Abyssal Corruption [1]

Ser Hughway stood amidst the smoldering ruins of the central grove, the severed head of the ghost-masked leader dangling from his gauntleted hand by its gore-matted hair.

Yet, despite the silence that had settled over the charred earth, the old knight felt no peace.

His instincts, forged through decades of lethal combat, screamed that something was dangerously amiss.

Every operative sent by the Unknown organization called Hydra had been a seasoned Ranker.

He had personally observed their talents—Damage Transfer, Teleportation, and the spatial techniques deployed during the initial ambush.

Yet this man—a Peak-stage Sword Sage who had stood inches from the grave—had relied strictly on his Headless Ghost True Sword Art during their final exchange.

He had not activated a single offensive or defensive talent, choosing instead to let himself be cornered and cleaved in two.