The sun hung low in the sky, casting long, jagged shadows over the dense forest as Valthar and Serra moved through the underbrush. Every step seemed heavier than the last, the weight of Varak's words pressing on their minds like an unshakable burden. The thought of the Key of Eternum gnawed at Valthar's consciousness, a silent but persistent whisper in the back of his mind. The Abyss had always been there, lurking just beyond his reach, but now it felt more alive than ever, its pull stronger, more insidious.
They had been walking for hours in silence, neither of them willing to speak aloud the thoughts that haunted them. The forest seemed to grow darker with each step, the air thick with tension. Even the usual sounds of wildlife were absent, as if the world itself was holding its breath.
Valthar's senses were heightened, his body thrumming with a mix of Abyssal energy and raw emotion. His thoughts kept drifting back to Kaelion. His brother, the man he had once idolized, was now the source of his torment—the driving force behind everything that had gone wrong. But now, with the revelation of the Key, it was no longer just about revenge. It was about stopping Kaelion from destroying everything.
The trail they followed was narrow, barely visible between the trees. The deeper they went, the more the forest seemed to change. The trees became gnarled and twisted, their bark blackened and oozing with sap. Strange, flickering lights danced in the distance, like fireflies but colder, more sinister.
Finally, Serra broke the silence. "Valthar, are we sure about this?"
Her voice was soft, but there was an edge of fear beneath it. Valthar didn't blame her. The path they were on wasn't just dangerous—it was suicidal. But what other choice did they have?
"We don't have a choice," Valthar said, echoing his thoughts from earlier. His voice was hoarse, but resolute. "If Kaelion gets to the Key, it's over."
Serra hesitated, her brow furrowed. "I know that. But… Varak's words. What if he's right? What if we're doing exactly what the Abyss wants? What if—"
"We don't have time for what-ifs." Valthar's voice came out sharper than he intended, but he didn't apologize. The growing pressure of the Abyss within him was making him more irritable, less patient. He felt like a storm ready to break.
Serra opened her mouth to respond but was cut off by a sudden noise ahead of them. A low, rumbling growl. Both of them froze, their hands instinctively reaching for their weapons.
The growl came again, this time closer.
Valthar signaled for Serra to stay back as he moved forward, his sword drawn, the Abyss rippling just beneath his skin, ready to be called upon if needed. The shadows around them seemed to deepen, twisting and shifting as if alive.
As he stepped into a small clearing, he saw the source of the growl.
A massive creature, its body covered in thick, black fur, its eyes glowing a sickly yellow. Its form was grotesque, its limbs too long, its spine arched unnaturally. It resembled a wolf, but there was something off about it—something corrupted. The Abyss pulsed within its veins, a dark, malevolent energy radiating from it.
Serra joined Valthar at his side, her sword already in hand. "What is that?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Valthar's grip tightened on his sword. "A Shadowhound. One of the Abyss's creations."
The creature snarled, baring rows of jagged teeth. It was clearly waiting for them to make a move, its muscles tense, ready to strike.
"Get ready," Valthar muttered. "This thing isn't going to let us pass without a fight."
The Shadowhound lunged without warning, its massive body moving with terrifying speed. Valthar barely had time to react, swinging his sword in a wide arc as the creature came at him. The blade connected with the beast's hide, but it barely seemed to notice, the dark energy within it absorbing the blow.
Serra darted to the side, her sword flashing in the dim light as she aimed for the creature's flank. The Shadowhound turned with inhuman speed, its jaws snapping at her, but she rolled out of the way just in time.
Valthar felt the Abyss stirring within him, urging him to let it out, to use its power to destroy the beast. But he hesitated. Every time he used the Abyss, he felt it tightening its grip on him, pulling him deeper into its clutches.
The Shadowhound roared, its eyes glowing brighter, and Valthar knew he didn't have a choice.
He let the Abyss loose.
A dark tendril of shadow shot from his hand, wrapping around the creature's throat. The beast thrashed wildly, but the shadows held it in place, tightening like a noose. Valthar's heart pounded in his chest as he felt the dark energy flowing through him, feeding off the creature's struggle.
With a final, violent yank, Valthar pulled the Shadowhound down, slamming it into the ground with bone-shattering force. The beast let out a strangled cry before going limp, its body dissolving into a pool of black ooze that seeped into the earth.
Valthar stood over the creature's remains, his breath coming in ragged gasps, the Abyss still humming in his veins. He felt… powerful. Too powerful. The darkness had taken over so easily, so willingly.
Serra approached cautiously, her eyes filled with a mixture of awe and fear. "That was… intense."
Valthar didn't respond immediately. He was still trying to shake off the sensation of the Abyss clinging to him, like a predator wrapping itself around its prey.
"We need to keep moving," he said finally, his voice flat.
They pressed on, deeper into the forest, but something had changed. The air felt heavier, thicker. The shadows that had always followed Valthar now seemed to cling to him more tightly, as if the Abyss was wrapping itself around his very soul.
It wasn't long before they reached the edge of a ravine, the jagged rocks below disappearing into the dark mist that swirled at the bottom. A narrow, crumbling bridge stretched across the chasm, old and worn, the wood creaking ominously under the weight of time.
Serra looked at Valthar, her brow furrowed in concern. "We can't cross that. It's too dangerous."
Valthar scanned the surroundings, his eyes narrowing. He felt the Abyss pulling him toward the bridge, as if something on the other side was calling to him. He didn't know what it was, but the feeling was undeniable.
"We have to," Valthar said, his voice filled with a strange certainty. "This is the way."
Serra hesitated, clearly torn between trusting him and the very real danger before them. But she nodded, her loyalty to Valthar stronger than her fear. "Alright," she said, her voice steady. "But be careful."
Valthar took the first step onto the bridge, the wood creaking beneath his weight. The Abyss whispered in his mind, its voice seductive, telling him to trust it, to follow where it led. As he walked, the mist below seemed to stir, dark shapes moving within it, but he kept his eyes forward, focused on the path ahead.
Halfway across, the air grew colder. The shadows deepened, swirling around him like living things. And then, from the mist below, a voice echoed through the air.
"Valthar…"
He froze, his heart skipping a beat. The voice was familiar, hauntingly so. He had heard it before—many years ago.
"Valthar…"
It was the voice of his mother.
His hands trembled, and he looked down into the chasm, his eyes widening as he saw her figure materializing in the mist. Her face was pale, her eyes hollow, but it was unmistakably her.
"Come to me, Valthar…" her voice whispered, soft and alluring. "Join me in the Abyss…"
Valthar's mind spun. His mother had died years ago, killed in the massacre Kaelion had orchestrated. But here she was, calling to him from the depths of the chasm, her voice filled with the same dark pull as the Abyss itself.
"Valthar, what are you doing?" Serra's voice cut through the fog, sharp and urgent. She was at the edge of the bridge, watching him with wide, panicked eyes. "Keep moving! It's a trick!"
But Valthar couldn't move. The voice, his mother's voice, was growing louder, more insistent. The shadows coiled around him, pulling him closer to the edge, whispering promises of reunion, of peace, if only he would let go.
"Valthar!" Serra shouted, her voice filled with desperation. "Snap out of it!"
With a final surge of will, Valthar tore his gaze away from the mist and stumbled forward, his heart racing. The voice faded, but its presence lingered in his mind like a poisoned memory.
When he reached the other side of the ravine, Serra grabbed his arm, her face pale with fear. "What the hell was that?"
Valthar shook his head, his throat tight. "I don't know. But the
Abyss is playing with us."
Serra's grip tightened on his arm. "We need to be more careful, Valthar. It's trying to lure you in."
Valthar knew she was right, but the pull of the Abyss was growing stronger with every step they took. Whatever lay ahead, whatever dark force was guiding them, it wasn't going to let them go easily.
And in the distance, hidden deep within the shadows, something ancient and malevolent watched their every move.