Nightborn Evolution

The tunnels felt different now. The air was still thick with tension, but something had changed.

The Abyssborn were gone, but their presence lingered—like an unshakable weight pressing down on Kairo's shoulders.

Lena sheathed her blade, her breathing still uneven. "Alright. What the hell was that?"

Kairo didn't answer immediately. His system had given him new alerts, but the words from the Abyssborn were still echoing in his mind.

"You… are not ready."

What did that mean?

Lena frowned. "Kairo?"

He shook his head. "I don't know. But I don't think they were just mindless monsters."

Lena scoffed. "They tried to kill us. That's all I need to know."

She wasn't wrong—but Kairo had a sinking feeling that this was only the beginning of something much bigger.

His system suddenly sent another notification.

[Abyssborn Residual Energy Detected.]

[Tracking Possible Source…]

Kairo's heartbeat quickened. "We're not done here."

Lena groaned. "Of course not."

They followed the system's guidance deeper into the tunnels. Every step felt like they were walking into something they couldn't understand.

And then—they found it.

It was carved into the ground, an eerie symbol of swirling shadows that pulsed faintly. The air around it vibrated, as if something unseen was whispering from beyond.

Lena tensed. "That's… not normal."

Kairo approached slowly. As he got closer, the system sent a sharp warning.

[Warning: Abyssal Mark Detected.]

[Interacting with the mark may lead to unknown consequences.]

Lena put a hand on his shoulder. "Whatever you're thinking, don't."

But Kairo had already made up his mind.

The Abyssborn had singled him out. They spoke to him.

And now—there was a mark left behind.

He had to know.

Kairo reached out, his fingertips brushing against the swirling darkness.

Immediately—

His vision shattered.

Kairo was no longer in the tunnel.

He was somewhere else.

A vast, endless void stretched around him. The sky was a swirling mass of black and crimson, shifting like a living thing.

And then—he saw them.

Figures stood in the distance, towering beings of shadow and glowing red eyes. They were not like the Abyssborn he had fought—these were different.

Ancient. Powerful. Watching.

One of them stepped forward. Its voice wasn't spoken—it was felt.

"You walk the path of the Nightborn… but you are not yet whole."

Kairo's pulse spiked.

Another voice, layered and deep, echoed through the void.

"The Abyss remembers what the Nightborn have forgotten."

Kairo tried to speak, but his voice didn't reach the air.

The tallest figure lifted a hand of pure darkness.

"We will meet again."

And then—

Everything vanished.

Kairo gasped, his body jerking back as he collapsed onto the tunnel floor.

Lena grabbed him. "Kairo! What happened?!"

His head was spinning. His heart was racing. But there was something else—his system was going wild.

[New Trait Acquired: Abyss-Touched.]

[Effect: ???]

Kairo clenched his fists. He didn't know what had just happened, but one thing was certain.

The Abyss had marked him.

And whatever was coming next…

It had already begun.