The victory over the coalition brought little relief to the Dominion. Though their enemies had retreated, the air around the Obsidian Altar was heavy with tension. Kael could feel it in the glances of the disciples, the whispers that followed him through the camp. The Abyssal Shard pulsed faintly at his side, its presence constant and unyielding.
Kael stood at the edge of the camp, staring into the wasteland. The whispers of the Abyss were louder now, their tone insistent, demanding. The shard's energy surged faintly, as if responding to his unease.
"You're too quiet lately," Ryn said, appearing beside him. Her blade rested casually against her shoulder, but her eyes betrayed her concern.
Kael didn't turn. "The shard… it's different. Stronger. And the Abyss won't stop."
Ryn frowned. "Stronger how?"
Kael hesitated. "It's like it knows what's coming."
A Coalition Counterattack
The attack came at dawn. The camp was jolted awake by the sound of distant explosions and the sudden flare of enemy Qi. Scouts rushed back with frantic reports—coalition forces, though battered and scattered, had regrouped and launched a surprise assault.
Vaelon met Kael at the center of the camp, his expression grim. "They've learned from last time. Their techniques—they're not normal. It's like they're targeting the Abyss itself."
Kael's grip on the Abyssal Fang tightened. "Then we show them the Abyss isn't so easily suppressed."
Ryn joined them, her blade drawn. "We need to hold the line. If they breach the altar, it's over."
Sylas appeared moments later, their tone light despite the chaos. "Nothing like an early-morning skirmish to keep things lively."
The Battle Unfolds
The Dominion's disciples clashed with the coalition forces at the camp's perimeter. The enemy cultivators wielded strange artifacts—glowing orbs and talismans that emitted a suppressive energy. Kael could feel the Abyss recoiling against their presence, its whispers momentarily muted.
"They've found a way to fight the Abyss," Ryn said, cutting down an enemy with a swift strike. "How is that possible?"
Kael didn't respond, his focus on the coalition leader at the heart of the assault. They held a massive, glowing talisman aloft, its energy radiating across the battlefield. The Abyssal Fang pulsed weakly in his hand, its connection to the Abyss hindered by the artifact's power.
The leader's voice rang out, sharp and commanding. "The Abyss is not invincible. Its darkness will falter before the light of order!"
Kael gritted his teeth, the shard's energy flaring faintly at his side. "We'll see about that."
Kael's Internal Struggle
Kael charged toward the coalition leader, the shard's energy surging within him. But as he moved, he felt the Abyss pushing back, its whispers sharp and accusatory.
"You doubt," the voices said. "You hesitate. The Abyss takes only the worthy."
Kael's grip tightened on the Fang. "I'm not afraid of you."
The voices laughed, a cold and resonant sound. "You should be."
As Kael reached the coalition leader, the talisman's energy flared, pushing him back. The shard pulsed in response, its dark energy mingling with the Abyss's chaotic power. Kael channeled both into the Fang, unleashing a powerful strike that shattered the talisman in a burst of light and shadow.
The coalition leader fell, their forces retreating in disarray. But the Abyss's whispers did not quiet. Instead, they grew louder, their tone more insistent.
Ryn's Confrontation
After the battle, Ryn sought out the Sovereign. She found him at the altar, his crimson eyes fixed on the glowing map of the wasteland. The shadows around him moved slowly, as if waiting for his command.
"We need to talk," Ryn said, her tone firm.
The Sovereign turned to her, his expression unreadable. "Speak."
"It's Kael," Ryn said, stepping closer. "The shard is changing him. The Abyss is changing him. And you're pushing him into it."
The Sovereign's gaze didn't waver. "Kael is stronger than you think. The Abyss tests him because it sees his potential."
Ryn shook her head. "The Abyss isn't just testing him—it's consuming him. And if you keep pushing, you'll lose him."
The Sovereign's eyes glowed faintly. "If Kael cannot withstand the Abyss, he is unworthy of the Dominion. But I do not believe that will happen."
Ryn clenched her fists, her voice rising. "He's more than a tool for the Abyss. He's more than a weapon for you to use. If you can't see that, then you're no better than the coalition."
The Sovereign's expression hardened. "Mind your place, Ryn. The Abyss does not tolerate defiance."
Ryn stepped back, her resolve unshaken. "Neither do I."
A Revelation About the Shard
As the camp recovered from the attack, Kael studied the Abyssal Shard. Its faint glow seemed brighter now, its energy more focused. He could feel its connection to the Abyss, a link that felt both empowering and suffocating.
The shard's whispers grew clearer, forming words for the first time. "You are a key."
Kael froze, his grip on the shard tightening. "A key to what?"
"To the Abyss," the voices said. "And beyond."
Visions flashed before Kael's eyes—of a vast, endless void, of ancient figures wielding power beyond comprehension, and of a shattering light that consumed everything in its path. The shard pulsed again, its energy resonating with the Abyssal Fang.
Kael's breathing quickened as the visions faded. The Abyss was not just a force—it was a purpose. And the shard was only the beginning.
The Shadows Deepen
The Dominion's victory had shaken the coalition, but the cost of the shard's power was becoming clear. Kael stood at the edge of the altar, the shard glowing faintly in his hand. The Abyss's whispers were quieter now, but their presence was heavier, more deliberate.
Ryn approached, her expression a mix of concern and determination. "What did it show you?"
Kael glanced at her, his gaze distant. "A choice. One I don't fully understand yet."
Ryn placed a hand on his shoulder, her voice steady. "Whatever it is, you don't have to face it alone."
Kael nodded, though the weight of the Abyss still pressed heavily on him. The Dominion's path was dark, but Kael knew one thing for certain—the Abyss was far from done with him.
End of Chapter 36