Chapter 74 – Chains of the Forgotten: Duel with the Abyss Judge

The Abyss Judge hovered midair—its form cloaked in darkness and chains that writhed like serpents. Each link screamed with the torment of lost souls, their faces flashing in and out of reality. The creature's voice was a whisper, yet it carried the weight of judgment.

“You should have perished with the others, Oris,” it hissed. “Your rebellion ends now.”

Oris’s stance didn’t waver. “And you should have stayed buried with your regrets.”

From the abyss, colossal chains shot forth, aiming to bind Oris where he stood. But with a flick of his hand, he sliced them mid-flight, his memory-forged blade singing with forgotten power.

The clash began.

Each swing of Oris’s blade shattered reality for a heartbeat. The Abyss Judge retaliated, summoning phantasmal chains that bent gravity and time. One wrapped around Oris’s ankle, yanking him into the air—slamming him into the earth with bone-shaking force.

Ren rushed forward. “Oris!”

But Oris rose slowly, blood trailing from his lip. “Stay back, Ren. This one’s mine.”

The Judge conjured a prison of chains, trying to trap Oris inside a temporal loop.

“Fall into despair,” it growled. “Relive your failures… over and over again.”

Oris closed his eyes.

And then… he snapped his fingers.

A burst of ancient light erupted, tearing through the illusion. Oris surged forward—his blade cleaving through the Judge’s chest, memory energy burning through the corrupted flesh.

“You don’t own my past,” Oris said. “You never did.”

The Abyss Judge shrieked—its body dissolving into black mist as the chains fell lifeless to the ground.

Ren ran to Oris’s side, stunned. “You… you won.”

But Oris’s gaze turned distant.

“I bought us time,” he whispered. “That’s all.”

Suddenly, his legs buckled.

Ren caught him. “Hey—! Oris?”

Oris smiled faintly. “Tell the world, Ren… The Void Monarch wasn’t born by chance.”

And with that, Oris collapsed, unconscious… or worse.