The newly revealed passage loomed before Chen and Fenrir, its dark, jagged edges flickering with faint tendrils of crimson energy. A cold wind seeped out, carrying with it a low, guttural whisper that sent shivers down Chen's spine.
"Fenrir, you getting a bad vibe here, or is it just me?" Chen asked, gripping the Growth Sword tightly.
The wolf huffed, its golden eyes fixed on the passage. It didn't move, standing firm as if bracing itself for whatever lay ahead.
"Well, at least one of us is ready." Chen sighed, stepping into the darkness.
The air inside was stifling, oppressive, and every step seemed to amplify the whispers. They weren't clear at first—just fragmented murmurs that scratched at the edge of perception.
"You can't win."
"Turn back."
"Give in."
Chen clenched his jaw, forcing the words out of his mind. "Great, the Abyss has its own fan club. Just what I needed."
As they moved deeper, the tunnel began to widen, the walls shimmering faintly as if made of liquid shadow. Strange, faintly glowing symbols adorned the surfaces, shifting and writhing when observed too closely.
"I'm not touching those," Chen muttered.
Fenrir sniffed one of the symbols and let out a low growl, recoiling as if burned. It shook its head, sneezing dramatically.
"Yeah, I figured as much." Chen gave the wolf a small pat. "No experimenting, buddy. We're not exactly stocked with antidotes."
The path opened into a massive cavern, the ceiling obscured by swirling, inky darkness. In the center stood an ominous altar carved from bone and obsidian, pulsating with a faint red glow.
Above it hovered a figure cloaked in shadow, its form constantly shifting and melting like smoke caught in a storm. Two piercing white eyes locked onto Chen, freezing him in place.
"ANOTHER MORTAL DARES TO STEP INTO THE ABYSS." The voice was cold, layered, and carried the weight of countless lifetimes.
Chen's grip tightened on the Growth Sword, but he forced himself to keep his tone light. "Yeah, well, I got tired of normal hiking trails. Thought I'd try something with more... death vibes."
The entity's eyes narrowed, and the cavern trembled.
"YOU JOKE, BUT YOUR HEART TREMBLES. YOUR RESOLVE IS WEAK."
Chen felt a surge of cold run through him as the voice seemed to pierce into his very soul.
"You don't know me," he snapped.
The shadow chuckled, a sound that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
"I KNOW YOU FAR BETTER THAN YOU KNOW YOURSELF. YOU WIELD THE FLAME OF THE INFERNO, YET YOUR SOUL IS BARELY KINDLING. STEP FORWARD, AND LET ME SHOW YOU THE TRUTH."
Chen hesitated. The whispers returned, louder now, drowning out his thoughts.
"You're not enough."
"Abandon this foolishness."
"Why fight when defeat is certain?"
His breath quickened, his grip faltering. He felt an overwhelming urge to turn back, to run, to escape.
But then he felt a nudge at his leg.
Fenrir stood beside him, golden eyes burning with defiance. The wolf growled softly, as if to say, Don't lose yourself, Chen.
The memory of the System's final words echoed in his mind: No more hesitation.
Chen took a deep breath, centering himself. "You're right about one thing," he said, stepping forward. "My soul might be kindling. But kindling starts fires."
The entity's eyes flared, and the shadows surrounding it erupted into tendrils, lashing out at him. Chen dodged the first few strikes, his body reacting instinctively. The Growth Sword glowed faintly, feeding off his resolve.
Fenrir lunged at one of the tendrils, tearing through it with a ferocity that surprised even Chen. The wolf spun, dodging another strike, and barked sharply.
"Alright, teamwork it is," Chen muttered, darting toward the altar.
The shadow loomed larger, its form expanding and shifting into something monstrous. Dozens of eyes and jagged maws appeared within the swirling darkness, all focused on him.
"YOU CANNOT DEFEAT ME. I AM THE ABYSS."
"Yeah, and I'm Chen," he shot back. "Nice to meet you."
The tendrils surged forward again, faster and more chaotic. Chen activated Blazing Veil, golden flames erupting around him. The fire burned through the tendrils, but more replaced them, each strike sapping his strength.
"Fenrir!" Chen called out.
The wolf leaped onto the altar, its claws raking against the pulsating surface. A shockwave of energy rippled through the cavern, causing the shadow to writhe and howl.
"IMPUDENT BEAST!"
The entity focused its fury on Fenrir, sending a massive tendril toward the wolf. But Fenrir, ever agile, darted out of the way, using the altar as cover.
Chen saw his chance. With the shadow distracted, he channeled every ounce of energy into his sword. The flames intensified, the golden light cutting through the darkness.
He leaped onto the altar, slamming the Growth Sword into its core.
The cavern erupted in light, the shadows shrieking and recoiling. The entity's form began to break apart, its eyes dimming.
"YOU... WILL... NEVER... ESCAPE..."
With a final, piercing scream, the shadow disintegrated, its remains absorbed into the altar. The crimson glow faded, leaving behind a faintly glowing crystal shard.
Chen collapsed onto the altar, panting heavily. Fenrir trotted over, its tail wagging slightly as it nudged him with its nose.
"You're getting way too good at this hero stuff," Chen said, scratching the wolf's head.
The shard floated up, hovering in front of him. It pulsed softly, its energy calming rather than oppressive.
---
[New Talent Gained: Abyssal Shard]
Harness a fragment of the Abyss to enhance your resilience and perception.
---
Chen stared at the shard for a moment before pocketing it. "Well, that wasn't so bad," he said, grinning weakly.
Fenrir rolled its eyes, a clear You're an idiot expression on its face.
Chen laughed, pushing himself to his feet. "Come on, partner. Let's see what fresh hell is waiting for us next."
With Fenrir at his side, he stepped forward, ready to face whatever lay ahead.