The cave that provided temporary sanctuary now lay behind them. Aldric, Elara, Selene, and Darius moved deeper into the Domain of Eternal Night, their eyes adjusting to the omnipresent darkness that swallowed all light. The oppressive atmosphere felt almost alive, as if the shadows themselves were watching, waiting for the right moment to strike.
They advanced cautiously, every sense heightened. Aldric, at the front of the group, held the Divine Katana ready in his hand. Its faint glow provided a small circle of light around them, but beyond that was an inky blackness that seemed to pulse with malevolent intent. He could feel the weight of the domain's magic pressing down on them, a suffocating presence that made it hard to breathe.
"We need to stay together," Aldric whispered, his voice barely more than a breath. "This darkness is unnatural. It's as if it wants to consume us."
The path narrowed as they descended, the rocky terrain giving way to a smooth, almost glass-like surface that reflected distorted images of their faces back at them. The silence was broken only by their footsteps and the occasional distant howl of some unseen creature.
**First Level: The Abyssal Warden**
As they reached the bottom of the slope, the ground leveled out into a wide, open expanse. Ahead, a figure emerged from the darkness. It was enormous, towering over them at twice the height of any man. Its body was shrouded in a cloak of shadows, its eyes glowing a deep crimson, and it wielded a massive, jagged blade that seemed to absorb the darkness around it.
"The Abyssal Warden," Selene muttered, recognising the creature from ancient texts she had studied. "A guardian of this domain. It thrives in darkness and feeds on fear."
"We've faced worse," Darius said, stepping forward, his sword ready. "Let's bring it down."
Aldric nodded, gripping the Divine Katana tightly. "Be careful. This thing is powerful. Stay focused and don't let the darkness overwhelm you."
The Abyssal Warden moved with a speed that belied its size, lunging toward them with a roar that shook the ground. Aldric darted to the side, narrowly avoiding a swing of the massive blade. He felt a surge of energy course through him, the quirk **One for All** activating, enhancing every capability of his body a thousandfold.
"Everyone, watch out!" Aldric shouted. "Stick to the plan—draw its attention and look for an opening!"
Elara swiftly moved into position, her bow drawn. She fired a volley of arrows, each one glowing with a blue light as they struck the Warden's cloak. The arrows hit their mark, but the creature shrugged them off, seemingly unfazed. Selene summoned dark tendrils of energy, lashing out at the Warden, trying to bind its arms.
Darius charged forward, his sword raised. He swung with all his might, aiming for the creature's legs to bring it down. The blade connected, but instead of cutting through flesh, it met with an impenetrable darkness that seemed to absorb the impact.
"Damn it, it's like hitting solid stone!" Darius grunted, pulling back for another strike.
Aldric could feel the power of **One for All** coursing through his veins, his muscles brimming with energy. He steadied his breath, remembering the techniques he had learned from ancient scrolls—**Breath of the Sun**, the first and most powerful breathing style. He exhaled slowly, centering his focus, and then moved with a speed that made him a blur in the darkness.
"**Breath of the Sun, First Form: Dance!**" he called out, his voice echoing through the void.
With a single, fluid motion, he struck at the Abyssal Warden. The Divine Katana blazed with a golden light, cutting through the darkness like a blade through water. The strike landed on the creature's side, and for a moment, the darkness seemed to peel away, revealing a monstrous form underneath—a creature made of twisted shadows and hate.
The Warden howled in pain, stumbling back as the golden light of the katana burned its form. Taking advantage of the opening, Selene's tendrils tightened around its arms, pulling them back. Darius leapt forward, driving his sword into the creature's exposed chest.
Elara, from a distance, fired another volley of arrows, this time aiming for the creature's eyes. The arrows found their mark, piercing through the glowing orbs and causing the Warden to thrash in agony.
"Keep it up!" Aldric urged, feeling the energy of **One for All** still coursing through him. He shifted his stance, preparing for another attack.
The Warden, despite its injuries, roared with fury, pulling free of Selene's tendrils and swinging its massive blade in a wide arc. Aldric leapt back, but the force of the swing sent a shockwave through the ground, knocking Elara and Darius off their feet.
"We need to end this now!" Aldric shouted, determination in his voice.
He tapped into **One for All** once more, feeling the power surge to its peak. With a deep breath, he activated another technique, **Breath of the Sun, Fifth Form: Setting Sun Transformation!** He launched himself into the air, spinning with incredible speed. As he descended, he brought the Divine Katana down with all his might, the blade glowing brighter than ever.
The strike hit the Warden's blade, shattering it into fragments of darkness that dissipated into the air. The force of the blow continued downward, slicing through the Warden's chest and cleaving it in two. The creature let out one final, ear-piercing scream before disintegrating into shadows, which faded into the dark.
Panting, Aldric landed lightly on his feet, his body humming with residual energy from the attack. The others slowly got to their feet, catching their breath.
"That was… intense," Elara said, brushing dirt from her clothes.
"The first level is cleared," Aldric said, his voice steady. "But we've got three more to go."
**Second Level: The Hall of Echoes**
They continued forward, entering a long corridor that stretched into the darkness. The walls were lined with ancient, rune-covered stones that seemed to pulse with a faint, eerie light. As they moved deeper into the hall, a strange sound began to echo around them—whispers, overlapping and indistinct, like a thousand voices speaking at once.
"What is this place?" Selene asked, her voice low. "It feels… wrong."
"The Hall of Echoes," Aldric replied. "A place where the memories of those who have died here linger. Their spirits are trapped, echoing through the walls for eternity."
The whispers grew louder, becoming a cacophony of voices that seemed to press in from all sides. The air grew colder, and a sense of unease settled over them, a chill that seeped into their bones.
"We need to keep moving," Darius said, his voice tense. "Standing still makes us vulnerable."
As they pressed on, the corridor began to twist and turn, each step taking them deeper into the maze-like structure. The whispers followed them, growing louder and more insistent with every turn. It was as if the very walls were alive, watching them, judging them.
Suddenly, the path opened up into a large, circular chamber. At the center of the room stood a figure cloaked in shadow, its features obscured by a hood. The figure radiated a powerful, dark energy that made the air around it shimmer.
"This must be the guardian of the second level," Aldric said, stepping forward cautiously. "Stay alert. This one will be different."
The figure raised its head, revealing hollow, glowing eyes that seemed to pierce through the darkness. It raised a hand, and the whispers stopped abruptly, plunging the chamber into an eerie silence.
"I am the Keeper of Echoes," the figure intoned, its voice a low, haunting whisper. "You who trespass here shall join the chorus of the lost."
With a wave of its hand, the walls of the chamber seemed to ripple, and spectral forms emerged—ghostly figures of warriors, their eyes vacant and hollow. They moved forward slowly, their weapons drawn, as if compelled by some unseen force.
"Everyone, get ready!" Aldric shouted, raising the Divine Katana. "These are spirits of the fallen. We need to be careful!"
Elara nocked an arrow, her fingers steady despite the fear in her eyes. "How do we fight them?" she asked.
"With caution," Selene replied. "These spirits can't be harmed by normal means. We need to break the magic that binds them."
Darius nodded, stepping forward with his sword raised. "We'll keep them busy. Aldric, find a way to stop that Keeper."
Aldric nodded, his mind racing. He could feel the power of **One for All** coursing through him, but he knew that brute force alone wouldn't be enough. He needed to use everything at his disposal, including the breathing techniques he had learned.
He took a deep breath, calming his mind. "**Breath of the Sun, Third Form: Raging Sun!**" he called out, his body moving with blinding speed.
He launched himself at the Keeper, the Divine Katana blazing with a brilliant light. The blade met the Keeper's shadowy form, but instead of cutting through, it was met with a force that stopped it cold. The Keeper laughed, a hollow, echoing sound that filled the chamber.
"You think you can destroy me with light?" the Keeper.