Silence.
For the first time since the battle, the Mortal Abyss grew still.
The magma's golden glow dimmed into a dull orange, and the broken bridge hung in ruins behind them. Smoke drifted lazily through the air, carrying the scent of burnt stone and blood.
Hayate stood at the edge of the chasm, the mark on his arm glowing faintly beneath the torn sleeve of his armor. The others watched him cautiously, unsure whether to speak or step closer.
"Hayate…" Rina's voice trembled. "That mark—it didn't fade?"
He looked down at it. The black-and-gold lines pulsed like veins of light beneath his skin, wrapping around his arm and chest like a living tattoo. Each pulse echoed with something deep… a heartbeat that wasn't his own.
"No," he said quietly. "It's still here. And it's alive."
Lancel frowned. "Alive?"
Before Hayate could answer, a faint whisper reached his ears. At first, he thought it was the wind. But then it spoke his name.
"Hayate… Hayate…"
The voice was soft—female—but hollow, like an echo carried through time.
His body tensed. "Did you hear that?"
Rina blinked. "Hear what?"
He turned to her, eyes wide. "You didn't—?"
The whisper came again, louder this time, right next to his ear.
"You can't run from me, my little error…"
He spun around—no one. Just the endless black.
The mark burned hotter. The ground trembled faintly beneath his feet, and the System chimed with static.
[Warning: Unknown energy source detected.][Cognitive interference in progress.]
"Cognitive interference?" he muttered, gripping his head.
The whisper grew clearer, more melodic, like the voice of a goddess singing in a dream.
"Do you think power comes without chains? You're my creation, my vessel. Every time you fight, every time you win—you feed me."
Hayate fell to one knee, clutching his arm as the mark flared violently. Images flickered through his mind: a vast throne made of bones, a woman sitting upon it, her eyes glowing gold and black. Her face was veiled, but her smile was unmistakable.
The evil goddess.
"Why are you showing me this?" he growled.
"Because you amuse me," the voice whispered. "Even broken toys can dance beautifully… before they shatter."
"Shut up!" he roared, slamming his hand into the ground. The mark flashed, sending a shockwave of energy outward.
The ground cracked in a perfect circle around him.
Rina ran forward, kneeling beside him. "Hayate! Stop! You're going to destroy yourself!"
He opened his eyes, breathing hard. "It's… not me. She's trying to control it."
[System Notice: Attempting to isolate foreign consciousness…][Error. Divine corruption level: 32%]
"Thirty-two percent?" Hayate whispered. "What happens at one hundred?"
The System didn't answer.
He exhaled slowly, trying to steady himself. "All right. If she wants to whisper, I'll make her listen."
He raised his hand, channeling his energy toward the mark. The black flames surrounding his arm flared brighter, forming a burning sigil in the air — a circle of light that expanded into a translucent screen.
[Skill Used: Flamebound Resonance]
The runes around him pulsed. For a moment, the world seemed to darken, and a familiar presence materialized — a faint silhouette standing in the air before him.
A woman's figure. Beautiful, divine, and terrifying. Her golden hair shimmered like liquid light, and her eyes glowed with contempt.
"So, you've learned to look me in the eye," she said, voice dripping with amusement.
Hayate straightened, every ounce of pain replaced with fury. "You're the one who threw us into this world. You made us fight your war. Why?"
The goddess smiled faintly. "Because it amuses me. And because I can. Mortals crave purpose, so I gave you one."
"You call this purpose?!"
She raised an elegant hand. "It's more than most of your kind ever receive."
Rina gasped as she saw the faint projection. "Hayate… who is that?"
"The goddess," he said through gritted teeth.
The goddess's eyes flickered to Rina. "Ah, one of your little attachments. How quaint. Shall I break her first, to remind you who you belong to?"
"Touch her," Hayate said coldly, "and I'll erase you from every world you've ever touched."
The goddess tilted her head, as if genuinely curious. Then she laughed — a soft, mocking laugh that echoed endlessly. "You? Erase me? You carry my mark, child. My power flows through your veins. The stronger you become, the closer you are to becoming mine."
Hayate glared. "Then I'll use your power to destroy you."
She smiled faintly. "We'll see."
With that, her form began to fade, dissolving into golden dust. The mark on his arm pulsed one last time before dimming to a faint glow.
The System window blinked.
[System Notice: Divine Link established.][New Sub-Mission: Break the Goddess's Connection.][Warning: Mission Difficulty – SSS Rank.]
Hayate exhaled, feeling the weight of exhaustion return. "So… she's finally made it clear."
Rina looked at him, worry clouding her eyes. "What will you do now?"
He smiled faintly. "The same thing I've always done. Survive. Grow stronger. And when I'm ready…"
He turned toward the glowing depths of the abyss, eyes burning like crimson fire. "…I'll make her regret summoning me."
The ground rumbled again. Far away, deep within the molten rivers, more creatures began to stir. The whispers of the abyss grew louder, merging into a chorus of voices — each one calling his name.
"Rengoku Hayate… Hayate… the one who defied a god…"
The System flickered with new alerts, too fast to read.
[Hidden Dungeon Unlocked: The Throne Below.][Quest Updated: The Goddess's Mark – Stage 2 Begins.][Optional Objective: Locate the Voice in the Abyss.]
Hayate smiled grimly. "Looks like the abyss isn't done with me yet."
He drew his blade once more, the glow returning to his arm. "Then let's go see what else this cursed world wants to throw at us."
The cavern trembled as he stepped forward, the whispers fading into a low, haunting song that followed him into the dark.
[Quest Updated: Investigate the Voice in the Abyss – Objective Active.]