The weight of the Abyssfang on Shi Yan's back felt both comforting and disconcerting. The blade pulsed faintly with a rhythm of its own, as though alive, its aura in sync with the Flame of Dominion within him. It had been a hard-won prize, but there was no time to reflect. The Abyss was far from done with him.
The path ahead narrowed once again, leading deeper into the unknown. The ground beneath his feet shifted with each step, as if the Abyss itself were deciding whether to support him. He could feel the weight of its judgment pressing on his soul.
---
The walls around him began to shimmer with shifting patterns, strange glyphs and symbols dancing across their surfaces. They seemed to tell a story, though their meaning was lost on him.
As Shi Yan paused to examine one of the glyphs, a cold voice echoed through the corridor: "You tread a path not meant for mortals, yet you persist. Why?"
Shi Yan turned sharply, his hand instinctively moving to the hilt of the Abyssfang. The voice didn't seem to belong to a physical presence, but its weight was undeniable.
"I seek answers," he replied firmly. "And I'll take whatever path is necessary to find them."
The voice chuckled, low and mocking. "Answers? The Abyss offers only more questions. Perhaps I shall show you."
---
The glyphs around him began to glow, their light intensifying until the corridor was bathed in an otherworldly brilliance. The ground dissolved beneath him, and Shi Yan fell into a void of swirling light and shadow.
When he landed, it was not on the cold, unyielding stone he had grown accustomed to but on soft earth. The air was warm, carrying the scent of flowers and fresh rain. He was standing in a field, golden sunlight streaming down from a cloudless sky.
It was a place he recognized instantly—his home village, before it had been consumed by flames.
---
Shi Yan's breath caught in his throat as he turned, taking in the familiar sights and sounds. Children ran laughing through the streets. Merchants called out their wares from colorful stalls. It was as though nothing had ever happened.
But the warmth he felt was hollow, a cruel imitation of life. The Flame of Dominion within him burned fiercely, warning him of the illusion's true nature.
A figure emerged from the crowd, walking slowly toward him. It was his younger sister, Mei Lin. She smiled at him, her eyes bright and full of life.
"Brother," she called, her voice light and joyful. "You're back! I knew you'd come back."
Shi Yan froze, his heart aching at the sight. Mei Lin had died in the fire that consumed their home. This couldn't be real.
"Mei Lin," he said, his voice trembling. "This... isn't possible."
---
Her smile faltered, and her eyes darkened. The warm sunlight dimmed, replaced by a growing shadow. "Why didn't you save me, Brother?" she asked, her voice low and accusatory.
The question struck like a blade, and the illusion shifted violently. The field dissolved into ash and smoke, the cheerful voices turning to anguished screams. Shi Yan was back in the ruins of his village, surrounded by the charred remains of homes and the bodies of those he'd failed to protect.
Mei Lin's figure loomed over him now, her form twisted and grotesque. "You left us to die," she hissed, her voice echoing with malice.
Shi Yan clenched his fists, the Flame of Dominion roaring to life around him. "No," he said firmly, though his voice wavered. "I didn't choose this. I've carried that guilt every day, but I won't let it break me."
---
The twisted figure lunged at him, its form morphing into a monstrous amalgamation of shadow and flame. Shi Yan drew the Abyssfang, its blade glowing with an intense light that cut through the darkness.
The battle was fierce, each strike of the Abyssfang carving away at the creature's form. It lashed out with claws of fire and shadow, but Shi Yan's movements were swift and precise, his resolve hardening with each blow.
"You are not real!" he shouted, driving the blade deep into the creature's core. The illusion shattered, the false village and its horrors dissolving into nothingness.
---
Shi Yan found himself back in the corridor, the glyphs on the walls now dim and lifeless. His breathing was ragged, his hands trembling slightly as he sheathed the Abyssfang.
The cold voice returned, this time tinged with amusement. "Impressive. Few face the shadows of their past so directly."
Shi Yan didn't respond, his mind still reeling from the encounter. The Abyss wasn't just testing his strength—it was probing his very soul, seeking to break him from within.
---
The corridor stretched on, darker than before. But Shi Yan's steps were steadier now, his resolve unshaken. The Abyss could throw its worst at him, but he would not falter.
As he moved forward, the whispers returned, this time quieter and almost reverent: "The Seeker persists. Perhaps the Abyss has found one worthy."
Shi Yan pressed on, ready for whatever lay ahead.