dodged every strike.
Void Step.
Shadow flicker.
Each movement looked effortless.
Darius grew more furious with every missed attack.
"STOP RUNNING!"
Azrael appeared behind him.
"I'm not running."
He raised his hand.
"Void Claw."
Dark energy formed sharp black blades around his fingers.
SLASH.
Darius barely blocked in time.
CLANG.
Sparks flew as claw met steel.
The force pushed Darius back again.
His arms trembled slightly.
"…What the hell happened to you?"
Azrael stepped forward slowly.
"You threw me into the abyss."
His eyes glowed faintly red.
"So I adapted."
Darius's expression darkened.
"You're bluffing."
His aura suddenly surged again.
A violent wave of energy exploded outward.
The disciples behind him stepped back.
Darius's sword began glowing faintly.
"I'll end this now."
He raised the blade high.
Then unleashed his strongest attack.
"Blackstone Slash!"
A powerful arc of sword energy shot toward Azrael.
The stone floor cracked as the attack tore through the courtyard.
Azrael raised his hand calmly.
"Void Fang."
A massive blade of pure darkness formed along his arm.
Then he swung.
The two attacks collided.
BOOOOOOM!
A violent explosion filled the courtyard.
Dust and shattered stone flew everywhere.
The disciples shielded their eyes.
When the dust cleared—
Both fighters were still standing.
But Darius looked shocked.
His sword attack had been completely destroyed.
Azrael walked forward slowly.
"Is that your strongest move?"
Darius clenched his teeth.
"…You monster."
Azrael's eyes darkened.
"Funny."
Dark energy gathered around his hand.
"You said something similar earlier."
He raised his palm.
"Devour."
Darius's instincts screamed danger.
He tried to jump back.
But Azrael had already moved.
Void Step.
Azrael appeared directly in front of him.
His hand slammed against Darius's chest.
Black energy exploded.
Darius screamed.
The devouring vortex began pulling energy from his body.
"…NO!"
He struggled desperately.
But the difference in power was now overwhelming.
Azrael leaned closer.
"You should have killed me properly."
The vortex grew stronger.
Stronger.
Then—
CRACK.
Darius's body collapsed into dark mist.
The energy rushed into Azrael.
Soul Devoured
Large Energy Absorbed
Azrael stood silently as the dark energy faded.
The courtyard became quiet again.
The remaining disciples stared in horror.
The strongest outer disciple in the sect…
Had just been killed.
Within seconds.
One of them whispered.
"…He killed Darius."
Another dropped his weapon.
"…What are we supposed to do now?"
Azrael slowly turned toward them.
His crimson eyes glowed in the darkness.
"Well…"
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Now we continue."
The massacre had only just begun.
The courtyard fell into complete silence.
Moments ago, the strongest outer disciple of Blackstone Sect, Darius Kane, had stood there confidently.
Now…
He was gone.
Devoured.
The faint traces of dark energy slowly faded from the air around Azrael Veyron.
The remaining disciples stared at him with pale faces.
None of them dared to move.
Darius had been their leader.
The one who bullied weaker disciples and enforced his authority over the outer sect.
And Azrael had just killed him as if it were nothing.
One of the disciples stumbled backward.
"…This can't be real."
Another shook his head repeatedly.
"He killed Darius…"
"He killed him in seconds."
Azrael slowly walked forward.
His footsteps echoed quietly across the courtyard.
Each step made the disciples retreat further.
Their fear was obvious now.
But fear didn't stop Azrael.
His eyes were calm.
Cold.
Calculating.
He raised his hand slightly.
Dark energy curled around his fingers.
"You all watched."
The disciples froze.
"You watched when I was beaten."
Another step forward.
"You watched when they humiliated me."
Another.
"And you watched when they threw me into the abyss."
The disciples looked at each other nervously.
One of them suddenly shouted.
"RUN!"
The group scattered instantly.
Some ran toward the inner courtyard.
Others sprinted toward the training grounds.
But none of them got far.
Azrael activated Void Step.
His body vanished.
The first disciple running across the courtyard suddenly stopped.
Azrael appeared beside him.
CRACK.
His palm struck the disciple's back.
The body collapsed instantly.
Dark mist flowed into Azrael.
Soul Devoured
Azrael disappeared again.
Another disciple screamed as Azrael appeared in front of him.
"PLEASE—"
Too late.
CRACK.
Another body fell.
The courtyard slowly filled with silence again.
Within seconds…
Five more disciples had died.
The remaining survivors ran deeper into the sect.
Azrael didn't chase them immediately.
Instead he stood still.
The Void Devouring System appeared again.
Souls Devoured: +6
Energy Absorbed
Cultivation Progress: +37%
Azrael felt the energy spreading through his body.
Warm.
Powerful.
Addictive.
Every devoured soul pushed him closer to the next stage.
He looked toward the inner sect buildings.
Several lights had turned on.
The noise had finally alerted the rest of the sect.
Shouts echoed from deeper within the compound.
"What's going on?!"
"Someone attacked the outer gate!"
"Sound the alarm!"
A loud bell suddenly rang.
CLANG.
CLANG.
CLANG.
The alarm bell of Blackstone Sect.
Azrael smiled faintly.
"Finally."
More disciples began appearing across the courtyard.
Ten.
Then twenty.
Some carried swords.
Others held spears.
All of them stared at Azrael in disbelief.
One of them whispered.
"That's Azrael."
"The one who was thrown into the abyss."
Another disciple shook his head.
"…Then how is he alive?"
Azrael looked at them calmly.
"I walked out."
The crowd grew uneasy.
A tall disciple stepped forward.
His aura was stronger than the others.
Mortal Body Stage 8.
"You've gone insane."
He raised his spear.
"You killed fellow disciples."
Azrael shrugged slightly.
"They attacked me first."
The man sneered.
"You expect us to believe that?"
Azrael tilted his head.
"I don't care what you believe."
Dark energy slowly gathered around him.
"I'm just here to collect something."
The disciple frowned.
"Collect what?"
Azrael smiled.
"Power."
The disciple suddenly roared.
"Attack!"
Nearly twenty disciples rushed forward at once.
Weapons flashed under the lantern light.
Azrael activated Abyss Domain again.
Darkness spread across the courtyard.
The disciples slowed immediately.
Their bodies felt heavier.
Azrael walked forward calmly.
Then—
He vanished.
Void Step.
The massacre resumed.
Swords clashed.
Screams echoed.
Dark energy devoured one soul after another.
Bodies fell rapidly.
Within moments…
The stone courtyard was covered with corpses.
Only a few disciples remained.
They stared at Azrael in pure terror.
"He's a demon…"
"…A demon!"
One of them suddenly turned and ran toward the inner sect hall.
"ELDERS!"
"HELP!"
Azrael watched him go.
Then sighed slightly.
"Well…"
His eyes glowed crimson.
"That should make things interesting."
Deep inside the sect hall…
Three powerful cultivators slowly stood from their seats.
They had felt the disturbance.
One of them frowned.
"…Someone is slaughtering outer disciples."
Another elder closed his eyes briefly.
Then his expression darkened.
"…The aura…"
"It's coming from the abyss."
The third elder whispered slowly.
"…Impossible."
But the truth was already walking toward them.
Azrael Veyron.
And tonight…
Blackstone Sect would never be the same again.
The alarm bell of Blackstone Sect continued ringing across the mountain.
CLANG.CLANG.CLANG.
The sound echoed through every courtyard, every training hall, and every dormitory within the sect.
Disciples rushed out of their rooms in confusion.
Some grabbed weapons.
Others simply stared toward the outer courtyard where the disturbance had begun.
Whispers spread quickly.
"Someone attacked the sect!"
"Outer disciples are being killed!"
"An intruder!"
But none of them knew the truth.
The person responsible wasn't an outsider.
He was someone they had all known.
Someone they had all mocked.
In the blood-covered courtyard near the main gate, Azrael Veyron stood calmly.
Bodies lay scattered across the stone floor.
Broken weapons.
Dark stains of blood.
And the faint traces of void energy slowly fading into the night air.
Azrael looked around quietly.
Nearly thirty disciples had died.
Yet his expression remained calm.
The Void Devouring System appeared again.
Souls Devoured: +29
Energy Absorbed
Cultivation Progress: +63%
Azrael exhaled slowly.
The power flowing through his body was becoming stronger with every moment.
His veins felt warm.
His senses sharper.
He could even feel faint strands of energy drifting through the air around him.
This was the effect of the Void Sovereign Scripture.
Even without devouring souls, the technique slowly absorbed surrounding darkness to strengthen him.
Azrael raised his head.
Footsteps approached from the inner courtyard.
Heavy.
Confident.
Powerful.
Three figures appeared through the crowd of disciples.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
The remaining disciples quickly stepped aside.
"Make way!"
"The elders are here!"
The three cultivators walked slowly into the courtyard.
Their black robes fluttered in the wind.
Each robe carried the silver emblem of Blackstone Sect.
But unlike the disciples…
These men carried overwhelming authority.
They were elders.
The first elder was tall and thin, with long gray hair tied behind his back.
The second elder had a muscular build and carried a heavy sword across his shoulder.
The third was older, with a long white beard and calm eyes.
Their gazes all fell on Azrael.
And then…
On the bodies covering the courtyard.
The muscular elder clenched his fists.
"…What happened here?"
No one answered.
Finally one trembling disciple pointed.
"H-he did it!"
The elders looked back at Azrael.
For several seconds…
No one spoke.
Then the old elder stepped forward slightly.
"…Azrael Veyron."
His voice was calm.
"But you were thrown into the Abyssal Ruin."
Azrael nodded slightly.
"I was."
The muscular elder frowned.
"Then how are you standing here?"
Azrael smiled faintly.
"I walked out."
Murmurs spread among the disciples.
"That's impossible…"
"No one survives the abyss…"
The gray-haired elder suddenly stepped forward.
His aura flared outward.
Spirit Awakening Stage 4.
The pressure spread across the courtyard instantly.
"You killed dozens of disciples," he said coldly.
"That crime alone deserves death."
Azrael didn't react.
Instead he simply looked at the three elders calmly.
"…You're angry."
The elder's eyes narrowed.
"Of course we are."
Azrael tilted his head slightly.
"But none of you were angry when I was thrown into the abyss."
Silence fell.
The elders exchanged brief looks.
They all knew the truth.
The outer disciples had treated Azrael terribly for years.
But that was normal in a cultivation sect.
The strong ruled.
The weak suffered.
The old elder sighed quietly.
"You should have died peacefully."
His aura slowly rose.
"But instead you chose this path."
Azrael laughed softly.
"You're wrong."
Dark energy began swirling around his body.
"I didn't choose anything."
His crimson eyes glowed faintly.
"You made the choice when you threw me into that cave."
The muscular elder suddenly stepped forward.
"Enough talking."
His sword slid from his shoulder.
CLANG.
The blade hit the ground with a heavy sound.
His aura exploded outward.
Spirit Awakening Stage 5.
The disciples gasped.
"That's Elder Ronar!"
"He's one of the strongest outer elders!"
Ronar pointed his sword toward Azrael.
"You've caused enough chaos."
Azrael looked at the sword calmly.
Then slowly raised his hand.
Dark energy gathered around him like smoke.
"You're stronger than the others."
The shadows beneath his feet stretched outward.
Abyss Domain.
The elders' robes fluttered slightly as the darkness spread.
The three elders frowned instantly.
"…This energy…"
The gray-haired elder whispered.
"It's abyss energy."
Ronar's expression hardened.
"You absorbed power from the ruin."
Azrael smiled.
"I devoured it."
The disciples behind the elders froze.
"…Devoured?"
Azrael stepped forward slowly.
Then—
His aura exploded outward.
A wave of dark energy swept across the courtyard.
The elders' eyes widened.
The old elder's voice became tense.
"…Spirit Awakening."
The gray-haired elder stared in shock.
"Impossible."
"He was Mortal Body Stage 1 yesterday!"
But the truth was standing right in front of them.
Azrael Veyron.
Now a cultivator of the Spirit Awakening Realm.
Ronar tightened his grip on the sword.
"…So that's your confidence."
He raised the blade.
"Good."
A dangerous smile appeared on his face.
"Then I won't need to hold back."
Azrael raised his hand slowly.
Dark claws formed across his fingers.
"Perfect."
His eyes burned with crimson light.
"I was getting bored with weak opponents."
The courtyard fell silent again.
Two powerful auras collided in the air.
The battle between Azrael Veyron and a Blackstone Sect Elder was about to begin.
And the fate of the entire sect…
Was about to change forever.