The wind howled across the desolate landscape, kicking up spirals of dust and sand that stung their faces. The Forgotten Wastes were an endless expanse of barren land, void of life, magic, or any form of warmth. It was a place spoken of only in whispers, a dead land where ancient forces had once clashed, leaving it cursed and stripped of vitality.
Edward, Lyssa, and Aran stood at the entrance of a ravine, the path ahead lined with jagged rocks and shifting sands. The temple they sought lay deep within this forsaken territory, hidden away from the world and untouched for centuries. The land's natural suppression of magic hung thick in the air, dulling even the slightest spark of energy.
"We're almost there," Edward muttered, his voice muffled by the wind. His hand still clutched the Heart of the Abyss, its once pulsating energy now muted, like a dormant volcano waiting to erupt.
Lyssa glanced at the horizon, her eyes narrowing against the wind. "It feels... wrong here. Like the land itself is pushing us away."
"That's because it is," Edward replied grimly. "The Forgotten Wastes are where magic comes to die. It's why the Harbinger will be weaker here. But it's also why we'll be vulnerable too."
Aran pulled his cloak tighter around himself, his eyes scanning their surroundings. "How do we know the temple is still intact? If this place suppresses magic, wouldn't it have decayed like everything else?"
Edward shook his head. "The temple was built by forces far older than any known magic. The suppression here is a result of what happened in the past—this place was a battlefield of ancient gods. The temple was designed to withstand it."
Lyssa frowned. "Ancient gods? And we're walking right into their domain?"
Edward glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "It's not their domain anymore. They're long gone, but the power they left behind still lingers. That's what makes it the perfect place to set our trap."
As they descended into the ravine, the air grew colder, the wind quieter but more menacing. Edward could feel the weight of the Heart in his hand increasing, as though the Abyss itself was resisting their presence. Each step felt more laborious than the last, but they pressed on.
They rounded a corner, and there, nestled within the jagged rock formations, stood the temple. Or what remained of it.
The structure was massive, its black stone walls rising like the bones of a long-dead beast. Its towering spires had crumbled, and its once grand entrance was barely recognizable, half-buried under sand and debris. But even in its ruined state, there was an undeniable aura of power about it.
"This is it," Edward said quietly, stepping forward. "The Temple of the Fallen."
Lyssa looked up at the imposing structure, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. "It doesn't look like much."
"Looks can be deceiving," Edward replied. "Inside, we'll find the chamber where we can lure the Harbinger. It's built to contain and suppress even the most powerful of entities."
Aran gazed at the ruins with a mixture of awe and fear. "You really think this place will hold the Harbinger?"
Edward nodded. "It has to. It's our best shot."
They approached the entrance, carefully climbing over the debris. The air inside the temple was thick and stagnant, as though it had been untouched by time. The darkness within seemed to swallow the light, and even their torches flickered weakly in the oppressive atmosphere.
As they ventured deeper, they passed crumbled statues of long-forgotten deities and ancient carvings that depicted battles between beings of immense power. The imagery was haunting—gods tearing through worlds, entire civilizations crushed beneath their feet. It was a grim reminder of the scale of the forces they were up against.
Finally, they reached the heart of the temple—a vast chamber with a circular platform in the center. At its core lay an intricate pattern of runes etched into the stone, faintly glowing with an eerie light.
"This is it," Edward said, stepping onto the platform. "This is where we'll make our stand."
Lyssa and Aran followed, surveying the chamber. The walls were lined with carvings of the ancient gods, their faces twisted in fury and sorrow. It was a place of power, but also of suffering.
"How do we activate it?" Aran asked, his voice low.
Edward knelt down, placing the Heart of the Abyss in the center of the rune circle. "The temple's defenses will recognize the Heart. Once we begin, there's no turning back. The Harbinger will be drawn here, and it won't stop until it has what it wants."
Lyssa unsheathed her sword, her eyes locked on the Heart. "And what if the temple's defenses fail?"
Edward met her gaze, his face grim. "Then we fight."
Without another word, Edward placed his hand on the Heart, closing his eyes and concentrating. The runes around the platform flared to life, casting a pale blue light across the chamber. The air buzzed with a low hum, and the temperature dropped further, the cold now biting at their skin.
The Heart of the Abyss began to pulse once more, its dark energy awakening. But this time, it wasn't a slow, rhythmic beat—it was frantic, almost panicked. The Abyss knew what was coming, and it was afraid.
A low rumble echoed through the chamber, and the ground beneath them trembled. Edward's eyes shot open, his expression tense.
"It's coming," he whispered.
Suddenly, the air in the chamber grew heavy, as though an invisible force was pressing down on them. The temperature plummeted, and a dark mist began to seep into the room from the cracks in the walls, swirling around the platform like a living thing.
Aran drew his sword, his eyes wide with fear. "Is that—"
"The Harbinger," Edward confirmed, his voice barely audible over the growing roar of the wind. "Get ready."
The dark mist began to coalesce, forming a shape—a towering figure of shadow and smoke, its eyes burning with a sickly green light. The Harbinger had arrived, its presence suffocating, filling the chamber with dread.
Lyssa tightened her grip on her sword. "This is it, then. No turning back."
Edward stood, his eyes fixed on the monstrous figure before them. The Heart of the Abyss pulsed violently in his hand, as though trying to break free.
"We end this," he said, his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at him.
The Harbinger let out a deafening roar, and the final battle began.