The End of the abyss

The knight's words echoed in the vast chamber as it relentlessly battered Ryker with blow after blow. Despite his best efforts, Ryker found himself struggling to keep up. Each attack from the knight was a devastating strike that left him reeling.

Ryker's Shadow Clones darted in and out of the shadows, attempting to create openings for him, but the knight's defenses were impenetrable. Its sword cleaved through the clones effortlessly, dispersing them into wisps of shadow. Liora's absence weighed heavily on him, and he fought to stay focused despite the overwhelming odds.

He downed one of his Greater Healing Potions, feeling a brief surge of vitality as his wounds closed, but it wasn't enough. The knight's attacks were relentless, each one more powerful than the last. Ryker activated Shadow Step, blinking behind the knight to deliver a series of rapid strikes, but the knight parried each blow with contemptuous ease.

"Your efforts are futile," the knight sneered, its eyes glowing with malevolent fire. It swung its massive sword, forcing Ryker to retreat and drink another potion.

Ryker called upon his remaining skills in desperation. He used Void Collapse, summoning a singularity of dark energy that imploded around the knight. For a moment, it seemed like the attack had worked—the knight staggered, its armor cracking under the immense pressure. But it quickly recovered, its eyes blazing with fury.

"You are nothing," the knight declared, raising its sword for another devastating strike.

Ryker activated Shadow Clone again, surrounding the knight with illusions that mirrored his movements. The clones attacked in unison, creating a chaotic dance of blades. But the knight was unfazed. It moved with terrifying speed, its sword cleaving through the clones and forcing Ryker to defend himself desperately.

Blow after blow landed on Ryker, each one driving him further to the brink. He used his last healing potion, feeling his strength returning briefly, but the knight's onslaught continued unabated. With every strike, Ryker felt his hope dwindling.

Finally, the knight delivered a powerful blow that sent Ryker crashing to the ground. He lay there, his vision blurring as pain wracked his body. The knight loomed over him, its sword raised for the final strike.

As the knight's blade descended, Ryker's life flashed before his eyes. He saw Liora, their battles together, their shared dreams and hopes. He saw the faces of those he had sworn to protect, the friends he had lost, and the enemies he had defeated. A sense of despair washed over him, and he thought, This is it. This is how it ends.

Suddenly, a notification from the system appeared before his eyes.

[ERROR!! Ancient Scroll of Arcanum is reacting to the host's dying struggle]

[Item : Ancient Scroll of Arcanum]

[Grade:] Unknown

[Description:]

Time Delay : allows the user to change the time ratio he experiences to 1:10

???

….

Ryker's body began to emit a dark, ominous energy. The knight stepped back, its eyes widening in shock as the power surged from Ryker. The dark energy enveloped him, healing his wounds and filling him with an overwhelming strength.

The knight's voice trembled. "What... What is this power?"

Ryker rose to his feet, his eyes glowing with a fierce determination. He activated a new ability granted by the Ancient Scroll of Arcanum: Time Delay. The world around him seemed to slow, the ratio of time he experienced shifting to 1:10.

With newfound speed and power, Ryker moved like a blur. The knight's attacks, once so fast and deadly, now seemed sluggish and predictable. He dodged each strike with ease, his movements a blur to the knight's eyes.

Summoning all his strength, Ryker infused his sword with dark energy and lunged at the knight. In one fluid motion, he slashed through the knight's armor, his blade cutting through the ancient metal as if it were paper. The knight's eyes widened in shock as the purple fire in them flickered and died.

The knight's body crumbled to the ground, its form disintegrating into dust. The oppressive aura that had filled the chamber dissipated, leaving Ryker standing alone in the vast, empty throne room.