Days had stretched into a week in the void, each moment a relentless trial. I had fought and consumed dozens of shades and Wraithlings, their dark energy fueling my void body's growth. Though I grew stronger, the void remained an overwhelming presence—a realm where survival was victory in itself.
The sky above was an eternal abyss, illuminated only by the bright blue orb that hung like a lone moon. Its light cast eerie shadows over the jagged landscape, offering a fleeting sense of direction. I was exhausted but determined, stepping over jagged rocks and dark pools of shadowy liquid, each step a reminder of my fragile existence in this place.
My heart raced as I pushed forward, gripping my fists tightly. This world wasn't meant to be survived—it was meant to crush.
That's when the ground beneath me began to quake.
I stumbled, barely catching myself on a jagged rock as the tremors grew violent. Ahead, a sudden crack split the void's surface, glowing with a crimson light. From within, a spear shot upward like a comet, black as midnight and crackling with arcs of black thunder. The force of its ascent blew me back, slamming me hard against a crumbling pillar.
The spear hovered in the air, its aura swallowing the landscape in a suffocating pressure. My body trembled—not from fear, but from something primal, something overwhelming.
Then he appeared.
Descending from the spear like a shadow solidifying into flesh, a man stepped onto the void's uneven surface. His presence was unlike anything I had ever seen. His hair, black as the void itself, framed a face so otherworldly that it rivaled even Pyre's majesty. His black eyes burned with intensity, and his sharp features carried an effortless authority that demanded submission.
He was clad in flowing dark robes adorned with intricate patterns, glowing faintly with black and crimson symbols. He radiated an aura of dominance, the kind that made the air feel heavy and alive with electricity.
He stood still for a moment, letting his gaze fall on me. It wasn't just a look; it was as though he could see through me, past my void body and into the essence of who I was.
"You," he spoke, his voice echoing unnaturally through the void. "Child of defiance... you are the inheritor I have waited for. You shall take my spear and carry my will."
The black thunder around him roared as he raised his hand, the arcs of energy illuminating the void in brief flashes.
"I am the Keeper of Abyssal Truths," he continued. "You, who fight against despair itself, shall take this power or die in its presence."
His words sent a chill through me. My instincts screamed to run, but my feet were rooted to the ground.
Before I could react, his hand flicked toward me, and the spear turned in midair, its sharp point aimed at my chest. In an instant, it shot toward me with a speed that left no room for evasion.
I screamed as it pierced my chest, the pain unlike anything I'd ever felt before. It wasn't just physical—my very essence felt as though it were being unraveled. My void body convulsed, heat and energy radiating from the wound as black thunder coursed through me.
The world around me shattered, like a mirror breaking into a million pieces, each shard reflecting a different part of my torment.
When the pain subsided, I found myself in a new place. The air was thick with rot, the stench burning my nostrils. The ground beneath me was no longer solid rock but a grotesque mass of pulsating flesh, veins crisscrossing its surface like rivers of decay. Scattered across this horrifying terrain were black bones, their jagged edges jutting out like the remnants of ancient battles.
The blue orb in the sky was gone, replaced by a swirling vortex of darkness that seemed alive, watching my every move.
The man's voice returned, cold and commanding, but now distant, as if it came from the very air around me.
"Before you can wield the spear's true power, you must retrieve the Four Rotten Bones of the Abyss Crawler. Each bone holds a fragment of my will. Collect them, and the spear shall be yours to command. Fail... and your essence will be devoured by this realm, leaving nothing behind."
My body felt weaker than before, as though the spear's strike had drained me of everything. I looked down and saw my chest still glowing faintly where the spear had pierced me, a reminder of the trial I had been thrust into.
The voice faded, leaving me alone in this grotesque realm. My mind raced with questions, but one thing was clear: I had no choice but to face the challenge ahead.
I took a step forward, the ground squelching beneath my feet. The sound was revolting, but I pushed the disgust away. I had survived too much to let this stop me now.
Somewhere in the distance, I heard the guttural growl of a void creature. It was only the beginning.
"I'll get your damn bones," I muttered, clenching my fists. "But I'm doing it my way."
I steeled myself, focusing on the first task: survival. I didn't know what lay ahead, but I would face it all.
The first steps of the trial began, and with them, the journey to claim the spear's true power.