In the Shadow of the Dragon: Isekai Adventure

Breaking Through the Abyssal Castle

The massive stone doors of The Castle Beneath the Abyss groaned as Li Ran and Darkmoon Dragon Princess pushed them open.

Inside, a haunting darkness stretched endlessly, torches flickering with eerie blue flames. The air was thick with a suffocating presence, and the moment they stepped inside—

CLANG!

A phantasmal knight in blackened armor lunged forward, its burning crimson eyes locked onto the intruders. Its greatsword crashed down, sending sparks flying as Li Ran met the blow with his Boundary Severing Blade.

"Phantom Knights… guardians of the abyss." Darkmoon Dragon Princess murmured, raising her staff.

A Clash of Blades and Shadows

• Li Ran twisted his blade, parrying the spectral knight's relentless strikes, each impact igniting bursts of blue fire.

• Darkmoon Dragon Princess struck from the side, black tendrils of abyssal magic coiling around the knight, disrupting its movements.

• The knight roared, attempting to break free—only for Li Ran to sever its form with a single spatial slash.

With a final flicker, the knight dissolved into dust, its armor clattering to the floor.

Vampires in the Shadows

Before they could advance, pale figures emerged from the darkness—Vampire Maidens, their bloodthirsty eyes gleaming.

Darkmoon Dragon Princess moved swiftly.

Her Moonshadow Chains lashed forward, ensnaring two of them mid-air, while Li Ran cut down the rest with a single, devastating slash.

Deeper into the castle, a group of High Vampires attacked in unison, launching a coordinated assault—strategic, calculated, deadly.

Their strikes came from all sides, spells entwining with their swordplay.

Four brutal exchanges followed.

• Li Ran's Dimensional Rift Slash split a vampire in two.

• Darkmoon Dragon Princess unleashed Abyss Devour, swallowing another into the void.

• The battle ended in a mere six moves, their enemies reduced to ashes.

Finally, they reached the castle's highest chamber, its doors ominously ajar, as if awaiting their arrival.

The Throne of Nightmares

At the peak of The Castle Beneath the Abyss, a grand hall unfolded before them.

There, upon a throne of black obsidian, sat the ruler of the abyss—Lord of Nightmares, Zepharion, the elder brother of the fallen vampire lord, Azrad.

His crimson eyes glowed with keen intelligence, his form draped in a regal black cloak, silver hair cascading past his shoulders.

His gaze settled upon Li Ran and Darkmoon Dragon Princess, a knowing smirk curling on his lips.

"I take it my foolish younger brother, Azrad, has fallen by your hands?" His voice was deep, resonating through the chamber like a whisper from the abyss.

Li Ran remained unfazed. "He tried to spread chaos beyond the dungeon. He had to be stopped."

Zepharion chuckled, leaning back on his throne. "Indeed… We monitored the movements of the labyrinth's creatures as they surfaced. Logically, they should have overwhelmed the surface world."

His piercing gaze narrowed.

"But they did not. Which means… you are not of this world. You are an existence summoned by the divine, are you not?"

A heavy silence followed.

An Unexpected Proposal

Zepharion's lips curled into a sly smile as he slowly rose from his throne.

"Unlike my foolish brother, I do not act on impulse. I recognize strength when I see it."

His crimson gaze locked onto Li Ran, acknowledging his overwhelming presence.

"This world is imbalanced," Zepharion declared, stepping forward.

"The ignorant mortals who rule over it cannot wield magic properly, nor do they understand its true potential. The power of the abyss, of the gifted races—this should govern the world, not the weak who scurry like insects under divine protection."

He extended his hand, an offer of allegiance.

"Aid me, and together we shall claim dominion over this world. We shall harness the source of magic itself, preventing its rampant chaos. You need not be my enemy, Li Ran. Stand at my side, and we will shape the future."

The room fell silent.

Then—

Li Ran let out a scoff.

He raised his sword, pointing it at Zepharion's chest.

"No deal."

Zepharion's expression darkened slightly, though his amusement remained.

"And why is that?"

Li Ran's voice was resolute. "The strong exist to protect the weak, not rule over them."

"Oh? How noble." Zepharion's smirk widened. "And yet, how naive."

He took another step forward.

"You believe strength is meant to protect, but power without order leads only to ruin. Your belief is flawed—but I respect it."

He lowered his hand, sighing.

"Very well. If you refuse, then I shall submit… but only to strength."

His aura erupted, the ground cracking beneath his feet.

"Defeat me, and I will acknowledge your will, Li Ran."

A Duel for Allegiance: The Clash of Power and Will

Zepharion moved first, vanishing into the abyssal shadows before reappearing mid-strike, his blade coated in swirling black energy. The sheer force of his swing sent shockwaves rippling through the chamber, distorting space itself.

Li Ran met him head-on, his Dimensional Blade shimmering with an eerie silver glow. The instant their swords collided, a violent shockwave burst forth, sending cracks spiderwebbing across the stone floor beneath them.

Steel clashed against steel, darkness against void, power against power.

The two warriors moved at blinding speed, their strikes too fast for the eye to follow. Each clash sent a deafening echo through the grand hall, as if the abyss itself roared in acknowledgment of their battle.

Devastating Exchanges

Zepharion swung his sword in an upward arc—"Void Cleave!" A crescent of abyssal energy shot forward, capable of slicing through reality itself.

Li Ran reacted instantly, bringing his blade down—"Spatial Rift Counter!" The air in front of him fractured like shattered glass, absorbing and dispersing the attack before it could reach him.

Zepharion disappeared into the shadows, moving with untraceable speed. He emerged behind Li Ran, blade aimed straight for his spine.

But Li Ran was already gone.

In a fraction of a second, he activated "Dimensional Shift," phasing through the attack and reappearing at Zepharion's flank, blade raised for a counterstrike.

Zepharion didn't hesitate. He unleashed a storm of abyssal slashes, his blade cutting through the air in a flurry of death. Each strike carried the weight of a thousand shadows, seeking to overwhelm Li Ran.

Li Ran gritted his teeth.

He planted his feet, tightening his grip on his sword. "Severing Boundaries!" His blade swung once, and in that single motion, a dimensional rift tore through the battlefield—Zepharion's slashes were consumed, erased, annihilated.

Abyssal energy surged around Zepharion, his power reaching its peak. His form seemed to dissolve into the darkness, merging with the abyss itself.

"Abyssal Dominion!" He descended from above, his sword glowing with an inky black radiance, aiming to consume Li Ran in eternal darkness.

Li Ran's eyes narrowed.

His sword pulsed—reality itself fractured around him as he swung downward.

"Dimensional Collapse!"

The impact was catastrophic.

A surge of raw spatial energy and abyssal force collided, sending a shockwave that shattered the throne room's walls. The sheer pressure of the clash sent both combatants sliding backward, their blades trembling under the force of the collision.

And then—

Zepharion staggered, a deep slash running across his armor.

His grip on his sword faltered. His strength had been overpowered.

The Acknowledgment of Defeat

Silence fell over the battlefield. The only sound was the slow, measured breathing of the two warriors.

Then—

Zepharion chuckled.

He let his sword drop to the ground with a dull clang and knelt gracefully before Li Ran, his crimson gaze filled with newfound respect.

"You win."

A victorious hush filled the chamber. Li Ran exhaled, lowering his blade.

The battle was over.

The Abyss had bowed to the might of another.

The Pact of the Abyss

"I will stand down. The labyrinth's creatures shall remain sealed." Zepharion vowed.

"Furthermore, I shall assist in the refinement of magical stones and ensure the security of these uncharted depths."

Li Ran gave a firm nod. "Then we have a deal."

Neo, however, still had concerns.

"Are you sure we can trust him? Making peace with a lord of the abyss…"

Darkmoon Dragon Princess cast Neo a warning glance.

"Li Ran has decided. That is enough."

Li Ran met Neo's gaze. "If he ever breaks this agreement, I will personally end him."

For once, Neo had no rebuttal. He only nodded in silent respect.

The Return & Acknowledgment

Upon their return to Alva City, they reported only the first three layers of the labyrinth.

Regnas, trusting them, did not press for further details. "I will ensure this information aids in our city's expansion. Lord Casalain and Duke Kadar will personally recognize your contributions."