Following their triumph in the Crystal Spire, Evelyn, Asher, and Fenrir arrived at the entrance to the next layer. The serene skies and floating islands of the Spire faded behind them as they plunged into the depths of the Abyssal Expanse—a layer of eternal darkness. Here, the atmosphere was oppressive, the very air thick with unseen pressure that weighed heavily on their shoulders.
The Abyssal Expanse stretched infinitely in all directions, a boundless void illuminated only by the occasional flicker of bioluminescent creatures swimming through the inky blackness. Vast, jagged spires of obsidian rose from the darkness below, and the ground beneath their feet was cold and slick, covered in a thin layer of a strange, oily substance that shimmered in the faint light.
"I can barely see anything," Asher muttered, squinting into the darkness. His voice echoed strangely, as if the layer itself were absorbing the sound.
Evelyn adjusted his device, activating a low-frequency light that cast a pale glow around them. "This place feels... alive. Like it's watching us."
Fenrir nodded, his hand resting on the hilt of his blade. "The Abyssal Expanse is known for devouring those who enter it. Stay sharp. This is where we face the creatures that lurk in the darkest depths of the Non-Space."
As they moved deeper into the Abyssal Expanse, the oppressive atmosphere grew more intense. It was as though the layer itself was trying to pull them under, dragging them into the unseen depths below. The trio moved cautiously, their senses heightened as they navigated the treacherous terrain.
Strange, echoing sounds filled the air—distant wails and deep, guttural growls that reverberated through the darkness. The oily ground beneath their feet shifted slightly with each step, as though something beneath the surface was moving.
"We're not alone," Fenrir said quietly, his eyes scanning the shadows.
Suddenly, a massive tentacle erupted from the ground, wrapping around Fenrir's leg and yanking him toward the darkness. With lightning reflexes, he drew his blade and severed the tentacle in one swift motion, the creature recoiling back into the abyss with a guttural hiss.
"What the hell was that?" Asher gasped, his plasma rifle raised and ready.
"An Abyssal Stalker," Fenrir replied, wiping the oily substance from his blade. "They hunt in packs. And they'll keep coming."
Evelyn quickly adjusted his device, scanning the area for more of the creatures. "There are more beneath us. We need to move, now."
The ground trembled beneath their feet as more tentacles erupted from the darkness, slithering toward them with terrifying speed. The trio sprinted through the abyss, leaping over chasms and dodging the grasping tentacles that sought to drag them into the depths below.
Just when they thought they had escaped the Stalkers, the ground ahead of them exploded outward, and from the darkness emerged the true terror of the Abyssal Expanse—the Abyssal Umbrathorn. A massive, serpentine creature with scales as black as the void, its glowing, bioluminescent eyes locked onto them with predatory intent.
The Umbrathorn's body coiled through the air, its movements smooth and fluid despite its massive size. Its maw opened wide, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth that gleamed in the faint light.
"We can't fight that thing head-on," Asher shouted, firing a plasma bolt at the creature. The shot struck the Umbrathorn's scales but nothing happens
"We'll have to outsmart it," Evelyn replied, quickly analyzing the Umbrathorn's movements. "Its weak points are its eyes and the underbelly—those are the only places we'll be able to do any damage."
The Umbrathorn lunged toward them, its jaws snapping shut just inches from Fenrir, who rolled out of the way in the nick of time. Asher fired another shot, this time aiming for one of the Umbrathorn's glowing eyes. The plasma bolt hit its mark, and the creature let out a deafening roar of pain, thrashing wildly as it recoiled.
Evelyn worked quickly, using his device to project a holographic map of the surrounding area. "There's a narrow passage ahead. If we can lure it through, we might be able to trap it."
With the Leviathan hot on their heels, the trio sprinted toward the passage. The creature's massive body crashed through the jagged spires of obsidian as it pursued them, its roars echoing through the abyss.
As they reached the passage, Fenrir turned, his blades ready. "I'll distract it. Get ready."
Fenrir charged toward the Umbrathorn, dodging its snapping jaws and slashing at its underbelly as it passed. The creature roared in fury, but Fenrir was too fast, his movements a blur of precision and speed.
Meanwhile, Evelyn and Asher set up a series of explosive charges along the walls of the narrow passage. "We only have one shot at this," Evelyn said, his voice tense.
As the Umbrathorn lunged toward Fenrir again, he dodged to the side, leading the creature into the passage. Just as it entered, Evelyn detonated the charges, causing the walls to collapse around the Umbrathorn, trapping it inside.
The creature thrashed wildly, but it was too late—the passage had caved in, and the Umbrathorn was trapped beneath the rubble.
Panting and covered in sweat, the trio regrouped, their hearts still racing from the intense battle.
"That was... intense," Asher said, his voice shaky.
Fenrir sheathed his blades, his expression grim. "This layer won't let us go so easily. There's more ahead."
With the Umbrathorn's defeat, the trio pressed on, their path leading them deeper into the heart of the Abyssal Expanse. The darkness grew even more oppressive, the weight of the layer pressing down on them with each step. But eventually, they reached their destination—the Abyssal Core.
The Core was a massive, pulsating sphere of dark energy, suspended in the center of a vast, underground chamber. Tendrils of energy snaked outward from the Core, connecting it to the rest of the layer. The very air around it seemed to vibrate with power, and the ground trembled beneath their feet.
"This is it," Evelyn said quietly. "The heart of the Abyssal Expanse."
As they approached the Core, they could feel its immense power pulsing through the air. It was unlike anything they had encountered before—a pure, raw force of darkness and energy.
"We need to disable it," Evelyn continued, his eyes scanning the Core for any signs of weakness. "But it's not going to be easy."
Fenrir and Asher stood guard as Evelyn worked, carefully studying the energy patterns of the Core. It was a delicate process—one wrong move, and the entire layer could collapse around them.
Suddenly, the ground began to shake violently, and from the shadows emerged the final guardian of the Abyssal Expanse—the Void Serpent. A massive, ethereal creature made of pure darkness, the Void Serpent was the embodiment of the layer's power. Its body was long and serpentine, its scales shimmering with an unnatural, otherworldly glow.
Evelyn's heart raced as the Serpent approached, its glowing eyes locking onto him.
"We've got company," Fenrir growled, drawing his blades.
The battle with the Void Serpent was unlike anything they had faced before. The creature moved with terrifying speed, its body coiling and twisting through the air as it lashed out at them. Its attacks were swift and deadly, its dark energy leaving trails of destruction in its wake.
Asher fired his plasma rifle, but the shots passed harmlessly through the Serpent's ethereal form. "We can't hit it!" he shouted, frustration in his voice.
Evelyn worked quickly, analyzing the Serpent's movements. "It's not fully physical—it's made of pure dark energy. We need to disrupt its connection to the Core!"
Fenrir, ever the fearless warrior, charged toward the Serpent, his blades flashing as he struck at the creature's form. Though his attacks passed through it, the Serpent recoiled slightly, its connection to the Core weakening.
"Keep it distracted!" Evelyn called out, his fingers flying over the controls of his device. "I'm almost there!"
The Serpent let out a deafening roar, its body thrashing wildly as it sensed the impending disruption. Asher fired another round of plasma shots, aiming for the points where the Serpent's energy connected to the Core.
Finally, with a surge of energy, Evelyn activated the device, sending out a pulse that severed the Serpent's connection to the Core. The creature let out one final, ear-splitting shriek before disintegrating into a cloud of dark energy.
Panting and exhausted, the trio stood in the aftermath of the battle, their bodies battered but they managed to stay strong.They are now ready to face the next layer and its predicament.
The Abyssal Core, now destabilized, began to flicker and pulse erratically, its once-powerful energy ebbing away. The dark tendrils connecting it to the layer retracted, and the oppressive atmosphere of the Abyssal Expanse seemed to lighten, if only by a fraction.
"We did it," Evelyn breathed, his chest heaving with exertion. "The Core is weakening."
Asher lowered his rifle, shaking his head in disbelief. "That Void Serpent... I've never seen anything like it. This place is getting more dangerous with every layer."
Fenrir wiped the sweat from his brow, his eyes still fixed on the fading Core. "It's not over yet. There are still five more layers to go, and something tells me the worst is yet to come."
Evelyn nodded, but his gaze was distant, fixed on the dying Core. The Non-Space was adapting to their presence, throwing ever more formidable challenges in their path. The further they went, the closer they came to the truth about this dimension—and the ultimate fate of Aiden's soul.
As they prepared to move forward, a distant rumble echoed through the Abyssal Expanse. The layer was collapsing, the Core's destruction causing the once-infinite void to shrink and fracture around them.
"Time to go," Evelyn said urgently, motioning to the others. They raced through the collapsing darkness, dodging falling obsidian spires and leaping over widening chasms of the oily, shimmering substance. The path ahead of them twisted and folded, but at last, they reached the portal that would lead them to the eighth layer.
They stood before the swirling vortex, catching their breath as the Abyssal Expanse disintegrated behind them. With a final glance at the fading darkness, they stepped through, leaving the seventh layer—and its nightmarish guardians—behind.
But as they entered the next layer, an ominous thought lingered in Evelyn's mind: If the Abyssal Expanse was a mere shadow of the threats to come, what unimaginable horrors awaited them beyond?