**Chapter 64: The Abyssal Mark**
Vira stared at the mark burned into the earth, her stomach twisting in knots. The sight of it filled her with dread. The Abyss, or something connected to it, had already reached this village, and whatever had happened here wasn't natural.
"Do you recognize it?" Silas asked, his voice quiet but sharp, eyes fixed on the blackened ground.
Vira nodded slowly, her thoughts racing. "It's the mark of the Abyss. I've seen it before... when the Heart was unsealed."
Malek cursed under his breath, his grip tightening around the hilt of his sword. "This place reeks of dark magic."
The silence that hung over the village was thick, oppressive. There were no signs of life—no villagers, no animals, not even the usual sounds of nature. It was as if the world itself had been drained of life.
"We need to find out what happened here," Vira said, trying to steady her breathing. The mark on the ground was a reminder that the Abyss was far from dormant. Even after they had returned the Heart, its power lingered, seeping into the world like a poisonous fog.
They moved cautiously through the empty streets, their senses alert for any signs of danger. Houses stood abandoned, doors hanging open, windows shattered. It was as though the villagers had fled in a panic—or worse, had simply vanished.
As they approached the village's central hall, Malek paused, frowning. "Do you hear that?"
Vira strained her ears, and after a moment, she caught it too—a faint, rhythmic tapping, like someone—or something—was inside.
Silas exchanged a wary glance with Vira. "We should be careful. It could be a trap."
Malek grunted in agreement, his sword at the ready. They approached the hall, its large wooden doors slightly ajar, creaking on their hinges. The tapping grew louder as they stepped inside, their footsteps echoing in the vast, empty space.
The hall was dimly lit, with sunlight filtering through the cracks in the roof. Broken furniture lay scattered across the floor, and strange symbols were scrawled in dark, twisted patterns along the walls. But it was the figure at the far end of the room that caught Vira's attention.
A lone figure sat slumped over a table, tapping their fingers against the wood in an erratic rhythm. Their clothes were tattered, their face hidden beneath a hood. The air around them crackled with a faint, dark energy.
"Who's there?" Malek called, his voice stern but cautious.
The figure stopped tapping and slowly lifted their head. Vira's heart skipped a beat as the hood fell away, revealing a gaunt, pale face with eyes that glowed faintly with the unmistakable power of the Abyss.
"Welcome…" the figure rasped, their voice dry and hollow, "to the domain of the Abyss."
---
**The Abyss Spreads**
The figure's words hung in the air like a death sentence. Vira's instincts screamed at her to leave, but her feet remained rooted to the ground. This person, whoever they were, was tainted by the Abyss, their very soul corrupted by its dark power.
"What happened here?" Silas demanded, stepping forward cautiously. "What did you do to the village?"
The figure let out a low, raspy laugh, their glowing eyes narrowing. "The Abyss consumes all in its path. The villagers… they are one with the Abyss now."
Vira's blood ran cold. "What do you mean?"
The figure's smile widened, revealing teeth that were sharp and jagged. "The Abyss feeds on the living. Their souls, their bodies… all fuel for the endless void."
Malek took a step forward, his sword raised. "If you think we're going to let you keep spreading this plague, you're mistaken."
The figure didn't flinch, their expression remaining calm. "You cannot stop the Abyss. It is inevitable. The Heart's return has awakened it, and soon, all will be consumed."
Vira's hand instinctively moved to the pendant around her neck, the last remnant of the Heart's power that she had taken with her. She could feel it pulsing faintly, as though in response to the figure's words.
"We have to stop it," she said quietly, her voice firm despite the fear gnawing at her insides. "We can't let the Abyss take over."
The figure tilted their head, as if amused by her determination. "You think you can fight the Abyss? You are nothing compared to its power. It will swallow you whole."
Malek didn't wait for another word. He lunged forward, his sword flashing through the air. But the moment his blade made contact with the figure, they dissolved into a swirling mass of shadows, vanishing into the air.
"They're gone!" Silas shouted, his eyes scanning the room for any sign of the figure.
Vira cursed under her breath. Whoever that person had been, they were just a messenger of something far worse. The Abyss was spreading, and it was already too late for the village.
---
**A Desperate Plan**
Outside the hall, the oppressive silence of the village pressed down on them once more. Vira could feel the weight of the Abyss's influence growing stronger with every passing moment.
"We have to warn the others," Silas said, his face pale. "If the Abyss is spreading this quickly, it won't stop with just this village."
Malek nodded grimly. "Agreed. But we also need to figure out how to stop it."
Vira remained quiet, her mind racing. The Heart of the Abyss was the key to everything. They had returned it to the Abyss, but its power was still leaking into the world. And now, with the Abyss spreading its influence, she feared that they had only delayed the inevitable.
"We need more information," she said finally. "There has to be a way to contain the Abyss, or at least slow it down."
Silas frowned. "And how do we do that? We don't even know what we're up against."
Vira's gaze hardened. "I know where we can start."
She reached into her bag and pulled out the ancient map they had discovered during their earlier travels. The map showed the location of several forgotten ruins, places tied to the history of the Abyss. If they could find more relics or information, they might be able to figure out how to stop its spread.
"We'll start with the ruins," she said, unfolding the map for the others to see. "There's a place not far from here that might hold answers."
Malek glanced at the map, his jaw set. "It's a long shot, but it's better than sitting around waiting for the Abyss to swallow us."
Silas nodded in agreement. "Let's move. We don't have much time."
As they left the village behind, Vira couldn't shake the feeling that the darkness was closing in on them. The Abyss was watching, waiting. And with every step they took, they were venturing deeper into its grasp.
---
**End of Chapter 64**
Vira and her companions narrowly escape the clutches of the Abyss in the village, but the encounter leaves them with more questions than answers. As they search for a way to stop the Abyss's spread, they must confront the reality that they may be running out of time. The shadows are closing in, and the battle against the Abyss has only just begun.