Chereads / Shadow Ascendant: Chronicles of the Eternal Villain / Chapter 62 - Chapter 62: Bargaining with the Abyss

Chapter 62 - Chapter 62: Bargaining with the Abyss

**Chapter 62: Bargaining with the Abyss**

The tension in the clearing was palpable as the mysterious woman, radiant with ethereal energy, stood before them. Vira, Silas, and Malek remained still, their breaths shallow, minds racing. They had fought against unspeakable horrors before, but this was something different. The woman's presence was overwhelming, as if she was the embodiment of the Abyss itself.

"What do you mean by the Heart belongs to the Abyss?" Vira asked, her voice steady despite the uncertainty creeping through her veins.

The woman's eyes narrowed slightly, her smile fading. "The Heart of the Abyss is no ordinary artifact. It is a fragment of the Abyss itself, a key to unimaginable power. You thought sealing it would stop the darkness, but all you've done is disturb the balance. The Abyss always reclaims what is its own."

Vira felt the weight of the woman's words pressing down on her. They had sacrificed so much to seal the Heart, believing they were saving the world from an insurmountable evil. But now, standing before this being of immense power, she began to doubt. Had they truly done the right thing? Was the Heart of the Abyss something they could ever control?

Malek stepped forward, his sword still raised defensively. "And what do you intend to do? Take it back by force?"

The woman's gaze flickered over to Malek, and she chuckled softly, the sound sending chills down Vira's spine. "If I wished to take it by force, you would already be dead."

Silas, his grip tightening on his blade, spoke next. "Then why are you here? What do you want from us?"

The woman took a step forward, her movements graceful yet ominous. "The Heart may be sealed, but it still calls to the Abyss. The darkness within it will never be contained forever, and its power will always seek to return to where it belongs. I am here to offer you a choice."

Vira's breath caught in her throat. "A choice?"

The woman nodded. "You can release the Heart willingly, returning it to the Abyss, and in doing so, spare yourselves the wrath of forces far beyond your comprehension. Or, you can continue to defy fate and hold on to what you cannot control, but know this—the Abyss will come for you. And it will not be merciful."

Silas exchanged a tense glance with Vira, and Malek shifted uneasily, his usual confidence wavering. Vira's mind raced as she processed the ultimatum. Release the Heart and risk unleashing its darkness again, or keep it sealed and face the wrath of the Abyss. Neither option seemed like a victory.

"What guarantee do we have that releasing the Heart won't doom us all?" Vira demanded, her tone sharp. "How do we know it won't destroy everything?"

The woman's expression softened, but only slightly. "The Heart is not evil, as you seem to believe. It is a force, a part of the natural order of the Abyss. If returned to its proper place, it will not seek to destroy. But if you keep it, the imbalance will grow, and the chaos it brings will seep into your world."

Vira clenched her fists. "And what happens if we refuse to give it back?"

The woman's gaze hardened, her tone colder now. "Then you will face the full might of the Abyss. And I assure you, child, no mortal realm has ever survived that."

---

**The Reluctant Decision**

The clearing fell into a heavy silence, the weight of the decision pressing down on all of them. Vira's mind swirled with conflicting thoughts. They had come so far, fought so hard to keep the Heart from Alex and the forces of darkness. To give it up now felt like admitting defeat, like all their sacrifices were for nothing.

But deep down, Vira knew they couldn't hold onto the Heart forever. The Abyss was not something they could fight or outsmart, and the woman before them was proof of that. The forces at play were far beyond anything they could fully comprehend.

"I don't trust her," Malek muttered under his breath, his eyes still fixed on the woman. "This could be a trick."

Vira considered his words carefully, but she knew the truth when she saw it. The woman was no trickster. She was a force of nature, a messenger of the Abyss, and they were standing at the edge of something far greater than themselves.

"We can't fight this," Vira whispered, her voice filled with resignation.

Silas frowned, his brow furrowed. "You're saying we should just hand it over? After everything we've done to stop it?"

Vira nodded slowly. "We don't have a choice. If we keep the Heart, it will destroy us. And if Alex somehow gets his hands on it again… the consequences would be even worse."

Malek swore under his breath, clearly frustrated but unable to argue. "So, what now? We just give it to her and hope she doesn't wipe us out?"

The woman watched their exchange with a patient, almost serene expression, as though she already knew what their decision would be.

Vira turned to face her. "If we release the Heart, how do we know it won't be used for evil again?"

The woman's glowing eyes softened ever so slightly. "I can only give you my word. Once returned to the Abyss, the Heart will be beyond the reach of mortals. But the longer it remains here, the more vulnerable it becomes."

It wasn't a satisfying answer, but it was the only one they were going to get.

Taking a deep breath, Vira stepped forward. "Fine. We'll release it."

---

**The Ritual of Return**

The woman nodded approvingly and moved to the center of the clearing, where the faint glow of the Heart of the Abyss could still be felt in the air. She raised her hands, and a soft, melodic chant began to resonate through the trees. The ground beneath their feet trembled, and the dark energy that had lingered in the air began to swirl, drawn toward the woman like a vortex.

Vira, Silas, and Malek watched in tense silence as the ritual unfolded. The woman's chant grew louder, more commanding, and the glowing light of the Heart started to grow brighter, as if responding to her call.

The dark energy coalesced into a single point, forming a sphere of pure abyssal power. Vira could feel the weight of it pressing against her soul, the sheer magnitude of what they were dealing with almost too much to bear.

With a final word, the woman gestured toward the orb, and the Heart of the Abyss was released. The dark energy surged forward, drawn back into the sphere, disappearing into the void that the woman had summoned. The oppressive weight in the air lifted instantly, and the clearing was silent once more.

"It is done," the woman said softly, her voice echoing in the stillness.

Vira felt a strange mixture of relief and dread. The Heart was gone, returned to the Abyss, but the consequences of their actions would linger. The world would never be the same.

The woman turned to them, her ethereal glow beginning to fade. "You have made the right choice. But know this—your journey is far from over. The Abyss may be satisfied, but the forces that oppose you will not rest."

Before Vira could respond, the woman vanished, leaving nothing but a faint shimmer in the air where she had stood.

---

**The Unseen Consequences**

As the group stood in the clearing, the weight of what had just transpired hung heavily in the air. Vira could feel the exhaustion settling into her bones, the events of the day catching up with her all at once.

"We did the right thing," Silas said quietly, though his tone held a note of uncertainty.

Malek sheathed his sword, his expression grim. "Maybe. But I doubt we've seen the last of Alex. Or the Abyss."

Vira remained silent, her thoughts swirling. The Heart was gone, but the battle was far from over. She knew that Alex wouldn't stop, and the forces of the Abyss, though quiet for now, would always be a lingering threat.

As they began the long journey back to their encampment, Vira couldn't shake the feeling that something had been set in motion—something far more dangerous than they had anticipated.

The Heart of the Abyss may have been sealed, but the darkness was far from defeated.

---

**End of Chapter 62**

After releasing the Heart of the Abyss, Vira and her companions must now face the repercussions of their actions. Though the immediate danger has passed, the forces of darkness and the ever-persistent threat of Alex remain on the horizon. Vira's journey continues, but the weight of the Abyss and its lurking power will follow them as they move forward, with new enemies and greater challenges awaiting.