The landscape ahead twisted into shapes that seemed unnatural even by the Abyss's standards. The jagged formations rose higher, their surfaces shimmering with faint, shifting patterns of runes. Rivers of dark energy flowed between the spires, their currents pulsating with a rhythm that mirrored the steady hum of the Abyss's whispers.
Kael led the way, the shard and ring glowing faintly in his hands. The energy emanating from the Abyss pressed against him, its presence sharp and insistent. He could feel its whispers louder now, their tone no longer contemplative but commanding.
"This isn't just guiding us," Zereth said, his eyes scanning the terrain. "It's funneling us."
Ryn glanced at him, her grip on her blade tightening. "Toward what?"
Kael didn't look back. "Toward its truth."
The Shadows Emerge
As they ventured deeper into the Abyss, the shadows began to shift more deliberately. Their movements were fluid yet calculated, coiling along the ground and walls like serpents waiting to strike. The tension in the air was palpable, the oppressive energy pressing heavily against the disciples.
Sylas tilted their head, their smirk faint. "Feels like we've walked straight into a nest."
Vaelon frowned. "Then let's not disturb the vipers."
Kael's gaze didn't waver. "We already have."
The shadows coiled tighter, their forms solidifying into twisted figures that moved with unnerving grace. Their crimson eyes burned with intensity, and their presence radiated malice.
"They're not here to test us," Ryn said, her blade already drawn. "They're here to stop us."
A Fierce Battle
The attack came swiftly, the figures striking with speed and precision. Their Abyssal energy crackled in the air, warping the space around them as they advanced. The Dominion responded with practiced unity, their strikes coordinated as they pushed back against the onslaught.
Zereth's wards flared brightly, shielding the group from devastating blows. Ryn led the charge, her blade cutting through the attackers with swift, deliberate precision. Sylas and the scouts flanked the figures, their movements sharp and ghostlike as they disrupted their formations.
Kael faced the largest of the figures, the shard and ring amplifying his strikes. The Abyss roared within him, its presence both a weapon and a challenge.
"They fight to protect," the voices said. "But protection is fleeting."
Kael gritted his teeth, forcing the whispers back. "So is resistance."
The Path Revealed
As the last of the attackers fell, the shadows around the group receded slightly, their movements slower but no less watchful. The runes along the ground pulsed brightly, their patterns shifting into a singular shape that glowed with an intense, dark light.
Ryn approached Kael, her expression tense. "They weren't just trying to stop us. They were delaying us."
Zereth examined the glowing pattern, his brow furrowed. "This isn't just a marker. It's a key."
Kael stepped closer, the shard and ring resonating with the pattern. The whispers of the Abyss pressed heavily against his mind, their tone sharp and insistent.
"The Abyss opens," the voices said. "Step forward, and see."
A Gateway of Shadows
The ground beneath the glowing pattern shifted, the runes spiraling outward to form a massive, circular gateway. The air around the group grew colder, the tension sharper as the energy of the Abyss surged through the portal.
Vaelon took a cautious step back, his expression tense. "This doesn't feel like an invitation."
Zereth nodded. "Because it's not. It's a demand."
Kael stepped forward, his grip on the Abyssal Fang firm. The shard and ring pulsed sharply in his hands, their energy resonating with the portal's rhythm.
"This is what it wants," Kael said quietly. "And it's not going to stop."
The Abyss Calls
As Kael placed his hand on the edge of the gateway, a surge of energy coursed through him. The world around him dissolved into shadows, the voices of the Abyss blending into a single, unified tone.
"You walk the edge," the voices said. "But the Abyss is infinite."
Kael's vision blurred as he stepped through the portal, the oppressive energy of the Abyss pressing heavily against him. He could feel its presence all around him, its gaze sharp and unrelenting.
"This isn't just a trial," Kael murmured. "It's a reckoning."
Foreshadowing the Abyss's Intentions
As the Dominion followed Kael through the gateway, the shadows around them grew thicker, their movements more deliberate. The air was colder now, the tension heavier with every step. The whispers of the Abyss were quieter but no less insistent, their tone almost expectant.
Kael stood at the forefront, his gaze steady as he faced the unknown. The shard and ring glowed faintly in his hands, their energy resonating with the group's unity.
"We don't stop now," Kael said quietly. "The Abyss hasn't won yet."
End of Chapter 98