The voice reverberated through the sanctuary, a haunting echo of Dante's own tone, but twisted with malice and shadow. The sound sent a chill racing down his spine, freezing him in place. His heart pounded in his chest as he scanned the darkened chamber, searching for the source of the voice.
"Who's there?" Dante called out, his voice wavering ever so slightly. He tightened his grip on his weapon, its cold weight grounding him, but the uncertainty gnawed at his resolve.
The shadows swirled around them, thick and heavy, making it difficult to see beyond a few feet. But there was no mistaking it—the voice had come from deep within the sanctuary.
Selene stepped forward, her sharp gaze sweeping the chamber with cold precision. "This place is trying to mess with your head, Dante," she said, her voice low. "Don't let it."
Dante nodded, though the tension in his body remained. Lillith, standing beside them, said nothing, her expression unreadable. She seemed less surprised by the strange voice, as if she had expected it. Her silence only added to the sense of foreboding that hung in the air.
"We keep moving," Lillith said at last, her tone matter-of-fact. "The sanctuary isn't what it seems, and it will try to break you before offering any semblance of peace."
Dante glanced at her. "You've been here before?"
Lillith's lips pressed into a thin line. "Not exactly. But I've been to places like this. The Abyss tests you, and only those who pass are granted any sort of refuge. But trust me—it's a refuge with conditions."
Selene raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. She exchanged a glance with Dante, silently urging him to be cautious.
They moved deeper into the sanctuary, the air growing colder with each step. The massive chamber stretched on for what felt like miles, its walls lined with ancient carvings and symbols. The further they walked, the more Dante could feel the shadows tugging at him, whispering in his ear, urging him to succumb to their influence.
He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts, but the voice came again—stronger this time.
"Why do you resist?" the voice taunted, its tone mocking. "You've already seen what the Abyss can do. It's only a matter of time before it claims you."
Dante gritted his teeth. "I won't let it."
A low, dark chuckle echoed through the chamber. "Won't let it? You're already mine, Dante. The shadows have been inside you for too long. You're just delaying the inevitable."
Selene cursed under her breath, her blade flashing in the dim light as she scanned the room for any sign of movement. "This is a waste of time," she muttered. "Let's just find whatever we're looking for and get out of here."
But as soon as the words left her mouth, the room seemed to shift. The walls trembled, and the shadows began to coalesce, gathering in the center of the chamber. Dante, Selene, and Lillith stepped back, bracing themselves as the shadows took form, rising into the shape of a towering figure.
It was Dante—but not quite. This version of him was darker, twisted, his features contorted with malice. His eyes were pitch-black, and his smile was a cruel mockery of Dante's own.
The shadow-Dante stared at them, amusement flickering in his dark eyes. "You can't escape me," it hissed. "I am you."
Dante's chest tightened as he stared at the figure. It was a reflection of the darkness inside him, the part of him that had been touched by the Abyss. He had known that facing the sanctuary's trials would be difficult, but he hadn't expected to confront himself.
"You're not real," Dante said, his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at him. "You're just another trick of the Abyss."
The shadow-Dante laughed, a cold, grating sound. "Oh, I'm very real. I'm the part of you that you've tried to bury, but I'm always here, waiting. You've felt it, haven't you? The pull of the shadows. The power they offer. You're not strong enough to resist forever."
Selene stepped forward, her blade gleaming in the dim light. "Enough of this," she said, her voice sharp. "We don't have time for games."
But as she moved to strike, the shadow-Dante raised a hand, and the room itself seemed to warp. The walls twisted and bent, and the floor beneath them cracked, sending tremors through the ground. Selene staggered, barely keeping her balance.
Lillith frowned, her eyes narrowing as she studied the shadow-Dante. "This is part of the trial," she murmured. "Dante, you have to face it. No one else can."
Dante nodded, though his heart raced with apprehension. The shadow-Dante watched him with a knowing smile, its dark eyes glittering with anticipation.
"I've faced worse than you," Dante said, stepping forward. "You're just a twisted reflection of what I could become. But I won't let that happen."
The shadow-Dante's smile widened. "Brave words. But words won't save you here."
With a sudden, fluid motion, the shadow lunged at Dante, its form shifting and distorting as it moved. Dante barely had time to raise his weapon before the shadow's claws slashed at him, raking across his arm with a searing pain.
He staggered back, gritting his teeth against the pain. But the shadow didn't stop. It moved with unnatural speed, striking again and again, each blow aimed at exploiting Dante's weaknesses.
Dante fought back, his blade flashing through the air, but every strike passed through the shadow without effect. It was like fighting smoke—no matter how many times he struck, the shadow reformed, relentless in its assault.
"You can't fight me," the shadow hissed, its voice echoing in Dante's mind. "I am you. Every doubt, every fear, every dark thought you've ever had—I am all of it."
Dante's breath came in ragged gasps as he dodged another attack, his mind racing. He couldn't fight the shadow the way he fought other enemies. This was different. The shadow was a part of him, and it wouldn't be defeated by brute force.
The sanctuary's trial wasn't a test of strength—it was a test of will.
Realization dawned on him, and he stopped moving, lowering his weapon. The shadow-Dante paused, its dark eyes narrowing.
"What are you doing?" it demanded, its voice sharp with suspicion.
Dante straightened, meeting the shadow's gaze with newfound resolve. "I'm not afraid of you," he said quietly. "You're right—you are a part of me. But that doesn't mean you control me."
The shadow-Dante snarled, its form rippling with anger. "You think you can just ignore me? The Abyss will take you, whether you accept it or not."
Dante shook his head. "No. The Abyss can't take what I don't give it."
With those words, something shifted. The air around them seemed to change, and the oppressive weight of the shadows lifted, just slightly. The shadow-Dante's form flickered, its edges blurring.
"You can't defeat me," it hissed, but there was a note of uncertainty in its voice now.
Dante stepped forward, his gaze steady. "I don't need to defeat you. I just need to accept that you're a part of me—and move on."
The shadow recoiled, its form unraveling as Dante spoke. "No," it whispered, its voice growing fainter. "You can't—"
But before it could finish, the shadow dissolved, melting into the darkness around them. The chamber fell silent once more, the oppressive weight of the Abyss retreating.
Dante stood there for a moment, his heart still racing, but the shadows no longer whispered in his ear. He had faced the darkness within himself—and won.
Selene stepped forward, her eyes wide with disbelief. "You did it," she murmured.
Dante nodded, though he felt a deep weariness settle over him. The trial had taken more out of him than he had realized. But there was a sense of peace now, a calm that hadn't been there before.
Lillith approached, her expression unreadable. "Not many pass the sanctuary's trial," she said quietly. "You're stronger than I thought."
Dante gave her a tired smile. "I had help."
Selene rolled her eyes. "Don't get all sentimental on me."
Dante chuckled, but before he could respond, the ground beneath them trembled once more. The sanctuary's walls began to glow with a faint, eerie light, and the ancient carvings along the walls shifted, revealing a hidden passage.
Lillith's eyes widened. "The sanctuary is opening."
Dante and Selene exchanged a glance, their exhaustion forgotten as they stared at the newly revealed passage. Whatever lay beyond, it was the key to their journey through the Abyss.
Without a word, they stepped forward, ready to face whatever came next.