Pioneer of the Abyss - Book 3 - Chapter 20 (Patreon)

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Table of Contents

Click the following link for the 1392 word chapter 20:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nVWiSwYgzKtt9CYOyjE6NytIc215G93_kW0KM_cBhc4/edit?usp=sharing

Or you can read the unformatted version below:

Aqua

My revenge starts off rather awkwardly as I get lost inside of the boss’ body. But I keep digging through anyway. All while releasing Abyssal Plague as I go. Making the boss’ body fall apart from the inside too.

The thing continuously moves around, sending me flying during my little dig, but I keep going anyway. And the monster doesn’t seem to have much in the way of defending the inside of its body.

Of course, there are a few times I end up being knocked out of its body when I accidentally dig a hole in the wrong direction. Also known as digging a hole straight out of its body.

I just go right back in when that happens, though. So it’s no problem.

[Is… anyone else thinking what I’m thinking?]

[That this has become a strange battle?]

[That Aqua is going to win without much issue now that she’s inside?]

[That cabbages are good?]

[ew. no.]

[Well, those are correct as well, except the last one, but that’s not what I meant.]

[#MINERAQUA]

[THERE IT IS! GIVE EM A GOLD STAR!]

[LMFAO]

[okay, that’s a good one.]

[Yeah. And they’re banned.]

[Saw that one coming.]

After totally not banning someone, I continue my relatively leisure dig through the Special Boss’ body. Treating it almost like a maze. And at some point, I even begin summoning smaller abyssal servants inside of the thing’s body to help me dig.

Of course, the plagues and poison outside of the boss don’t just dissipate either. So the boss continues to grow more and more sluggish as time goes on.

Although that might also just be because I’m making a tunnel system out of its body. Albeit one filled with various different types of blood.

Eventually I manage to find myself digging through a much harder material. Which I’m guessing means I’m at its central part. Its main body.

And, after another few hours of digging, I end up with an abyssal servant accidentally opening up a hole in the side of its mouth before the servant in question is dragged out and sucked into said mouth.

Well, that’s not a good direction to go.

It also tells me which way is up and which way is down. Which is very good intel.

Using that information, I begin to dig downwards in the hopes of finding wherever the mouth leads. Since I don’t actually know how to kill this thing.

Starfish don’t have brains, nor do they have hearts.

Although this one has some sort of fluid that I’m digging through and is filling these tunnels. A fluid similar to blood. So maybe this one does have a heart?

Does it have a brain, though?

Either way, even if it does have one, I have no idea where it might be. Since starfish normally don’t have them.

And they don’t even have a head to search.

It makes it hard to figure out where…

Wait, head?

I blink at that before turning around and beginning to dig in one particular direction. Specifically, the direction where the shark head is.

This starfish does, in fact, have a head. Technically.

One of its limbs is a head.

Maybe that head holds its brain and heart?

I spend a few hours digging through the monster with my abyssal servants just kind of digging in whichever direction they please before I finally find another change in the bodily composition of the boss. And after a little more digging, I finally manage to find something resembling a brain.

A tiny one.

Very tiny.

Why is this thing so small…?

Despite how massive this monster is, this little brain is smaller than my torso…

I ponder this oddity for a moment before just going ahead and stabbing the thing. Which makes the large shark head I’m in roar out in pain before just flopping over and going still.

And yet, despite that, the boss is still moving. I also don’t get any System Messages about its defeat.

Um… is it dead or not?

I head back through the tunnel into the main center section again to find my abyssal servants still digging their way through the monster. Then I continue making my way through the monster until I head down towards where its mouth leads. Only to find some sort of large chamber there. One where I find my abyssal servants fighting against mini starfish, with a single large orb at the center of the chamber.

Is this is?

Probably.

I enter the chamber before finding the entire thing suddenly closing itself off. With some sort of shell growing all around the edges of the chamber. And without any warning, dozens upon dozens of starfish begin appearing around the orb before rushing at me.

Well this is unexpected.

I try to identify the starfish, but nothing shows up when I do, and the starfish continue their rush towards me.

Not monsters? Some sort of biological defense, then?

Regardless of what they are, I begin to summon numerous abyssal servants that clash with the starfish. All while I rush forward to attack the orb.

As if it would be that easy, though, because when I do, a massive wave of energy rushes out of the orb and slams into me. Sending me flying to crash against the wall of the chamber.

What’s worse is that the energy doesn’t hurt my body, it hurts my mind. Making me let out a scream of pain before I begin to lose sensation in my body.

I try to inch forward, but it doesn’t work, and I feel my control over my skills beginning to slip as well. To the point that it feels difficult to even summon abyssal servants anymore, much less attack.

The starfish flooding out of the orb begin to overwhelm my abyssal servants before turning to focus on me. And yet, I still can’t move. No matter what I try.

Panic begins to flood both me and the chat watching, but I finally begin to move after trying my last resort.

My newest skill, Orca’s Wrath.

The pain in my mind rapidly fades as I feel my blood pumping faster and faster. All the way until I finally manage to move my arm just enough to throw my harpoon directly at the orb.

Fortunately, the orb doesn’t put up any defense at all, and the harpoon pierces right into the orb and goes all the way through. Then, after a brief pause, the orb completely shatters, and the starfish approaching me stop moving immediately.

I still feel almost completely unable to move, and can’t help but grind my teeth in annoyance at it.

Until the wave of System Messages begins to play in my vision despite my current near-paralyzed state.

[You have killed a level Churale of the Sea. EXP has been substantially increased due to the level difference between the user and the monster. EXP has been substantially increased for defeating a Special Boss. EXP has been granted accordingly.]

[You have killed a creature underwater. Apex Predator of the Depths has been activated, increasing your REGEN stat by one.]

[Congratulations! You have now reached level 802! As the current First Ranker of Oceana, your total free points have increased by three, and your mana stat has increased by one hundred. Allocate the free points whenever you please.]

[Congratulations! You have now reached level 803! As the current First Ranker of Dartric, your total free points have increased by three and your mana stat has increased by one hundred. Allocate the free points whenever you please.]

[Congratulations! You have now reached level 804! As the current First Ranker of Oceana, your total free points have increased by three, and your mana stat has increased by one hundred. Allocate the free points whenever you please.]

…

[Congratulations! You have now reached level 904! As the current First Ranker of Oceana, your total free points have increased by three and your mana stat has increased by one hundred. Allocate the free points whenever you please.]

[Congratulations! You have defeated the boss of a Special Dungeon! Select this message in order to claim your Special Core!]

I find it difficult to calm down despite the messages thanks to the berserk state, so I cancel it prematurely.

Because the battle is now over.