Return to the Abyss / Male Reader x Made In Abyss

[S0] Chapter 6: Ghost

[ 10 YEARS SINCE LYZA'S LAST DIVE ]

Picking up the black whistle from his nightstand, Y/N stepped out the door, the cold metal brushing against his chest as he secured it around his neck. The whistle was a mark of his rank, his status as a Black Whistle cave raider—one of the youngest ever to achieve such a distinction. At seventeen, Y/N was already a growing legend among his peers, his feats in the Abyss earning him a reputation as a fearsome and efficient raider.

But the boy who had once been an eager and lively cave raider was now gone. In his place was a cold, towering figure, a teen whose demeanour had shifted from exuberant to withdrawn, from hopeful to hardened. His once bright eyes now carried a weight that few could understand, and his every movement spoke of someone who had seen too much, too soon.

Y/N's footsteps were heavy as he descended the stairs of the Seeker Camp, the familiar sound echoing through the stone corridors. He was no longer the ecstatic, outgoing teen who had thrived on the thrill of discovery. Instead, he had become something more dangerous—an enforcer, someone who dealt with problems in the Abyss that others either couldn't or wouldn't handle.

His mission today was no different. There had been reports of an illegal cave raider squad operating in the area, and it was Y/N's task to "deal with them." The bounty was clear: "Dead or Alive." He didn't need to ask for details; he knew what was expected of him. He had become a bounty hunter of sorts, the Association's go-to for cleaning up the messes that others left behind.

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The sun had barely risen by the time Y/N reached the location described in the reports. The air was thick with the familiar tension of the Abyss, a mix of anticipation and dread that always accompanied these missions. Y/N moved with purpose, his senses honed by years of experience, his mind focused on the task at hand.

He found the illegal cave raiders near the edge of a steep cliff, their makeshift camp hidden among the rocks. There were four of them—hardened men and women, each bearing the marks of countless expeditions. They were arguing over something, their voices rising in anger as Y/N approached, unnoticed in the shadows.

Without a word, Y/N stepped into their midst, his presence causing them to fall silent. They turned to face him, surprise and fear flickering across their faces as they recognized the black whistle hanging around his neck.

"Who the hell are you?" one of them demanded, his hand reaching for the weapon at his side.

Y/N didn't bother to respond. Instead, he moved with the speed and precision that had become his trademark. His metal limbs extended with a hiss, grabbing the man by the throat and lifting him off the ground before he could draw his weapon. The man's eyes bulged in terror as Y/N squeezed, cutting off his air supply.

"You're trespassing," Y/N said coldly, his voice devoid of emotion. "The bounty on you is 'Dead or Alive.' Which will it be?"

The other raiders hesitated, their hands hovering over their weapons as they weighed their options. But Y/N's grip tightened, and the man in his grasp began to choke, his struggles weakening with each passing second.