Abyss Climb
🏛 Type: Gangnam / Abyss / Core-grade / *(Disaster)* / **(Cleared)
Ether Density:Weak [Weak–Stable–Unstable–Collapse–Disaster]
*Ether density levels
**Personal Abyss clear procedure
I stretched lightly. Looking around, the beach had vanished like a ghost, replaced by a massive jungle welcoming me.
It was a tropical forest unlike anything in Korea. I felt the humid, almost soggy air as I scanned my surroundings. Vines and moss clung to enormous trees. Tugging on a vine dangling vertically from a branch, I tilted my head.
This doesn't feel like a place of great significance to me. Why here?
As I pondered amid the dense trees, a low growl echoed—the telltale sound of an abyssal entity.
"Time for training once more, it seems."
For this Abyss run, I planned to draw on my magic after a long while. Outside, I'd acted like a battle mage was my full extent, avoiding overt spellcasting. But here, with no restrictions, I could push to my limits.
I inhaled ether and grinned in satisfaction.
[2-level Control]
Abyssorium
Krunch— The casting felt far faster and more efficient.
Effect of my imagery reaching the essence realm?
Ether, rapidly converted around my imagery core, manifested a deep-sea environment across a wide area. In an instant, massive trees compressed, and blood from hidden abyssal entities spilled between them. Wraiths emerging from the forest hesitated in confusion.
"They say you lack ego, yet you sense the threat?"
A sphere larger than a person materialized before them.
[2-level Projection]
Salvo
Boom— Scorching red earth and burning trees rained down like shrapnel.
"New record with ease."
But no sooner had I spoken than abyssal entities poured from the distant forest. Ignoring the devastation around me, they charged straight at me.
"Numbers... indeed..."
As someone commented, the sheer increase in abyssal entities was palpable.
"Not just a few more, that's certain."
Since Floor 6 started this, I could guess Floor 10's chaos without climbing higher.
"Very well, time to clean out these wraiths."
With wraiths popping up endlessly in the foundation, thinning them here might help.
[2-level Projection]
Salvo
Boom— Red earth flipped with a massive roar. Nearby trees splintered and toppled. Advancing like a bulldozer clearing forest with barrages of salvo, an alert soon appeared.
[Floor 6 Clear Confirmed – Ether Comms Activated]
[Floor 7 Unlocked]
[Abyssal Entities Eliminated: 2,866]
[Floor 6 Clear Reward]
[Ether Control Enhanced]
"Hm..."
Clenching and unclenching my fist, I felt ether coiling around it. A few more ether boosts like this, and events like the mage tournament might not be an issue.
At this efficiency, I could even take on a 6-level or 7-level mage.
My growth was so rapid it was hard to believe I was human. It made me uneasy about that figure Ella saw inside me. Or perhaps even before that—Lee Han's magic was the real issue.
I led my now-familiar tiny body straight to Floor 7.
Lee Haryeong, the mage flower, sighed heavily in the "Shadow Chamber" she hadn't visited in ages. No surveillance devices worked here, and magic was nullified in the dark room. This cramped space was Korea's secret control room where key decisions were made.
Before her sat two middle-aged men with troubled expressions: the President of Korea and the Speaker of the National Assembly.
"This seems like the only way to reel her in."
The Speaker looked uneasy at Haryeong's words. "As you know, most opposition lawmakers are tied to Cheonsung and Arka Towers."
"Same for both sides. No one's clean," the President said, silencing Haryeong and the Speaker.
"But we can't let this kid slip away, right?"
"Is she really that strong, getting ether business rights without credentials?"
Haryeong shrugged. "3-level at 7 years old, for starters. Potential off the charts—looks like 7-level at least. Haven't seen talent like this since Dangun."
The two men inhaled sharply. Haryeong slid over a sheet impassively.
[1. Yu Eunha: 00:14:05]
[1. Yu Eunha: 00:12:41]
"This is..."
"Yu Eunha's clears today."
"Today... you mean?"
Haryeong shrugged. "Yeah. She goes in and blasts through 5 floors each time."
"Heh..."
"Previous records were 1:10 and 2:40, respectively."
The data screamed otherworldly talent.
"But Mr. President, mess this up and 'Ether Gate' framing could bite us."
"I know... screw up and it's prison after my term, not home."
Haryeong smiled bitterly at their exchange. "Anyway, I'm quitting alliance president after this."
The men chuckled hollowly. "Staking your position on this?"
"Haryeong's tougher than she looks."
She snorted at the Speaker. "Not toughness—half blackmail. She threatened to go overseas otherwise."
"..."
The President pondered, then nodded. "Push it next week's plenary. Set up party leader talks."
"In secret?"
"Think they'd approve secret?"
"Last nuke..."
"Ahem. Don't assume it always works. Go public, but fast-track post-agreement."
Rising, the President left. Haryeong scratched her head watching him go. It had worked, but she felt flustered.
"This actually happening...? Born lucky, or the era's been waiting."
Alone in the Shadow Chamber, Haryeong laughed vacantly at the pitch-black ceiling—mirroring her thoughts on the bureaucracy ahead.
I panted, sprinting through the forest.
"This is overkill, you bastards!"
Behind me, abyssal entities filled the horizon like a tidal wave of numbers.
[1-level Control]
Wave of Stars
Black waves surged instantly, shoving back countless entities—but only briefly. I scrambled up a tree for height. I needed terrain to slow their advance, even a little.
But the horizon-spanning plain brimmed only with abyssal entities.
"Tch."
I hadn't anticipated this volume. A touch hasty.
"Damn, over ten thousand at least."
Even low-level ones amassed into a tsunami of power.
Insisting on five-floor skips next time could be fatal.
Floors up to 8 were easy, so pushing 9 without thought was the mistake.
"Not without options, though..."
Ignoring addiction or exhaustion and spamming spells would handle it. Rubbing my aching finger joints, I eyed the final battlefield.
Then, a rock ahead jerked. A human face emerged from beneath.
"?!"
As I stared in shock, our eyes met, and the woman smiled brightly.
"This way!"
"???"
Drawn like a moth, I dove into the small hole.
"Whoa? Deep pit! Don't just jump in!"
"Gah?!"
No footing—I plummeted. Gathering ether in panic, a woman appeared right in front of me.
"What, you're a climber?"