Heaven’s Forsaken System

Chapter 10: The Tyrant's Gambit

The Abyssal Tyrant loomed over Shen Liang, its void-like form shifting between reality and nightmare. Each breath it took warped the space around them, causing the cavern to tremble as if the very world rejected its presence. The weight of its gaze made Shen Liang feel like an insect standing before a god.

[System Alert: Host Attributes Severely Weakened – Immediate Action Required]

Shen Liang tightened his grip on Shadowbane. His mind raced. Direct confrontation was impossible—the system had already warned him that mortal combat was ineffective. Yet standing still meant certain death. He needed a plan, something that could buy him time or grant him an advantage.

The Tyrant's voice rumbled, ancient and amused. "You reek of stolen power, mortal. A spark of defiance in a realm of inevitability. How… entertaining."

Shen Liang's breath steadied. If the Tyrant was amused, it meant it wasn't taking him seriously. That was something he could exploit.

[New Mission: Exploit the Tyrant's Curiosity] [Objective: Survive for 10 minutes]

Ten minutes? Against an entity that could likely erase him with a mere thought? Shen Liang swallowed, his heart pounding, but he had no choice. He needed to act—now.

With a burst of Qi, he activated Phantom Step, vanishing just as the Tyrant's massive claw swiped through the space he had occupied. The sheer force of the strike sent shockwaves through the cavern, shattering stalagmites into dust.

He reappeared several meters away, gasping. Even that small maneuver had drained him more than expected. Oppression of the Void was sapping his strength faster than he had realized.

The Tyrant chuckled, a sound that made the air itself shudder. "Fascinating. You struggle so fiercely against the inevitable."

Shen Liang ignored the taunt. He scanned his surroundings, looking for anything—anything—that could be used to his advantage. The cavern walls were covered in ancient runes, their glow faint but present. If the Tyrant had been sealed here, those runes might hold a clue.

The first few minutes felt like an eternity. Shen Liang moved with desperate precision, dodging the Tyrant's sweeping strikes while carefully maneuvering toward the runes. His every breath burned, the air thick with oppressive energy that sought to crush him.

[Time Remaining: 7 Minutes]

The Tyrant seemed content to play with him, its voice a deep, guttural whisper. "Do you think you can escape fate, little insect?"

Shen Liang didn't answer. His fingers brushed against the nearest rune, and a jolt of energy shot up his arm. For an instant, the cavern trembled—not from the Tyrant's power, but from something deeper, something ancient that lay beneath even this horror's dominion.

His system flashed.

[Hidden Mechanism Activated: Abyssal Binding Protocol]

Shen Liang's eyes widened. He wasn't just in a battlefield—he was in a prison. The Tyrant wasn't merely a creature of the abyss. It was something that had been contained.

A plan formed in his mind.

Dodging another lethal swipe, he sprinted toward the central glyph, its golden hue buried under layers of dust. He pressed his palm against it.

[Override Attempt: 10%]

The Tyrant's amusement twisted into rage. "You dare—"

Shen Liang barely avoided the next attack, rolling to the side as the cavern walls cracked. He had to hold out just a little longer.

[Override Attempt: 40%]

The Tyrant roared, shadows coalescing into jagged spears that rained down. Shen Liang twisted, activating Phantom Step again, but his energy was running dangerously low.

[Time Remaining: 3 Minutes]

His vision blurred. He could feel the weight of exhaustion creeping in. One more push.

[Override Attempt: 70%]

The Tyrant lunged, darkness stretching toward Shen Liang like a maw ready to consume him whole. He gritted his teeth and did the only thing he could.

He let go.

A surge of golden light erupted from the rune, slamming into the Tyrant. The creature shrieked, its form unraveling as ancient restraints reawakened.

[Override Complete.]

Shen Liang collapsed to one knee, gasping for breath as the runes flared brilliantly, sealing the Tyrant back into the abyss. The cavern shook violently before settling into eerie silence.

[Mission Complete: Survive for 10 Minutes – Bonus Reward Granted]

Shen Liang let out a hollow laugh, the weight of his victory crashing down on him. He had done it. He had outlasted a god.