Chapter 73 – Shadow of the Mentor: Oris Unleashed

The battlefield trembled beneath the weight of the Abyssal Legion’s march. Shadows clawed at the sky as corrupted beasts surged from every corner of the broken realm. In the heart of it all, Ren stood bloodied but unbowed, his eyes fixed on the writhing storm of enemies ahead.

But beside him now… was Oris.

The ever-calm mentor who had once only observed from the sidelines now stepped forward, shedding his cloak. Beneath it shimmered ancient armor etched with runes long forgotten—runes that pulsed with time-worn energy, glowing a deep violet.

Ren stared. “You… You’ve been holding back this whole time?”

Oris cracked his neck, eyes narrowed. “I trained Monarchs. I buried Gods. Did you really think I was just a teacher?”

From his palm erupted a massive ethereal blade, formed from pure memory and void energy. With one motion, he carved the air—and the incoming tide of lesser Abyssals disintegrated.

Ren could barely believe what he was seeing. Oris didn’t fight like a warrior—he fought like a force of nature. Each move was calculated, devastating, poetic.

“Why now?” Ren asked, panting.

Oris didn’t turn. “Because your time is almost here. And mine… is running out.”

Suddenly, a new presence emerged—a twisted figure draped in chainmail made of screams, its eyes glowing with intelligence and hate.

“Ah… The Fallen Mentor dares to rise,” it hissed. “The Abyss remembers your betrayal, Oris.”

Oris’s eyes darkened. “Then let it remember the pain I’m about to bring.”

Ren watched in awe as the storm began—not of chaos, but of vengeance.