Super Gene 2 Chapter 13: The Abyssal Watchers
Han Sen stepped onto the newly formed path. Each step was deliberate, the golden sands crunching beneath his boots. The golden door loomed in the distance, still impossibly far but brighter than before, its radiance cutting through the darkness of the Abyss like a beacon.
The path ahead seemed calm, but Han Sen's instincts told him otherwise. The Abyss was alive—watching, waiting, and ready to strike.
The Silent Sentinels
After walking for hours, Han Sen came across an eerie sight. Massive statues, each standing over twenty feet tall, flanked the path. They were humanoid in shape but grotesquely twisted, with elongated limbs and faces that seemed frozen in silent screams. Their eyes were empty voids, yet Han Sen could feel their gaze following him as he moved.
"These statues…" Han Sen muttered, gripping his weapon tightly. "They're not just decorations."
As if on cue, the ground beneath him trembled. One of the statues turned its head, the grinding sound of stone echoing through the still air. Its void-like eyes locked onto Han Sen, and the other statues followed suit, their movements slow but deliberate.
The first sentinel stepped off its pedestal, its massive stone foot slamming into the ground with a force that sent shockwaves rippling through the sand.
The Battle of Stone and Spirit
Han Sen leaped backward as the sentinel's massive arm swung toward him, narrowly missing. The impact of the swing created a crater in the ground, sending shards of stone flying in all directions.
"Not just brute strength," Han Sen observed. "They're coordinated."
The sentinels moved in unison, their stone bodies creaking and groaning. Han Sen activated his golden aura, enhancing his speed as he dodged another attack. He countered with a powerful blast of energy, but the attack barely left a scratch on the sentinel's stone body.
"This isn't working," Han Sen thought, his mind racing. "They're too durable for raw force."
He shifted his strategy, combining his Abyssal energy with his golden light. The dark energy swirled around him, creating a pulsating sphere of power. Han Sen unleashed the combined energy in a focused beam, aiming at the sentinel's joints.
The attack struck true, shattering one of the sentinel's knees. The massive figure toppled, its body breaking apart as it hit the ground.
Realizing their vulnerability, Han Sen repeated the tactic, targeting the other sentinels' weak points. After an intense battle, the last of the sentinels crumbled to dust, leaving the path ahead clear.
The Watchers' Warning
As the dust settled, Han Sen noticed something unusual. The remains of the sentinels began to glow, forming intricate patterns on the ground. The patterns coalesced into a single, luminous symbol—a circle with a jagged line cutting through it.
The symbol radiated an oppressive energy, and a voice echoed in Han Sen's mind.
"Seeker of light and shadow, your journey has only begun. Beyond lies the heart of the Abyss, where the line between life and death blurs. Beware the Abyssal Watchers—they are neither allies nor enemies, but they will test your resolve."
Han Sen frowned, the weight of the warning settling in his chest. "The Watchers… who or what are they?"
The symbol faded, leaving no trace behind. Han Sen tightened his grip on his weapon and continued forward, his determination unwavering.
The Forest of Echoes
The path led him to a forest unlike any he had ever seen. The trees were massive, their bark as black as coal and their leaves glowing faintly with a silvery light. The air was thick with an unnatural silence, broken only by the occasional rustle of unseen creatures.
Han Sen moved cautiously, every step echoing in the stillness. The forest seemed alive, its shadows shifting and twisting as though they had minds of their own.
He paused when he heard a faint whisper. It was soft, almost imperceptible, but it grew louder as he moved deeper into the forest. The whispers were in different voices, some familiar and others foreign.
"What is this place?" Han Sen wondered aloud.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was humanoid but translucent, its body made of a shimmering, ghostly light. The figure resembled Han Sen himself, but its expression was blank, its eyes devoid of life.
The apparition raised its hand, and Han Sen felt a surge of energy rushing toward him. He dodged instinctively, countering with a blast of golden light. The attack passed through the apparition harmlessly, dissipating into the air.
The Test of Echoes
Han Sen realized the apparition wasn't attacking him directly—it was mirroring his movements. Every move he made, the apparition followed, its energy growing stronger with each repetition.
"This thing is feeding off my power," Han Sen thought, narrowing his eyes. "I can't fight it like this."
He took a deep breath, calming his mind. Instead of attacking, he focused on suppressing his energy, reducing his presence to almost nothing. The apparition hesitated, its form flickering as it struggled to mimic Han Sen's stillness.
Using the moment of weakness, Han Sen channeled his Abyssal energy inward, creating a pulse that disrupted the apparition's form. The figure shattered into fragments of light, which dissolved into the air.
The forest fell silent once more, and the whispers ceased.
A Glimpse of the Watchers
As Han Sen exited the forest, he found himself at the edge of a vast, open plain. In the distance, he could see towering figures standing motionless. Unlike the sentinels, these figures were cloaked in flowing robes, their features obscured. They radiated an aura of immense power, their presence both awe-inspiring and intimidating.
"The Abyssal Watchers," Han Sen murmured, recognizing them from the warning.
The Watchers didn't move, but their gaze felt omnipresent. Han Sen knew that crossing the plain would bring him face-to-face with these enigmatic beings.
"I've come too far to turn back now," he said, his voice resolute.
With the golden door still in sight, Han Sen stepped onto the plain, ready to face whatever trials awaited him.