The Abyss trembled.
Caius stood on the cracked stone floor of the infernal cavern, his crimson cloak whipping violently in the blistering heat that pulsed around him. Before him roared the volcanic heart of the lower Abyss—the Infernal Maw, a massive crater of molten rock that served as both prison and crucible. A place where even demons feared to tread, for it was said to house one of the ancient remnants of the Primordial Age.
His gauntlet-clad hand tightened around the Abyssal Blade, now burning with a black-red hue. Ever since absorbing the flame-infused core of the Infernal Behemoth in the last chamber, the sword pulsed with chaotic energy. The System displayed a continuous string of updates in his vision, but Caius had no time to process them all.
[Abyssal Flame Affinity: Intermediate acquired]
[Abyssal Blade Evolution: Phase II complete]
[New Skill: Flame Rend acquired]
Selena stepped beside him, sweat glistening on her bare shoulders. She wore a sleeveless battle corset now, trimmed with enchanted flame-resistant leather they'd salvaged from a fallen Abyssal Warden. Her sapphire eyes locked on the crater.
"You sure this is wise? The system didn't even rate this floor. It just called it 'Forbidden.'"
Caius smiled faintly, never taking his eyes off the lava. "That's why I know the real reward lies here. The System doesn't warn for no reason."
Elira came up behind them, her dark elf skin glowing faintly under the torchlight. Her curved dagger shimmered, coated in poison potent enough to paralyze a hydra. "I sense something old down there. Something… watching us."
Caius's System pinged again, this time with a direct message:
[Hidden Quest Triggered: Ember of the Fallen Titan]
— Descend into the Infernal Maw. Survive the Guardian. Claim the Ember.
Reward: Unique Domain Core Fragment (Fire)
Bonus: Hidden Evolution Path unlocked for Harem Member – Selena
Warning: Death chance exceeds 74%. Proceed? [Yes/No]
He selected [Yes] without hesitation.
Selena blinked. "You just—?"
"Yep," he replied, already stepping onto the obsidian ledge.
The ground cracked, and lava spewed upward as the Infernal Maw awakened.
The world erupted in chaos.
The battle that followed was like nothing they had faced before.
A monstrous figure rose from the lava, its body a fusion of molten rock and decaying metal. Chains hung from its shoulders, each clinking with the sound of tortured screams. Its skull-like head split open with a deep roar as it emerged fully—The Abyss-Titan: Pyros, Warden of Flame.
[Boss Identified: Abyss-Titan Pyros (Level ???)]
[Weakness: Internal Core exposed during flame surge]
[Suggested Strategy: Coordination, Ice magic, Disruption]
Caius lunged first, activating Flame Rend, his blade slicing into the molten hide of the titan. Black fire exploded from the impact, but Pyros barely flinched. The beast retaliated, swinging a limb the size of a carriage. Caius flew backward, only barely stabilizing midair using Abyssal Step, his teleportation skill.
Selena moved next. She unleashed a flurry of water spheres from her enchanted staff, striking the titan's shoulder and momentarily halting its advance. The hiss of steam filled the cavern, providing cover for Elira to vanish into shadow.
A second later, her dagger plunged into the back of Pyros's exposed neck.
The titan screamed, twisting violently and knocking Elira away with a wave of raw heat. She crashed against a rock wall, gritting her teeth as her cloak caught fire.
"Caius!" she gasped. "Now!"
Caius called upon the core of his Abyssal Domain. Shadows coiled around him like serpents, and his left arm mutated into a demonic claw. As Pyros opened its mouth to unleash a wave of flame, Caius teleported directly above it.
"Abyssal Descent – Flame Rupture!"
He plunged his blade into the open furnace of the titan's chest, directly into its core.
The eruption was instantaneous.
A storm of lava and black flame erupted from the point of impact, engulfing the chamber in brilliant light. For a heartbeat, everything fell silent.
Then, with a thunderous roar, Pyros crumbled into molten dust.
[Boss Defeated: Abyss-Titan Pyros]
[Unique Domain Core Fragment Acquired – Flame]
[Selena Evolution Path: Flame-Warden Priestess – Unlocked]
[Harem Affinity +5: Selena]
[New Passive: Abyssal Flame Body acquired]
[Abyss Territory Core Upgrade Available]
The System's flood of messages was almost overwhelming, but Caius welcomed each one like a badge of honor. He turned to Selena, whose staff now glowed faintly with new fire-imbued enchantments. Her eyes shimmered with golden heat, and her breathing was ragged as the evolution process took root in her soul.
She stumbled into Caius's arms, laughing through the exhaustion. "You... absolute lunatic. You really did it."
"I always do," he whispered, helping her to the ground as Elira limped toward them.
Caius knelt between them, placing a hand on each of their shoulders. "We've done more than survive. We've carved out a future here. Every Core, every fragment—this territory will become our foundation."
Selena smiled, her lips brushing against his cheek. "You're not alone anymore, Caius."
That night, in a hidden alcove near the cooling magma fields, their celebration turned intimate.
Selena, her body still burning with the residual heat of evolution, pulled Caius close. Her lips were fervent, hungry. The tension that had built between them for weeks finally ignited in the safety of victory.
He kissed her back, fiercely.
Clothing was discarded, armor unfastened, and their connection deepened far beyond words. The flame of the Abyss roared inside her, matching the one within him.
Later, as she rested against his chest, Selena whispered, "If I bear your child one day… what kind of world will you give them?"
Caius stared at the dark ceiling above, eyes glowing faintly with power.
"One where they'll never bow. One where we rule."