The low rumble grew louder, shaking the very ground beneath their feet. The ancient stone walls of the chamber trembled as dust and debris rained down from above. The pulsing light from the runes on the door intensified, casting eerie, jagged shadows across the room. Yuto felt his pulse quicken, and his breath caught in his throat.
"Something's coming!" Takeshi shouted, his voice cutting through the din. His eyes darted around, assessing the situation as his fingers twitched toward his blade.
Seiji moved swiftly, positioning himself between the door and the others. His hand rested firmly on the hilt of his sword, ready for anything. "We need to move. Now!" His voice was sharp, commanding, and left no room for hesitation.
Shiro, already pale from the oppressive energy in the ruins, was now visibly trembling. "I really hate it when I'm right! Why did we even come here?" His voice wavered, but he forced himself to stand tall, hands sparking with flames as he prepared for the worst. "This is bad, Yuto—really bad."
Yuto couldn't tear his eyes away from the door. The voices inside his head, those haunting whispers, were louder than ever, almost deafening. Abyss stirred violently within him, its dark flames licking at his soul, urging him to move closer, to let it out.
"I know," Yuto muttered, shaking his head to clear his thoughts. "But we can't run, not yet."
Seiji's gaze snapped toward him, his usual calm mask cracking. "Are you insane? We have to get out of here before that thing wakes up!"
Yuto clenched his fists, fighting the growing pressure inside him. "I don't think we can stop it from waking up. It's already too late." He looked up, locking eyes with Seiji, his voice more resolute. "But if we leave now, I'll never understand what's happening to me. I have to face this."
"Yuto..." Shiro's voice was strained, filled with fear and worry. "You don't have to do this alone, man. We're in this together, remember?"
Takeshi stepped forward, his tone calmer than the others, but no less serious. "What exactly do you think is going to happen if we stay? That thing behind the door… it's not something we're prepared for. It's ancient, and it's dangerous."
Yuto closed his eyes, trying to block out the chaos around him. He focused inward, feeling Abyss writhing inside him, begging to be released. "I know it's dangerous," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "But Abyss… it's reacting to whatever's behind that door. Maybe it's connected to this place, to what I am. If I can understand it, I can control it."
Seiji growled in frustration, his grip on his sword tightening. "You don't get it, do you? This isn't just about you anymore, Yuto! We've got Voidspawn hunting us, the Hunters breathing down our necks, and now this? We can't afford to make mistakes!"
Yuto met Seiji's gaze head-on, his expression determined. "I get that. But this is bigger than all of us. If I don't figure out what's happening with Abyss, it's going to destroy me from the inside. And if I lose control… it'll be even worse for everyone."
The room fell silent for a moment, the rumbling and pulsating energy around them almost fading into the background as the weight of Yuto's words settled in. Shiro glanced between Yuto and Seiji, biting his lip nervously before finally speaking.
"So… what's the plan, then? We just stand here and wait for the door to pop open and hope for the best?" His voice was light, but there was an edge of fear beneath the bravado.
Yuto took a deep breath, looking at the door again. "No. We don't wait." He stepped forward, his hand reaching out toward the glowing runes. "We take control of the situation before it gets out of hand."
Takeshi's eyes widened, and he moved quickly to stop Yuto. "Wait! You don't know what will happen if you touch that—"
But Yuto was already too close. The moment his fingers brushed the glowing symbols, a shockwave of dark energy surged through the chamber, knocking everyone off their feet. The runes blazed with an intense, blinding light, and the air around them crackled with raw power.
Yuto felt Abyss flare up inside him, the dark flames roaring to life, intertwining with the energy from the door. His vision blurred as the voices in his head grew louder, more distinct. He could hear them clearly now—angry, desperate, pleading.
"Release us."
"Join us."
"Become one with the Abyss."
He gasped, his body trembling as the energy coursed through him, threatening to tear him apart. But amidst the chaos, he felt something else—something familiar. A presence, buried deep within the darkness. His brother's voice.
"Yuto…"
Yuto's eyes snapped open, his heart pounding in his chest. "What… what is this?" His voice was shaky, uncertain.
Suddenly, the massive stone door began to creak open, slowly revealing a swirling vortex of darkness on the other side. The oppressive energy in the room intensified, and the ground trembled as if the ruins themselves were protesting the door's awakening.
Seiji was the first to recover, scrambling to his feet and rushing toward Yuto. "Yuto! Get away from there!"
But Yuto couldn't move. He was frozen in place, his mind consumed by the torrent of voices. He could feel Abyss pulling him closer to the vortex, as if something on the other side was calling out to him, beckoning him to step through.
Shiro, his face pale and drawn, staggered to his feet, gripping Yuto's arm. "Snap out of it, Yuto! Don't let that thing take you!" His voice cracked with desperation.
Takeshi moved quickly, drawing a circle in the air with his fingers, summoning a barrier of energy between Yuto and the door. The glowing symbols flickered and pulsed as they formed a protective shield around their friend. "We need to pull him out of this now, or we'll lose him!"
Yuto blinked, his mind struggling to focus as the cacophony of voices drowned out everything else. He could barely hear his friends over the roar of the Abyss, but he could feel their hands gripping him, trying to pull him back.
"Yuto, listen to me!" Seiji's voice was harsh, but there was a note of concern in it. "You don't have to face this alone! We're here—fight it!"
"Seiji..." Yuto's voice was weak, his eyes unfocused. "I... I can't..."
Suddenly, Abyss surged forward, its dark flames exploding outward and crashing against Takeshi's barrier. The protective shield flickered violently as the dark power assaulted it, pushing back with relentless force. Yuto's body shook as Abyss continued to fight for control.
"Yuto!" Shiro yelled, panic rising in his voice. "We're losing him!"
But just as it seemed like the barrier would break, a brilliant flash of light cut through the darkness. Takeshi's barrier flared to life, reinforced by an unseen force. The swirling vortex behind the door seemed to slow, its pull weakening.
Yuto gasped, his eyes snapping open as the pressure around him lifted. The voices faded into the background, and for the first time since they had entered the ruins, there was silence. He collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily, as the dark flames of Abyss flickered and died out.
Shiro fell to his knees beside him, his face pale with relief. "Thank god… I thought we were done for."
Seiji knelt next to Yuto, his expression grim. "That was too close. You nearly got yourself killed."
Yuto nodded weakly, still trying to catch his breath. "I'm sorry... I don't know what came over me. The voices... they were so strong."
Takeshi let out a long breath, lowering his hands as the barrier finally dissipated. "It's over for now, but that door is still open. We need to get out of here before whatever's on the other side fully awakens."
Yuto forced himself to his feet, feeling drained but determined. He glanced back at the open door, the swirling vortex still looming beyond it. "No... it's not over. Not yet."
Seiji stood, eyes narrowing. "What do you mean? That thing is still waiting for us, and you want to stay?"
Yuto clenched his fists, his resolve hardening. "We came here for answers, and we're not leaving without them."
The others exchanged worried glances, but Yuto's expression left no room for doubt. This wasn't over—far from it.