Hearing Ashora say that they needed to speed up,” Ikshita nodded.

  Leona glanced down at the watch on her wrist. “Only forty minutes left,” she said.

  Ashora looked at Ikshita and gave a small nod. Yellow energy gathered around their legs as both of them activated their Sei Cores. Strength surged through their bodies, and the two of them dashed forward, moving deeper into the Abyss.

  Soon, another group of monsters appeared ahead.

  Orcs.

  Large, muscular creatures with rough green skin and sharp tusks. They stood in clusters, holding crude weapons in their hands.

  Ashora vanished from where he stood.

  In the next moment, he appeared closer to the orcs. As he moved, tiny white particles of light quietly scattered across the ground around them.

  The orcs noticed him and began shouting angrily.

  But before they could react, Ashora had already returned to his original position beside Ikshita.

  Ikshita released energy from her sword as Ashora raised his hand.

  With a flick of his finger, he spoke calmly.

  “Photon Blast.”

  Bam. Bam. Bam.

  Several explosions erupted among the orcs. The force of the blasts sent many of them flying as smoke spread across the area.

  As the smoke slowly cleared, the remaining orcs were seen staggering, badly injured.

  Ikshita stepped forward immediately.

  Her sword flashed through the air again and again.

  One slash after another, she cut down the wounded orcs until none of them remained alive.

  In just two and a half minutes, twenty orcs had been killed.

  But Ashora didn’t slow down.

  He continued rushing deeper into the Abyss.

  Soon he stopped again.

  In front of him stood a large horde of orcs.

  Fifty of them.

  The creatures noticed him immediately and began shouting loudly as they charged toward him.

  “ha! ha!”

  Ashora stood still.

  Then, a powerful surge of energy burst from within him. His entire body began to glow with yellow light. The energy gathered in front of him, condensing into a bright sphere.

  Ashora took the condensed energy into his hands.

  Then he threw it toward the horde.

  “Radiant Burst.”

  Boom. Boom. Bam.

  Another massive explosion shook the area.

  When the smoke cleared, the ground was covered with pieces of the orcs’ bodies. Not a single one of them remained standing.

  Ikshita stared at the scene.

  She had not even gotten the chance to attack.

  Ashora stood there breathing heavily, trying to catch his breath.

  “Ikshita,” he said while panting, “I’ll have to fight with my sword from now on. My soul energy is almost depleted.”

  Ikshita nodded in understanding.

  The two of them continued moving deeper into the Abyss.

  Behind them, Leona followed quietly.

  In her hand was a glowing blue gem that was recording everything happening before her eyes.

  Using the power of their Sei Cores, yellow energy surged around Ashora and Ikshita’s legs as they sped deeper into the Abyss. The dark land stretched endlessly before them, the air thick and heavy.

  Suddenly, both of them stopped.

  Ahead of them stood four figures.

  Each of them stood nearly ten meters tall. Their bodies were horrifying to look at—loose flesh hanging from their limbs and torsos, as if their skin could barely contain the monstrous muscles beneath. Their eyes glowed deep red. Long nails extended from their fingers, each as long and sharp as a sword. Their necks and heads were wrapped in thick layers of sagging flesh that swayed slightly with every movement.

  Ashora’s eyes narrowed.

  “Ogres,” he said quietly.

  Ikshita remained silent as she studied the monsters.

  “Ogres are far more fierce and powerful than orcs,” Ashora continued in a low voice. “They regenerate very quickly, which makes them difficult to kill. And those claws… they’re as sharp as swords. One strike from them in close combat could mean death.”

  Without making a sound, the two quickly moved behind a large rock.

  Ashora glanced at the four monsters again before speaking.

  “We can’t defeat four ogres head-on.”

  Ikshita looked at him. “So what’s your plan?”

  Ashora thought for a moment before answering.

  “My light attacks won’t work well on them. We’ll have to rely on sword energy.” He looked directly at her. “I’ll draw their attention. While they focus on me, you charge all the Sei you have and strike them in one attack.”

  Ikshita nodded.

  Ashora stepped out from behind the rock.

  Standing openly before the monsters, he raised two fingers and released a small Photon Blade toward one of the ogres.

  The light struck the creature’s chest.

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  The ogre roared.

  Its scream shook the entire area.

  But Ashora didn’t flinch.

  His sword glowed brightly as sword energy flowed into it. He lowered his body into a battle stance.

  One of the ogres lunged forward, slashing with its massive claws.

  Ashora raised his sword and blocked.

  Clang!

  The impact echoed loudly.

  Ashora pushed the claw aside, but another ogre attacked immediately.

  Clang!

  Again he blocked the strike.

  Moving quickly, Ashora slid to the side and swung his sword toward the creature’s leg.

  Thud.

  Thud.

  The blade bounced off the ogre’s thick flesh, leaving only a shallow wound.

  Too shallow, he realized.

  Ashora immediately released more Sei into his weapon. The sword energy surrounding the blade grew brighter.

  “I’m ready!” Ikshita shouted from behind.

  Ashora glanced toward her.

  Just then, another ogre attacked him.

  Ashora dodged the strike and quickly retreated, moving away from the monsters.

  Though the ogres were powerful, their massive bodies made them slow. Ashora avoided their attacks with ease, moving faster than their heavy swings could reach.

  Behind him, Ikshita stood still.

  Around her sword, energy continued to grow stronger and stronger.

  Ashora began gathering the remaining Sei from his core as well, channeling every bit of energy into his blade until his reserves were nearly empty.

  Now.

  “Attack!” Ashora shouted.

  At that moment, Ikshita swung her sword.

  A massive wave of sword energy shot forward, tearing through the ground as it rushed toward the ogres.

  The attack struck them directly.

  Two ogres were split cleanly in half, their enormous bodies crashing onto the ground.

  Ashora released his own sword energy at the same moment.

  The attack sliced through another ogre’s body—but not deeply enough to kill it.

  The monster’s flesh began to regenerate almost immediately.

  Ashora saw it and reacted instantly.

  His body became surrounded by yellow light. The energy condensed into a glowing mass in his hand.

  Without hesitation, he threw it toward the wounded ogre.

  “Radiant Blast.”

  Boom. Boom. Boom.

  A powerful explosion erupted.

  When the light faded, the upper half of the ogre had completely vanished, vaporized by the blast. The remaining half of its body collapsed heavily onto the ground.

  One ogre is still alive.

  The monster lets out a furious roar and rushes toward them.

  My core is almost depleted,” Ikshita says, breathing heavily. “I cannot use Sei for some time. I need time to recover.”

  Ashora nods at her and steps forward again, lowering himself into a battle stance. Faint sword energy wraps around his blade, weaker than before.

  “Meadres Family Sword Technique… Ninth Form.”

  Ashora moves first.

  He strikes with a horizontal slash across the ogre’s skin, followed immediately by a sharp stab. His footwork shifts smoothly as he pulls the sword free and delivers a vertical slash from below.

  The ogre retaliates with its massive claws.

  Clang!

  Ashora blocks the attack with his sword.

  Despite his strikes, the ogre’s wounds begin regenerating almost immediately. The flesh slowly closes over the cuts as if they never existed.

  Ashora attacks again, slashing horizontally. The blade creates a shallow cut in the monster’s thick skin.

  Without wasting time, Ashora points his fingers at the wound.

  “Photon Blade.”

  A streak of yellow light shoots into the cut, tearing it wider. Ashora steps forward and stabs his sword deep into the opening.

  The ogre roars.

  Ashora continues dodging its wild attacks while his blade remains embedded in its flesh. At the same time, he fires several small bursts of photon blade into the wound, tearing it deeper.

  Then he pulls his sword free.

  “Meadres Family Sword Technique… Tenth Form.”

  Ashora moves to the side and carves another deep cut into the ogre’s body.

  The ogre swings its claws again.

  Clang!

  Ashora blocks and immediately releases glowing particles of light into the new wound.

  “Photon Blast.”

  The energy explodes inside the cut.

  Ashora continues attacking—cutting into the ogre’s flesh and blasting the wounds open with photon blades. The monster struggles to fight back under the constant assault.

  It screams louder and louder.

  “Screeeech! Screeeech!”

  The sound echoes across the area.

  Ashora notices the creature’s eyes becoming darker and redder.

  “It’s going berserk,” he mutters.

  The ogre lets out a deafening roar and begins attacking wildly, swinging its claws without any thought of defense.

  Ashora is forced backward.

  The relentless barrage of attacks pushes him off balance. One of the massive claws comes dangerously close to his face.

  Just before it strikes—

  A sword blocks the attack.

  Clang! Clang!

  Ikshita steps in.

  The ogre swings its other arm.

  Clang! Clang!

  Ashora blocks again.

  Together, the two of them push the ogre back. The monster staggers briefly before regaining its balance.

  Ashora and Ikshita both step back into their battle stances.

  “You recovered?” Ashora asks.

  “Not really,” Ikshita replies, breathing heavily. “But enough to fight. There’s no Sei in the Abyss, so I can’t refill my core quickly.”

  Ashora nods.

  “If we attack together, we can finish it. I can use one more Radiant Burst… but I need two minutes to gather enough energy.”

  “Then start charging,” Ikshita says immediately. “I’ll hold it off for two minutes.”

  Before Ashora can reply, she charges toward the ogre.

  Ashora sheathes his sword and steps back. Yellow light begins covering his entire body as he focuses on condensing energy in his hands.

  The ogre grows more violent as Ikshita engages it.

  Its heavy claws rain down relentlessly. Ikshita blocks and dodges as best as she can, but the monster’s strength is overwhelming.

  One of its attacks slips through her defense.

  Its claws tear across her shoulder.

  “Ahhh!”

  Blood spills across her armor.

  But Ikshita tightens her grip on the sword and continues fighting.

  She rushes forward again, blocking the ogre’s chaotic attacks. Another strike grazes her other shoulder, and more blood begins to flow.

  Ashora sees the injuries and almost loses his focus.

  “Don’t!”

  Ikshita’s voice echo in his ears.

  “Focus on what you’re doing!”

  Ashora clenches his teeth and forces his mind back to the task. The yellow light in his hands grows brighter as he condenses more energy.

  Meanwhile, Ikshita continues blocking the ogre’s attacks. Her armor is no match for the monster’s claws, and every impact pushes her closer to her limit.

  “I’m ready!”

  Ashora’s voice echoes behind her.

  Ikshita steadies herself.

  Using the last bit of Sei left in her body, she charges forward. Her sword thrusts into the ogre’s torso, creating a small but deep hole in its flesh.

  She pulls the sword out.

  At that exact moment, the ogre strikes her again. The force knocks her backward, and she barely manages to stay on her feet before collapsing to the ground.

  Ashora raises his hand.

  The condensed sphere of radiant light shoots forward and enters the wound Ikshita creates.

  “Radiant Burst.”

  Boom. Boom. Boom.

  A violent explosion erupts from inside the ogre’s body.

  Flesh and bone scatter across the ground as the monster is torn apart from within.

  Ashora sends the condensed energy directly inside the creature before detonating it.

  Silence falls over the Abyss.

  Ikshita collapses beside him, gasping for air. Blood still flows from her wounds.

  Ashora quickly pulls a healing potion from a small pouch at his waist. He pours the healing potion onto her injuries.

  The potion begins sealing the wounds almost immediately.

  “Are you alright?” he asks.

  Still breathing heavily, Ikshita nods weakly.

  At that moment, they hear Leona’s voice behind them.

  “Test completed.”

  Ashora and Ikshita look toward her.

  “You both pass the test,” she says calmly. “Fifty-eight minutes and forty seconds.”