Chapter 32 – Abyssborn vs. Abyssforged

The collision sent a shockwave tearing through the ruins. Dust and debris exploded outward as Ren and the Abyssforged Lieutenant clashed.

Ren’s void-clad fist met the Lieutenant’s flaming abyssal blade, sending out a ripple of black and crimson energy.

Sylas was already moving—dodging, repositioning, calculating. But even they could tell—this wasn’t a fight they could interfere with.

The Lieutenant’s distorted voice rang out again, even as their sword burned against Ren’s energy-infused arm.

“You are reckless.”

They twisted their weapon, forcing Ren back. He slid across the ruined ground, but his smirk never faded.

Reckless? No. He was learning.

He flexed his fingers, feeling the residual abyssal energy crackling over his skin.

This power… it was adapting.

“Didn’t catch your name,” Ren said, rolling his shoulder. “Or do you masked freaks not get those?”

The Lieutenant stood still for a moment before answering.

“I am Veyron, Abyssforged Warden of the Seventh Gate.”

Ren tilted his head. Seventh Gate? There were more?

Sylas cursed under their breath. “If that’s true, then—”

Veyron suddenly vanished.

No sound. No warning.

Just speed.

Ren’s instincts screamed. He barely dodged. The abyssal blade sliced past his cheek, the sheer force splitting open the air itself.

Before Ren could counter—Veyron was gone again.

Then—pain.

A burning slash tore across his side, sending him stumbling forward.

What the hell? He could barely keep up.

Veyron reappeared behind him, voice calm.

“You are slow.”

Ren wiped the blood from his lip. His golden eyes flashed.

Slow?

Slow?

No. He was processing.

And now—he understood.

Veyron moved again. A blur of abyssal speed. A perfect strike aimed at Ren’s neck.

But this time—

Ren was faster.

BOOM.

Before Veyron’s blade could reach him, Ren moved.

Not dodging—but stepping into the attack.

His abyss-infused arm caught the blade mid-strike.

For the first time, Veyron hesitated.

Ren grinned.

“Got you.”

The void energy around his hand twisted—not just resisting the abyssal flame, but devouring it.

Veyron’s masked gaze flickered. “Impossible—”

Ren’s other hand struck.

A single punch—

Infused with the very abyss Nyx had left behind.

CRACK.

Veyron’s armored body hurtled through the air, slamming into the ruins with a deafening impact.

Sylas blinked. “...Holy shit.”

Ren exhaled, rolling his wrist. “Not slow anymore, huh?”

But Veyron wasn’t done.

The ground shook.

From the rubble, the Warden rose.

And this time, they weren’t alone.

More figures emerged from the abyssal mist.

Abyssforged soldiers. Five. No—Ten. Fifteen.

Sylas took a step back. “Ren, we need to—”

Ren cracked his neck.

Then, he grinned wider.

“Good. More to test this power on.”