"Welcome. Instructor Elizabeth."

The leading man at the front greeted formally as we approached.

"Major Stanis. It’s good to see you." Liz returned the greeting.

"Are the preparations ready?" She asked.

"Everything is in order, but..."

The moment I heard those words, my ears perked up.

"But what, major stanis?"

"There seem to be others also seeking entrance into the abyss. I thought I should let you know."

"Oho? Seems they really did take the news seriously."

"Who is it Liz?" I asked. Curious.

"Probably those willing to gamble on the inheritance of the Great Devourer."

"Ahhh..."

Right. There indeed was that little detail.

I had completely forgotten about it the moment I arrived here. My entire focus on getting this exam started.

"So, who and who are we talking about?" At my question, Liz turned towards the man.

"Ahem.." giving a subtle cough, he began.

"The church has sent over two representatives.

The twilight family of nightingale has done the same.

The dragon’s nest.

The dreamless ancient family.

The wordsealed ancient family.

The queen of lust’s first born son Asael astariel has also arrived.

Lucianth Vaelthar, son of the tyrant, Lucifer Vaelthar, has also arrived."

Listening to the list of attendees, I couldn’t help raising an interested brow.

"Heh! All these people. And for what? A lead that hasn’t been confirmed whatsoever? Foolish."

Was what Liz said. Yet for some reason, my bullshit radar was twitching once more.

"Heh! Seems like there’s more fun to be had ahead."

My grin that had faded, resurfaced once more as we followed the major towards the gathering location.

My excitement has been stoked.

Now... I just hoped the abyss doesn’t disappoint..

...

...

"Now this.... Is what a gathering should look like." I muttered as we finally arrived at the supposed gathering spot.

Up ahead was the irreparable tear that had scarred the skies.

The environment having been twisted in its entirety. But, my attention at the moment wasn’t on the gaping wound in the sky. I was too busy taking in the sea of people gathered in different groups.

"Woah! Talk about Deja vu.." Malachi exclaimed.

I didn’t need to ask to know what he meant.

"Alright. Dante. Let’s get closer. The time to begin is already upon us." Liz took my hand, guiding me further into the crowd, right towards the gaping wound.

The closer we got. The more things changed.

It felt like we were moving at one point. The next, it felt like we were stagnant.

My breaths came in slow bursts at one point. Then fast as currents at another.

The entire world seemed to be in a state of constant disarray, as even time felt off.

"Interesting... let’s see just what it is you’re hiding.." I had a nagging feeling in the back of my head. Like I was missing out on something. So, I decided to check it out. Yet before I could.

Weng!

My senses flared.

"Hmmm?" I stopped.

"Dante?" Liz’s confused voice fell onto deaf ears as I turned my head.

I had just felt a horrible spike of killing intent. One that refused to go away.

My eyes scanned the crowd surrounding us until eventually..

"Oho? Now what do we have here?" A predatory grin slowly appeared on my face as my locked onto the person releasing such a powerful killing intent.

My gaze clashed with his.

"...Heh."

Crimson-gold hair.

Golden eyes with pupils the shape of inverted triangles that were void of the slightest warmth.

Dressed in plain golden robes.

His posture was relaxed, almost lazy, yet the killing intent rolling off him was anything but.

But!

None of that was what caught my attention.

Because that honor belonged to the Three pair of golden feathered wings folded majestically behind him.

I could feel that familiar greed resurfacing.

"I want them."

"Dante? What’s wrong?" Liz asked once more after receiving no response.

"Don’t worry. I just found something very interesting." My grin widened as I saw the young man finally decided to make a move, yet before he could, an arm stopped him.

My expression fell. Eyes turning cold as I shifted my gaze to the unwelcomed interruption.

My cold gaze boring into a man in gleaming silver armor.

Cold indifference was all I felt from that one.

No feelings. No rage. Just pure detachment. He was the complete opposite of the crimson-haired youth.

"What’re you looking..." Liz’a voice froze as she finally caught sight of what I was looking at.

I could feel the killing intent bleeding out of her, snapping me from my rising rage.

I turned towards her.

"Liz?" She didn’t respond.

Her cold gaze remained leveled on the two youths a distance away.

The armored youth. The one that had stopped his companion from moving earlier, turned slightly. The crimson glow within his helmet intensified as he studied both me and Liz before ultimately deciding to retreat further away with his friend.

I watched on in silence. Eyes still locked unto those wings.

"I want them."

The thought surfaced unbidden. But I wasn’t pushing it away, because I indeed wanted them.

"Dante.. let’s go.." Liz’s cold voice left no room for reply as she pulled me away. I followed in silence, mind wandering just what history she could possibly have with those two. But I didn’t pry. If she wasn’t talking, then, it probably wasn’t time.

So. Pushing those distracting thoughts out of my head. I finally got back to doing what it was I had planned on doing earlier.

activated as I turned my attention towards the massive tear in the distance.

"Whaaaa....?" Only to be stunned speechless at the sight.

The world...

Came apart.

The black earth wasn’t merely cracked.

It was unraveling.

Every fracture crawled slowly across the landscape like living veins, splitting, healing, then splitting again in an endless cycle that never truly completed itself.

The sky no longer shifted between colors.

It was shedding them.

Ash dissolved into violet.

Violet decayed into black.

Black crumbled into something my mind couldn’t name before rebuilding itself all over again.

The mountains...

They weren’t standing still.

They were quietly collapsing into forms that refused to remain the same for more than a heartbeat.

Space folded.

Unfolded.

Forgot where it had been.

Returned somewhere almost the same.

Nothing...

Stayed.

Nothing... Stayed.

"..."

I looked around.

Disorder.

That was all I saw.

The world wasn’t standing still.

It was constantly coming apart.

The earth.

The sky.

Space.

Even the light.

Everything was slowly... Forgetting what it was.

Yet before I could fully wrap my head around what I was looking at...

[DING!!]

[Chaotic comprehension activated..]

"Hmmm?" My skill activated. Almost as if it had been waiting for this moment all along, as soon after...

[You have gained insight into the [SUPREME LAW]...

[You have gained insight into the [SUPREME LAW]...

[You have gained insight into the [SUPREME LAW]....

....

....

Rows and rows of notifications flooded my vision...

"..."

And within moments. It happened...

[DING!]

[Your understanding of the [SUPREME LAW] has deepened significantly....

[SUPREME LAW]

....

.....

"What?"

*************

A/N: Bagging another supreme law right before entering the abyss is just cheating at this point bro. Just drop down and die please...

Anyways..

**************

Thanks for reading...