The heavy boom of the gate echoed behind Kael, sealing him inside the Shattered Hollow. The corridor ahead stretched into darkness, its walls shifting with faint, unnatural light. Each step he took was accompanied by the soft crunch of bone and stone beneath his feet. The shadows pressed in around him, whispering unintelligibly, like voices just out of reach.
Kael gripped his blade tightly, his heart pounding in his chest. He couldn't tell if the cold seeping into his skin came from the air or from within himself. He had faced death before, but this was different. This was the Abyss itself testing him, and he knew it would show no mercy.
"Alright, Kael," he muttered to himself, his voice echoing faintly. "You've got this. Just focus."
He took another step, and the corridor suddenly opened into a vast chamber. The space was impossibly large, its boundaries obscured by swirling shadows. At its center stood a jagged pedestal, and embedded within it was a blade unlike anything Kael had ever seen. The Abyssal Fang glowed faintly with a dark, ominous light, its edges razor-sharp and pulsing with raw energy.
Kael took a cautious step forward, but the shadows shifted violently, converging to form a figure. It was a mirror of himself—his exact likeness, except its eyes burned with a deep red glow, and its aura radiated malevolence.
"Who are you?" Kael asked, his voice trembling.
The shadowed double tilted its head, a cruel smile playing across its lips. "I am you," it said, its voice distorted but unmistakably his own. "I am the fear you try to hide. The weakness you deny. The darkness you cannot control."
Kael gritted his teeth, raising his blade. "If you're me, then you know I won't give up."
The double laughed, a harsh, mocking sound. "Words are meaningless here. Prove it."
The Shadow Duel
The shadow lunged at Kael with inhuman speed, its movements fluid and precise. Kael barely had time to raise his blade, the force of the attack sending him stumbling back. The shadow pressed the assault, its strikes relentless and unerring.
Kael's heart raced as he fought to keep up. His sword felt heavy in his hands, and the chaotic energy within him threatened to spiral out of control. The shadow seemed to anticipate his every move, its strikes growing stronger and more precise with each exchange.
"Is this all you have?" the shadow taunted, its voice dripping with disdain. "You are weak. A failure. You have no place in the Abyss."
Kael's grip tightened on his blade. "Shut up!" he shouted, channeling his Qi into a desperate counterattack. His blade glowed faintly as he swung, the energy slicing through the air. The shadow staggered, but only for a moment. It recovered quickly, its smile widening.
"You cannot defeat me," it said, its voice calm but menacing. "I am every fear you've ever had. Every doubt. Every failure."
Kael's breathing grew ragged as the shadow's words cut deeper than its blade. He felt his resolve wavering, the weight of his own insecurities threatening to overwhelm him. But then, a voice echoed in his mind—the Sovereign's voice.
"Fear is natural, but it must not control you. The Abyss rewards those who embrace its chaos and make it their own."
Kael closed his eyes, focusing on the storm of Qi within him. For so long, he had fought against it, trying to suppress its wild energy. But now, he let it flow freely, guiding it instead of resisting. The chaotic energy surged through him, and his blade began to glow brighter.
The shadow hesitated, its smile faltering. "What are you doing?"
Kael opened his eyes, his gaze steady. "I'm done being afraid."
With a shout, he launched himself at the shadow, his strikes now fluid and precise. The chaotic energy of his Qi melded with his movements, each swing of his blade cutting deeper into the shadow's form. The shadow retaliated, but its attacks grew weaker, its form flickering like a dying flame.
Finally, with one last strike, Kael's blade pierced the shadow's chest. It let out a distorted cry, its form dissolving into a swirl of darkness. As it faded, its voice echoed faintly.
"You are not free of me. Not yet."
Claiming the Fang
The chamber grew silent, the oppressive weight of the Abyss lifting slightly. Kael stood over the dissipating shadow, his chest heaving. He turned to the pedestal at the center of the chamber, where the Abyssal Fang pulsed with an almost inviting light.
He approached it slowly, his steps careful. When he reached the pedestal, he hesitated, his hand hovering over the blade. The energy radiating from it was overwhelming, a chaotic force that seemed to resonate with his own Qi.
"Alright," Kael muttered. "This is it."
He wrapped his fingers around the hilt of the Abyssal Fang. The moment he touched it, a surge of energy shot through him, stronger than anything he had ever felt. His vision blurred, and for a moment, he thought he might lose consciousness. But then, the energy began to settle, merging with his own Qi.
The blade pulsed once, and Kael felt a strange sense of clarity. The chaotic storm within him no longer felt overwhelming—it felt like a part of him, a force he could wield.
The shadows in the chamber began to recede, and the faint glow of the blade illuminated his path back to the gate. When he stepped through, the gate opened with a resounding boom, and he emerged into the wasteland where the Sovereign and Sylas waited.
The First Relic
The Sovereign's crimson eyes flickered with approval as he saw the blade in Kael's hand. "You succeeded."
Kael nodded, his grip on the Abyssal Fang firm. "It... it wasn't easy. But I did it."
Sylas whistled softly, their masked face tilting toward the blade. "Impressive. That's not just a weapon—it's an extension of the Abyss itself. You're stronger already."
The Sovereign stepped forward, his gaze meeting Kael's. "The Fang has accepted you. You are beginning to understand what it means to walk the path of the Abyss. But this is only the beginning."
Kael's grip on the blade tightened, a newfound determination in his eyes. "I'll keep going. I'll get stronger. For the Dominion."
The Sovereign smiled faintly. "Good. Because the next trial will be even harder."
As the three began their journey back to the Obsidian Altar, Kael couldn't help but feel a flicker of pride. He had faced the Abyss and emerged stronger. But he knew the road ahead would only grow darker—and he was ready.
End of Chapter 9