The claw burst forth from the chasm, dragging a monstrous form into the battlefield. It was unlike anything Eryndor had ever faced. Towering over them, its obsidian hide shimmered with an unnatural, liquid-like sheen. Its six glowing eyes radiated malevolence, and its fanged maw dripped with a viscous, green substance that hissed as it touched the ground.
Kaelith's voice trembled as she murmured, "A Leviathan of the Abyss… I thought they were myths."
"Well," Eryndor said, gripping his sword tightly, "guess we're about to make history."
The Leviathan let out an ear-splitting roar, shaking the corrupted domain to its core. Spires crumbled under the sheer force of the sound, and the shadow-beasts scattered, giving the creature room to unleash its fury.
Kaelith raised her staff, summoning a protective barrier around them just as a wave of acid sprayed from the Leviathan's maw. The barrier shimmered under the onslaught, but cracks began to spiderweb across its surface.
"Eryndor!" she shouted, her voice strained. "I can't hold this for long!"
"On it!" he replied, dashing forward. The sigils on his arms burned brighter, channeling raw Arcane energy into his blade. He leaped into the air, aiming for the Leviathan's head.
The creature's eyes followed his movements, and one massive claw swiped at him with terrifying speed. Eryndor twisted mid-air, narrowly avoiding the attack, but the shockwave sent him crashing to the ground.
Kaelith dropped the barrier and retaliated with a torrent of silver flames that engulfed the Leviathan's legs. The creature let out a guttural snarl as the flames scorched its hide, but it quickly countered, slamming its tail into the ground. The impact sent both Kaelith and Eryndor sprawling.
"This thing doesn't have a weak spot!" Kaelith exclaimed, scrambling to her feet.
Eryndor wiped blood from the corner of his mouth, his gaze fixed on the Leviathan's glowing eyes. "Maybe we're looking in the wrong place."
He closed his eyes briefly, focusing on the Arcane energy within him. The sigils on his body flared, and his vision shifted. The battlefield appeared in shades of light and shadow, with the Leviathan's energy radiating like a beacon. At its core, beneath layers of armor and malice, was a pulsating node of dark energy.
"The core," Eryndor muttered, his eyes snapping open. "Kaelith! We have to hit its core!"
Kaelith glanced at him, understanding flashing in her eyes. "Then we'll need a distraction."
Before Eryndor could protest, she stepped forward, her staff glowing brighter than ever. "I'll hold its attention. You go for the core."
"Kaelith, wait—"
She didn't let him finish. Raising her staff, she unleashed a blinding burst of light that enveloped the battlefield. The Leviathan roared in anger, its massive form lunging toward her as she darted to the side, firing spell after spell to keep it focused on her.
Eryndor took a deep breath, steadying himself. "No time for second thoughts."
He sprinted toward the Leviathan, his sigils blazing as he channeled all his energy into his blade. The creature was entirely fixated on Kaelith, its movements sluggish as it tried to keep up with her relentless assault.
Leaping onto the Leviathan's tail, Eryndor scaled its massive body with swift, calculated movements. The creature thrashed, nearly throwing him off, but he held on, determination fueling his every step.
As he neared the core, the Leviathan seemed to sense the threat. Its body convulsed, and a surge of dark energy erupted from it, sending Eryndor flying. He hit the ground hard, the air knocked from his lungs.
"Eryndor!" Kaelith screamed, her focus wavering.
The Leviathan turned its attention to him, its glowing eyes narrowing.
Struggling to his feet, Eryndor gritted his teeth. His blade still glowed faintly, and he tightened his grip on it. "Not yet," he muttered. "We're not done yet."
The Leviathan charged, the ground shaking with each step. Eryndor steadied himself, his mind racing. Then, an idea struck him.
"Kaelith!" he shouted. "Can you amplify my energy?"
Kaelith hesitated, her eyes widening. "It's risky—your body might not withstand it!"
"Well done, mortals. But you've only scratched the surface of what lies within the Abyss."
Kaelith froze, her blood running cold. "That voice…"
Eryndor's eyes fluttered open, his body trembling. "What… what is that?"
From the darkness below, two enormous eyes, glowing with an unholy light, stared up at them. The Abyss was far from finished.
The glowing eyes in the depths of the Abyss widened, their gaze fixed on Eryndor and Kaelith. A low, guttural laugh echoed, filling the battlefield with a sinister resonance. The ground trembled beneath their feet, and fissures began to widen, spewing forth tendrils of shadow that writhed like living things.
Kaelith clutched her staff tightly, her knuckles white. "That's not just any voice…" she whispered. "That's the Abyssal Lord."
Eryndor pushed himself to his knees, his body battered but his spirit unbroken. "The Abyssal Lord?" His voice was hoarse, every word a struggle. "I thought the Titan was its champion."
Kaelith shook her head, her face pale. "The Titan was only a fragment of the Abyss's will—a pawn. The true power… it lies below."
The Abyssal Lord's voice rumbled again, dripping with malice. "You have fought bravely, chosen one. But bravery will not save you. Step further, and you will see the true face of despair."
Eryndor clenched his fists, his sigils glowing faintly as he tried to summon strength. "I've already seen despair. And I'm still standing."
A deep, resonant chuckle reverberated through the air. "Such bold words. Perhaps you need a demonstration of your insignificance."
The fissures widened further, and from their depths emerged a figure. It was humanoid in shape but impossibly tall, its form cloaked in swirling shadows. Its face was obscured, but its eyes burned with a hatred that chilled Eryndor to his core.
Kaelith took a step back, her voice trembling. "That's… not possible. The Abyssal Lord cannot leave the depths!"
The figure smiled, a grotesque display of jagged teeth. "I am but a fragment, little sorceress. Enough to teach you the folly of your defiance."
Eryndor rose shakily to his feet, his blade dragging on the ground. "If it's a fight you want, you'll get it."
The fragment of the Abyssal Lord raised a hand, and the battlefield transformed. The scorched earth melted away, replaced by an endless expanse of darkness. Jagged spires jutted out from the shadows, and the air grew heavy with an oppressive energy.
Eryndor and Kaelith stood alone in the void, surrounded by the Abyss itself. The fragment loomed over them, its presence suffocating.
Kaelith glanced at Eryndor, her expression a mix of fear and determination. "This is no ordinary fight. If we lose here, there's no coming back."
Eryndor tightened his grip on his blade, the faint glow of his sigils growing stronger. "Then we don't lose."
The fragment of the Abyssal Lord extended its hand, and tendrils of shadow erupted from the void, lunging toward them. Eryndor leaped forward, slashing at the tendrils with every ounce of strength he had left. Kaelith chanted under her breath, weaving spells that formed barriers of light around them.
The battle was unlike anything they had faced before. Every strike from Eryndor's blade seemed to cut through the darkness, but the shadows reformed almost instantly. Kaelith's spells held the tendrils at bay, but the effort drained her quickly.
The fragment's laughter echoed around them. "Futile. You cannot fight the Abyss. You cannot defeat eternity."
Eryndor growled, his anger fueling his strikes. "We'll see about that."
With a burst of energy, he charged toward the fragment, his blade glowing with Arcane power. The sigils on his body flared brighter than ever, and for a moment, it seemed as though he might pierce the shadowy figure.
But just as his blade was about to connect, the fragment raised its hand. A massive wave of darkness surged forward, engulfing Eryndor and slamming him to the ground.
Kaelith screamed his name, her barriers faltering as the tendrils closed in on her. She raised her staff, summoning one last spell, but the strain was too much. The light flickered and died.
The fragment loomed over them, its shadow enveloping the void. "You fight well, but your struggle is meaningless. The Abyss always wins."
As the darkness closed in, Eryndor's mind raced. He felt the weight of the Arcane within him, flickering like a dying flame. The sigils on his body dimmed, their light fading.
But then, in the deepest corner of his mind, a voice spoke—a voice he had never heard before but somehow recognized.
"You are not alone, Eryndor. The light still burns."
His eyes snapped open, and the sigils flared to life once more, brighter than ever. A wave of energy burst from his body, pushing back the darkness and stunning the fragment.
Kaelith gasped as the light surrounded them, shielding them from the Abyss's grasp. Eryndor stood tall, his blade glowing with a radiant light that seemed to pierce through the void itself.
The fragment of the Abyssal Lord recoiled, its voice dripping with rage. "Impossible! How can you wield such power?"
Eryndor stepped forward, his voice steady. "The Abyss doesn't understand hope. But you're about to learn."
The void began to shake, cracks of light splitting through the darkness. The fragment let out a roar, its form starting to waver.
And then, as the light grew blinding, the battlefield dissolved.