Chapter 38: The Blacksmith vs. The Void


    <hr>


    The Void General moved first.


    A pulse of abyssal energy erupted from its blade, warping reality itself.


    I barely dodged, the air splitting apart where I had just stood.


    <blockquote>


    [WARNING: REALITY DISTORTION IN EFFECT.]


    [VOID GENERAL—CLASS: UNKNOWN.]


    </blockquote>


    My entire body tensed.


    This wasn’t just a monster.


    It was something more.


    And it knew me.


    <hr>


    A Clash of Titans


    I swung Eclipse Fang, the blade stretching into a void-forged chain, wrapping around the General’s arm—


    But before I could pull, it twisted.


    With a flick of its wrist, it ripped Nyx free—reversing my own attack.


    I skidded back, just as Umbra lunged from the shadows, his fangs aiming for the General’s throat.


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    A single gesture—


    And Umbra was sent flying, his form flickering.


    <blockquote>


    [UMBRA’S CONNECTION WEAKENED.]


    </blockquote>


    I gritted my teeth.


    "Fine. No tricks. Just power."


    <hr>


    Beast God Mode: Full Release


    I activated everything.


    The Abyssal Warplate fused fully into my form, jagged plates shifting into adaptive armor.


    Noctis synced into my core, boosting my speed and reaction time.


    Umbra reformed, his Void Tyrant form surging with renewed rage.


    And Oakheart?


    He hummed in my mind. "Alright, brother. Let’s break the chains of fate."


    I charged.


    <hr>


    The General Reveals Its Hand


    The Void General met me head-on.


    Blade against blade.


    Strike against strike.


    The battlefield shook with every impact.


    But then—


    It spoke again.


    <blockquote>


    "You forge power without knowing its cost."


    </blockquote>


    I swung Eclipse Fang, but it sidestepped effortlessly.


    Its free hand touched the ground—


    And suddenly—


    I couldn’t move.


    <blockquote>


    [SYSTEM ERROR: ABYSSAL RESTRICTION IN EFFECT.]


    </blockquote>


    I staggered, my entire body locking up.


    The General raised its blade.


    <blockquote>


    "And so, the hammer must break before it learns."


    </blockquote>


    It plunged the sword toward my core.


    <hr>


    A Cliffhanger of Shadows


    A flash of light.


    A sound like shattering steel.


    Pain.


    Darkness.


    A single final thought before everything vanished—


    Did I just lose?