A Flash of Black Light

Bottomless Abyss, Abyss Layer 684752459—the Gemstone Sea of Clouds, territory of the Brilliant Scholar, Faltershi.

At that moment, the surrounding Void Stratum had lost its usual calm.

Wave after wave of energy surged wildly outward from the Gemstone Sea of Clouds, which resembled a gigantic gemstone.

In the surrounding regions, countless unlucky souls who had planned to enter or leave this Abyss Layer were now like lone canoes adrift on a storm-tossed sea. They could only leave their fates to chance as the waves swept them toward unknown destinations.

If their luck was bad,

the force might even blow them to the other side of the Timeline, sending them on an impromptu journey with no return.

The nearby Abyss Layers, meanwhile, remained utterly still through the disturbance, as steady as Mount Tai.

That paltry commotion was no different from a breeze against their faces. They did not so much as sway!

As Faltershi's good neighbors, Orsaga and a crowd of nameless Abyss Lords naturally did not ignore the sudden trouble in the Gemstone Sea of Clouds. In perfect unspoken accord, they all cast sympathetic glances his way—glances brimming with schadenfreude.

Their meaning was roughly, What happened at your place, little buddy? Tell us so we can have a laugh.

They were one step away from broadcasting their delight to everyone.

Such deep bonds of friendship.

They wished a few neighbors would die every day!

Unfortunately, Faltershi was a battle-hardened Abyss Lord. He had plenty of tricks up his sleeve.

On that point,

every spectator, Orsaga included, was absolutely certain.

That held true even for the many among them who had never spoken to Faltershi.

Their confidence came from their shared understanding of how things worked in the Bottomless Abyss.

As everyone knew,

anyone without sufficient ability had no chance of