The oppressive darkness of the Abyss seemed to cling tighter to Shi Yan as he moved further from the dormant gate. The victory, hard-fought and hard-won, left him with more questions than answers. Each step forward felt like treading deeper into an unfathomable enigma. His senses remained heightened, every faint sound and flicker of motion setting his instincts on edge.
The path ahead twisted unpredictably, the walls of the Abyss pulsing faintly with a malevolent life of their own. Faint whispers slithered through the air, indistinct and maddening, like fragments of conversations half-remembered.
---
"Do not stray."
Shi Yan halted. The voice was clearer now, resonating within his mind. It was neither hostile nor kind—it was simply there, vast and impersonal.
"Who are you?" Shi Yan asked aloud, his voice steady despite the unease creeping into his chest.
The whispers coalesced, forming a response. "You walk the boundary of existence, Seeker. Beyond lies truths too great, too monstrous for one such as you."
Shi Yan's grip on the dagger tightened, its faint glow flickering as though affected by the presence of the voice. "Then tell me—why does the Abyss test me? What is the purpose of all this?"
Laughter, low and distant, echoed in the cavern. "Purpose? A mortal word. The Abyss does not test; it reveals. What you find here is not a challenge—it is you. Look deeper, Seeker, and perhaps you will understand."
The voice faded, leaving behind only the whispers. Shi Yan stood for a moment, his jaw tight as he tried to process the cryptic message. But there was no time for reflection. A new sensation tugged at his senses—a growing heat, faint but unmistakable.
---
The path opened into another chamber, smaller than the last but no less foreboding. In its center floated a crystal, its surface jagged and glowing with a fiery brilliance that illuminated the room. Surrounding it were faint silhouettes, humanoid shapes flickering in and out of existence like phantoms caught in an endless loop.
Shi Yan approached cautiously, the heat intensifying with every step. The Flame of Dominion stirred within him, resonating with the crystal's energy. He could feel its pull, as though it were calling to him.
As he reached out, one of the silhouettes solidified, stepping forward. It was humanoid but featureless, its body composed of shimmering flames. Its stance was aggressive, its movements fluid and purposeful.
---
"Prove your worth," the figure intoned, its voice a crackling echo. Without warning, it lunged, its fiery limbs sweeping toward Shi Yan with blistering speed.
Shi Yan ducked, the heat of the attack scorching the air above him. He retaliated with a precise strike, his dagger glowing with the Flame's power. The blade met the fiery figure's arm, but instead of cutting, it passed through harmlessly, the flames reforming instantly.
The figure twisted, delivering a spinning kick that Shi Yan barely dodged. He landed in a crouch, his mind racing. This opponent was different. Its form was intangible, and brute force alone wouldn't suffice.
---
Shi Yan steadied his breathing, recalling the words of the whispers. "Look deeper." The Flame pulsed within him, and he closed his eyes briefly, focusing not on the figure's form but on its essence. The crystal.
The fiery being attacked again, its strikes faster and more relentless, but Shi Yan now moved with purpose. He weaved through its onslaught, each movement calculated as he closed the distance to the crystal.
The fiery figure roared, its form expanding, flames licking at the air as it tried to block his path. But Shi Yan was ready. Channeling the Flame of Dominion, he thrust his dagger forward, not at the figure but at the crystal.
---
The moment the blade made contact, a burst of energy exploded from the crystal, engulfing the chamber in light and heat. Shi Yan was thrown back, landing hard against the cavern wall. For a moment, all was silent.
Then the light faded, and the fiery figure was gone. The crystal remained, its glow dimmer now but still pulsing faintly. Shi Yan rose slowly, his body aching but his spirit resolute. He approached the crystal again, this time unchallenged.
As he placed his hand on its surface, a surge of energy flowed through him, and with it, a vision.
---
He saw the Abyss, vast and eternal, its depths stretching beyond comprehension. He saw beings of unimaginable power, their forms writhing and shifting as they moved through the void. And at the heart of it all, he saw something greater—a presence that defied understanding, its essence a swirling chaos of light and shadow.
The vision ended abruptly, leaving Shi Yan breathless. The crystal disintegrated, its energy absorbed into the Flame of Dominion, which now burned brighter than ever.
---
The whispers returned, faint but distinct. "You have taken another step, Seeker. But the Abyss is infinite. Will you continue, knowing there is no end?"
Shi Yan clenched his fists, his resolve unwavering. "End or not, I'll find the truth."
The whispers receded, replaced by the faint sound of footsteps echoing from deeper within the Abyss. Shi Yan turned toward the sound, his path clear.
With the Flame burning steadily within him, he pressed onward, ready for whatever lay ahead.