The platform ascended through the endless void, each second stretching into an eternity. Shi Yan's grip on the Abyssfang was firm, its hum resonating with a new rhythm, as though the blade recognized his triumph. Above him, a dome of shifting light emerged, forming an intricate mosaic of stars, shadow, and flame.
When the platform reached its peak, Shi Yan stepped onto a grand expanse—a vast arena carved from obsidian and adorned with veins of crimson fire that pulsed like a beating heart. Surrounding him were towering pillars, each inscribed with runes that glowed faintly. At the center of the arena, an imposing black throne stood, empty yet emanating an overwhelming presence.
---
A chorus of voices echoed from the pillars, each one distinct but united in tone.
"The Seeker arrives, bearing the Abyssfang."
"He has passed the trials, yet his worth remains unproven."
"Does he seek power, vengeance, or absolution?"
Shi Yan stepped forward, his gaze unwavering. "I seek none of those. I walk this path for my own reasons—reasons that do not concern you."
The voices grew louder, overlapping in a cacophony of judgment. "Arrogance will not protect you here."
From the shadows of the arena emerged five figures, their forms cloaked in abyssal energy. Each carried an artifact—a weapon, a staff, a shield, and other symbols of power. These were not mere apparitions but physical manifestations, their auras each rivaling the figures Shi Yan had faced before.
---
"We are the Conclave of the Abyss," said the tallest of the five, its voice a low rumble that seemed to shake the ground. "Guardians of the Abyssfang's true potential. If you wish to wield it, you must face us as one."
The Flame of Dominion flared within Shi Yan as he drew the Abyssfang. "I've faced worse," he said, his confidence belying the tension in his muscles.
The five figures moved as one, their attacks synchronized with an almost mechanical precision. The first, wielding a great axe wreathed in black fire, struck with brutal force, aiming to cleave Shi Yan in two. He sidestepped, countering with a swift slash that barely grazed the figure's armor.
The second figure followed immediately, its staff summoning chains of shadow that lashed toward him. Shi Yan leapt into the air, narrowly avoiding the attack, but the third figure was already waiting above him, its blade descending in a deadly arc.
Shi Yan twisted mid-air, deflecting the blow with the Abyssfang, but the impact sent him hurtling back to the ground. He landed hard, the force jarring his entire body.
---
"Is this the strength of the Seeker?" one of the figures mocked.
Shi Yan pushed himself to his feet, his eyes blazing with determination. "You'll see my strength soon enough."
He focused inward, channeling the Flame of Dominion into his blade. The Abyssfang responded, its dark energy intertwining with the golden flames, creating an aura that radiated raw power.
The figures hesitated for a moment, as though sensing the shift in his resolve. Shi Yan used the opening to launch a counterattack, his movements a blur as he closed the distance to the axe-wielder. With a precise strike, he shattered the weapon, forcing the figure to retreat.
The staff-wielder summoned a vortex of shadow, but Shi Yan cut through it with ease, the Abyssfang cleaving the energy apart as though it were nothing. The other three figures converged on him, their attacks coming from all sides.
---
The battle raged, each clash of weapons sending shockwaves through the arena. Shi Yan fought with relentless determination, adapting to the Conclave's tactics with each exchange. He began to notice patterns in their movements, subtle tells that revealed their next actions.
As the Flame of Dominion burned brighter, Shi Yan's strikes grew more precise, his counters more effective. One by one, the figures fell, their forms dissolving into the shadows from which they had emerged.
When the final figure fell, the arena fell silent. The voices from the pillars spoke again, their tone reverent.
"The Seeker has proven his worth."
"The Abyssfang is yours to wield in full."
---
The throne at the center of the arena began to shift, its black stone transforming into a mirror-like surface. Within it, Shi Yan saw a reflection of himself—not as he was, but as he could be. The figure in the mirror was cloaked in darkness, the Abyssfang glowing with an ominous light in his hand.
"Beware the path you tread," the voices warned. "The Abyss grants power, but it also demands. Your choices will shape its will."
Shi Yan approached the throne, his gaze fixed on the reflection. He reached out, touching the mirror's surface. A surge of energy coursed through him, and the Abyssfang pulsed in his grip.
The reflection vanished, and the throne crumbled into dust. In its place lay a small, black shard, glowing faintly with abyssal energy.
---
Shi Yan picked up the shard, feeling its power resonate with the Abyssfang. He understood instinctively that it was a key—one that would unlock further mysteries of the Abyss.
As the arena began to dissolve around him, the platform reappeared, carrying him upward once more. The whispers returned, softer this time, their tone almost approving.
"The Abyss accepts you, Seeker. But the true journey begins now."
Shi Yan sheathed the Abyssfang, his expression unreadable. He had passed the Conclave's test, but the weight of their warning lingered in his mind.