Rhylen moved through the vast lands beyond the Abyssal Fortress, each step heavy with the weight of his resolve. His journey led him to the scattered bases where his team—the four most trusted enforcers of the Abyss—were stationed. If he were to have any chance of saving Kael, he needed them on his side.
The first base loomed before him, a fortress built into the side of a jagged mountain. Inside, a warrior clad in black armor stood sharpening his blade. This was Valen, the team's strongest swordsman, known for his unshakable loyalty to the Abyss.
"Rhylen," Valen said, surprised to see him. "What brings you here? Is it the master's orders?"
Rhylen stepped closer, his voice calm but firm. "No. I need to speak to you, Valen. And the others. It's… important."
---
Gathering the Team
Over the next few days, Rhylen visited the others: Lyra, the cunning archer; Moren, the sorcerer who controlled shadows; and Xara, the silent assassin. Each of them shared a fierce loyalty to the Abyss and had fought alongside Rhylen in countless battles.
When they were finally gathered in a secluded cave far from the Abyssal Fortress, they stared at Rhylen with suspicion.
"This better be good, Rhylen," Lyra said, her tone sharp. "You know how dangerous it is to gather like this without the master's knowledge."
Rhylen took a deep breath, his red eye glowing faintly in the dim light. "I need to tell you something. Something I've kept hidden for a long time."
The team exchanged glances, their suspicion growing.
---
The Revelation
Rhylen began to speak, his voice steady despite the tension in the room. He told them everything—about Kael being his younger brother, about their father, the Lord of the World, and about the master's true intentions.
At first, they laughed. Valen scoffed, his hand resting on the hilt of his blade. "This is a joke, right? You're telling us that the Lord of the World is your father? And that Kael, the thorn in our side, is your brother?"
"It's the truth," Rhylen said, his voice unwavering. "I didn't tell the master because I knew he'd use it against me. Against Kael."
Lyra's eyes narrowed. "You've been lying to the master all this time? Do you even understand what you're saying, Rhylen? If he finds out—"
"He won't," Rhylen interrupted. His red eye glowed brighter, and the room seemed to grow colder. "There's something else I've never told any of you. Something even the master doesn't know."
The team grew silent, their unease palpable.
"My red eye," Rhylen said, touching the scarred side of his face. "It's not just for show. It's a source of power—hypnosis. I can bend the will of others, manipulate their minds. I've kept it hidden because I never trusted the master with it. And now, I'm using it to protect my brother."
The room was filled with stunned silence.
---
The Test of Trust
"You've been hiding a power like that?" Moren finally said, his voice low and cautious. "If the master knew, he'd kill you where you stand."
"Which is why I need your help," Rhylen said, stepping forward. "Kael isn't our enemy. The master is using all of us for his own ends. You've felt it, haven't you? The way the Abyss drains us, changes us. We're not warriors anymore—we're pawns."
Valen's grip tightened on his blade. "And you think we should betray the master? For Kael? For your brother?"
"Yes," Rhylen said without hesitation. "Because Kael is the only one who can stop the master. And because I won't let him die. Not for the master's twisted plans."
The team exchanged uncertain glances. Rhylen's words had shaken them, but the idea of betraying the Abyss was unthinkable.
"Prove it," Xara said, her voice quiet but firm. "Prove that Kael is worth saving. Prove that you're not just acting on sentiment."
Rhylen's red eye flared, and the room was bathed in a faint crimson glow. "Fine. Look into my mind. See my memories. See the truth for yourselves."
One by one, they met his gaze, their minds touched by the hypnotic power of his eye. They saw flashes of Rhylen's past—his bond with Kael, their father's strength, and the master's deceit.
When the glow faded, the team sat in stunned silence.
---
A Dangerous Alliance
Lyra was the first to speak. "He's telling the truth. The master… he's been lying to us all."
Valen sighed, his hand dropping from his sword. "If we do this, there's no going back. The Abyss will hunt us. The master will destroy us."
"Then we fight," Rhylen said, his voice resolute. "For Kael. For ourselves. For the truth."
Slowly, one by one, they nodded.
"You're insane, Rhylen," Lyra said, a faint smirk crossing her lips. "But we're with you."
Rhylen felt a weight lift from his shoulders. For the first time in years, he wasn't alone. Together, they would face the Abyss and its master.
And together, they would protect Kael—no matter the cost.