Darkness enveloped Valthar like a suffocating cloak. He couldn't move, couldn't see, couldn't hear anything beyond the incessant whisper of the Abyss gnawing at his mind. He had faced many horrors, but the sensation of being consumed by the very thing he sought to master was terrifying. The power that had once pulsed within him now felt alien, as though it had turned against him.
His brother's voice echoed through the shadows, cold and taunting.
"You thought you could control it, didn't you?" Kaelion's laughter rang out, sharp and cruel. "But the Abyss doesn't bow to anyone. Not even you."
Valthar clenched his fists, but they felt heavy, as though they were sinking into the void. He could feel Serra's presence nearby, but she was out of reach, swallowed by the same darkness that threatened to pull him under. His heart raced, the Abyss swirling in his veins like poison.
Suddenly, a faint light pierced the darkness—a dull, crimson glow that grew brighter with each passing second. It wasn't enough to illuminate his surroundings, but it was enough to give him a sliver of hope. He strained against the weight of the shadows, focusing on that light, trying to push through the abyssal haze.
Then, with a sudden burst of clarity, he was free.
The darkness peeled away like a shroud, revealing a vast, desolate landscape beneath an ominous blood-red sky. The air was thick with the stench of decay, and jagged mountains loomed in the distance, their peaks lost in swirling black clouds. The ground beneath his feet was cracked and dry, the earth stained with a deep, rusted red that could only be blood.
Valthar stood at the edge of a massive chasm that split the land in two, its depths plunging into an abyss so dark that it seemed to swallow all light. The Abyss was stronger here, almost palpable, as if the land itself had been tainted by its corruption. He felt it coursing through him, but the clarity he had found allowed him to push back the whispers—at least for now.
Serra was lying on the ground nearby, her breathing shallow but steady. Valthar rushed to her side, shaking her gently.
"Serra," he whispered, his voice hoarse. "Wake up."
She stirred, her eyes fluttering open. For a moment, she looked disoriented, but then her gaze focused on him, and her expression hardened. "Valthar… where are we?"
Valthar glanced around, his brow furrowed. "I don't know. We were in the tower… and then the darkness came."
Serra sat up, wincing as she rubbed the back of her head. "Kaelion. He did this, didn't he?"
Valthar nodded grimly. "Yes. He's here."
Serra's face darkened. "What now? We're not exactly in a position to fight him."
Valthar stood, his eyes scanning the horizon. The Abyss was everywhere, permeating the land, the air, even their very souls. He could feel it pulling him deeper, trying to draw him into its eternal darkness. But beneath the chaos, there was something else—a presence, distant but unmistakable.
"The Key," Valthar murmured. "It's here. I can feel it."
Serra rose to her feet, her hand instinctively going to the hilt of her sword. "Do you think Kaelion's already found it?"
Valthar shook his head. "No. If he had, we'd already be dead. But we're running out of time."
They started walking, making their way along the edge of the chasm, the oppressive weight of the Abyss bearing down on them with every step. The landscape around them was barren and lifeless, but it was the silence that unsettled Valthar the most. There was no wind, no sound of wildlife, nothing but the eerie hum of the Abyss. It felt as though the world had died long ago, leaving only the echoes of suffering behind.
As they moved, Serra cast a wary glance at Valthar. "You said you could feel the Key. What does that mean? Are you… connected to it somehow?"
Valthar hesitated. He had always been connected to the Abyss, ever since the day his family was slaughtered. But the deeper they ventured into the Abyss's influence, the stronger that connection became, as though the Abyss itself recognized him—recognized the darkness within him.
"I don't know," he admitted finally. "But ever since we got here, it's like the Abyss is guiding me. I don't understand it, but I think it wants me to find the Key."
Serra's expression hardened. "And what happens when you do? Will the Abyss claim you entirely?"
Valthar didn't answer. He didn't want to admit that she might be right. Every time he tapped into the Abyss's power, he felt it erode a piece of his humanity. But without that power, he was nothing. Without it, Kaelion would win.
They continued in silence, the crimson sky casting long, jagged shadows across the cracked earth. The chasm stretched endlessly before them, its depths filled with a swirling black mist that seemed to pulse in time with Valthar's heartbeat.
Then, without warning, the ground beneath them trembled.
Valthar froze, his eyes darting to the chasm. Something was rising from the depths—something vast and terrible. A massive figure began to emerge, its form obscured by the mist, but Valthar could feel the Abyss radiating from it in waves.
Serra's hand tightened on her sword, her face pale. "What… what is that?"
The creature's form became clearer as it pulled itself free from the chasm. It was humanoid in shape but grotesque in its proportions, its body twisted and malformed. Its skin was black as night, rippling with dark energy, and its eyes burned with a deep, blood-red glow. Massive, jagged horns protruded from its skull, and its mouth was filled with rows of sharp, blackened teeth.
Valthar felt a surge of fear, but he pushed it down, reaching for the Abyss. He couldn't fight this thing on his own. He needed the power.
The Abyss responded eagerly, flooding his senses with its dark energy. His vision blurred, his muscles tensed, and the familiar rush of power surged through him. He could feel the darkness taking hold, but he didn't care. He had to survive. He had to win.
The creature let out a deafening roar, its voice like the grinding of stone, and charged toward them with terrifying speed. Valthar barely had time to react. He raised his hand, and dark tendrils shot from his body, lashing out at the creature's legs.
The beast stumbled, but it wasn't enough to stop it. With a single swipe of its massive arm, it knocked Valthar aside, sending him crashing into the ground.
Serra darted forward, her sword flashing as she slashed at the creature's exposed flank. Her blade bit into its flesh, but the creature barely flinched. It turned on her with a snarl, its eyes glowing with rage.
"Serra!" Valthar shouted, struggling to his feet.
But Serra didn't retreat. She moved with deadly precision, her sword cutting through the air as she dodged the creature's attacks. Despite its size, the beast was fast, but Serra was faster. Her movements were fluid, almost graceful, as she danced around the creature, her blade finding its mark again and again.
Valthar gathered his strength, the Abyss swirling around him. He couldn't let Serra face this thing alone. He had to end it.
With a roar of his own, he unleashed the full force of the Abyss. Dark tendrils erupted from his body, wrapping around the creature's limbs and pulling it toward him. The beast thrashed and howled, but Valthar held firm, his mind focused on the dark energy coursing through him.
The creature let out a final, ear-splitting wail as Valthar's power overwhelmed it. Its massive form disintegrated into a cloud of shadow, its essence consumed by the Abyss.
As the last of the creature's remains were swallowed by the void, Valthar collapsed to his knees, his body trembling from the exertion. The Abyss had taken more from him this time. He could feel it.
Serra approached, her face pale and her sword still in hand. "Valthar… that was…"
"Close," he finished for her, his voice barely above a whisper. He forced himself to stand, though his legs felt like they might give out beneath him. "We have to keep moving."
Serra's gaze lingered on him, her eyes filled with concern. "You're pushing yourself too hard. The Abyss is…"
"I'm fine," Valthar snapped, though he knew it was a lie. He didn't have time to dwell on it. The Key was close, and Kaelion was still out there.
Without another word, they pressed on, the shadows of the Abyss closing in around them.