Reincarnated With An SSS-Rank Talent In An Apocalyptic World-Chapter 90: There Are No Exceptions

"Adam, wake up!"

"Adam!"

Kenza’s voice rang in the background, and a small light pierced the raging darkness as my eyelids slowly opened, revealing a blurry scene.

There were soldiers everywhere, with dozens of tanks lined up. I could see them moving bodies to and fro. I wanted to speak—I wanted to ask what was going on—but my lips felt too heavy to open, and too dry to make a sound.

"Adam!"

This time, there was a sense of relief in Kenza’s voice, and I felt her hand press gently against my chest.

"Come over here... He’s still alive!"

Deep down, I wanted to see her face, but I didn’t have the strength to lift my head. Even my eyelids were heavy and slowly started to close, pulling me back into the darkness I had grown accustomed to.

I wasn’t sure how much time had passed on Earth, but it seemed a few seconds here were the equivalent of minutes—or even hours—in the real world.

"What’s wrong with my body?" I asked, but not to the dark entity.

I was the one who used Omen Pulse—so why was my condition nearly as bad as my targets’?

[Dark power corrupts. While you wield the power, your body is not accustomed to it. That is why the backlash is severe.]

The system responded—eagerly—for the first time.

Suspicious.

If my memory served me right, the system only bothered giving out information when I was using its free question reward. So why was it willing to give out vital details to a Gatekeeper it clearly despised?

The answer was simple: personal interest.

I wasn’t sure why, but the system was bound to gain something from letting me know about the downsides of using dark talents.

Was it trying to dissuade me from using dark talents?

My gaze narrowed as the thought crossed my mind.

If yes—why?

Was it trying to avoid losing a Gatekeeper to the dark entity? Or was there something else I didn’t know?

To the common man, the first option felt the most reasonable. But my suspicious nature made me more inclined to believe the second.

[You are truly remarkable. Not many dare to peer into the thoughts of the heavens.]

The Abyss spoke, leaving me to wonder if that was meant to be a compliment.

However, that mattered little now. A new thought surfaced—

This dark entity could read my mind within this realm.

The thought alone made me uncomfortable.

But this wasn’t a place I could come and go at will.

"Why am I here?" I asked, hoping I could hasten the conversation and leave before this thing stole my deepest secrets and desires.

[To strike a bargain...]

Its eyes revealed a fierce glow.

A deep frown stretched across my face, but I pushed aside my personal feelings and decided to press forward.

"What do you have in mind?" I asked in a calm, yet skeptical tone.

Suddenly, the eye drew closer—so close I could see my reflection in it.

But I didn’t falter.

> [Become my vessel of darkness, and I will not only free you from the shackles of the heavens... I will give you access to the dark army, which will make your dream to unite all realms—]

"Unite the realms under whose banner?" I cut in sharply. "Yours or mine?!"

This was the first time I noticed reluctance from the Abyss since the conversation began.

[The dark entity and its vassals are one. What I own is yours, and what you own is mine...]

I read that response with an amused smile.

Bitch.

I rolled my eyes. Was this bastard really trying to sell this load of crap to a grown man with 99 lives’ experience?

"Cut the crap, motherfucker! What’s in it for me?" I hissed.

The large eyeball narrowed.

It finally realized it was dealing with someone who wasn’t desperate.

Why?

Because I already had plans of breaking free from the system and the heavens.

Its offer was nothing more than a shortcut.

Sure, it might shorten the journey—

But that didn’t mean I couldn’t achieve it alone.

Buzz!

At that moment, a piercing light came from the side, stealing my attention once again. I felt my soul pulled toward it—temporarily yanking me out of the dark world.

My eyes slowly opened, only to find myself inside a cylindrical tube filled with green water.

My vision was much clearer now, allowing me to see another similar tube opposite mine—with Sergeant Deacon inside.

His body looked emaciated—completely different from the steroid-pumped hulk he was before the mission.

’To have survived the Omen Pulse... he must have high vitality. I guess all those muscles weren’t for nothing,’ I concluded.

"Only one of them is responding to treatment."

The voice was distant, and even though I wanted to find the source, my body refused to respond to my commands.

"No sir, we are yet to identify what kind of talent is capable of this. And we’re not sure if it’s from the orcs, since they also got hit by it."

The voice sounded anxious and frustrated—like his job was on the line.

I wanted to hear more.

But my eyelids began to shut tight.

And I felt a strong pull from the Abyss.

As soon as my eyes closed, I found myself again at the center of the dark storm, staring down the Abyss once more.

> [Your soul bears the mark of corruption now. It’s only a matter of time before my forces find you and consume you. Not even the heavens are safe from us! Join us... or fall like all those who dared to refuse my gracious offer.]

I had only returned, and it was already spewing threats.

Wasn’t that a sign of desperation?

"Cool... come."

I shrugged off its threats with just two words.

[What?!]

Even the Abyss seemed shocked by my response.

"You said you and your forces will consume me... so you better come at me now, while I’m still weak.

Because when the time is right, I will be the one doing the hunting!" I sneered.

[HUMAN!]

This time I heard its voice.

A deep, hoarse, guttural scream that sounded more beast than man.

"NO BEING HAS A MONOPOLY ON VIOLENCE!" I snapped back, viciously.

"SO YOU BETTER PRAY YOU FIND ME BEFORE I ATTAIN THE STRENGTH NEEDED TO END YOU.

BE IT THE HEAVENS OR THE UNDERWORLD—

I WILL CRUSH EVERYTHING THAT DARES THREATEN ME!"

"THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS!"

This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.𝒄𝒐𝙢