Yuto's body trembled as he and his friends ventured deeper into the Abyss. Every step felt heavier than the last, the dark energy swirling around him like a thick fog. The oppressive atmosphere clung to him, suffocating and disorienting. Though Yuto had pushed back the shadowed figure, the Abyss itself was still alive—pulsing, waiting.
"How much further?" Shiro muttered, glancing around nervously. The flames flickering in his hands offered little light against the overwhelming darkness.
"It's hard to say," Seiji replied, his sword drawn, every sense on high alert. "The Abyss isn't like our world. It doesn't follow normal rules. We could be walking in circles for all we know."
Yuto kept his eyes forward, his mind racing. He could still feel it—the Abyss—lurking beneath his skin, waiting for a moment of weakness. It was quiet for now, but that didn't mean it was gone. It was never truly gone.
"We have to keep moving," Takeshi said, gripping his spear tightly. "Standing still in this place is just asking for trouble."
Shiro sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Right, because wandering through a literal hellscape is so much better."
Yuto stayed silent, his mind too preoccupied with the strange pull he felt within the Abyss. Something was drawing him deeper, tugging at his very core. Was it Abyss itself, or was there something else waiting for him in the darkness?
"Yuto," Seiji's voice broke through his thoughts. "Are you sure you're okay? You've been quiet for a while now."
Yuto blinked, realizing his friends were watching him with concern. He forced a smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'm fine… just trying to keep the Abyss under control."
Seiji frowned, his eyes narrowing. "It's not taking over again, is it?"
Yuto shook his head, but he could feel the lie in his chest. He didn't want to worry them, not now when they were so close to whatever awaited them. "No, I'm good. Let's keep moving."
Shiro exchanged a glance with Takeshi, both of them clearly unsure, but they didn't press further. They couldn't afford to stop, not when they were this far in.
As they continued walking, the landscape around them began to shift. The dark, formless void morphed into jagged structures—black stone pillars rising from the ground, twisted and sharp. The air grew colder, and the oppressive energy intensified.
"This place is getting worse," Takeshi muttered, his eyes scanning the area. "It feels… alive."
Yuto's heart pounded as the pull inside him grew stronger. The Abyss was calling to him, like a voice in the back of his mind, whispering promises of power and control. His hand twitched, the dark flames sparking around his fingers. He clenched his fist, forcing them to extinguish.
"Do you feel that?" Yuto asked suddenly, his voice tight.
Shiro raised an eyebrow. "Feel what?"
Yuto paused, turning to face them. His eyes were darker than usual, the flicker of Abyss barely contained. "Something's here… watching us."
Seiji tightened his grip on his sword. "It's the Abyss. This whole place is watching us."
But Yuto shook his head, his gaze distant. "No, it's more than that. Something… is waiting for us."
As if on cue, the ground beneath them began to tremble. The dark stone pillars around them cracked and shattered, sending jagged shards flying through the air. Takeshi and Shiro immediately raised their weapons, ready for a fight.
"What the hell—" Shiro started, but before he could finish, the air around them grew thick with a sickening, oppressive energy. A deep, guttural voice echoed through the darkness, vibrating through the very core of their beings.
"You've come far, little Soulbound…"
The voice was ancient, filled with malice. It sent a shiver down Yuto's spine. He recognized it, though he had never heard it before.
"Who's there?!" Takeshi shouted, his spear glowing with energy. "Show yourself!"
A low, rumbling laugh followed, the sound reverberating through the Abyss. "You walk in my domain, yet you demand answers? Foolish."
The ground shook again, and from the shadows, a massive figure began to emerge. It was humanoid in shape, but twisted and grotesque—its skin a deep black, with tendrils of darkness writhing from its form. Its eyes glowed an eerie red, and its mouth twisted into a hideous grin.
"I am the Abyss," it said, its voice booming. "And you, Yuto Kisaragi… are mine."
Yuto felt a sharp pain in his chest as the dark flames around him flared uncontrollably. He staggered back, clutching his chest as the overwhelming presence of the Abyss bore down on him.
"Yuto!" Seiji shouted, rushing to his side. "What's happening?!"
Yuto's vision blurred as the Abyss inside him roared to life, its power surging through his veins. He fell to his knees, gasping for breath as the dark energy engulfed him. It was too strong—too overwhelming.
"No… I can't…" Yuto whispered, his voice strained. He could feel himself slipping, the Abyss pulling him under. The control he had fought so hard to maintain was crumbling.
"You are mine, Yuto," the Abyss said, its voice seeping into his mind like poison. "Embrace it. Accept your fate."
The darkness swirled around Yuto, enveloping him completely. His friends' voices grew distant, fading into the background as the Abyss took over.
"Fight it, Yuto!" Seiji's voice was faint, but desperate. "Don't let it take you!"
But Yuto couldn't fight anymore. The Abyss was too strong. It was suffocating, consuming him whole. He could feel his mind slipping, his body no longer his own.
"Yuto, don't give up!" Shiro's voice cut through the haze, but Yuto barely heard it. The world was spinning, dissolving into nothingness.
Suddenly, everything went silent. The oppressive weight of the Abyss vanished, leaving only a cold emptiness. Yuto blinked, confused. He was standing in a vast, dark void—alone.
"Where… am I?" Yuto's voice echoed, but there was no answer. The void stretched out endlessly, with no sign of life. He was completely alone.
"This is your truth," a familiar voice said. Yuto turned, his heart skipping a beat. The shadowed figure from before stood before him, its eyes glowing with an eerie light. "You are the Abyss, Yuto Kisaragi. This is who you are."
Yuto's fists clenched. "No… this isn't me. I'm not the Abyss."
The figure chuckled darkly. "You can't deny it. The Abyss is in your blood. It's who you've always been."
Yuto took a step back, his heart pounding. "I'm not… I'm not like you."
The figure's grin widened. "Aren't you? You've already lost control once. It's only a matter of time before you lose yourself completely."
Yuto's hands trembled. He could feel it—the pull of the Abyss. It was strong, stronger than anything he had ever felt. But he couldn't give in. He couldn't let it win.
"I won't let you control me," Yuto said, his voice firm. "I'll fight you. No matter what."
The figure's laughter echoed through the void, chilling and relentless. "You cannot fight the Abyss, Yuto. It is you. It always has been."
Yuto gritted his teeth, his body tense with determination. "Then I'll find another way. I won't let you take me."
The figure's grin faded, replaced by a look of cold fury. "Fool. You will never escape the Abyss. You will never escape… yourself."
With that, the figure lunged at Yuto, darkness swirling around it like a storm. Yuto's heart raced as he braced himself, ready to fight. The Abyss might be a part of him, but he wasn't going to let it define him.
Not now. Not ever.