The oppressive atmosphere of the Sunken Abyss seemed to deepen as Yan Rui and his companions ventured further. The air was thick with tension, and the faint glow of the runes on the walls dimmed until only their footsteps echoed in the dark. Ahead of them, a faint light flickered, casting shifting shadows that danced ominously along the walls.
"Something feels wrong," Lian Yuxi muttered, clutching a protective talisman in her hand. Her sharp eyes scanned the corridor ahead, her every muscle tense.
Wu Qian tightened his grip on his sword, his expression grim. "It's a trap. It's too quiet now, and that light… it's unnatural."
Yan Rui nodded silently. He could feel it too—the suffocating presence of something ancient, watching their every move. The Vault's energy hummed faintly within him, as though reacting to the danger ahead.
---
When they reached the source of the flickering light, they found themselves standing before a grand archway carved into the stone. Beyond it lay a vast chamber, its walls lined with mirrors of every shape and size. The mirrors reflected not just their surroundings but twisted, distorted versions of reality.
"The Hall of Mirrors," Lian Yuxi whispered, her voice filled with dread. "This is one of the Abyss's most dangerous trials. It doesn't test your strength or skill—it tests your mind."
Yan Rui frowned. "What do you mean?"
"These mirrors show you visions of your past, your fears, your desires—everything you keep hidden, even from yourself," Lian Yuxi explained. "The Abyss uses them to break you, to make you doubt everything you are."
---
Wu Qian scowled, stepping forward cautiously. "So, what's the challenge? Do we destroy them?"
Lian Yuxi shook her head. "No. Destroying the mirrors could unleash the Abyss's full power on us. The only way through is to face what they show us and overcome it. If we falter… we'll be lost here forever."
Yan Rui's gaze swept over the chamber, his reflection staring back at him from a dozen distorted surfaces. Each mirror seemed to pulse faintly, as though alive, and he could feel their pull on his mind, like tendrils reaching out to ensnare him.
"Let's not waste time," he said, his voice steady despite the unease in his chest. "We'll face whatever comes."
---
As they stepped into the chamber, the mirrors around them began to shimmer. Yan Rui stopped, his breath catching as the reflection in the nearest mirror changed. It no longer showed him as he was but as he had once been—weak, frail, and powerless.
In the reflection, he stood alone, his clothes tattered, his body trembling with exhaustion. He recognized the scene immediately: it was the day he had been expelled from his clan, cast out into the world with nothing.
"You don't belong here," the reflection said, its voice cold and mocking. "You think you've grown stronger, but deep down, you're still the same useless boy they threw away. You're nothing without the Vault's power."
---
Yan Rui clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. He could feel the weight of the reflection's words pressing down on him, dredging up memories he had tried to bury.
"I'm not that person anymore," he said firmly, his voice echoing in the chamber. "I've fought for everything I have, and I'll keep fighting."
The reflection sneered. "You think you've changed? The Vault controls you. It's not your strength—it's a crutch. Without it, you're still weak."
Yan Rui took a deep breath, steadying himself. The Vault's power thrummed within him, tempting him to lash out, but he resisted. "The Vault doesn't define me," he said quietly. "It's a tool, nothing more. My strength comes from my will."
The reflection wavered, its form flickering before shattering into fragments of light.
---
Nearby, Lian Yuxi stood before a mirror, her face pale. In the reflection, she saw herself standing over the body of a young boy, her hands stained with blood.
"You failed him," the reflection said, its voice trembling with anger. "You were supposed to protect him, but you let him die."
"I didn't…" Lian Yuxi whispered, her voice shaking. "I tried to save him."
"But you didn't," the reflection spat. "You were too weak, too slow. You'll fail again, just like you always do."
Tears streamed down Lian Yuxi's face as she clenched her fists. "I can't change the past, but I won't let it define me. I've grown stronger since then, and I won't let anyone else suffer because of my failures."
The reflection let out a shriek before dissolving into mist.
---
Wu Qian faced his own trial, standing before a mirror that showed him surrounded by corpses—friends, comrades, and even his family. The reflection smiled coldly, its voice dripping with malice. "You couldn't protect them. You're a warrior, but what good is your strength if you can't save the people who matter?"
Wu Qian's knuckles turned white as he gripped his sword. "I've made mistakes," he admitted, his voice low. "But I won't let those mistakes break me. I fight because I refuse to let their sacrifices be in vain."
The reflection glared at him before fading away, leaving him standing alone.
---
As the last of the mirrors dissolved, the oppressive atmosphere of the chamber lifted slightly. Yan Rui and his companions regrouped, their expressions weary but resolute.
"We made it," Lian Yuxi said, her voice filled with relief. "But the Abyss won't stop here. The trials will only grow more difficult."
Yan Rui nodded, his gaze steely. "Then we'll keep going. No matter what the Abyss throws at us, we won't back down."
The group pressed on, their resolve hardened by the challenges they had overcome. The Hall of Mirrors had tested their minds, but they knew that the greatest trials still lay ahead.
---