The ominous glow of the newly opened gateway bathed the chamber in shifting hues of violet and black. Each ripple of light seemed alive, like tendrils reaching out, whispering of secrets that lay beyond. Daniel's fins shimmered faintly as he stepped closer, the Abyssal Harmony Shard pulsing faintly within him. Mira trailed behind, her blade drawn, her movements cautious.
"This is different," Mira muttered, her voice a sharp whisper. "It's... quieter."
Daniel nodded. The ever-present hum of the Abyss had dulled to a low murmur, but the air felt heavier, as if pressing against his scales and bones. The silence wasn't comforting—it was oppressive, as though the Abyss itself were holding its breath.
The gateway yawned before them, a swirling vortex of energy that refused to be deciphered. A notification flickered into Daniel's vision, cutting through the uneasy atmosphere:
[New Zone Unlocked: The Veil of Echoes.]
