Shi Yan stepped through the shimmering gateway, the swirling vortex of colors enveloping him in an overwhelming sensation of weightlessness. When the light faded, he found himself in an endless expanse of darkness. The ground beneath his feet was cold and unyielding, yet he felt no sense of solidity—only the void.
A faint glow illuminated the horizon, guiding him forward. Abyssfang pulsed faintly at his side, its presence a silent reassurance. As he moved closer, the glow revealed itself to be an intricate platform suspended in the void, adorned with glyphs similar to the gateway.
The glyphs began to shimmer as he approached, their light coalescing into a figure—a humanoid silhouette forged from shifting shadows and flickering light.
"I am the Keeper of this domain," the figure intoned, its voice echoing within the void. "To proceed, you must endure the Trial of Shadows. Succeed, and you may claim the strength of the Abyss. Fail, and you shall become one with it."
Before Shi Yan could respond, the void around him surged with movement. Amorphous figures began to emerge, their crimson eyes glowing with malicious intent.
Without hesitation, Shi Yan unsheathed Abyssfang. The blade resonated with his will, its dual energies illuminating the darkness as he braced himself for the onslaught.
---
The first wave of attackers lunged at him, their forms shifting erratically. Shi Yan met them head-on, Abyssfang slicing through their incorporeal bodies with precise strikes. Each enemy dissolved into motes of shadow upon contact, yet the swarm seemed endless.
As the battle raged, the ground beneath him began to shift, glyphs lighting up in a rhythmic sequence. Shi Yan noticed the pattern, realizing that certain glyphs pulsed brighter when the shadow figures crossed them.
"A trap," he murmured, leaping toward one of the glowing glyphs. As he landed, the glyph erupted in a shockwave, obliterating a cluster of shadow creatures.
"Use the marks to turn the tide," the Keeper's voice echoed, neither offering guidance nor sympathy.
Shi Yan adapted quickly, using the glyphs to create barriers, disrupt enemy movements, and amplify his strikes. The tide of the battle shifted, but the exertion was taking its toll.
---
When the last of the shadow creatures dissipated, Shi Yan dropped to one knee, his breath labored. The Keeper reappeared, its form more distinct now.
"You learn quickly," it said, though its tone betrayed no emotion. "But knowledge alone will not suffice. Power must be tempered by wisdom."
The platform beneath Shi Yan began to fragment, the pieces rearranging themselves into a bridge leading toward a distant island. Atop the island stood a figure clad in gleaming black armor, its sword planted firmly in the ground.
Shi Yan felt the oppressive aura emanating from the figure, a chilling reminder of the battles to come. Yet, he pressed forward, each step resonating with determination.
---
The armored figure raised its head as Shi Yan approached, its hollow voice cutting through the silence. "You seek to conquer the Abyss, yet you carry the mark of mortality. Show me the strength that defies inevitability."
The knight moved with startling speed, its massive blade carving through the air in a blur. Shi Yan barely managed to deflect the first strike, the force of the blow sending him skidding backward.
Their clash was relentless, the knight's overwhelming strength pushing Shi Yan to his limits. Each exchange left him searching for an opening, his mind racing to decipher the knight's patterns.
When the knight's strikes grew predictable, Shi Yan took a calculated risk. He channeled the energy of the glyphs into Abyssfang, the blade glowing with a brilliance that cut through the suffocating darkness.
The knight hesitated, its armor cracking as the light engulfed it. In that moment, Shi Yan struck with precision, Abyssfang cleaving through the knight's core.
---
As the knight dissolved into motes of light, a voice echoed from the void. "You have passed this trial, but the Abyss does not yield so easily. Continue forward, and face what lies beyond."
The fragments of the platform reassembled, creating a bridge of light that extended into the infinite void. Shi Yan sheathed Abyssfang, his grip on the Orb of Eternity tightening.
Each step onto the bridge felt heavier, the weight of his choices pressing down on him. Yet, with every breath, his resolve grew. The path ahead was unclear, but he would face it with unwavering determination.